Jim Channel, aka “Capt. Whammo” is heard here on 95 1/2 WMET. Note the disco music and the WCFL-style jingle package in use at the time which kinda sounds out of place considering the year. They sound good at this point, but I’m at a loss as to why WMET had some of the worst jingles ever heard prior to ‘78… low budget, maybe? And, in your humble webmaster’s opinion, the imaging voice is and was horrible, but that’s made up for the fact that the format itself slams, and Whammo is in top form on this aircheck… lively and energetic.
This is a good quality recording, one you’ll enjoy as an alternative to samples of WLS around the same timeframe.
Loading ...
This is genius. Anyone who would call themselves “Captain Whammo” is my kind of idiot. If only the station was WMMO.
Love the advert for the K-Tel LP…how many of those stores they mentioned are still in business?
“Captain Whammo” is known by his real name these days—Jim Channell—and this is what he’s been up to since at least the mid-80’s when I met him at WAY-FM in Ft. Myers, FLA. From his bio at praisefm.com in Naples, FLA…
Jim grew up in Chicago, 4 blocks from Wrigley Field. He attended the Pillar of Fire Fundamental Christian Grammar School, Lake View High School and Columbia College, where he discovered an interest in radio. After consulting with Ken Draper, Program Director of his favorite radio station (Super WCFL AM 1000) Jim then entered Midwestern Broadcasting School. Upon graduation, Jim’s first radio job took him to WCHI – Chillicothe, Ohio. Jim had one goal in mind – to make it back to Chicago radio! His radio travels took him to WBEX – Chillicothe, Ohio; KCLU – Rolla, MO; Milwaukee, WI; KSTP – Minneapolis/St. Paul MN; and finally to WDHF/WMET – Chicago… all this before accepting Jesus.
Some of the highlights from Jim’s secular radio days include: Programming KUDL – Kansas City to the highest ratings in their history; Programming KSTP – Minneapolis/St. Paul from 13th to 2nd in 105 days which earned Jim nationwide recognition in all the trade publications; and in 1975 (as Captain Whammo) he was voted one of the Top 4 DJs in America by Billboard Magazine!
On November 5, 1978 through a series of God-ordained circumstances, Jim accepted Jesus as personal savior as he cried out for forgiveness of his sins.
Jim immediately turned his back on Rock N Roll radio, even though he would eventually receive four big money offers to return. He taught at Midwestern Broadcasting School for $6/hour for 2 ½ years as he was being disciple by Pastors-in-training at Moody Bible Institute.
In 1981, God opened a door for Jim to begin his Christian radio ministry. He has worked at WCRM – Dundee, IL; WCFL – Chicago (when it was a Christian station for a time); WAYJ – Ft. Myers, FL; World Harvest Radio WHME – South Bend, IN; and now since 1998 as Morning Host at Praise FM (WSRX) in Naples, FL.
Some of the highlights from Jim’s Christian radio days include: Programming WCFL – Chicago to have more listeners during music hours than any other Christian station in America; recording “Christian Countdown America” for 10 years (and seeing over 3,000 souls won for the Lord in that time); becoming the very first Program Director in the history of the WAY-FM ministries; programming WAYJ – Ft. Myers, Fl to the highest “hooper” ratings in their history; sharing Jesus on the air since 1998 at Praise FM (WSRX) – Naples, FL; and in February 2006 at God’s direction, started the world’s first Christian Oldies program, “Classic Christian Gold.” Through this ministry he shares Jesus in Africa, Kenya, New Zealand, the Phillipines, France, the UK, Alaska, Canada, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the U.S.A. Jim can also be reached via email at classchristian@aol.com
Jim’s goal in life is very simple – “To live in peace – and share Jesus”! Amen!
Joe.. I remember your stay in Fort Mud! We had a blast and working with Jim was a trip! I am so glad he’s still in the greater SWFLA market and been drivin’ limos and doing mornings on Praise FM… If I am 51, he’s in his 60’s and still going strong.. You can knock him down, but he get’s right back up… And to you and your neat career in Radio and now NBC-20 in Springfield as a Miss.State weather grad, way to go! “Skipper T.” from those Way-Fm days and WCIL-FM in Carbondale, where Joe grew up listening to this old guy….
A P.S. – The date on this aircheck is April 6, 1978. The imaging voice is that of PD Gary Price, who kept the imaging in-house. Jingles were done on the cheap in the ‘DHF days till September ‘76, when the station bought a package from TM Productions and had it redone with the format change. The TM shotgun jingles in Whammo’s aircheck arrived in early ‘78 and stayed till the format change to AOR. It should not be a surprise that ‘MET used them because Gary had worked at WCFL (where the TM shotguns were the station’s signature for its last four years at a rocker) before coming to WDHF.
I went to the same church as Jim Channell in the mid 80’s and worked with him on the Christian Countdown America radio program as well as WCFL AM 1000 after it became a Christian station. He was great to work with and a strong man for God.
When he left Illinois, it left a big hole in Chicago radio…. Florida’s gain….