NYC Radio: Jim Kerr Celebrates 40-Years On-Air

Jim Kerr doesn’t have to reach back very far to find an indelible memory from his 40 years as a New York morning radio DJ, according to David Hinckley at The NY Daily News.

Shelli Sonstein with Jim Kerr

It happened last October in Astoria, when Kerr emceed an appearance by Paul McCartney at Frank Sinatra High School.

“Paul’s band would play a couple of songs, then I’d come out to ask him questions,” says Kerr. “We were sharing a mic. And at one point I looked over and thought, ‘This is exactly what George Harrison saw’ when he and Paul were in the Beatles.

“I can’t even describe my feelings in that moment. Remember, I was a kid whose whole world changed when I saw the Beatles on ‘Ed Sullivan.’ ”

For some New Yorkers, conversely, the radio world has changed little since March 1974, when 21-year-old Jim Kerr took over the morning show at WPLJ.  After 15 years there he moved to WPIX, WYNY, WMXV, WQCD and Y107, before settling into his current gig with long-time sidekick Shelli Sonstein at WAXQ 104.3 FM in 2003.



For years he was also Rush Limbaugh’s primary substitute. He filled in for John Gambling and admits he’s always wanted to try a morning radio show in the full-service style of “Today” or “Good Morning America.” ( Tom: Clear Channel take note!)

But Kerr has been perfectly happy with rock ’n’ roll, he adds, having been a fan since his early days hearing Dick Purtan on WKNR and Big Jim Edwards on CKLW.

“I wanted to do what they did,” Kerr says. “It seemed cool.”

Kerr also developed a cool style — laid-back, pleasant, upbeat.

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