DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) – After 50 years in the radio industry, BJ Kelli reflects on his path to radio and the opportunities it has brought him.
When asked how he got into the radio industry, BJ replies, “Poor math skills!”
“I wanted to be an actual meteorologist,” said Kelli.
However, after receiving the college catalog for meteorology, and recognizing the amount of math classes needed, Kelli said his math skills were not on par for the challenge.
After talking to his guidance counselor at Auburn University, they suggested a communications degree for Kelli to become a television meteorologist.
“In those days, if you wanted to be on TV, you had to be on radio first,” said Kelli.
Kelli’s professors told him to focus on the radio industry for a few years and then switch to the television industry.
After experiencing the world of radio, Kelli decided he loved it and wanted to stick with it.
His first unpaid experience with radio was at Enterprise State Junior College, now known as Enterprise State Community College, where his professor asked him to take over the 15 minute school radio show for a day, promising an interview of the basketball coach would fill the time slot.
The college’s radio station was 96.9.
On the day Kelli was scheduled to take over the show, the basketball coach did not show up for his interview, so Kelli had to wing it by himself for 15 minutes.
“After it was over, I thought, Boy that was great! I liked doing that,” said Kelli.
While finishing his degree at Auburn University, his professors told him that being in radio meant traveling all over the country, and he probably would not get hired in his hometown.
Kelli proved them wrong by being hired immediately at 96.9 doing radio sales and on-air work.
He worked there for 7 years before switching to 106.7 KMX in 1983 where he was a morning show producer and program director for 23 years.
After leaving KMX, Kelli spent a short period of time in the TV industry before becoming president of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce for 6 years.
After retiring from that job, a friend of Kelli’s told him about an opening at 95.5.
Although that position had already been filled by the time Kelli applied, the hiring manager told Kelli about an opening with 96.9.
“I thought, well, that’s too hard to resist!” said Kelli.
Since 2013, Kelli has been a radio host at 96.9 The Legend, back to where it all started in college, despite some programming changes over the years.
“By far, my favorite part of radio is just getting on the air and talking to those callers. It’s just so fun talking to people when they call and talk and cut up with me. It’s just like getting together with friends over a morning coffee,” said Kelli.
Kelli points out that he had the opportunity to work with many wonderful people over the years, whether on-air or in management.
“I have been able to work in this market my whole career. I’ve just been very blessed to do that and have a good life and raise two kids; now I’ve got 5 grandkids I’m enjoying. Being able to do that as a disc jockey in your hometown for your whole career to me is amazing,” said Kelli.
BJ celebrated 50 years in radio with family, friends, and coworkers at Circle City Brewing on July 16, 2024.
