Mike
Scott
Mike Scott broke into Tampa Bay radio in 1971
at WLCY as the night jock. Scott was actually Jim Shirah, who
was the morning show host and Program Director at WAPE in Jacksonville,
The Big Ape, one of America’s legendary radio stations.
Jim served in that role from 1967 until 1971. His stint at WLCY
lasted 5 years.
Jim was a very high energy jock, who kept
the action rolling and request lines totally lit, a true entertainer
and a man who loved people. It came across on the air.
Jim was on the air one night running a commercial
for Automotive Engineering, recorded by Tedd Webb. Jim made a
comment like “yeah right Webb”. A deranged listener
by the name of Webb (NOT Tedd) thought Jim was taunting him and
drove to the studios on Gandy Blvd and shot the windows out of
the front of the building, rammed a few cars in the parking lot,
and waited on the hood of his car for the cops to arrive. They
still talk about it.
Jim was born in Daytona Beach, and grew up
listening to great Florida radio, his exposure to WLOF (Orlando)
and WQAM (MIami), plus a show and tell in grade school which
introduced him to Elvis, paved the way for career in radio.
His high spot came when he met Elvis Presley
in Feb of 1967 at Graceland, he spent a week with him. “Nicest
celebrity I ever met in my life” says Jim.
Jim’s time in Tampa Bay, his 20 years
in radio and the quality of his work make him a first ballot
candidate for Tampa Bay Radio Hall of Fame.
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Mike
& Elvis Presley |
Mike & Mickey
Dolenz |
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Mike
Scott ~ WAPE - 1968 |
Mike
Scott ~ WAPE |
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