Jim Connors (DJ)

Jim "JC" Connors (b. May 7, 1940 - d. February 24, 1987) was a popular radio disc jockey of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s in the North Eastern United States, who tragically lost his life in a fatal car crash February 24 1987 in Virginia.

Highlights

Jim Connors earned 13 Gold records for discovering artists during his career including; Harry Chapin and his hit song "Taxi". Chapin later went on to write a song inspired by JC's life called "W*O*L*D". This song was based on a phone call Harry over heard while in studio with JC one day. The gentlemen began discussing what life as a "jock" is like, which led to Harry's inspiration for the hit song. Connors also earned gold with Chuck Berry for "My Ding-a-ling", Wayne Newton for "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast", Joe Simon - "Power of Love", Mouth & MacNeal "How do you Do?", and many others.

Career

During his career in radio, Connors worked at WKRI Providence/Warwick, RI as the Morning Drive Entertainer. Prior to that, he worked at WBSM New Bedford, Massachusetts as the AM Drive & PM Talk host with numerous levels of on air radio production & copy writing. At WCIB Falmouth, Massachusetts and Cape Cod, Massachusetts he was Vice President of Operations and AM drive time host with multiple levels of on air production responsibility. He left WROC and moved back to New England during this time due to the death of his father.

At WROC in Rochester, New York, he was Operations Manager & AM Drive Host. Under his guidance at WROC, his programs were consistently rated #1 in Nielsen data for adults 25-34 in the local market. While at WROC, he also performed multiple appearances for WROC-TV Weather, as the company worked through the largest media strike in Rochester's history.

At WYSL in Buffalo, New York, JC was the AM Drive host, his program was nationally rated by Arbitron #5, which was quite a substantial fact considering Buffalo was ranked 26th in the Nation during those years. Prior to working at WYSL, JC spent quite a few years at WMEX in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was the Music Director and AM drive host. His daily program was consistently rated #1 in the New England marketplace in the early 1970s. This is where he earned 13 gold records during his tenure for discovering artists and/or being first in the nation to promote their music. This is where Connors and Harry Chapin became friends, and JC helped launch Chapin's career. Foster Brooks and JC befriended each other during this time as well. This friendship, and similar style of humor, would be a talking point for the two men for years to come.

JC was well known amongst Radio programmers of the 1960s and 1970s for his Think Sheet. This was a monthly publication he would draft and send to fellow Radio Programmers making recommendations on new artists for National air, along with jock jokes and trend analysis based on market research. He was granted the opportunity to speak at the 2nd Annual Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WJET Erie, Pennsylvania was his first official radio job outside of duties performed in the U.S. Air Force. At WJET, he held the title of Production Director for Radio & Television channel 24. He was the mid day host for WJET, and was rated #1 in this market ahead of the morning drive team.

While serving in the United States Air Force, Connors was on President John F. Kennedy's communications team in the Florida Keys. The team aided directly in the Cuban blockade. Connors graduated from Pawtucket, Rhode Island West High School in 1958. He then entered the United States Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, where his career as a radio announcer began as a Program Director for the Armed Forces Radio Network, aside from numerous other billets he held during his Honorable time served.

Legacy

Jim Connors was survived by four children, his namesake is currently following his fathers footsteps with an emerging career in Programming working for PBS.

External links

• JimConnors.org
• JimConnors.net