A Talk with Miami Beach Gay Pride Grand Marshal Elvis Duran!

As the host of the #1 morning show for more than 20 years, which I listen to every day driving to work, Elvis Duran is considered to be one of the most powerful figures in radio.

He was recently inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame! He has been instrumental in launching the careers of many of today's superstars like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith and more! His sense for recognizing new talent in the industry is unprecedented, and has even garnered Elvis his own segment on NBC's The Today Show called 'Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month' that allows him to continue to put stars on the map!

It was very exciting to sit down with Elvis Duran, just a few weeks prior to his appearance as Grand Marshall at Miami Beach Gay Pride on Sunday, April 10.

When did you realize you had the gift of gab?

Oh my God, every time I got a report card, it said I talked too much and I have been talking ever since.

What was your first professional job?

Baskin Robbins. But my first job in the biz was at a little bitty radio station in McKinney, Texas. I got a job running the board because a girl who worked with me at Baskin Robbins, [her] father worked there. When I was 15, they asked me to open the mic and start doing a show. The station did not have even one listener...Seriously, one day I offered $50 to the first person who called in, and nothing!

How did The Elvis Duran Show come about?

In the '80s, radio men and women moved from city to city where the jobs were. I was invited to do an afternoon show in New York in 1988, and they moved me to morning in the '90s.

Who are your inspirations in radio and why?

There was a radio personality I listened to growing up, Ron Chapman. I felt like he was one of my friends and I was a loner kid. He talked about things going on, and I thought it was a cool thing.

Your crew's chemistry seems so good on the radio. Is there a way you work on that or is it natural?

Jameson liquor helps a lot... LOL! We just get along real well. We are a struggling dysfunctional family. We just like hanging out with each other.

What is your all-time favorite skit?

I get really nervous with the phone taps, but they are so popular. I don't really have a favorite skit, but I do like the vibrator race skit. I also love when we have live performers on the show, because it is a gift from the artist to our listeners.

You were recently voted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Tell me about this experience and how it felt.

It was humbling, as you show up at their building in Chicago and you see the walls plastered with pictures of all the other people from radio who have been inducted. Once I saw the walls, I understood the importance of it all. I felt very humbled and honored.

How did you meet your boyfriend Alex?

He works at the Staten Island Zoo, and every year we send Greg T. to see if the groundhog sees its shadow. One day I received a Facebook request from a guy (Alex) who works at the zoo. We started chatting with each other and then we got along so well, we started dating, and the rest is history.

Now that marriage equality has spread nationwide, are you guys planning on marrying?

You fantasize about getting married and then when it becomes legal, you have to think about it. We are putting a lot of time and thought into it. One day it would be great to be married.

In the last couple years you lost a lot of weight. Any words of wisdom for our readers who are trying to do the same?

You have to make up your mind to do it. I tried for many years, and then I had the gastric sleeve put in and it's the best thing I have done in my life. I wasn't feeling well before and now I feel awesome.

After all these years in the public eye, is there something we would be surprised to know about you?

We basically let it all out, so I don't think so.

Are you excited about being the grand marshal of Miami Beach Gay Pride, and what are you looking forward to doing in South Florida?

Absolutely, I am excited. If I was going to be a grand marshal of any parade I would choose South Beach. Our community is such an important part of South Beach. It's a colorful, fun, and festive place.

What does the future hold for Elvis Duran?

I don't know. I love doing what I do, and I can never imagine retiring. I am going to have a good time and enjoy the rest of the ride.

For more information on Elvis Duran, visit elvisduran.com. For more on his morning show, visit elvisduran.iheart.com. Follow him on social media (Facebook, Twitter) @elvisduran