Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Oct 12, 2017 18:07:53 GMT -6
www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/ct-james-lynam-obituary-met-20150826-story.html
Radio personality left his mark on Chicago airwaves
Jaames P. Lynam Jr. had a long career in Chicago radio behind the scenes and on the air, including more than a decade at WKQX-FM and playing the bombastic "Jim Jesus" on "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" from 1998 until 2006.
Most recently, Lynam was afternoon host at northwest suburban-based WFXF-FM.
"He was boisterous and loud, and his voice cut through the airwaves like a blowtorch," said Erich "Mancow" Muller, now WLUP-FM's morning host.
Lynam, 42, died of a sudden aortic dissection Aug. 4 at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, said his father, James P. Lynam Sr. He was a longtime resident of Algonquin.
Born in Nassau County, N.Y., Lynam grew up in Miller Place on Long Island. At 16, Lynam moved with his parents to Barrington.
"He was just the kind of kid that you expect maybe he'd have some problems leaving (his hometown) and adapting, and I can tell you, he made the football team, and he made friends instantly," his father said.
Although Lynam didn't show much interest in radio while growing up, his personality made it a natural fit, his father said.
"Jim was always a very outgoing person; he was always loud and very interested in other people," his father said.
Lynam attended Harper College and Columbia College Chicago. Lynam began working in 1995 as a promotional assistant at a rock station in Chicago, WRCX-FM. At that time, Muller hosted the station's morning show, and Lynam and Muller worked together on show promotions.
In 1998, after Muller moved his show to WKQX-FM 101.1, Lynam jumped to "Q-101" as well, signing on as a producer and talent booker for Muller's show. Muller and Lynam sought to come up with an on-air persona for Lynam as part of Muller's cast of characters, Muller recalled.
"We couldn't come up with a gimmick, and he liked yelling, so I said to him, 'Just yell,' " Muller said.
With that, Lynam adopted two on-air personas. One, "Anger Anderson," borrowed its name from pro wrestler Arn Anderson, as Lynam was a fan of wrestling. The other was "Jim Jesus the Yelling Guy," a character who would abruptly yell at people in the studio. The name "Jim Jesus" came from Lynam's facial hair at the time.
Photos: Notable deaths in 2015
Notable deaths in 2015: Remembering legends, celebrities and other newsmakers who died this year.
"Jim was always a huge wrestling fan, and you know how wrestling is loud and over the top — that's how he was on and off the air," said Ken "Al Roker Jr." Smith, longtime sportscaster on Muller's show. "If you were in the office you always knew where Jimmy was."
Lynam rose through the ranks to become Muller's executive producer, holding that role until Muller's show signed off from Q-101 in 2006.
"He had a great rapport with the networks and comedy clubs in terms of getting guests into the studio," Smith said.
After Muller's show went off the air, Lynam remained at Q-101, first working as an on-air sports reporter and then co-hosting the station's next morning show, "The Morning Fix" with Alan Cox. While at Q-101, Lynam also made regular TV appearances on Comcast Sports Net and CLTV's "Sports Page" show and cohosted "Combat Wire," a mixed martial arts show on CLTV.
Lynam left Q-101 in 2009. For the next five years, he spent time with his young sons and onthe Chicago-based All American Wrestling League, which he co-owned.
In December, Lynam returned to the airwaves as WFXF's afternoon host.
"When you talk about Jim Lynam, you talk about somebody who can walk into a room and completely change the mood in a good way," said Ryan Wild, program director at WFXF-FM 103.9. "They say in this business that everybody's replaceable, but you can't replace Jim Lynam. He was just a good human being."
Survivors also include his wife, Tiffany; two sons, Jake and Jesse; his mother, Kitty; two brothers, Daniel and Sean; and a sister, Kristy Donlon.
Services were held.
Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
Radio personality left his mark on Chicago airwaves
Jaames P. Lynam Jr. had a long career in Chicago radio behind the scenes and on the air, including more than a decade at WKQX-FM and playing the bombastic "Jim Jesus" on "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" from 1998 until 2006.
Most recently, Lynam was afternoon host at northwest suburban-based WFXF-FM.
"He was boisterous and loud, and his voice cut through the airwaves like a blowtorch," said Erich "Mancow" Muller, now WLUP-FM's morning host.
Lynam, 42, died of a sudden aortic dissection Aug. 4 at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, said his father, James P. Lynam Sr. He was a longtime resident of Algonquin.
Born in Nassau County, N.Y., Lynam grew up in Miller Place on Long Island. At 16, Lynam moved with his parents to Barrington.
"He was just the kind of kid that you expect maybe he'd have some problems leaving (his hometown) and adapting, and I can tell you, he made the football team, and he made friends instantly," his father said.
Although Lynam didn't show much interest in radio while growing up, his personality made it a natural fit, his father said.
"Jim was always a very outgoing person; he was always loud and very interested in other people," his father said.
Lynam attended Harper College and Columbia College Chicago. Lynam began working in 1995 as a promotional assistant at a rock station in Chicago, WRCX-FM. At that time, Muller hosted the station's morning show, and Lynam and Muller worked together on show promotions.
In 1998, after Muller moved his show to WKQX-FM 101.1, Lynam jumped to "Q-101" as well, signing on as a producer and talent booker for Muller's show. Muller and Lynam sought to come up with an on-air persona for Lynam as part of Muller's cast of characters, Muller recalled.
"We couldn't come up with a gimmick, and he liked yelling, so I said to him, 'Just yell,' " Muller said.
With that, Lynam adopted two on-air personas. One, "Anger Anderson," borrowed its name from pro wrestler Arn Anderson, as Lynam was a fan of wrestling. The other was "Jim Jesus the Yelling Guy," a character who would abruptly yell at people in the studio. The name "Jim Jesus" came from Lynam's facial hair at the time.
Photos: Notable deaths in 2015
Notable deaths in 2015: Remembering legends, celebrities and other newsmakers who died this year.
"Jim was always a huge wrestling fan, and you know how wrestling is loud and over the top — that's how he was on and off the air," said Ken "Al Roker Jr." Smith, longtime sportscaster on Muller's show. "If you were in the office you always knew where Jimmy was."
Lynam rose through the ranks to become Muller's executive producer, holding that role until Muller's show signed off from Q-101 in 2006.
"He had a great rapport with the networks and comedy clubs in terms of getting guests into the studio," Smith said.
After Muller's show went off the air, Lynam remained at Q-101, first working as an on-air sports reporter and then co-hosting the station's next morning show, "The Morning Fix" with Alan Cox. While at Q-101, Lynam also made regular TV appearances on Comcast Sports Net and CLTV's "Sports Page" show and cohosted "Combat Wire," a mixed martial arts show on CLTV.
Lynam left Q-101 in 2009. For the next five years, he spent time with his young sons and onthe Chicago-based All American Wrestling League, which he co-owned.
In December, Lynam returned to the airwaves as WFXF's afternoon host.
"When you talk about Jim Lynam, you talk about somebody who can walk into a room and completely change the mood in a good way," said Ryan Wild, program director at WFXF-FM 103.9. "They say in this business that everybody's replaceable, but you can't replace Jim Lynam. He was just a good human being."
Survivors also include his wife, Tiffany; two sons, Jake and Jesse; his mother, Kitty; two brothers, Daniel and Sean; and a sister, Kristy Donlon.
Services were held.
Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.