Old Seattle Radio Saturday: jimmy daren

He loved AM radio so much, he bought himself a whole bunch of AM stations.

Described as a "radio mogul" in South Florida, James "Jimmy Daren" Hilliard (the name's spelling was later changed to make it different than the singer's) owns the James Crystal Radio Group in Pompano Beach, but began his radio career in the 1950s as a DJ.

He was successful in several large markets including Seattle, Dallas and Indianapolis.

Seattle radio legend Pat O'Day describes hiring Hilliard at KJR:

He walked into KJR one afternoon and introduced himself. He was Jim Hilliard, had just come up from Texas and hired to take over the programming of a station in Bellingham that was just about to go on the air. Upon arrival, he discovered that station was just the dream of some idiot who had led him on!  Jim was somewhat desperate in that his wife Barbara was with him, he had left everything for this new job, and puff, it turned out to be just smoke and mirrors.

He had an aircheck, I listened to it, and hired him on the spot to be my KJR all night man. He wanted a new name for on the air, so quickly agreed to the tag, Jimmy Darren.

His talent was so abundant, it wasn't long until we appointed him to our Spokane station, (then KNEW, eventually KJRB) as not only morning drive jock, but also Program Director. He was funny on the air, great pace, great feeling, simply great is the word. He was an outstanding PD as he had a superlative "shit detector" and was instantly respected by the air staff.

He also had ants in his pants!

Soon, I became aware of his looking for bigger opportunities. This manifested itself before long by his accepting a position with a station in Calgary. I was saddened to lose him. I was national PD for our company at that time and counted on him for big things but knew in the long run I would lose him.  Winnipeg was his next stop as I recall, then on to Philadelphia as Program Director and eventually Indianapolis (WIBC, The Indy 500 Station.) His extraordinary talent was so visible, his climb up the ladder was quick.

I consider Jim Hilliard to be one of America's 10 best PD and broadcasters of all time!

In the 1960s he moved into program management at Philadelphia's then fledging WFIL, and brought that station to #1 in the market.As CO of Fairbanks Communications he acquired South Florida radio stations WRMF, WJNO, and WJNA for the company, and became a full-time Florida resident.

  In 1997, Richard Fairbanks divested his radio stations and the James Crystal Radio Group was formed, named after Hilliard's kids. The group, eventually purchased WRMF, WRLX, WDJA, and WJNA from Fairbanks.

In 2002, Hilliard's continuing interest in AM radio lead him to sell WRMF and concentrate strictly on building a group of South Florida AM stations.

Today, the James Crystal Radio Group owns and operates WFTL-AM 850, WMEN-AM 640, WLVJ-AM 1040, WFLL-AM 1400, as well as KCKN-AM-1020 in Roswell, NM, KNIT in Dallas; and stations in the Turks & Caicos Islands. (H/T: Bill Taylor)

Comments

[sparky]

Wow..impressive career.
I don't know much of anything about the radio industry, but I have a feeling this kind of opportunity no longer exists? It would be great if someone could contact him about this column and have him respond.

[Ryder]

More proof and everything that Seattle radio was where it was at back in those days. We werre so far ahead of everyone in the county. Pat O'Day & others werre breaking more new music than anyone. By the time most songs reached their peak on the Billboard charts they were already on the way out in Seattle.

And which area has produced more well known DJs, PDs & other good radio talent that went on the biggar and better things than Seattle?

Oh how far Seattle has sunk since then.

[Jimbo]

Funny, I thought back when I was a kid that our Jimmy Darren was THE Bobby Darren's brother.

[dale from albuquerque]

Pat O"Day made KJR the 'Sound Citizen'...not just a jukebox on the airwaves but a community voice that connected us all to our everyday hometown Seattle living.For all the talk about KOL on this blog...it should be said that what we heard on Channel 95 was truly magic! KJR dominated the airwaves like no other ever had. When you tuned in to listen,no matter what your mood,you would always hear a friend on the radio.And each jock had his own distinct style and personality.O'Day also promoted local musical talent...groups like the Wailers,Viceroys,Frantics, Dynamics,Sonics and many others got a lot of airplay which contributed to that overall feeling of community.We can look in the rear view mirror now and truly appreciate a great era in Seattle radio and especially some wonderful memories
Thanks, Pat.

[sparky]

When I visited my cousin in the Big City Of Seattle in the 60's, she always had her bedroom radio tuned to KJR..it was such a cool teenager thing to do, and I could hardly wait. My choices were KBZY and KISN but she, and KJR, were my role models.

[Sydney Joel Goldberg]

Greetings Mike Hood and thank you for bringing back some wonderful memories. Mike back in the late 60's I worked at what was than CKY FM on a part time basis while a student at St. John's High School in Winnipeg. The AM side known as the Radio 58 Good Guy's or The Station With the Happy Difference not only had Jimmy Hilliard A.K.A Jimmy Darren as the P.D it also had some of the best broadcasting personalities in the business. People like Daryl Burlingham who after working the Man About Midnight show at CKY AM went on the a very successful career at CKLG and CFUN. Catus Jack Wells who was the voice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and for a while his son John Wells who became the voice of NHL hockey and CFL football for TSN. Peter Jackson, Doug Burrows and a very special guy named Dino Dennis Corrie who went on to a very solid career as P.D or CKXL Calgary and later the CBC. You brought back memories of a young Mike Sharp who became the Winnipeg voice of CTV and an equally young Loyd Robertson who worked down the block at the CBC and just retired at 76 years old as the national voice of CTV. Wow you really opened up the floodgates with jimmy Darren, because upon seeing your headline I quickly wondered if this was the same guy. I also worked in your old neigborhood Bellingham Washington from 2000 to 2003 for the Cascade Radio Group as an Account Executive and host, producer of the Radio Shoppers Network on KGMI. I will look foreword to more exciting stories now that I have discoverd your web site and please know how much people like you, Red Robinson, Roy Hennessey and others are appreciated for keeping the memories alive of what was one of the best and most fun times to be a part of this insane business. Sydney Joel Goldberg

[justjohnson]

Dale's right--as a Seattle kid in the 60s, I listened to KJR constantly--the greatest party in the world, 24-hrs/day, and I didn't want to miss anything!

Sydney's reference to Bellingham reminds me that as a student at WWU in the early/mid 70s, I listened to KPUG and they had a fine DJ staff. Many Seattle DJs honed their chops at KPUG. The path seemed to be KPUG>KJRB>KJR. Randy Evans was there--he became Ichabod Caine; I remember Greg Collins, Dan Foster, Charlie Hudson...don't know if they're still in radio biz.

[the old dog]

Related to Edie Hilliard, Seattle radio sales exec? A sister, perhaps?

[Stumbling Inn Old Folks Home Seattle]

Hmmm.. I remember him.

[Buzz Barnett]

Holy Hialeah Highland Beach & Hypoluxo!! That's the MAN I am working for @ 'FTL/Miami-Fort Lauderdale, & although I stand out front of the JCE Broadcast Center MOST mornings just hoping to get a glimpse of Mr. Hilliard, I felt deep Personal & Professional Pride when I read this post! Wow! Living in South Florida & working for THIS guy is just about the greatest "play & work" combo a buzzed-up broadcaster like ME can brag about! So there You go! Happy 20-twelve to One & All! & Thank You, Jim, for thee opportunity!