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