Mike Soileau Celebrates 31 Years on the Air in Lake Charles

Coming up on Friday, I will celebrate my 31st anniversary of being on the radio right here in my hometown. For the past 31 years, I have been broadcasting on the same four frequencies in Lake Charles: 99.5 FM, 92.9 FM, 1470 AM and 1290 AM.

It is hard to believe it has already been over three decades. Boy, it has flown by. I started in 1990 at then LA99 and 1470AM  in Westlake. I did a Cajun music program in the mornings and a night time show on LA99.

In the mid 1990s, I did a show called Louisiana Bandstand which was a Cajun, Swamp Pop, and Zydeco show on 92.9 KJEF in Jennings before moving the show to Lake Charles in the early 2000s on 99.5 FM.

In 2005, my late father, Dave Soileau, and I had the honor of starting up Cajun Radio 1470/1290AM, which was the first 24-hour station strictly committed to only playing Louisiana music. I also started doing an afternoon show on Gator 99.5, and in 2015, I became the morning show host and that is where I sit today.

As I reflect over my career, I have been fortunate to do all sorts of one-of-a-kind things, but what I am most thankful for is you, our listeners. Without you listening, I would never have been able to live out my dream of being a radio DJ and broadcast to all of you here in my hometown.

I have had the chance to interview some of the coolest Country and Cajun artists in my career and become really good friends with them, do artist cruises with them, emcee many of our our local festivals for the past 20 years, and meet so many of our Southwest Louisiana listeners.

I am honored to have been elected into the Cajun French Music Hall of Fame as a DJ, been voted the best radio personality for the past few years, and been voted the best radio show, and it is all because of you.

Here is to 31 years of radio broadcasting with you folks. I have loved every minute of it and look forward to many more years together.

Cheers and laissez les bon temps rouler. Thank you and merci, mon ami.