Former 99Xer Jimmy Baron gets morning show gig at Dave FM
After more than three years off the Atlanta airwaves, former 99X morning man Jimmy Baron has found a new job as morning show host on Dave FM. He starts Monday at 5:30 a.m.
Baron was part of the successful Morning X show from 1993 to 2003 on 99X. He stayed on for three more years with Fred Toucher but refused to stay on when the new owners offered him a major pay cut.
Loading ...Scott Jameson, the new program director at Dave FM, finally picked him up. “I made a list of attributes that I felt were important for a morning man in the year 2009 and Jimmy fit all of them,” he said. “He’s smart. He’s well read. He’s local. He’s humble and well liked. He’s connected. He’s easy to listen to. He’s quotable. You add it all up and it was a no brainer.”
Dave FM, since it cut Tyler last fall, has been doing a “more music” morning but Jameson said, “I don’t want to just be a jukebox. I want people to feel connected to the radio station.”
“I’m nervous and excited,” Baron said. “But more importantly, I’m fully insured.”
Baron, who is using Norm Schrutt as his agent, signed his contract last week. Schrutt represents Mara Davis, Dave’s mid-day host, as well as local radio stars such as 680/The Fan’s Christopher Rude and John Kincade.
Baron, who just returned from his 30th high school reunion, spent three years seeking new climes to no avail. His desire to stay in Atlanta limited his radio options.
He developed and sold some TV show concepts to Hollywood production companies, but nothing made it to air. In 2007, he tried out to host WXIA-TV’s “Atlanta & Company” but got beaten out by Tom Sullivan (who lost his job last month.) He dabbled in marketing and PR. He started a production service in which he inteviewed families and did video biographies. He’s also been raising a son Micah with his wife Lisa playing Mr. Mom and earlier this year hosting trivia nights at local taverns.
Baron’s also been courting Dave FM for years, feeling that was where he needed to be given his age, experience and knowledge base.
“We’ve been in talks with him for a long time,” said Rick Caffey, Dave’s general manager. “I think he’ll be a good fit for us.” Indeed, in July 2008, Jimmy subbed in for Tyler for a week. Many perceived that to be a tryout.
Baron said budgetary considerations delayed his hiring for about a year.
Indeed, Dave couldn’t afford to keep Tim Orff, former interim host at Dave FM. Orff was covering for Zakk Tyler, let go last year after a brief and not terribly productive (or entertaining) stint as morning man at Dave.
Baron is the second former 99Xer to be a morning host at Dave FM after Steve Barnes. 92.9, as Z93 and Dave, has had trouble finding a long-time morning person for many many years.
Barnes was at Dave FM from 2004 to 2006 but it never quite gelled for either side. He has since produced movies and a Comcast On Demand drama called “High Rise,” plus a few acting gigs.
“Cool that Jimmy got that job at Dave,” Barnes wrote to me via Facebook. “I’m really happy for him and hope he kicks a** there. I think he will do a great job if they let him ‘do his thing’ and be ‘Jimmy.’ ”
“I love Jimmy. He’ll do great. Atlanta will be glad to have him back on the air,” said Holly Firfer, a friend of his and former Dave FM host.
“This was long overdue,” said Christopher Calandro, who worked with him at 99X.
“Finally!” said Steve Craig, his former colleague now mid-day host at WRXP-FM in New York. “He is one of the most phenomenal talents all the way around. It’s about time someone snapped him up.”
Baron will be joined by former 99Xer and Dave FM jock Yvonne Monet.
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39 comments Add your comment
ray
August 13th, 2009
1:31 pm
Aww, why’d they have to axe Orff!?! He’s been the best part of all the 92.9 morning show attempts.
Bill
August 13th, 2009
1:52 pm
Enter your comments here
Samantha
August 13th, 2009
1:55 pm
Not a bad choice, but not a good one either. He will work hard but will come up short. I guess for a quick fix why not. That is just the way it is Atlanta. Boring as usual.
What a joke.....
August 13th, 2009
2:02 pm
…they would have been better off trying to recycle Gary McKee, again – and this wil probably work out about the same as when they (as 92.9) did recycle McKee – JB work out just like Barnes and will be gone before this time next year! Why, oh why, do these guys keep getting “local” people who have been fired (i.e. – didn’t want to take a pay cut = fired) from previous jobs?
Randall Bloomquist - fired WGST PD
August 13th, 2009
2:28 pm
We’re having a going away party for Jimmy at the Walmart on Bankhead Highway. We sure will miss him! No one could clean a toilet like Jimmy. The good news is that Phat Mikey from The Morning Mess is taking Jimmy’s place. So, it all works out in the end. Everyone is working! Hurray for the Obama economy!!
jablonski
August 13th, 2009
2:29 pm
I cannot believe they let Orff go. He was the only one on that station that you could listen to and who had TALENT. That pd is an idiot and will go the road of the other pd’s at that station. Well, at least I can find a new station to listen to cuz 92.9 is off my dial.
Tom Cruise
August 13th, 2009
2:34 pm
From working on The Facts of Life to Risky Business to 99X to Walmart janitor to Dave FM, it looks like Jimmy’s career has been going downhill.
a texan
August 13th, 2009
2:38 pm
atl radio sucks always did
jablonski
August 13th, 2009
2:45 pm
Hey, on the topic of DAVE and how much they suck, doesn’t Mara Davis sound like the love child of Dr. Evil and Cher. By the way, that is not a compliment.
Barnesology
August 13th, 2009
4:13 pm
Nice, another venue for for this no-talent hack to attack the late great James Brown! His wife definitely wears the pantsuit in this family, she must have the goods on someone for this gig to come to fruition…
FM Fats
August 13th, 2009
4:51 pm
How about that “netiquette” TV commercial with Barnes? It’s actually kinda funny.
David
August 13th, 2009
5:20 pm
How could they can Tim when he was 8th overall citywide last book.
tt
August 13th, 2009
5:20 pm
Rodney….you are such a 790 The Zone hommer that you said that 680 The Fan’s John Kincaid works for them…one way or another you had to get 790 The Zone in your article….now Steakie has to get you another dinner at the Palm..
Yo Yo Yo
August 13th, 2009
5:24 pm
Hey Rodney … is this breaking news in your comments on Norm Schrutt clients – 790/The Zone’s John Kincade that would be grood for Cha Cha and the boys someone to finally boost their ratings in the afternoons.
Paul McJagger
August 13th, 2009
5:26 pm
I see the haters are out in full force. Congrats Jimmy!
Oy Gevalt
August 13th, 2009
6:19 pm
Another Jew on DAVE? Next it’ll be YENTA FM.
Phillip
August 13th, 2009
7:37 pm
Jimmy needs to get someone in there quick. I saw this idiot but funny NY dude at a bar about a month ago hosting a rock show. I think he called himself NY Nick. That would be weird but too cool to have some yankee humor on the air here in Atlanta. I bet they could probably get this dude cheap. Atlanta radio needs a pick me up and something a little off color.
Jere
August 13th, 2009
8:15 pm
Well, I’m sorry that Orff is leaving. I’ve enjoyed listening to him in the morning more than anything since the very early days of the Morning X — Thanks for making my morning ride so enjoyable this past year Orff, dont go far
RogerT
August 13th, 2009
9:27 pm
Rock 100.5 should hire Orff for mid-days. Erin is horrible.
Taylor Botcho
August 13th, 2009
9:50 pm
Jimmy is a good fit for Dave and I miss his sense of humor. He should do great as long as they let him do his thing and put some other people in the room with him. I remember when he was on last year for a few days and I thought it was exactly what the station needed.
The Clock Baron
August 13th, 2009
10:19 pm
It’s Gary McKee II.
Maybe some billboard sitting, misty eyed talk about the Limelight, and a phone call from Ron Hudspeth. The clock ends on Jimmy-boy April 20, 2011.
May 5th, 2011, Dave FM is proud to announce Williard and Steve Mitchell’s wacky “Zoo Crew.”
Congrats Jimmy!!! You're gonna be great
August 13th, 2009
11:41 pm
Enter your comments here
Chip’s Spynotebook » Blog Archive » Weekly Lifestream Summary for August 13th
August 14th, 2009
12:08 am
[...] Jimmy Baron gets morning show gig at Dave FM I like Jimmy so this make me [...]
"Hometeam" Brandon Leak
August 14th, 2009
12:13 am
Good Luck man. Atlanta loves ya.
Bill Smith
August 14th, 2009
5:33 am
“Phillip”, who suggested “NY Nick”, is none other than “NY Nick”. And no, Nick, you can’t have a job in Atlanta radio.
Kar
August 14th, 2009
10:45 am
Despite being the designated “irritant,” Baron couldn’t hide that he was a fairly decent guy over the years. He put his money where his mouth was in terms of his faith and was open about being observant and keeping his faith as an integral part of his life. He also loved animals and would openly slam guests about animal cruelty if he felt something was inappropriate. He was very family centered even when he was single.
Jaynie
August 14th, 2009
11:42 am
I for one am excited to see the future of Dave-FM, they seem to have a plan an direction, and Jimmy Baron is the perfect person to take the station in the direction where Atlanta radio should be going. Instead of holding onto old brand names (without having any budget or chance of connecting with its listeners) Dave-FM has the opportunity to give Atlanta a radio station that it can call its own. Congratulations Jimmy, I’m looking forward to hearing a familiar voice back on the air!
asdf
August 14th, 2009
11:49 am
where’s Joey to tell us how great Dave would be if they’d bring in Toucher and Rich, along with Leslie Fram, to join him?
A
August 14th, 2009
12:16 pm
Tell me they didn’t fire Orff! He was awesome. Why can’t they move him back to late nights after Margot?
ray
August 14th, 2009
1:11 pm
Hey Rodney, Could ya give us an update on Orff at some point… Hopefully he sticks around Atlanta. Thx!
The Radio Master
August 14th, 2009
2:30 pm
They can’t possibly have Jimmy going solo…I bet there will be a part two to this story. Example: Jimmy will now be paired up with Yvonne Monet. Jimmy is fine…but just can’t land the plane…he goes on and on. Lady Monet helped with his tryout last year and moved him along nicely. Oh-if I only ruled the world.
The Radio Master
August 14th, 2009
2:30 pm
BTW-I really will miss Orff and wish him the best of luck!
johnny g
August 14th, 2009
7:19 pm
Jimmy Baron rocks! Atlanta radio hasn’t been the same without him and I am glad he is coming back! Now, finally I can stop dial surfing in the am’s!
Bill
August 15th, 2009
5:53 pm
Congrats Jimmy! Wish you the best !
MidtownJohn
August 15th, 2009
10:04 pm
It took u three years to get another job in radio ? Why is Atlanta so hung up on Atlanta jocjs of yesterday. Your glory days are over Jimmy.
Jimmy Barron
August 16th, 2009
7:19 am
I’m thinking about bringing Rich back to Atlanta radio to help stir things up. But not Toucher, he’s terrible.
E
August 16th, 2009
12:27 pm
Congrats Jimmy! I’ve been rooting for you for the past few years and hoping you’d get back on the air somewhere here. I’ll be listening!
JB
August 18th, 2009
1:06 pm
Once you finally got Orff to settle down and stop using all those goofy accents and impressions, he had a great voice and was doing a great job. He was a wealth of interesting music facts and trivia. I’m going to miss him.
JB
August 18th, 2009
1:12 pm
Jimmy Baron has a whiny voice and reminds me too much of that Zakk guy they got rid of. When they fired Zakk, there was a big notice on the station’s website saying something about how the listeners spoke and the station listened – no more talk radio; they were going to play more music. Now the new program director wants more talking and less music. What’s up with that? Why can’t this station just do what it does best – play great music?