Webster defines wordsmith in the form of a noun as a person who works with words; especially a skillful writer. Defined by those who write professionally as journalists, authors, newscasters or spin doctors - it is very much a verb. They wordsmith documents, speeches, quotes and letters. Many times this action involves finding more powerful, meaningful words that paint a picture and more clearly deliver a message. Dubbed "One of Texas' brightest new stars" by legendary rapper The D.O.C., Bavu Blakes is the ultimate wordsmith by both definitions. He is the 2006 Austin Music Award winner for best hip-hop act, a freelance journalist who has published stories in the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and the programmer/host of soul/reggae/gospel/jazz show "Smooth" on Music and Entertainment Television.

Known as "Mr. Blakes" on his television show, Bavu is a May graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. He is also emerging as a key player in the Texas music scene and an active advocate of soul and rap music. Blakes has contributed music to multiple films accepted into the South By Southwest Film Festival, and recently voiced the Austin American-Statesman's "Leave or Die" documentary on www.statesman.com

Mr. Blakes has performed with many artists including Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, Bun B, Devin the Dude, Slick Rick, Slim Thug, De La Soul, Chamillionaire, Common, Lil' Flip, Rakim, Blackeyed Peas and Jurassic 5 ... and has been covered by Hip Hop Connection (UK), Spin mag, The Source mag, Vibe mag, Urb mag, The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Houston Chronicle, Houston Press, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Chronicle

Host of ME’s “Airwaves” & “Almost Late Show.” In 2003, Bobby Bones became the youngest radio morning talk show host in the country. At the young age of 23, Bones was given the reigns to host a morning show on one of Austin’s most successful heritage radio stations. Now, more than 3 years later, The Bobby Bones Show maintains its #1 position in the Arbitron quarterly ratings. In February of 2005, the Austin Chronicle named Bobby the Austin Radio Personality Of The Year.

Bobby’s early radio days include stints at KSWH, his college radio station at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. At the same time, he occupied the evening shift on local commercial 105.9 KLAZ in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Upon college graduation, Bobby moved from KLAZ to Clear Channel’s KQAR in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Only 4 months into his tenure with Clear Channel, he was approached about syndicating his nightly radio program. Bobby jumped at the opportunity and moved to Austin and flag ship KHFI. From KHFI (96-7 Kiss Fm), Bobby syndicated his nightly show into many other markets including New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock. His nightly listening audience was close to 1 million.

In March of 2003, Bobby was granted the opportunity to take his syndicated night show to the West Coast. Not wanting to lose their air-personality, Clear Channel Austin offered Bones a lucrative deal to make him the youngest morning show host in the country.

Also to his credit is an impressive TV resume. Bobby cut his teeth as the Host of the HTV (Henderson Television) daily newscasts. Notable:
- Play-by-Play and Color Radio Commentator for Henderson State University Football. NCAA Div II
- Writer and Contributor to the local newspapers The Oracle and The Sentinel Record
- Worked extensively with Susan G. Komen foundation, Blue Santa Program, Numerous Animal Shelters in Central Texas, and multiple hurricane relief drives.
- Co Host of the ’05 Chuys Parade on Local CBS affiliate KEYE
- Plays guitar and has performed many times on Radio and TV

Came to a show in Austin, and never left. "I was living 5-6 Hours away, and driving up to see shows, it was inevitable." He's lived here 3 years now, and shows no signs of leaving.

"Where the rock is, is where you'll find me" that's J.J. Castillo's Motto. "Hard Rock, Progressive Rock, Indie Rock, Rocky road, whatever, I'll take it."

Graduated 2002 from Gregory-Portland High School:(It's across the water from Corpus Christi)

Hosted His own T.V. Show: (On Corpus Public Access during his Junior and Senior Year in H.S.) "It was like the daily show and jackass, and we had musical guest, We had a big junior high following"

VIDEOKE! CHAMP: "I went to Videoke and killed! I have to wait like another 3 months before I go again, Ya'know just to make it fair"

COOLEST ME Television Moment: Shinerboktober fest was AWESOME! And Getting to hang out with Spoon at the Parish was sweet as well.

FAMILY STUFF: J.J. is the Middle Child of a Family of Three. Mom in the Title Business, Dad was a Shrimpboat Captain. (seriously)

Kevin was drawn to Austin by its music (and a friend's wedding) in 1981 and has been promoting Austin Music on the radio and TV here ever since. He worked a variety of radio formats over the years, including morning shows at KPEZ (rock) and KHFI (Top 40.) In 1990, he helped launch 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin, where he hosted the morning show until last April, when he left to devote full time to ME. He also served for 5 years as chairman of the Austin Music Commission and completed the Austin Marathon. Kevin lives in Oak Hill with his wife Melissa and his son Chris.

Anne Hudson, host of ME’s “Hill Country,” was raised in the Woodlands, Texas and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1999. She packed her bags and moved to Kentucky where she landed a double gig as a morning show co-host on 103.7 WPTQ and a mid-day host on 100.7 WKLX.

Anne spent her weekends as a TV Reporter on the ABC affiliate WBKO.

Anne’s love for Texas and more importantly Texas music is what brings her to Austin. Though you may not recognize Anne, her voice is one you’ve undeniably tuned into during your afternoon “Traffic filled” drive home. Anne has been with Clear Channel since August of 2001 reporting traffic in the afternoon for KVET, KASE 101, KISS-FM, 102.3 The River and AM 1300 “The Zone”.

You can also tune into Anne filling the Austin airwaves on Saturday mornings (6am-10am) on 96.7 KISS-FM and on Sunday afternoons (3pm-7pm) on 98.1 KVET. Anne has been involved with the Texas Music scene for many years. She has hosted several Texas Music events throughout the state including the Grune With Envy Awards and Billy Joes Shavers Birthday Bash, amongst many other Texas music events throughout the state.

Dru Fay , host of ME’s “Smash,” was born in San Antonio, Texas. As a young man, Dru was a Boy Scout achieving the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout and also an avid soccer player. He was a member of a select team that won the South Texas President’s Cup State Championship Tournament. Following High School graduation Dru relocated to College Station, Texas to attend Texas A&M University. While in college he was involved in the club S.W.A.M.P. (Screen-Writing Acting Movie Producing), as well as training in the Fundamentals of Acting, and Improvisational/Film Acting. During this time he was involved in several commercials, including featured work for Nike and the Chet Edwards for Congress campaign. In film, Dru was featured in the Burnt Orange Production ‘Dot’ as well as filming in ‘Revolver’ a Rosey Film Production. In addition to this, Dru involved himself in writing and producing music. During his college years, Dru spent a summer in Cueranavaca, Mexico where he completed studies in Spanish at Kukulcan Universidad.

Graduating in May 2005 with a B.A. in Communication, Dru decided to make Austin home. Fresh into his career as an entrepreneur in the Austin area, he founded Dru Fay’s Blu Ribbon Auto Detail LLC. He has also been actively involved in SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business as well as continuing work as an actor. Some examples of Dru’s acting include shooting commercials for Chevy Truck and working on the film project ‘The Quick and the Undead’ with Nott Entertainment all while simultaneously pursuing his love for music. Dru’s work in television started with the show ‘Eye for an Eye’ on UPN and he has since taken up hosting duties for the #1 Hip- Hop / Rap show in Austin, SMASH on ME, Austin’s new Ch. 15 & digital 577.

Deborah O’Keefe, or just Deb to her friends, was born in Norwich, England, to a large, loud family and lived in London and Norwich before taking off to travel the world. She has visited Asia and lived in many places in Europe and the States, before settling in Austin, Texas and accidentally discovering the world of broadcasting. Deb’s not so finely tuned English accent has been on the Austin radio waves since 2001, and can currently be heard on 101X, an alternative rock radio station where she gets to play the British alt and Indie rock that she loves. Although no expert, she enjoys a variety of sports, such as lake surfing and mountain biking, and competes in triathlons and adventure races. She speaks horrible French and Spanish, and an even more insulting version of German. Deb is a big animal lover, and shares her home with Stella and Charlie the cats and her rescued Pit mix Blue. Blue has been on both the TV and radio with Deb and has quite a future. You won’t catch Deb eating a steak or wearing leather, so don’t regale her with your hunting stories, they won’t impress! She does however, love hiking the greenbelt and looking at your MySpace page without logging in. Creepy!

Catch Deb on the weekends at ME hosting Tex-Mix and living the Austin life to the fullest!

I love to find out neat stories about the places we all like to eat and discover new spots also, so producing and hosting the show has been a good fit. The restaurants love the attention and I hope it brings them all new business.

I have been in the art business for years, working with galleries and artists so I’m enjoying a change of pace in TV. I grew up in Houston, but after 20 years away from Texas in Colorado and Cali I moved here from San Francisco 4 years ago, fell in love with Austin and am still exploring!

I also do an art report on NMR for Bobby, talking about shows and exhibits going on around town and I bring artists in weekly to interview on Tex Mix. I plan to be more involved in helping the network cover the performing arts and fine arts in Austin. I have also begun to help produce Austinville shows and am currently working on a show about the Long Center and Anthony Nak.

Jacqueline Renee hosts ME’s flashback series “Timeline,” which premieres every Thursday night at 8pm. (Also runs M-W-F at 11am, and weekends at 3pm) Renee also does segments on the local film news right here in Austin every week on the NMR. You may also recognize her as “Karen Stark” from NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.”

Jacqueline Renee is originally from Kansas City, and started in theater at the age of seven. She first appeared on television at ten, in commercials. While still in high school she began hosting a television series that aired in New York City called Hit Video Weekly. She also began to learn production and programming with the Houston based 24 hour music network Hit Video USA. Jacqueline studied communications at the University of St. Thomas and began to produce and program, as well as be on air.

J. Renee then made a move to Florida where she became the Sr. Producer and Program Director for a 24 hour music video network TMZ (The Music Zone). In addition to training and helping to select the on air talent, she hosted two internationally syndicated series: “Women in Rock” and “Power Mixx”, which she also produced. Renee also hosted a daily entertainment news segment for the channel which was broadcast via satellite.

The last few years Jacqueline has spent acting in various films including “Elvis & Annabelle”, “Time & Fate,” “Broken Oath,” “Sunshine & Lollipops,” an as yet “untitled biography,” and “In Plain Sight.” She has appeared on “CSI:Miami” and “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.” Renee has also completed the preliminary draft of her first screenplay which she hopes to produce in the near future.

When the opportunity arose to move back to Texas and be involved with Austin’s new Music and Entertainment Network, there was no hesitation. As VP and Executive Producer of ME, Jacqueline Renee worked with CEO, Constance Wodlinger, and VP of Music, Kevin Connor to create new show ideas and build a programming framework for the channel. She also had a hand in choosing and training the on air talent for ME Television, Austin’s new 24 hour music and entertainment source.

You may recognize her from Robert Rodriguez's "Sin City" or as the "hot deputy" in "Grindhouse. Emmy is no stranger when it comes to the world of performing. This ambitious young performer started off with modeling at 15. She was "Miss Teen Austin '98" as well as a Hawaiian Tropic model for several years. Emmy quickly learned that she wanted to perform infront of the camera and not just stand there and "look pretty". So when she graduated high school in 2000 she packed up and moved to New York. Living there for 2 years, she accomplished a lot as a singer and a performer, appearing on CD's for multiple artists. She was in the top 32 from NY in the 1st season of American Idol, and returned the 2nd season making it as one of six chosen from Austin... that means she made it to Hollywood TWICE! She bartended as a Coyote Performer and traveled around the country teaching new coyotes the art of entertaining the crowd. She was featured on "Inside the Real Coyote Ugly" and TLC's "Faking It". Recently she has made an impact on the commercial world appearing in "Pocket Communications" and now the "Custom Sounds" commercials.Emmy co-hosts "Red River Rocks" every night at midnight on channel 15 the Music and Entertainment channel in Austin TX. Emmy is also the host for Famecast.com finals broadcast world wide once every 3 months. In the fall of 2006 she was the lead in "A Few Good Men" running at the Georgetown Palace for 3 weeks. She received a five star review as Lt.Commander Joanne Galloway the only female character in the play. She hopes to take over all the areas of the performing arts as a TV host, Film Actress, and someday Broadway star!

As a writer Paul worked for the LA/OC Weekly, BAM and La Banda Elastica magazines where he began to document one of true loves, the emerging Rock En Espanol/Latin Alternative music scene. Paul went on to win critical and audience acclaim when he wrote and directed the seminal play The Furthest Room which would later become Paul's film script Arizona Winds

As a Talent, Paul has enjoyed success on Stage, TV and Film. Paul produced and performed in the award winning comedy show Latinologues, now on DVD. Paul contributed and helped pioneer the groundbreaking show, LATV live!, for five years as a Host/Producer/Writer. LATV Live! won the prestigious IMAGEN AWARD 2003 and 2004, for best Musical or Variety Special. During his tenure at LATV, Paul traveled the country to film and music festivals (SXSW, Sundance, Hawaii) and has interviewed Hollywood and Music giants such as Quentin Tarantino, John Travolta , Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Foxx to Jaguares, Matt Damon to Café Tabuca, Los Lobos and Paulina Rubio.

As an actor, Paul was also the aggressive investigative reporter, Carlos Izturis on the 3rd season of FX's critically acclaimed series, The Shield.

Recent TV roles include guest starring on Reno 911! And Mind of Mencia, both on Comedy Central. Other past roles include: FX's The Hitchhiker Chronicles, CBS's The Bold & The Beautiful and Indie Film credits include Blasphemy, Dirty Deals and Ash's Bang! with Peter Greene and Lucy Liu.

Paul credits all his success and accomplished dreams to his amazing mother, Christina and now he is also extremely honored to be part of the ME television familia here in Austin.

Josh Shepherd has spent much of his life in Texas and has always considered Austin home. Born in Indiana, he moved to Texas at age 5. He attended Anderson High School where he figured on a life in music, not a life in journalism. Growing up in a musical household and playing drums and piano, Josh looked to be headed towards a music education degree. However, Josh changed paths and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism, spending the last five years working in television sports. His award-winning television career carried him all over the country covering local, college and pro sports and brought him to some of the biggest bowl games, championships and events. However, his life seemed always focused on music, either playing gigs downtown, writing music or hanging out at the clubs. A push by family, friends and a pushy roommate, led Josh to auditioning for a VJ position at ME Television. Josh Shepherd is now ME Television's Music Director and hosts Tex-Mix, the best in local music and the best music coming to the Live Music Capital of the World.

Having escaped the Rio Grande Valley in search of fame and fortune, Mical opted instead to hang out in Austin. While attending St. Edwards University, Trejo spent two years writing, performing, & sweating profusely at Esther’s Follies. SEU cautiously awarded Trejo a BA in Theatre Arts with an acting emphasis after starring in a ton of plays. Many of which required him to play quirky British men in a blatant case of typecasting.

Mical has toured nationally as a founding member of the award winning Latino Comedy Project and performed at the 2004 NYC Fringe Fest in the show Blah, Blah, Blah. Locally, Mical has received critical acclaim for his performances in Cesar & Ruben, Blue Surge, Radio:30, countless LCP shows, and serves on the Board of Directors at Hyde Park Theatre. Of all the awards and recognition Trejo has received for his work, there is one that continues to elude him….the Heisman Trophy.

Like most trained actors Mical has another job. Mical splits time as a Marketing Coordinator at Sol Marketing Concepts when he is not yapping on the TV or writing jokes for the Almost Late Show with Bobby Bones.

Mical brings to ME a passion for celebrating local artists and businesses in addition to 5 years of broadcast experience as former drive time DJ on KFMK Jammin’ 105.9. If you see Mical out on the streets reporting on the daily happenings in Austin, you can laugh at him. Just don’t point while you do it. That’s rude.