Jim Chenot was a longtime and well-known local radio personality, having spent more than 30 years behind the microphone at WONE (97.5-FM), The Summit (91.3-FM) and other stations.
Mr. Chenot passed away unexpectedly Wednesday afternoon. He was 62.
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.
But for the many people who knew Mr. Chenot, he was a caring person with a passion for music, his beloved Cleveland sports teams, Snyder barbecue potato chips and people.
“He was just a good old-fashioned gentleman,” said local musician Ryan Humbert, who worked with Mr. Chenot at The Summit. “He really truly cared about people. He was just such a caring and compassionate guy. Even if he was having a bad day, he’d still have a smile on his face.
“He loved being at The Summit and everybody here loved him,” Humbert said.
Before settling in at 91.3 for the last 15 years, Mr. 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.
“To me in my college days [when I was really in love with WONE] Jim Chenot was the ultimate of ultimate radio guys,” an emotional Vogel said via Facebook message.
“He was smooth, and genuine and knowledgeable … and cool. We all loved his catchphrases and features and used to get excited when we spotted him at station events,” she said.
“I remember the first time I met Jim, I was working weekends, and he walked in and said ‘Hello. Welcome to the team.’ I could barely eke out a reply. The Legend just spoke to ME — the kid. I was star-struck,” Vogel said.
Vogel, now an on-air personality at Mix 94.1-FM WHBC, praised Mr. Chenot for letting her “blossom and grow in a time when female co-hosts were told to sit there and be cute.”
She also recalled a time early on in their partnership, when she was receiving frequent, unnerving letters from an “enthusiastic fan” who wouldn’t sign his name. When the fan eventually revealed himself to the team at a live event, “Jim gave him a piece of his mind. Jim was always a stand-up guy,” she said.
After being fired from WONE in 2001, Mr. 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.
Bruno said Chenot’s presence added “some texture and real passion” to the radio station and during his 15 years, Mr. Chenot produced more than 300 Beatles Break segments, along with Front Row Center, a live music feature. His Radio Sandbox often featured local artists, giving them air time to talk about their music.
Bruno also said through his natural charisma, passion for the music and the station, Mr. Chenot was responsible for as much as half of The Summit’s business underwriting support (the station is member-supported).
“He used to say ‘I love this station so much that the only regret I have is that I didn’t find it early in my career,’ ” Bruno said. “He knew how to sell this place … and I think he sold it well, because he believed in it.
“It’s devastating on so many levels,” Bruno said.
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 the man was loving to people, his family, his son. He carried himself like an everyman, even though we all view him as a legend,” Vogel said about her friend.
“He always had something positive to say, and his dry sense of humor on the air was who he was off the air. There aren’t radio personalities like this any more. He had a natural gift, and he was allowed to nurture it and share it with all of us. I am blessed to have worked with and known such a quality human being.”
Survivors include a son, Evan. Arrangements were not complete as of Thursday.
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758.