Jimmy is one of the newest members of the air staff here at 97.3 The Wolf. Born and raised in Cincinnati he started in radio at 19 working at WVXU at Xavier University. Although he’s worked at other radio stations in town under a not so flattering name Jimmy has been working with our sister stations since 1998. He has other interest outside radio but we don’t know what they are because he won’t tell us. Other than that we really don’t know much about him except that he doesn’t mind getting out of bed to do the early shift. Although we suspect thats only because he stays up all nite watching The Cartoon Network and then comes to work.
I was born a Fat Boy, the 5th out of 7 children weighting in just over 14lbs and have been a big baby since. Or so the story goes. I grew up in what was then call South Fort Mitchell, Kentucky but to all of us it was “ Down by Pleasure Isle”. Spent my days growing up either fishing, playing ball, hunting ,or exploring the woods and creeks around the house.
I got interest in music and radio at a very early age and knew I didn’t want to do anything else. At first I thought it was going to be music, but after getting booted out of the glee club for goofing off. I turned my attention to radio.
After graduating from Simon Kenton High School in Independence I applied to Columbia School of Broadcasting. That didn’t work out so well the first time around. I got turned down. It was apparent that I spent a lot of time goofing off in class too. All most all of the notes sent home with my report cards said “Ernie needs to spend my time studying than talking or playing around”
So I took to reading the paper every night after my Dad was finished with it! I would read it front to back and every time I came across a word I didn’t know or couldn’t pronounce I would look it up in my dictionary. The second time in I got accepted in to the school.
Got started in radio in 1975 in a small town called Fremont, Ohio, now that was some good old fashioned experience. I played Polka Music from 10am till 11am then a half hour of Spanish followed by the Farm Report and News complete with Obituaries and child birth announcements , then capped the day off with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Lena Horn, Ramsey Lewis and everything in between. came back into town during the late 70’s and went to Northern Kentucky University majoring in Radio, Television and Film and minored in Theater.
I played Lord Montague in Romeo and Juliet and was in a couple of other productions. At that time I met and began working with Robin Wood from WEBN. I would set up DJ equipment for her gigs. During the summer I got offered a part in the Tecumseh play in Chillicothe. I thought it was going to be my big break. Robin convinced to take a job at WEBN. It turned out to be 10 great years. After that I spent time working for 94.9 The Fox, before it became 92.5 then WGRR and now 97.3 The Wolf.
A member of McMillan Masonic Lodge # 141, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite, Shrine, Honorary Member of the Crescent Springs Villa Hills Fire Department and the President of Villa Hill Civic Club.
Proud to admit I’m a native North Dakotan, having grown up in both South and North Dakota. I’m the “oops” kid of the family…born 6 years later than my next older brother, and also I’m a “P.K.,” aka “preacher’s kid,” BOTH my late Dad and my Mom were/are United Methodist Ministers.
Fell into radio while in college at North Dakota State University, and have just kept going ever since. Too many stories to tell over all these years, but know that I know how lucky I am to do what I do! Yeah, it’s fun to meet the “Stars,” but it’s even better if I can help make just one person’s day in some way.
The Greater Cincinnati area has been “home” now for 14 years, and I LOVE this place! Give me the Bengals and Reds, NASCAR at Kentucky Speedway, University of Kentucky Basketball, extra hot sauce for those cheese coneys, a side of goetta, and a starry night at Riverbend!
My “free time” is usually spent either at a grill, or the big rig that lives at Lake Waynoka called “Big Bertha!” Big enough to roast a 250 pound pig, “Bertha” also does lip smackin’ ribs, brisket, and chicken. Maybe I’ll hit the BBQ Competition Circuit after I hit it big! Never know…I might need a “real” job some day!
Born and raised in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Bud Stross knew at a very young age that he was destine to entertain. He first started performing small "radio shows" with a karaoke machine and a tape player at age 8. When not spinning tunes he would also create his own talk shows and movies with a small black and white camera. But it wasn't until he was a senior at Highlands High school when his voice went out to the masses. He called himself "Bluebird Bud" and did the morning announcements. Not one student or teacher slept through his colorful take on the (usually boring) school announcements.
After high school he moved his sites to TV and helped co-anchor a Saturday morning TV news program known at the Point with Local 12 and CinCW. After 2 years the show was cancelled due to new ownership. After having his taste of the TV world he moved his sites to his first dream... radio.
He started as an intern with Cincinnati's WKRQ in promotions (December, 2008). In the summer of 2009 he was hired on in promotions. He later did part time ON Air work for both WKRQ and Cincinnati's Country station B105.
Which leads us to the present Bud... He is currently the Promotions Coordinator for B105 and The Wolf. You can hear Bud on the Wolf, Monday-Friday, 7-Midnight! He also is a chicken wing expert, co-owns the #1 Haunted Attraction in the Cincinnati tri-state (The Dent Schoolhouse), has a Radio/TV Major and Theatre Minor from NKU, and acts on the side for local movies and personal entertainment!
