9/11/2006

Rodney Ho blogged that the Regular Guys will be replaying their 9/11/2001 broadcast today, in observance of the five year anniversary of the tragedy.  One radio station that will not be replaying their 9/11 broadcast will be 99X, as most of the personalities on the air that day are no longer with the station.

I can recall driving home from my company's offices that day, thinking it strange to hear Jimmy Baron's voice on the air in the afternoon.  It took me a few minutes to realize that Jimmy and minister John Beyers were on the air talking to people, who like me, had turned to 99X for some sort of reference point in an experience that was difficult to comprehend.

One thing that makes Jimmy a great broadcaster is his courage in sharing himself.  That day Jimmy shared his fear, his disbelief, and in short, most of the emotions that we were all experiencing.  I would later learn that Jimmy spent most of the day sitting in with other personalities helping them limp through their shows.  Fred Toucher said that he might not have made it through his show if it weren't for Jimmy.

I suspect that a lot of people will always have a bond with Jimmy that was forged that day.  It's a shame that five years later he isn't on the air to commerate the day with us.