My Goodbye To Radio...
Dear friends,
It is with mixed emotions that I inform you of my decision to bring my long-standing radio and media career to an end. It's been an honor to serve the community that I love and respect; the community that has so graciously supported me for nearly four decades.
Whether it was talking to you on the airwaves, meeting you in person, or making you "Jack Your Body" during my Mix Shows, radio brought us together in a way that few words can describe.
Thank you for embracing me, an immigrant child, who came to this country with nothing but the clothes on my back. At an early age, I won The Hot Mix 5’s Battle of the DJs, which launched my radio career at the legendary 102.7 FM, WBMX. You then followed me as I brought “House Music” to the masses at B96, transforming a top 40 radio station into the acclaimed “Chicago’s Dance Beat!”
Radio provided me the opportunity to share with you both joyous and painful life experiences, from the “Joy” of announcing the birth of my daughter to the “Pain” of reporting the horrific tragedy of 9/11 as it was unfolding before us. I remember calling my Program Director, Todd Cavanah, on the morning of 9/11 to let him know I would be staying home with my family and not coming in to work. His words to me were, "You have to come in! People need to hear your voice. They need a friend they can count on to let them know that everything is going to be ok." Those words will forever be ingrained in my heart. That day, my radio show went from making people laugh, sing, and dance, to a week-long talk show attempting to heal the hearts and minds of my listening audience. WE ALL GOT THROUGH IT TOGETHER.
My radio career has provided me the opportunity to use my platform to create the Julian "Jumpin" Perez Foundation. Our mission is to aid and assist individuals, families, and community organizations in need, throughout the Chicagoland area. So far, we've been able to help thousands of families and I couldn't be prouder.
In the coming days, I will share with you where the next chapter of life is leading me. Until then, I would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU for the LOVE and SUPPORT you have always provided and for allowing me to be a part of your lives! I now ask you for your continued support during the next part of our journey together. Stay tuned…
God Bless you and your family!
Peace, Love and House Music All Night Long,
Julian "Jumpin" Perez