The Breakfast Club with Mark and Paige
/This story was originally published in February of 2020. Since that time, Mark Warwick and Paige Posey have purchased WTZQ and are now the sole owners of Henderson County’s iconic radio station. Mark was very gratified by the response when the purchase was announced. “So many businesses contacted us,” recalls Mark. “They wanted to congratulate us and tell us that they really want to support us. That was terrific.”
For her part, Paige is proud of what they have accomplished. “It feels really good to have worked so hard for something and then to have achieved it.”
6:00 AM: Friday Morning at WTZQ Radio Station, AM 1600 & FM 95.3
Mark Warwick, General Manager of WTZQ and one-half of the dynamic duo of The Breakfast Club with Mark and Paige, flips on his microphone. Another four hours of Henderson County’s most entertaining local radio show is off and running.
Mark: Good morning! Good morning everyone and welcome to Henderson County's favorite morning show, The Breakfast Club with Mark and Paige!
Visitors walking into the front door of WTZQ’s studios are greeted by a large portrait of Elvis hanging over the fireplace in the reception area. Rows of awards and recognition plaques pile up in the corner of the room - too numerous to put on the walls, and collected by people too busy to find time to put them up. At the front of the collection are “Best of Blue Ridge” awards for Best Radio Personality and Best Local Radio Station.
It’s still pitch black outside on this cold winter morning as Mark efficiently preps the morning’s music log, organizes news reports, and records a Today in History segment. In the midst of this obviously well-practiced routine, Mark finds time to play a listener song request. The first half-hour of the morning show is a flurry of keyboard clicks, downloading files, reviewing the log of music and commercial spots, and sequencing the various show segments on an array of computer screens right behind the main studio microphone.
6:30 AM
Somewhere in the dark, Mark’s significantly better half, Paige Posey, is making the drive from their Flat Rock home to the Duncan Road location of WTZQ. She will make her on-air appearance during the 7:00 hour and prudently takes advantage of having just a few more minutes to get herself together each morning.
6:53 AM
Paige arrives at the station with her trademark smile and the practiced demeanor of a professionally trained actor waiting for the curtain to go up. During the first hour, Mark has set the stage, cued the music, and arranged the lights for the true opening act of The Breakfast Club.
7:04
Following news at the top of the hour, Henderson County gets a winter weather update with local weather legend, Paul Speranza. Paul forecasts the first significant snow of the new year but promises no accumulation on the roads “There you have it, folks! Enjoy the snow and there’s no need to run out a buy all the bread and milk,” chimes in Mark as the weather segment closes.
7:11
Paige walks into the studio 20 seconds before The Breakfast Show goes live. She slides into her studio chair, adjusts the microphone hanging in front of her, and picks up the notes Mark has placed on the counter where she sits. With 5 seconds to spare, she is ready to go. Mark flips on the mic and cues the show’s opener.
Announcer: Wake up Sleepy Heads! It’s time for the Breakfast Club … with Mark and Paige!
Mark: Good morning, Good morning! It’s 11 minutes after seven in the morning on a fabulous Friday. Good morning, Paige!
Paige: Good morning, my love.
At the heart of the morning show is the animated banter between Mark and Paige - at a time of day when most couples are fumbling with coffee makers and struggling to formulate anything other than single syllable sentences.
It would be easy to assume that Mark and Paige - both veterans of the stage at Flat Rock Playhouse - simply alternate back and forth between their true personalities and their on-air personas when the mic goes live. But Mark says that is not the case at all. “It sounds cheesy, but I promise, when you hear us on the radio, if you were standing in our kitchen at night, you would hear the exact same kind of conversations - playing with each other and laughing. It's the same thing at home and on air.”
7:22
Paige does the This Day in History segment. In 1893 Coca Cola was trademarked. In 1958, a chimp named Ham was blasted into space for 16 minutes. Paige strays from the script at this point and ad-libs, “As it turns out, I’ve got a big ham right here with me in the studio.” The couple both laugh and it’s hard not laugh with them. Their mirth is contagious, and it’s easy to understand why people enjoy listening.
7:32
It’s time for the daily Trivia Time question. “What modern-day country is considered the birthplace of coffee?”
The couple attribute the ease of their morning show conversations to the fact that they really do have fun together “I can understand where some people would say, ‘Oh, I could never do that’,” says Mark. “But we were working together when we met and, in one way or another, we’ve been working together ever since.”
7:39
It’s time for WTZQ’s Word of the Day segment and today’s word is “macabre” - meaning disturbing or horrible and pronounced “mah käb.” Mark’s eyes light up at the opportunity to make a really bad pun and Paige is more than willing to provide the set up:
M: I really like this word. Macabre
P: Oh, really? Can you use it in a sentence?
M: Why, yes I can. “I have some corn on … macabre!”
P: Now that really is horrifying …. just like this conversation.
The studio explodes into more laughter - Marks high volume guffaws reverberating off the studio walls and mixing with Paige’s trademark cackle.
7:45
Loyal listener Dave has requested any song by Dolly Parton and Mark has the perfect one selected. He glances over at Paige with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, starts the song, and announces on-air, “This is what I say to Paige every morning when she walks in!”
(Dolly Parton singing)
Why’d you come in here lookin' like that
In your cowboy boots and your painted-on jeans …
Why'd you come in here looking like that!
Paige was raised in Mississippi, and Mark grew up in Lumberton, NC. They both arrived in Flat Rock originally to work at the Flat Rock Playhouse. When they met in 1987, Mark was assigned as an intern to help Paige who was in charge of props. ”He’s been working for me ever since!” she laughs.
“I remember seeing her walking across the courtyard,” says Mark. “It was kinda love at first sight.” The couple married in 1990 and will celebrate their 30th anniversary this year.
Mark and Paige are seen at just about every significant event in Henderson County. Appearances at parades, fund-raisers, and the major county events like the Apple Festival are all part and parcel of their lives now. When asked what it is like to be so famous, Paige laughs for several seconds. “Yeah. We like to tell people we are world-famous in Henderson County.”
7:50
It’s time for WTZQ’s hourly Elvis Pressly song. Mark selects A Big Hunk o’ Love and jokes that playing Elvis every hour “is in the bylaws.” When asked what it is about Elvis that makes him such a fan, Mark replies, “It’s like saying, why is the sky blue? I'm not really sure how it happened, but it’s real. When Paige and I had our 10th anniversary, we went to Vegas and we renewed our vows at the Graceland wedding chapel.”
Mark was the first to arrive at WTZQ, starting in 1995. He eventually left for a stint doing marketing for a company that owned assisted living facilities. Then, in 2003 he received two phone calls that changed the trajectory of his career. The first call was from his boss explaining that Mark would need to move away from Henderson County if he wanted to keep his job. Just a few hours later, a second call came from a new owner of WTZQ asking Mark to return to the station as General Manager. The owner was hopeful that Mark would say yes but admitted he was not sure he could afford him. Anxious to stay in Flat Rock, Mark quickly replied, “You have no idea how affordable I just became.”
7:57
The second hour of The Breakfast Club is about to wrap up. As they do repeatedly during the morning, Mark and Paige tag team some of their signature lines.
P: Alright everyone. You know what we say. If you ain't got nothing to do …
M: …you ain't listening to the Q! Happy Friday everybody!
8:15
Mark does the “Small Business Spotlight” with an author offering to help people write love letters for Valentine’s Day. During the 10 minute interview, Mark exudes a genial mixture of enthusiasm, empathy, and humor.
The segment finishes and Mark cues up some beach music. WTZQ’s music selection is as eclectic as the variety of apples grown in Henderson County. The format this morning bounces from Electric Light Orchestra to Sinatra to Elvis and even the occasional polka. The phone rings and it is another request. This time it is Bonnie asking for “Once Upon a Time” by John Gary. Mark wraps up the quick conversation with Bonnie; “OK, darlin’. It’s good to hear your voice. Love you too!”
8:30
Mark does the United Way Moment with Sarah from the local agency. Mark and Paige give a lot of time to community service and served as United Way Campaign Co-Chairs in 2015. Mark also served as the President of the Board in 2016.
Watching Mark and Paige banter back and forth, it’s easy to see - and feel - the love and respect they hold for each other. Sitting in the business office between segments, Paige marvels about Mark’s people skills, “Mark makes everyone feel comfortable. They just relax and really open up to him. He’s a great interviewer."
Back in the studio, Mark sings Paige’s praises as well. “She has the greatest radio voice ever. She knows how to be natural, and yet, show business all at the same time. She knows how comedy works. She knows how to help tell a story. She’s just amazing that way.”
8:53
Mark and Paige do a live promotion for Valentine’s Day at Harvey’s @ The Henderson. Listening to them talk about Harvey’s has the feel of a heartfelt recommendation from a trusted friend. Their low-key delivery is infused with sincerity and good humor.
9:07
Paige dashes back from the business office and into the studio. Thirty seconds later she and Mark are bantering about Ground Hog Day and the upcoming Super Bowl. Their conversation seamlessly segues into a live ad for Old Rock Cafe in Chimney Rock. “Holy Smokes!” exclaims Mark. “There ain’t nothing like homemade pasta!”
9:25
Paige looks out the window to check on a fat, gray Mockingbird that has been chasing all other birds from the feeder hanging just outside the studio window. Paige has dubbed the bird, “Murray the Worry.” Huge snowflakes are slowly floating down in a silent cascade of white and cold. Murray sits on a nearby tree limb looking stern - and very plump. Paige marvels at how engaged people get when they listen to the morning show. “People were calling or emailing us to help us fix our mockingbird problem for days after we talked about Murray on air.” The station refers to their listeners as the “Q-munity” and the constant stream of phone calls to the station reinforces the impression that the community is very real.
9:28
Mark takes another call - someone wants to tell him about the snow at their house. Mark assures them again that there is no cause for panic.
As residents of Flat Rock, Mark and Paige are also vocal ambassadors for the Village. As an intern at the Playhouse in 1987, Mark dreamed of coming back for good. “I always said we'd come back here someday. I love living in Flat Rock. I love being able to tell people that I live in Flat Rock.”
Paige, who serves on the Flat Rock Village Council, enjoys the community she finds in the Village. “We've got friends immediately around us in our neighborhood, And we are 5 to 10 minutes to everything. The Cinema is right there. The restaurants and the bustle of Rainbow Row. And the Playhouse just around the corner.”
9:32
Paige is on air and running down a long list of National Days being celebrated on this particular day. She looks over at Mark and it is her turn to zing her partner:
P: Mark guess what? It’s National Bigwig Day. It’s your day, Mark! Because you certainly have a big wig!
M: (Grabbing his famous curly locks and tugging on them) This is not a wig! Do you think I would pay to wear this?
9:36
Mark answers another call. The snow is starting to stick and the world outside the WTZQ studios is rapidly being blanketed in white. Listener Rose calls to tell them it is snowing.
The morning show is winding down and Mark has already been at work for four hours. When asked about the early hours, Mark is philosophical. “The only thing I miss is just relaxing morning time - sitting in your pajamas, having some coffee, listening to the radio, getting yourself geared up for your day. When we get up (he snaps his fingers) our day has started!”
9:40
Dan and Madison walk in to pick up free tickets they won because Madison correctly identified Ethiopia as the birthplace of modern coffee drinking.
9:59
Another Breakfast Club show is in the books. Mark and Paige sign off with their signature phrase.
M: When you get a chance this weekend, …
P: ..do something nice for somebody.
M: Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy the Super Bowl and Groundhog Day. We'll see you bright and early Monday morning ….
(M & P Together) …on the radio!
The Breakfast Club is done, but the day is just beginning for Mark and Paige. Mark will spend the rest of the day working on the business side of a radio station, and Paige will soon be leaving to go to her other job at the Flat Rock Playhouse.
For the rest of us, however, our morning is slightly better informed, a little more energized, and definitely much brighter … making this reporter even more grateful than ever to be living in Flat Rock, NC where we can listen to Mark and Paige … On the Radio!
