MORGAN TAYLOR w i d e ey ed ,
like all the trauma that comes with it. I mean we don’t like the trauma but, we love the beauty that comes with it. I’ve fallen in love with people, radio and Columbus’ mission,” Morgan responded. am p lifie d, an d r a d io r ea d y I learned it was in her passion for serving people that By Tony Pettis she found her outlet and combined her love for radio here are very few times in this life to form her career. What started out as pure passion where you discover people who and a highschool internship through the Explorers defy the laws of human abilities. People program quickly began to turn into a profession. Soon who embody the very streets we walk, she would meet Dave Arwood of PMB broadcasting, personas that press upon the wallpaper now referred to as her on air radio dad, that would of our favorite restaurants, and voices jump start her career. Radio gave her the ability to that bring about cultural change. Wide reach people on a whole new level. She could live in eyed, amplified and radio ready. That’s my a world of pop music and celebrity tabloids, while also using her voice as an instrument to connect people. After four tedious years of studying, she earned her bachelor’s degree in integrated media from Columbus State University (go cougars!) and speedily began fusing her love for people and radio into a purpose that would serve our community. Now, as most of us know, the journey after graduation is no picnic. I asked what that process may have looked like for her. “Be prepared to put in major hours, to hustle, and to start from the bottom,” she said. With nine years and counting in the industry, Morgan knows a thing or two forsure. “It was in the hustle of trying to make it where I began to understand the importance of stepping back and resting. I learned that at 25.” The now 26-year-old Morgan credits a lot Morgan Taylor of her knowledge about radio and community to her family. friend, Morgan, (aka MT & “the Ging”). You wouldn’t know it from her soft and gentle spirit, After being tasked to write about Morgan, I began to think back on when we first but Morgan has had her fair share of troubled times. met. I had the honor of meeting her at one Her parents Roger and Lisa Nicholson were a big part of our many gatherings of greatness about of her journey. “As odd as it may sound, I believe he stayed alive for a year ago. To be honest, I can’t remember me,” Morgan said of her father. Roger was diagnosed exactly where it was, but while chatting it with heart disease when she was just 6 months old. He up, for some odd reason I couldn’t help but wanted nothing more than to see her succeed. notice her voice seemed so recognizable. “He wanted me to go to college, graduate, and be You can imagine my surprise and how thrilled I was to learn that I was standing successful,” Morgan said. Sadly enough, he did pass away. Exactly 3 years and a day apart from his passing, in the presence of a local celebrity.
T
Photo by Trey Walker LocaL
Photo by Trey Walker
As we laughed, I had the opportunity to tell her how I’d just heard her coming out of my stereo encouraging me to make a visit to The Landings here in Columbus. Influencer, advocate, and city socialite, she’s done it all. If you’ve been in the area for any length of time, odds are that you’ve probably heard the voice of Morgan Taylor. The Columbus native has been one of many of my favorite voices of our town. With her quirky sense of humor, unmatchable sense of style, and adorable persona, she’s definitely at the top of my list when it comes to my most influential friends. I’ve always admired Morgan and her ability to connect with others in our community via radio. I’ve also been curious as to the process of not only becoming a radio personality but the lifestyle in general. So I asked her. “I love love, and I love emotions, I love connecting with people in their emotions, I love life and all these weird aspects to life
6
APR I L 2020
