Houston Radio: CBS Radio Signs Atom Smasher For KHMX

Shawnda McNeal, Atom Smasher

Radio personality Atom Smasher will return to Houston next month to host the morning drive time show at CBS Radio's KHMX 96.5 FM with Shawnda McNeal, his on-air co-host since 2009, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Smasher, who worked for KRBE 104.1 FM from 1998 through 2006, and McNeal worked together most recently at a station in Evansville, Ind.

"I have always loved Houston, and it's been my mission to get back for the past seven years," Smasher said in a statement released by the station. "It's the only city I have ever wanted to live in, mainly because of the people and the food."

The morning drive slot was held most recently by Blake Hayes, who is leaving KHMX to work in another market, said Bob Neumann, the station's program director.

"The Atom Smasher show possesses all the winning qualities of a great morning show," Neumann said in a news release. "We were drawn instantly to Atom and Shawnda's chemistry and ability to create an entertaining program for an audience just beginning their day."

Mix 96.5's morning drive slot has had frequent turnover in recent years.

Smasher grew up in south Louisiana and began his radio career at age 16. He worked at stations in Baton Rouge and New Orleans before moving to Houston in 1998 to join KRBE. He worked nights and afternoons and worked morning drive with Maria Todd until July 2006, when that show was canceled and he moved to KHKS-FM in Dallas.

McNeal has co-hosted morning radio for 10 years at stations in St. Cloud, Minn.; Mankato, Minn.; and Indianapolis before joining the Adam Smasher show in 2009.

KHMX ranked 18th among Houston stations in the November ratings report from Nielsen Media with a 2.4 audience share.

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