If you still have a soft spot in your heart for 97X (“the future of rock and roll!”) then mark your calendar for the first-ever (and perhaps last-ever) 97Xtravaganza!

It’s Saturday, October 10th from 6-9 p.m. at The Columbia, 4311 Eastern Avenue in Cincinnati.

(Yes, it’s an old church – perfectly fitting for a radio station that saved so many souls from bland corporate radio.)

Longtime Breakfast Club co-host (and promotions maven) Julie Maxwell will be there.

So will Mike Taylor, who was the station’s program director from 2001 through 2010.

Meaning Mike was there for the 97.7FM signoff, the woxy.com Longworth Hall era and the ill-fated Austin version.

We’ll interview Julie and Mike for a live episode of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast.

We’ll also do 97X modern rock music trivia.

The winners will claim bragging rights AND fabulous prizes chosen especially for them. What sort of prizes, you ask? Great question, we’re asking it ourselves. But they’ll be great, trust us!

We’ll also play commercials, promos and comedy bits from the station.

And we’ll do a Q&A with all the station staffers in attendance.

Scheduled to appear:

“Gentleman” Jim Mercer (the bravest weekend warrior)
Bill Douglas (a.k.a. Billy D the Fresh MC)
Kathie Lucas (Promotions )
Chris Adryan (The King of Sales)
Michael “Stead” Winstead (Director of First Impressions)

Booked by Dave:

Booked by Damian:

The 97Xtravaganza is free and open to the public.

B.Y.O.B. And bring some Little Debbie snack cakes too!

Tell a buddy, bring a friend, but don’t you dare miss this 97Xtravaganza!!!

97X had dozens if not hundreds of part-time DJs over the lifetime of the station, but no one else can top the tenure of “Gentleman” Jim Mercer, who worked weekend and vacation fill-in shifts for a whopping 14 years, from 1990 through 2004. His dedication and professionalism made him the ultimate weekend warrior. Dave and Damian talk to Jim about his day job, how he got the DJ gig, and how he made his shifts sound so smooth.

Jim nearing the end of a Saturday shift in 2004. This photo was taken by Luann Gibbs.

Like most radio stations, 97X typically had five full-time shifts: mornings, midday, afternoons, evenings and overnight. Having Jim as a part-timer for more than a decade was a luxury. He could — and did — handle any weekend shift, and was always willing to fill in on the evening and overnight shifts to cover vacations.

The NBA gives out a Sixth Man of the Year Award for someone who is the best performer coming off the bench. Gentleman Jim was the 97X equivalent of the Sixth Man of the Year for 14 years running.