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WJMI-FM pre-1973

D

danfling

My favorite radio station of all time was WJMI-FM - Stereo 99.

It was owned by the same people who owned WRBC-AM, and many of the announcers were the same. The station relied (or responded to) radio requests from its listeners.

This was the first time that I had known radio stations to employ women as disc jockies.

One prominent one was Mary Lewis. I understand that she is now a radio executive in some city up north. She was also on television in a commercial for Harrold Chevrolet in Canton. I know that the commercial ran on channel 16 - it may have run on all the television stations.

Another announcer was Diane Lester.

Does anyone have any information on Mary Lewis or Diane Lester? Also, does anyone have memories of the station?
 
Station was in old WRBC building ( Now Sound and Communications) and was owned by
McCarty-Holman (Jitney Jungle). They did have some good female jocks, and the music was
enjoyable. It was sold at a vey low price to WOKJ and the current format was born. JBI
 
Bill McCarty of McCarty - Hollman (Jitney Jungle) and his family owned half WRBC/WJMI, Tom Wright owned the other half.
They sold the FM for $90,000 to Zane Rhoden. It was 100KW from the old self supporting WRBC (originally WJDX) tower.
The weight of the FM antenna is probably what brought the old tower down.
When I was there, we had a full lineup of female air talent.
Also, Jim Reihle -- Tanner's side-kick at JDX and Y-100 -- started as weekends at JMI.
I was listening to him one Sunday morning and he began telling Catholic jokes. I hotlined him.
Within 20 minutes he had then Bishop Brunini on the air with him. The Bishop was sharing some
of his favorite Catholic jokes. Jim was a Spanish teacher at Brinkler or Lanier. Very talented writer.
Great imagination.
We never made much money with WJMI. Very early days of FM. It more or less broke even.
Music was very light MOR...with a tilt toward jazz...particularly in the evening and nights.
 
When I came down to Jackson to take my FCC license test in November, 1971, Walt took me in to WRBC that morning, and I bummed a ride (too young to drive) downtown with two other people taking the test. One was Gary Phillips, and it seems like the other was a WJMI jock. I humor myself and say it was Bob Pittman, so I can at least feign a brush with greatness.
 
beachguy3b said:
robgrayson said:
I humor myself and say it was Bob Pittman, so I can at least feign a brush with greatness.
Click to expand...
Hey, you knew me, Little Grayson. How much more greatness could you handle them? ;D
Click to expand...

You are correct, sir! My journey in broadcasting, by luck of the draw, twist of fate, and capricious whim of the Almighty, brought me into close proximity with a number of talented giants of the industry, whose headphones I am not worthy of carrying.
 
It might have been Bob. He worked part-time at WRBC and WJMI around that time.
Some of us thought he was an OK part-timer, but probably didn't have much of a future in
the business. Oops.
 
What was JMI's format 1973 to 1981?
 
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