Jim LaBarbara Back On The Air

Good news for Jim "The Music Professor" LaBarbara fans -- if you live in Kentucky.

LaBarbara, fired in March by classic hits WGRR-FM (103.5) after 14 years, returned to the airwaves at 2 p.m. today on country music WNKR-FM (106.5) in Dry Ridge -- which doesn't reach Cincinnati. He's doing 2-6 p.m. weekdays for the station, which can be heard in most of Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

LaBarbara, a Cincinnati radio fixture since 1969, was hired by General Manager Jeff Ziesmann, who sold time for WGRR-FM and LaBarbara's show in 1998-2000.

"I was convinced of Jim's value back then, when we used to take him on sales calls," Ziesmann says. "When nobody picked him up, I decided to hire him. We're looking forward to him speaking for our clients."

LaBarbara, 65, joins another long-time area personality at the station, Larry B, formerly of WUBE-FM (B105). He does 5-10 a.m. weekdays. Former afternoon host Jay Anthony has moved to 10 a.m.-2 p.m., replacing automated music, Ziesmann says.

LaBarbara, a member of the Rock Jock Hall of Fame and the Ohio Radio/Television broadcasters Hall of Fame for his rock 'n' roll days, also has done talk and sports talk radio in town. He did country two days in May on B105, subbing for Duke Hamilton, to compile an audition tape. LaBarbara said in May he had a "pretty good collection" of country music at home.