Longtime Akron radio personality Jim Chenot died suddenly Wednesday.
He was 62-years-of-age, according to ohio.com.
Chenot was a longtime and well-known local radio personality, having spent more than 30 years behind the microphone at WONE 97.5-FM, WAPS 91.3-FM and other stations.
His fans appreciated his deep knowledge of popular music, his sense of humor and catchphrases, and how he often treated local artists on his Sunday evening show, Jim Chenot’s Radio Sandbox, as if they were already big stars.
Before settling in at 91.3 for the last 15 years, Chenot, a Canton native, got his start in radio in Muscle Shoals, Ala., and spent time at stations in Canton, Massillon and Cleveland before becoming one of the signature voices on the then-new WONE. He worked the midday and evening slots, then was teamed up with a young news reporter, Kathy Vogel, to do the morning show, where they worked from 1994-96 and again from 1998-2001.
Vogel, now an on-air personality at WHBC Mix 94.1 FM, praised Chenot for letting her “blossom and grow in a time when female co-hosts were told to sit there and be cute.”
After being fired from WONE in 2001, Chenot was hired in 2002 at The Summit by Bill Gruber and General Manager and Executive Director Tommy Bruno, who described acquiring Mr. Chenot as a turning point for the station.
“We had a real, experienced on-air personality and talent. He came in and was our main guy and I remember the staff being shocked that we landed Jim Chenot. It really was a moment for us.” Bruno said.
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At 5 p.m. Friday, The Summit will air a tribute to Mr. Chenot beginning with one of his favorite songs, All You Need Is Love, from which Mr. Chenot took his most recent sign-off, “Love is all you need.” The staff will then play songs by Chenot’s favorite artists including The Beatles, Lou Reed, Johnny Cash and others in his honor.
Jim Chenot is a class act that will leave a lasting impression on all of those who knew and heard him.
ReplyDeleteHe was one of the kindest, coolest, and corniest people on the planet, and we are all better off having had him around.
We will miss Jim's sharing vast musical knowledge and his cheerful voice.
Goodnight Jim, wherever you are.
I never knew or met Jim however, I feel as if I've lost a part of my past. I loved to listen to Jim on the radio over the years, first on WONE and later on The Summit. He really was my favorite radio personality. I enjoyed his humor, his knowledge, his music choices and literally his voice. I wish that I could have met him. He will be missed on the radio waves by many anonymous listeners.
ReplyDeleteI will always remember making trips to Cleveland for a Tribe or Browns game or a concert and hoping to catch him on WONE for the trip when I was younger. Being from Youngstown I was always just outside the broadcast reach of the station on a daily basis. When the Summit set up their sister station in Struthers I was pleased to learn he was a member of that team. Always enjoyed his voice and knowledge on the air. He was a true professional and will be sorely missed. RIP Sir.
ReplyDeletePeace, love, rock&roll, and good night... Jimmy Chenot...Chenot... Wherever you are!! Miss you man.
ReplyDelete