He began his broadcasting career in 1962 at WLHA-FM, the student radio station of University of Wisconsin-Madison, spinning records on a weekly jazz music show. His professional career began at WSPT, Stevens Point in 1963, and then followed disc jockey/program director stints at WISM, Madison, WDUZ, Green Bay, and a ten-year run at WTSO/WZEE, Madison. Staying in Madison, he moved into general management, putting WMMM-FM on the air in 1991, and then at WOLX-FM from1995-1997. In 1998, he moved on to Troy Research, a radio, television and motion picture market research firm. Throughout his broadcast career, he was dedicated to the music of his times, especially that of aspiring local musical artists and groups, whose recordings he frequently included in his play lists, regardless of the formats with which he worked. He was honored with the Gavin Report’s Program Director of the Year award in 1987 and 1988; Billboard Magazine’s Operations Manager of the Year in 1988; WAMI’s Music Person of the Year Award in 2001, and the Madison Area Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Congratulations, this is very greatly deserved. I used to listen to that golden voice way back when and I still love to hear Jonathan on my replays of “Rhythm and Booms” recording. Top of the class!!!
An awesome broadcaster. He taught me how radio was suppose to be done. One of the greatest human beings that I’ve ever known.
A wonderful broadcaster as a disk jockey, music director, program director, operations manager, and general manager. I worked with him in Madison at WISM and reviewed WTSO/WZEE in 1989 on an NAB grant to research the operations of the stations.
I worked in the newsroom at WISM as Nick O’Neill and did late afternoon news late sixties and early seventies . John would work in the next studio and I could watch him work his magic on air as I wrote news for the next time slot. His delivery was impeccable and his witty commentary on music and artists on the money. Always the entertainer.
May the 4th be with you Doctor Jonathan. Congrats to that guy who tucked his little tiny records into their little tiny beds at the end of his air shift. He never hired me, but I hired him for my wedding. That’s a switch! old_guy_from_61@hotmail.com if you still remember how to typo. 🙂
A very influential man for me personally. Dr. Jon had more influence on more young broadcasters than I’m sure he realizes. I’ve been very fortunate in my radio career, having moved in to Market Manager at our group in 2018. I use the memory of my time at WTSO/Z-104 as my guide moving forward and my motivation to treat my staff the way I was treated by the good Dr.
Dr. Johnathan ! What a great DJ. in 1978 while at WISM he agreed to listen to my demo tape from a program I did at WLHA. He kindly told me exactly why I had no future in Radio…. I respected him so much that it didn’t hurt. Was lucky enough to have another opportunity at a different college, but just for a semester or two. I would love to see him again.
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The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was created in 1989 to honor those broadcasters who have devoted their careers to broadcasting and its development in Wisconsin, to recognize their outstanding service to broadcasting, their communities, and their state, over at least a fifteen-year career in the industry, at least ten of which were served in Wisconsin.The first twelve members of the Hall of Fame were inducted during the 1989 WBA Summer Conference. Inductees are chosen each year from among nominations by WBA members. Broadcasters who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame include managers, personalities, engineers, reporters and those broadcasting pioneers who were at once all of the above.
In October, 1989, Alfred C. Sykes, then Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, came to Wisconsin to formally dedicate a Hall of Fame display, including plaques honoring the inductees, at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library in Madison. In 2010, due to remodeling of the SHSW facility, the display was removed. The Hall of Fame exhibit was relocated to the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in 2015 and enhanced with a touchscreen display featuring all inductee commemorative videos.
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