You’re a morning DJ for the Navy base radio station. Do you have fans?It’s funny, I actually do have a number of fans. It’s weird being in the limelight like that and having fans, but I hear people yell, “Gravy Train!” out the window of their car or just walking around base, which is pretty cool. It makes me feel like I’m doing a good job. If people remember your name and care enough to acknowledge you like that, obviously you’re doing something right.

How did you get the on-air name “Gravy Train?”With an on air name like the “Gravy Train” I’m sure people expect some funny story. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. A while back people started calling me gravy, short for Gravinese. My one buddy would occasionally call me Gravy Train, so once I became a radio DJ I felt Frank “Gravy Train” Gravinese sounds better than Frank “Gravy” Gravinese … it’s more memorable.

When base residents turn on the radio, what do you think they want to hear?I think people want to hear the command information and I think they want to hear some of the pop news from back in the States. I think the pop news really helps people feel like they have a piece of home here in Japan. The thing I try to do is keep things fresh and new so the listener stays entertained.

How is the music for your morning radio show selected?The Air Force picks music that all AFN detachments play and they send it to us. I then update the music in our computers here and make play lists. The computers choose songs at random from the music the Air Force selected to make our play lists. Different shows are weighted differently though. My show, for example, has a lot of new pop music.

You’ve recently been awarded for your work in radio and news.I won three first-place Chief of Naval Information Awards. I also won one second place. The cool thing about the awards is it’s out of everyone in our job field in the Navy, so it definitely feels good to be recognized like that among your peers.

Are there any radio programs or personalities you use for inspiration?Back home in Philadelphia I used to listen to a morning show called “Preston and Steve in the Morning.” They were always really funny and conversational. They did a good job of making it seem like they are talking with you and not to you if that makes any sense. I try to do the same thing. Granted my jokes are corny, but I like to think I get a few chuckles.

What’s the most difficult part of running a morning radio show?Believe it or not, I’m not much of a morning person. Some days it’s really hard to get out of a nice cozy bed to get to work and be full of energy on the radio. But once I get in the studio, crank the music up and start jamming out, I wake up.

Know someone whose accomplishments, talents, job, hobby, volunteer work, awards or good deeds qualify them for 15 minutes of fame? How about someone whose claim to glory is a bit out of the ordinary — even, dare we say, oddball? Call Paul Newell at Stars and Stripes with the person’s name and contact information at DSN 229-3158 or e-mail him at: newellp@pstripes.osd.mil

Frank Gravinese

Age: 22

Day Job: Petty Officer 3rd Class

Claim to fame: Radio department head and DJ at AFN Sasebo’s 1575 Thunder in Japan

Pacific readers: Know someone whose accomplishments, talents, job, hobby, volunteer work, awards or good deeds qualify them for 15 minutes of fame? How about someone whose claim to glory is a bit out of the ordinary — even, dare we say, oddball? Call Paul Newell at Stars and Stripes with the person’s name and contact information at DSN 229-3158 or e-mail him at: newellp@pstripes.osd.mil.