Longtime Detroit radio personality Jim Johnson announces retirement

Jim "JJ" Johnson, who’s been on Detroit radio for more than half a century, is retiring from WOMC-FM (104.3.)

Johnson, who currently hosts WOMC’s morning show with Joanne Purtan, made the announcement Monday morning.

His last day at the station will be Dec. 1.

The Redford native’s 52-year broadcasting career started at 104.3. He also has worked as a morning host at WWWW-FM, WRIF-FM, WLLZ-FM and WCSX-FM.

He's probably best known for his run at WRIF with "JJ and the Morning Crew," a popular mix of rock, news and humor that started in 1979 and was known for its parody songs and characters like co-host George Baier's "Dick the Bruiser."

In 2008, Johnson's long-running morning show with Lynne Woodison was canceled by WCSX. He returned to radio in 2011 at WOMC-FM as a midday host.

In 2020, Johnson joined JoAnne Purtan as host of WOMC's morning show, replacing former WXYZ-TV anchor Stephen Clark, who went on to write and perform country music in Nashville.

Johnson also has been a familiar face on local television. In the 1980s, he was a reporter for “Good Afternoon Detroit” and served as an occasional co-host of the popular “Kelly and Company” morning show, which both aired on WXYZ-TV. He is currently among the rotating guests on Fox 2 Detroit’s political talk forum “Let It Rip.”

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“Growing up, I was the kid hiding under the covers with a pocket transistor radio, so my parents couldn't hear, listening to the greats on CKLW and Keener 13, dreaming that one day I might be able to do that,” said Johnson in a news release from Audacy, which owns WOMC.

“I have been so fortunate to have realized that dream and have been able to live it in my hometown my entire career. It's really the people I have worked for and worked with that made it possible and most importantly, our loyal listeners.”

In a statement on Johnson’s career, WOMC vice president of programming Tim Roberts praised him as “instrumental in the careers and launch of many of Detroit's superstars, including Bob Seger, The Romantics, Grand Funk Railroad, and countless others.”

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.