JUNE 23 • 2022 | 23

Boys, Randy Travis and Charlie Daniels.
Mardit was especially impressed by an 
experience with Loretta Lynn. 
“I found country stars to be warm and 
family-oriented, and I met Loretta Lynn in 
Pittsburgh at a sad time in our family,
” he 
explained. “During a conversation Loretta 
and I had, I mentioned that my mom was 
having health issues.
“Loretta was very sympathetic and asked 
for my mom’s phone number. Soon, I got 
a call from my mom, who expressed how 
thrilled she was to get an understanding 
hour’s call from Loretta, who later sent her 
an autographed album. I’ll never forget 
that.
” 
Mardit met his wife, a longtime coun-
try fan before meeting him, at a station 
event he hosted at the Michigan State Fair. 
From the start, synagogue attendance was 
important to both of them, and the family 
maintains membership at Congregation 
Beth Shalom in Oak Park.
Mardit also established community 
interests through station fundraisers for 
organizations such as St. Jude Children’s 
Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., a 
location in the heart of country music.
“Shortly after 12 years of tenure at W4, 
I became a consultant for country radio 
across many states,
” said Mardit, whose 
firm is Barry Mardit Media Consulting. 
“
A Lansing station going from rock to 
country has been one of my clients.
“I find out what people at a station want 
to do and help them get there. One of the 
more fun things is coming up with ideas 
for contests and, other times, it’s fun paying 
attention to the latest hit charts for pro-
gram planning.
“Occasionally, because of all the atten-
tion to the charts, I think I am doing what 
I was doing when I was in my preteens.
” 

Barry Mardit and 
Garth Brooks

Barry and Paula Mardit 
flank Carrie Underwood.

Barry plies 
 his trade in 
Pittsburgh.

COURTESY OF BARRY MARDIT

Barry with Tammy Wynette, 
the Judds and Randy Travis

