Jimmy Wonder "The Ball of Thunder"...His Story

WCIN brought us many local heroes and celebrities...the local listener knew that when they were tuned in 1480AM they would be thoroughly entertained by both the music and the smooth, clear, phonetically correct, mellow, and captivating sounds of the announcer on the air. Most of the on-air personalities, and they definitely were personalities, had their "own thing". They would come onto their shift with a certain style that let you know it was their time to command the airwaves. As time went on...these personalities were known by their "on air personna". Most of us who are over forty remember a young man who was simply known as "The Boy Wonder". He captivated WCIN listeners for a number of years and has gone on to make quite a name for himself in the entertainment industry..specifically the radio industry. I caught up to James Alexander and asked him to give viewers of this blog an insight into what got him into radio, some of the highlights of his time on WCIN and what he's doing now and what is in the future for him.


Jimmy Wonder...The Ball of Thunder






In his words...This is the Jimmy Wonder Story!

From the desk of James Alexander

My first inclination of being a radio personality begins at a young age (approx. 10 y/o); I am from and grew up in Cincinnati during the “CIN” era of Buggs Scruggs, Jockey Jack, Eddie Castleberry, Tom Knox- TKO, Ed Wright and Little Abraham – Rev Swanson.

I would envision myself on the radio w/ a style of the likes of Buggs Scruggs (flair, personality, magnetism, popularity, good diction and a proper use of the English language)

Let’s fast forward to my upcoming junior year in high school, 1967 (Walnut Hills) during summer practice; playing defensive line while leaping to block the quarterback’s pass – my defensive line mate & I locked our feet and I came down on the side of my knee…my football career ended that afternoon

By this time I had really intensified as my plan was to go to The Ohio State University play football, go to the pros, obtain my law degree and become an attorney, judge, and / or politician   

Fast forward to the next year – leg was healing and the remembrance of broadcasting hit my mind; it was followed by a call to Tom Knox – “TKO” who became my mentor

Flashing back… I had the opportunity to visit my first radio station and meet Bill Moss (WVKO – Columbus) and later Tom Hankerson (WCIN); meeting Bill Moss, like Tom Hankerson were pivotal points – these gentlemen were not only popular (on-air) but were the Program Directors; they wore shirt &ties, had an office, people coming to them for clearance, when they spoke, people listened and followed their directives; this again was pivotal for a young man to see these Black men in action in 1967. You never know whose watching you and the impact that it will have on their lives

Back to Tom Knox – it was him that took an interest in preparing me for my goal – I was the pre-eminent for his “Radio Workshop” where numerous individuals followed after me

It all culminated on an August evening in 1968 (at the age of 17) when the then Program Director, Bob Hudson went out of town to an industry convention – Knox put me on the air not late night / weekends but from 6p-8p.

In retrospect Hudson had to of known; although TKO was a “free spirit” that would have been a bit much!

It obviously worked out as we Fast forward (one month) to the beginning of my senior year…The Jimmy Wonder era began!

My first shift was what we call in the industry – afternoon drive; from 3p-6p (again un-heard of) a beginner and being just 17 years old)

The journey continues to be “illustrious” – I was at WCIN for 41/2 years, then WDAO “Da-you” in Dayton, New Orleans, and Chicago, Detroit (twice, Houston and Dallas

I continued to achieved notoriety – while in Detroit (WJLB) the station achieved the #1 rating (overall) and forced the primary competitor (WDRQ) out of the format (the analogy would be like The Lakers forcing the Celtics – out of the league / out of the game)

Similar success in the other cities; have worked with and have been instrumental in the careers of many individuals and have had many mentors throughout the years

I am embarking on the next phase of my career w/ a group of industry persons for a Syndication company that will be a full service provider of programming content and other related areas

***P.S –

If “Jimmy Wonder” could return home to Cincinnati – what do you think???

Well, Jimmy, I think that it's an idea whose time has come....in this age of syndication....our community could use a seasoned professional!

~I'm curious to find out how the viewers of this blog will react to that possiblity. I'm posing that question to the community at large...

I WOULD LOVE TO ONCE AGAIN HEAR.....

Jimmy Wonder, The Ball of Thunder…the Men’s threat & the Ladies pet…a lover’s supreme & every girl’s dream.

The one who did it, hit it, split it but never quit it, but got away “wit” it

The Soul of the New Breed…The Teenage Wonder - The 8^th Wonder

WCIN Promotion by Steve Harris back in 1988

I can remember this just like it was yesterday. I watched Steve Harris put this thing together from all the pieces. I've always been fascinated by radio production and watching this process really intrigued me made me work on my production skills a whole lot more. I invite you now to go back to that spot at 107 Glenwood Ave. where we continuing the tradition of entertaining and informing the community from a very unique perspective.  Perhaps you were one who made the journey there to pick up tickets to a concert, records, cassettes or like so many others...just stopped by because you were in the area.  Maybe your mother or father drove you there and you listened to the station in the car while your "driver" sang at the top of his or her lungs 'cause their favorite song was playing.  Now, today you have that song forever burned into your spirit and you just smile because of that great memory. Memories...that's what WCIN made..lasting memories that will go with all of us who were fortunate to experience it from both the inside and the outside. As you listen to the sounds of 1988..think of all the good things that revolved around a radio station that you could and still can call your very own...I won't/can't forget and will do all that I can to make sure that you won't either....WCIN 1480AM FOREVER!

WCIN on Mothers Days



An old WCIN 1480
Transistor Radio



Just flashing back on how the radio station would treat such a special day....It goes without saying that every shift would be playing, at least twice, "I'll always love my momma", by the Intruders. Rev. Swanson would start the morning off reminding everyone that this coming Sunday...cause it would be a friday...and the spiritual obligations of us all to honor our mothers. I know that when I did the morning show...with different partners...we would always reflect on our youth and the positive influences that our mothers had on us. I'll tell you..the funniest thing I remember regarding morning show Mothers Day antics came from my partner Fredd E. Redd. This one year he told me and the audience that he was not going to get his mother a card, but was going to Walgreens, which was a couple doors up on Reading Rd., and pick out a card for his mom...but set it in a certain place in the rack and have her go to Walgreens and find the card and then tell her that's the card he would love for her to have...it was hilarious..and callers had some very interesting comments for Fredd.

....Yes, Mothers Day celebrations on Classic Oldies 1480WCIN were great! The listeners would also get a chance to get involved by calling in and saying something special about their mothers. That kind of positive interaction with the community is one of the things that I miss the most about us not having WCIN as a platform for this special segment of Cincinnati.

...Today, I tried to text a Happy Mothers Day wish to an old friend only to find out that it belonged to someone else. The person asked me who I was and I wondered "had it been that long since we talked that she didn't remember me"...I didn't want to believe it. She asked me if I was someone else and I told her that I was Everett Cork (Did I have to give my whole name..it really must have been a long time since we chatted).  Then the revelation that maybe I had reached the new owner of that number. I apologized for the disturbance...but she said it was fine because she listened to WCIN while she was growing up and she enjoyed that time and that the "accidental call" was fine and she was a 47 year old grandmother who remembered that Peabo Bryson and I resembled each other. She said the mistake..."made her day"..which actually made mine cause she said she couldn't wait to tell her sisters. I wished her a Happy Mothers Day..I directed her to this blog and hopefully she'll remain "tuned in" as I bring the old sounds and updates on the old jocks whereabouts and what they are up to today...