After 35 years (and 33 in mornings), Jim Denny will retire from Cumulus Media Country 95.5 WFMS Indianapolis on Friday, December 15.
An Indianapolis native, Denny started at the station in 1988 as midday host before quickly moving to afternoons. In 1990 he joined Charlie Morgan in mornings with current co-hosts Kevin Freeman joining the show in 1990 and Deb Honeycutt in 2000. Prior to joining WFMS, Denny served as PD/morning host at 1430 WIRE Indianapolis and worked at smaller towns in Indiana. Denny was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2014.
The announcement can be heard below:
Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) announces that Jim Denny, On-Air Host, Mornings, on Country radio station 95.5 WFMS-FM in Indianapolis, will hang up his headphones at the end of the year as he retires from radio after a successful 35-year run at WFMS. Denny shared the news of his retirement with his loyal listeners this morning. His last day on-air will be Friday, December 15, 2023.
An Indianapolis native, Denny graduated from Cathedral High School and attended Marian University. He started at WFMS in 1988 and was joined by co-host Kevin Freeman in 1996 to form the “Jim & Kevin Show” in mornings. Deb Honeycutt joined the on-air duo 20 years ago and “Jim, Deb & Kevin” remains the WFMS morning show to this day. Denny played a central role during his tenure in the station winning multiple Marconi, CMA, ACM, and other awards. He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2014.
Christopher “Boomer” Layfield, Operations Manager, Cumulus Indianapolis, and Program Director, 95.5 WFMS, said: “Jim is beloved by WFMS listeners and Country music fans all across central Indiana. It would be hard to overstate his longstanding influence at WFMS and the impact he’s had on our listeners’ lives with community service being among his most passionate tenets. To be able to do a job that you love for such an extended period of time in an area that you’ve always called ‘home’ is uncommon. To do it so successfully, yet humbly, is truly remarkable and worthy of great celebration. Congratulations, Jim!”
Denny commented: “It’s hard to believe that I’ve spent over half my life behind the mic at WFMS. I have met so many wonderful people and have worked with the best of the best. Most importantly, I’m grateful that Hoosiers like Deb and Kevin have gone on this journey with me. God has truly blessed me; I am a WFMS listener for life!”
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com