Jon-Erik Hexum: The Radio Days

Years before Jon-Erik Hexum crashed his way into America's living rooms as Phineas Bogg on NBC's "Voyagers!", he was working his way through college as an all night disc jockey at various radio stations in the East Lansing, Michigan area.

In this rescued aircheck courtesy of the station managers at WJIM (recorded in May 1979), we find Jon-Erik in typical form: that one-of-a-kind resonant, basso profundo voice and offbeat sense of humor keeping his audience entertained throughout the wee small hours with Anne Murray, Andy Gibb, and "Hall and Horsefeed"!

Thanks to Ginger at voyagersguidebook.com for her assistance with the uploading of this tribute to a fine actor and charismatic individual who left us all too soon.

For more information on Jon-Erik Hexum, visit his fan club at http://pdhexum.tripod.com/

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Jon-Erik
• Hexum
• radio
• Voyagers
• Cover
• Up
• Male
• model
• actor
• music
• DJ
• seventies
• 1979
• Michigan
• State
• University
• East
• Lansing
• WJIM

[voyagersfan]

What a great video. Even though I've already seen it before, I still had to comment on it. This is such a wonderful piece. It should have been up on YouTube sooner.

Now for the $64,000 question. Why on Earth would you put someone with such a great voice on the radio during the graveyard shift? Duhhhh, Hel-lo! He should have been on in the daytime or at the very least in the early evening. He was just way too talented and too cool to be put in that timeslot.

[hexumremembered]

You're right! Better late than never! The reason Jon-Erik was on the graveyard shift was because he had class at Michigan State University during the day. Otherwise, I'm sure they could've put him on the morning show! That, and the fact that he had a tendency to throw the records over his shoulder after he finished playing them, which didn't go over well at some of the stations!

[filmidioten]

Not surprisingly he was even a talented radio host! Yet another reminder of what a great loss this is to the entertainment world (not to mention to his family and friends) but it's really amazing how they've gathered so much material from his life, and the fact they share all these great memories with his fans around the world is just incredible, we appreciate this so much!

[USAisAntiWhite]

He stuttered a lot. Good voice but not sure of himself.

[IMSTINKYBUTHAVESWAGG]

..nice collection.

[wattever333]

wow! nice voice! interesting document.

[hroyse]

@LosAngeleno1959 How did you meet him? Can you share any memories about him. I loved the Voyagers...I was 14 when the show came out and 17 when he passed away. I was just devastated by how senseless his death was. Did you know his family? Do you know anything about his personal relationship w/ Meeno?

[hroyse]

@moondog1320 Were you a friend of Jon-Erik's? Can you share any memories. I just love him...such a funny, talented guy.

[pauliegar]

He had such an amazing and unique voice, thanks so much for sharing with us and keeping his memory alive.

[modelchic99]

What an incredible voice he had. And he grew into a very handsome man because he looks so different in his younger years.

[tramdass1010]

Dude, Jack may have been easier to say but his mother named him Jon Erik. Didn't John Cougar go back to Mellencamp.

[SIKE01]

JACK HEXUM was a betta screen name than JON-ERIK HEXUM...I wonder why he didn't keep it when he went to hollywood?

[djjaes]

got video and pics. He was so natural at being a dj, and an actor.

a very talented man.