Meet Daniel Leon | The Chueco Tio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Leon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Yes, for me the most important factor with making my radio show a success has to be the history bits of the music that I feature throughout my show. Majority of emails I get are from listeners who tell me they really like the backstories of the music. I’ve been doing my show for over 5 years now, and for about the first year, I would play a set of six songs and just highlight one random song out of those 6 to give an in-depth backstory on. Eventually, it morphed into what it is now, where I give a sentence or two of about 95% of the music I play. The backstory that I give could be anything from the group to the recording studio. I also try to drop the year each song was released. I try mixing my playlist with the hits that we’re all familiar with, plus playing some of the lesser-known songs that should’ve been hits. These two things I think are a few of the major factors that put my show on the oldie radio map.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What I’m excited about is I believe I found a region in the states, that appreciates the old but gold candy for your ears. Also, I think, internet radio is the new way to go. For the longest time I been fighting against internet radio but recently I come to realization that people now days want their music on demand. About 2 months ago my show got scooped up my oldie program based out of Philadelphia, PA. I really like this station and how they go about their programming. They got old school DJ’s there some who have been in radio since the 1950’s. I’m learning new techniques, ideas and history about the music from these guys. There’s no better teacher then those who actually lived it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a fun question. Must visits spots in Tucson gotta be, BK Sonora Style Hot Dogs, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Bisbee Breakfast Club, 4th Avenue, downtown Tucson, Mount Lemmon, Kitt Peak National Observatory, Chiricahua National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Kartchner Caverns, Mi Nidito Restaurant, Eegees, hiking trails just outside of Tucson city limits and Madera Canyon. I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot of spots but that list should keep us out of trouble for about a week.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have two people I have to thank for steering me in this direction of music. First, and foremost, I have to thank my mom for introducing me to the greatest music ever recorded when I was little. I just took it a little further than what I think she ever envisioned. I would hear the songs growing up but then I wanted to know who sang the songs. Then it went to me wanting to know what year the song came out, where were they from, who was in the band or group.
Secondly, Scott Kerr. He was one of the managers at the first radio stations I was at. He steered me in a whole different direction that I was going with my show. Originally my idea for my show was to have it be a request dedication format. Scott, talked to me about it and he had the brilliant idea of making my show more about the history of the music.

Instagram: tiodannyoldies

Linkedin: tiodannyoldies

Twitter: tiodannyoldies

Facebook: tiodannyoldies

Youtube: Not yet but soon it’ll be: Tio Danny Oldies