By Craig Michaels
As a young boy, Fitz’s (Jim Fitzgerald) family owned racehorses. He became fascinated with race track announcers and soon began calling the races at home throughout his families’ intercom system. His Dad noticed his son’s natural talent and urged him to go to broadcast school. At the age of 18 he went to the National Academy of Broadcasting and graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade average, the highest in the history of the school.
His first job was selling airtime during the week so he could be on-air weekends. It was on Washington D.C.’s only AM Progressive Rock station WHMC. Radio has been only one aspect of Fitz’s entertainment career. At 19, he was producing rock and country shows in clubs around the Washington DC area. At 23 he was producing shows in 15 – 20,000 seat arenas around the country and at 24 he was the youngest executive producer of a primetime special for NBC Television. His television production company was represented by the WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY.
Fitz was not only booking the acts, he was one of the acts. Back in the 80’s he was the vocalist for Fitz & the New York Band. With a few videos on MTV, a hand full of albums and a radio career, Fitz was in overdrive. One of the highlights of his touring days was opening up for the Ramones.
In between touring and booking shows Fitz continued his radio career which has spanned almost 30 years. He has worked in New York, Washington DC, Miami, Maryland and now in Palm Springs. Covering formats ranging from Top 40, Country and Jazz to AOR (Album oriented rock.) You can also add to his list of credits, a nationally syndicated radio show with Westwood One and United Stations. A towering presence on the local radio landscape, he was nominated for a national industry award by the radio industry trade magazine, RADIO & RECORDS for “Radio Personality of the Year.” He was also voted #1 Air Personality by readers of Palm Springs Life Magazine.
In 1998, Fitz moved back to the desert with Wendy Jane, his wife and business partner of 28 years. The duo began doing what they do best, promoting shows at venues like the McCallum Theatre and the Gardens on El Paseo. A recent format change at his last station brought Fitz to the Desert Radio Group where you can now hear him in the morning from 6am to 10am on 103.9 “The Breeze.” The new format is a perfect blend of music from Jazz, Rock and Blues to current Pop.
There are many talented musicians who call the desert home and Fitz their friend. The mornings are filled with musical guests who keep it real and connect the listeners with the music. With decades of experience, Fitz knows how to tie it all together; “I love feeling the connection between the listeners and myself. Knowing that people tune me in to hear the music I’m into and that they make me part of their mornings looking for a blend of some humor and information.”
If you want to contact Fitz you can email him at: jimi24fitz@gmail.com or you can call him at the station in the morning from 6am to 10am: (760) 322-4139
Written By: Craig Michaels
Craig Michaels Productions
(760) 880-3848
