After 25 years in mornings at Audacy Rhythmic CHR “Z104” WNVZ Norfolk, Brandon ‘Shaggy’ Stokes has officially exited the station.
Shaggy has been off the air at WNVZ since the end of May when the station rebranded its morning show as “Mornings with Natalia” around former co-host Natalia Soniak.Soniak has spent her entire career at the Audacy Norfolk cluster previously spending time programming WNVZ and Hot AC “94.9 The Point” WPTE. She also currently tracks nights on AC “101.3 2WD” WWDE.
Shaggy had been part of the morning show at WNVZ since 2001 with the station dropping the show’s over forty year “Z Morning Zoo” moniker in favor of “Shaggy & Friends” at the start of 2024. Stokes was sentenced earlier this year to a mostly suspended two-year prison sentence after being found guilty on charges of driving while intoxicated and obstruction of justice following an incident last year. He was required to serve 30 days in prison over fifteen weekends starting in March.
Stokes is stating that two of the station’s benchmark events, the annual “Shaggfest” concert and “Stuff the Bus” charity drive will continue under his purview. He wrote on Facebook:
After 25 years, I am no longer on Z104. And I’m not gonna lie… typing that sentence is WEIRD. For basically my entire adult life, I’ve woken up at ridiculous hours, talked way too much into a microphone, embarrassed myself publicly on a regular basis—Torture Tuesday, anyone?—slept on buses, put on concerts, gave away a LOT of stuff and somehow convinced Hampton Roads that a grown man named “Shaggy” should be allowed near a radio microphone. 😂 And somehow… you guys kept listening. For 25 YEARS. That’s crazy.
But when I look back, what I’m proudest of isn’t a microphone, a studio or a job title. It’s what WE did together. I know that might sound a little lame, but I’m serious. I’m just a local kid who worked really hard to help people and become someone who mattered in media and, more importantly, someone who mattered to this community. The families we helped. The kids we surprised. The concerts we packed. And yes… Shaggfest is coming back. 🙂
The ridiculous mornings we shared. The community events—way too many to name—but if something was happening in the 757, there was a good chance I was there or helping somehow. And more than ONE MILLION toys collected for children in our community. And just so there’s no confusion: Stuff the Bus continues with me this year too. ❤️ That’s the stuff I’ll remember. And most importantly, I’ll remember YOU. The people who listened on the way to work. The parents who had me on while taking their kids to school. The people who came to Shaggfest. The families who brought toys to Stuff the Bus. The families I met and the stories I heard through all those years of living on a bus for more than 120 hours in random parking lots. And every person who has ever screamed… “SHAGGY!!!” …from approximately 300 feet away in a random parking lot. 😂😂
You guys took a kid named Brandon and somehow turned him into Shaggy. You accepted my kids as your nephews, and the love and respect you show them whenever you see them out means more to me than you could ever imagine. After 25 years, there’s one thing I can say with absolute certainty: I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together—and I’m grateful that you helped me become someone you trusted to be part of your day.
So, what’s next? That’s the fun part. 😏 For the first time in a very long time, there’s a blank page in front of me. And I’ve got some BIG ideas for what goes on it. Different opportunities. Same Shaggy. I’m still going to make people laugh. I’m still going to help this community. I’m still going to do things that make my kids question every decision I’ve ever made. 😂 And hopefully, every once in a while, make them say: “Yep, that’s my dad—and he’s the best.” Most importantly… I’m not going anywhere, 757. This community has supported me for 25 years. Now it’s time to see what we can do with the next 25.
