R.I.P.: Danny Simar, Longtime WFMF Baton Rouge Morning Co-Host

 

Danny Simar

Danny Simar, known to Baton Rouge radio listeners as "Jim Nasium," passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the age of 69 after a 30-year battle with multiple sclerosis. 

A beloved figure in local broadcasting, Simar co-hosted the popular morning show on WFMF (FM 102.5) alongside Randy Rice from 1979 to 1990, becoming a household name in the region during the 1980s. His radio persona, "Jim Nasium," was a "countrified" alter ego that brought humor, wit, and a unique charm to the airwaves, making him a standout in an era when radio was a primary source of in-car entertainment.

Born in Orange, Texas, to Wanda and Roy Simar, Danny moved to Baton Rouge in 1979 with his wife, Cheryl Boyd, whom he married in 1976. His career began as a sports reporter at WJBO, where he covered LSU sporting events, before transitioning to WFMF. There, he teamed up with Rice and, at times, Margaret Taylor, to create a morning show that mixed music with local commentary and memorable stunts. Highlights of his career included leading the LSU Tiger Band onto the field in his underwear, wrestling a black bear, playing tennis with John McEnroe, and producing "Tiger Tracks"—pre-game LSU football segments that creatively wove player and coach interviews into the hooks of popular songs.

Simar retired from radio in 1994 after his multiple sclerosis diagnosis forced him to step away from broadcasting to focus on his health and family. 

Despite his illness, he maintained a positive outlook, a trait friends and colleagues attributed to his grace and resilience. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from listeners, co-workers, and media figures, who consistently described him as "nice" and a true legend. Randy Rice, his long-time co-host and best man at his wedding, called him a dear friend and a broadcaster whose style was unmatched, while Johnny Ahysen, another colleague, lamented the loss of a unique voice in radio history.