{{Short description|American DJ and record store owner (1935–2007)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}} {{Infobox presenter | name = Jimmy Staggs | image = Jim stagg 1966 wcfl.JPG | caption = Jimmy Staggs, AKA Jim Stagg-WCFL, 1966. | birth_name = Jimmy Pearson Staggs | birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1935|10|7}} | birth_place = Bessemer, Alabama | death_date = {{death date and age|2007|11|6|1935|10|7}} | death_place = Lake Forest, Illinois | station = {{ubl | WYDE AM (Birmingham) | WIBG (Philadelphia) | KYA (San Francisco) | WOKY (Milwaukee) | KYW (Cleveland) | WCFL (Chicago) | WMAQ (Chicago) }} | spouse = Valene Staggs | children = 4 }}

'''Jimmy Pearson Staggs''' (October 7, 1935 – November 6, 2007), also known as '''Jim Stagg''', was an American disc jockey and record store owner in Chicago, Illinois.

== Early life == Staggs was born October 7, 1935, in Bessemer, Alabama. Staggs was a stellar student and athlete in high school who passed on a football scholarship to Georgia Tech. Staggs later graduated from the University of Alabama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tcfgallery/v/1960s/UA%2BAlums%2Bat%2BWork/0024.jpg.html |title=Photo-At Work 1960's-Jim Stagg |publisher=University of Alabama Department of Telecommunications & Film Alumni |accessdate=March 19, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611173512/http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tcfgallery/v/1960s/UA%2BAlums%2Bat%2BWork/0024.jpg.html |archivedate=June 11, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tcfgallery/v/1950s/Student%2BBroadcasters/00062.jpg.html |title=Photo of Jim as a student broadcaster-University of Alabama circa 1950's |publisher=University of Alabama Department of Telecommunications & Film Alumni |accessdate=March 19, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611173431/http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tcfgallery/v/1950s/Student%2BBroadcasters/00062.jpg.html |archivedate=June 11, 2011 }}</ref> Jim was the featured vocal soloist with the Crimson Tide orchestra during his college years.<ref name="Sam Hale"/>

== Radio career == Staggs' radio career began in Birmingham (on WYDE AM).<ref name="Sam Hale"/> From there, it was on to Philadelphia (on WIBG),<ref name="Sam Hale">{{cite web|url=http://www.reelradio.com/joce/index.html#jpswcfl032670 |title=Sam Hale recalls Jim|publisher=Reel Radio-John Celarek Collection|accessdate=March 22, 2010}}</ref> San Francisco (on KYA),<ref name=KYA>{{cite web|url=http://www.bayarearadio.org/blog/2007/11/rip-former-kya-jocks-stagg-and.html |title=Obit and Background on time at KYA |publisher=Bay Area Radio Digest |accessdate=March 19, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205132633/http://www.bayarearadio.org/blog/2007/11/rip-former-kya-jocks-stagg-and.html |archivedate=December 5, 2010 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110726032803/http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/audio/kya/1961/KYA_Jim-Stagg_April-14-1961.ram Bay Area Radio Museum-RAM audio file-Jim Stagg Show, April 14, 1961] (RealPlayer)</ref><ref name=wink>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/audio/kya/1960/kya_winkly-nutly_1960.shtml |title=KYA Air Staff, 1961-Jim pictured at far right |year=1961 |publisher=Bay Area Radio Museum |accessdate=March 19, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002194706/http://www.sfradiomuseum.com/audio/kya/1960/kya_winkly-nutly_1960.shtml |archivedate=October 2, 2011 }}</ref> and Milwaukee (on WOKY)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/July%2023%2C%201962.pdf |title=Jim's Move from WOKY to KYW-1962 |date=July 23, 1962 |publisher=Pop Culture |accessdate=March 19, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714123724/http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/July%2023%2C%201962.pdf |archivedate=July 14, 2011 }} (PDF)</ref> before his stint at KYW, Cleveland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tcfgallery/v/1960s/UA%2BAlums%2Bat%2BWork/0014.jpg.html |title=Photo-Jim at work at KYW-1960's |publisher=University of Alabama Department of Telecommunications & Film Alumni |accessdate=March 19, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611200426/http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tcfgallery/v/1960s/UA%2BAlums%2Bat%2BWork/0014.jpg.html |archivedate=June 11, 2011 }}</ref>

During the 1960 presidential campaign, Jim, who had the "morning drive" airshift, and fellow KYA staffer Bob Mitchell had some fun with a parody of the Huntley/Brinkley News report.<ref name=KYA/> Jim played Ned Nutly to Mitchell's Willie Winkly at the debate between candidates "John Finnerty" and "Nick Dixon".<ref name=wink/>

In 1965, KYW program director Ken Draper moved to WCFL to assume the same duties.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WygEAAAAMBAJ&q=stagg+music+director+wcfl&pg=PA34 |title=WCFL Is Looking to be No. 1 (pages 34 and 36)|date=September 30, 1967|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref> Staggs<ref name = "Ticket"/><ref name="Draper">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lSgEAAAAMBAJ&q=ken+draper+wcfl+1965&pg=PA38|title=WCFL Takes First Step Toward Format Change|date=April 15, 1965|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 11, 2010}}</ref> and many other station employees, both on and off air, including Dick Orkin, Jim Runyon and Jerry G. (Bishop)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotelevision.com/bishop.htm |title=Talkin' With Jerry G|year=2002|publisher=Chicago Television Alumni Club|accessdate=April 16, 2010}}</ref> eagerly moved from KYW in Cleveland to WCFL in Chicago.<ref name = "Charts">{{Cite book | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = Ron | title = WCFL Chicago Top 40 Charts 1965–1976 | year = 2007 | pages = Front Matter xi | publisher = iUniverse | url = https://www.amazon.com/reader/0595431801?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=sib_dp_ptu | isbn = 978-0-595-43180-9 | accessdate =April 2, 2010}}</ref>

As his radio career wound down, Staggs hosted innovative talk and music shows on WMAQ-AM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/08/prgrammers-dige.html |title=Programmer's Digest-July 30, 1973-Feature on Jim's career from 1962–1973|date=July 30, 1973|publisher=Programmer's Digest|accessdate=March 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/images/2008/08/13/pd_cover.jpg |title=Cover of Programmer's Digest July 30, 1973–"Yesterday and Today"-Featured article on Jim.|date=July 30, 1973|publisher=Programmer's Digest|accessdate=March 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/HW/03_PD_Yesterday_and_Today.mp3 MP 3 Download of Programmer's Digest Feature containing audio of Jim at WOKY, KYW, WCFL and WMAQ] (Windows Media Player)</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywgEAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+stagg+wmaq&pg=PA19|title=WMAQ Keeping Up With MOR; Uses Distinguishable Sound (pages 17 and 19)|date=October 9, 1971|accessdate=April 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQkEAAAAMBAJ&q=wmaq+intitle%3Abillboard&pg=PA26|title=WMAQ Lineup Out-Country Format In-Vox Jox (page 26)|date=December 7, 1974|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 26, 2010}}</ref>

== WCFL career == [[File:Jim Stagg Dave Clark WCFL Radio Chicago 1966.JPG|thumb|250px|Staggs interviewing Dave Clark of The Dave Clark Five in 1966]] At WCFL, the "Voice of Labor",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimeline.com/am1000wcfl.htm |title=History of WCFL Radio |publisher=Radio Timeline |accessdate=April 1, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617042124/http://www.radiotimeline.com/am1000wcfl.htm |archivedate=June 17, 2010 }}</ref> Staggs did the "afternoon drive" (the station's high-profile 3 to 6&nbsp;pm slot) shift.<ref name = "Ticket"/> He referred to the studio call-in line as the "Stagg Line" and produced a feature titled "Stagg's Starbeat" – in-depth, provocative, and insightful interviews with local, national and international music celebrities. Staggs interviewed nearly every major rock star of the 1960s, including Neil Diamond, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, the Supremes, The Monkees, and Simon & Garfunkel.

There was also a weekly column on music and the entertainment industry, the "Stagg Line", which appeared in Sunday editions of the ''Chicago Sun-Times''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tinytim.org/articles/index.html |title=Articles about Tiny Tim |year=1969 |publisher=TinyTim.org |accessdate=April 1, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514184059/http://www.tinytim.org/articles/index.html |archivedate=May 14, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tinytim.org/articles/staggline.html |title=Tiny Tim story from "Stagg Line" column, originally in the Chicago Sun-Times |year=1969 |publisher=TinyTim.org |accessdate=April 1, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514185607/http://www.tinytim.org/articles/staggline.html |archivedate=May 14, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlYEAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+stagg&pg=PA30-IA2|title=Chicago Sun-Times ad mentions Jim's column (page 20)|date=April 28, 1967|publisher= Life Magazine|accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref>

Jim became the Chicago chairman of Let Us Vote (LUV), a youth campaign which began in late 1968 to establish the minimum voting age as 18 in all states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nJaUJ7NDRiU/R9c9p52ZXxI/AAAAAAAAAG4/NQEHsv925Ro/s1600-h/Scan0072LUV.jpg |title=Let Us Vote (LUV)|year=1968|author=Stagg, Jimmy P.|accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref> Joey Bishop was honorary national chairman and songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart contributed a campaign song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenhits.com/the_music_of_tommy_boyce_and_bobby_hart |title=Chapter 11-LUV-Let Us Vote|year=1968|author=Boyce, Tommy, Hart, Bobby|publisher=Forgotten Hits|accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenhits.com/forgotten_hits_interviews_bobby_hart |title=Bobby Hart Interview|publisher=Forgotten Hits|accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/copyright/lets-go-where-the-action-is-w-and-m-tommy-boyce-and-bobby/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414181814/http://www.faqs.org/copyright/lets-go-where-the-action-is-w-and-m-tommy-boyce-and-bobby/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2013|title=LUV-Let Us Vote Copyright information|publisher=FAQ's|accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref> Everyone's efforts resulted in the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution being ratified in 1971.

While serving as WCFL's music director, Staggs authorized the station to play the controversial "Ballad of John and Yoko"; he later became the station's program director.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.macca-central.com/news/?991|title=Christ They Know It Ain't Easy|date=July 26, 1969|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=March 19, 2010|archive-date=July 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012836/http://www.macca-central.com/news/?991|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yAoEAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+stagg&pg=PA20|title=Jim becomes music director at WCFL (page 20)|date=July 20, 1968|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ggEAAAAMBAJ&q=wmaq+intitle%3Abillboard&pg=PA34 |title=Vox Jox-Jim's time as WCFL program director mentioned in his move to WMAQ (page 34)|date=February 13, 1971|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 26, 2010}}</ref>

Staggs eschewed the flashy theatrics of other Top-40 radio hosts in favor a straightforward rock and roll show that kept the focus on the music. His close-of-program line echos that: "Music is my business. I hope my business was your pleasure."<ref name="Jim">{{cite web|title=Longtime Chicago disk jockey Jimmy Pearson Staggs dies at 72|date=November 7, 2007|publisher=My Web Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.happyhareonline.com/happyhare-23.htm |title=Cleveland is no joke |author=Martin, Harry |publisher=Martin, Harry |accessdate=August 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728104814/http://www.happyhareonline.com/happyhare-23.htm |archivedate=July 28, 2011 }}</ref>

== Beatles coverage == thumb|250px|The Beatles with Jimmy Staggs/Jim Stagg. WCFL Sound 10 Survey, October, 1966

Jim was among a handful of reporters who traveled on The Beatles' private plane during the band's 1964 U.S. tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnrook.com/The%20Beatles.htm|title=John Rook quotes Variety re: Jim being on the plane for the entire tour|publisher=Variety|accessdate=March 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508200858/http://www.johnrook.com/The%20Beatles.htm|archive-date=May 8, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Adams|editor-first=Deanna R.|title=Rock 'N' Roll and the Cleveland Connection|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LBCZvsVKomwC&q=jim+stagg&pg=PA97|year=2002|pages=624|publisher=Kent State University Press|isbn=0-87338-691-4|accessdate=August 1, 2010}}</ref> The reporters had press credentials for the tour and at times were pursued by the same frenzied teenage girls who were trying to get closer to their idols.<ref name = "Ticket">{{Cite book | editor-last = Kane | editor-first = Larry | title = Ticket To Ride | year = 2003 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780762415922/page/272 272] | publisher = Running Press | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780762415922/page/272 | isbn = 0-7624-1592-4 | accessdate = April 2, 2010 }}</ref> Staggs was once again tapped to cover the Beatles in 1965, but this time for WCFL.<ref>{{cite book|title=That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970|editor-last=Winn|editor-first=John C.|year=2009|pages=416|publisher=Three Rivers Press|isbn=978-0-307-45239-9|accessdate=October 10, 2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LdsMqbAQJWgC&q=jim+stagg&pg=PA50}}</ref> For this tour, there were so many reporters covering the Beatles coast to coast, a separate plane was needed for members of the press. Staggs updated Beatle fans every hour on the WCFL airwaves during this tour.<ref name = "Ticket"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/html/sept15-1965/ |title=DJ's on 1965 Beatles Tour |date=September 15, 1965 |publisher=Mr. Pop Culture/Mr. Pop History |accessdate=March 19, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714123712/http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/html/sept15-1965/ |archivedate=July 14, 2011 }}</ref> He also covered The Beatles' third tour in 1966, traveling with the band from London to Chicago.<ref name = "Ticket"/> On all three tours, Staggs captured, on tape, The Beatles' reactions and comments in every city and after each concert.<ref>[http://thatmagicfeeling.podomatic.com/entry/2007-04-19T21_54_01-07_00 Podcast of August 12, 1966 Beatles' Interviews]</ref><ref>[http://thatmagicfeeling.podomatic.com/entry/2007-05-20T13_54_22-07_00 Podcast of August 16–18, 1966 Beatles' Interviews]</ref><ref>[http://thatmagicfeeling.podomatic.com/entry/2007-06-06T20_02_31-07_00 Podcast of August 18–19, 1966 Beatles' Interviews]</ref><ref>[http://thatmagicfeeling.podomatic.com/entry/2007-06-13T07_12_23-07_00 Podcast of August 19–22, 1966 Beatles' Interviews]</ref> {{clear|left}}

== Post-radio career == Staggs left the radio business in 1975,<ref name="Sam Hale"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQkEAAAAMBAJ&q=wmaq+intitle%3Abillboard&pg=PA26|title=Vox Jox-WMAQ staff changes for new format (page 26)|date=December 7, 1974|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 27, 2010}}</ref> as the medium's so-called Golden Age finally gave out, and started a chain of record stores in the northern suburbs of Chicago.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UyQEAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+runyon&pg=PT30 |title=Yesterday's Deejay Heroes: Where Are They Now? (pages 28 & 31)|date=June 5, 1982|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 9, 2010}}</ref> Staggs opened a record store called Record City, which eventually became a chain with locations in Lake Zurich, Skokie, Glenview, and Northbrook, with two more outlets in Orlando, Florida. The last Record City, in Lake Zurich, closed in 2005.

Staggs also became a licensed realtor, working with Keller Williams Realty in Libertyville, and started a business, along with his wife Valene and daughter Dina, called Looking Back Productions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imlookingback.com/3.html |title=Looking Back Productions |publisher=Looking Back Productions |accessdate=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105171449/http://www.imlookingback.com/3.html |archivedate=January 5, 2009 }}</ref> that captured the times of someone's life and special events using video montages and interview techniques.

He made a temporary return to radio via the WJMK airwaves as part of the WJMK Rock 'n' Roll Reunion on April 11, 1985 as a guest, along with fellow former WCFL DJs Ron Britain and Barney Pip to share memories of the station and their careers in radio.<ref>[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?sejsbpwjmk041185a.rm~0:00.0~48:44.2 audio file:A Look Back at WCFL Part 1-Britain, Stagg and Pip on WJMK-FM 1985] (RealPlayer)</ref><ref>[http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?sejsbpwjmk041185b.rm~0:00.0~54:18.1 audio file:A Look Back at WCFL Part 2-Britain, Stagg and Pip on WJMK-FM 1985] (RealPlayer)</ref>

== Personal == Staggs died on November 6, 2007, at his Lake Forest, Illinois home of complications from esophageal cancer.<ref>{{cite news|title= Jim Stagg obituary-original appeared in The Lake Forester, November 8, 2007|date=November 8, 2007|publisher=Pioneer Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lifeinlegacy.com/display.php?weekof=2007-11-10 |title=Jim Stagg |date=November 10, 2007 |publisher=Life in Legacy |accessdate=October 10, 2010 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319210808/http://lifeinlegacy.com/display.php?weekof=2007-11-10 |archivedate=March 19, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/jimmy-pearson-staggs-il/|title=Jimmy Pearson Staggs|date=November 7, 2007|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref> Staggs and his wife of 45 years, Valene, had four children—son Patrick, and daughters Kara, Lisa, and Dina. At the time of his death, Staggs had five grandchildren, Dylan, Matthew, Colin, Nadine, and Aimee <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/11/08/jimmy-pearson-staggs-1935-2007/|title=Jimmy Pearson Staggs: 1935 - 2007|date=November 8, 2007|author=Jensen, Trevor|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 18, 2016}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110611200426/http://www.tcf.ua.edu/tcfgallery/v/1960s/UA+Alums+at+Work/0014.jpg.html Photo of Staggs in the KYW studio] *[http://chitownradio.com/messages/235.html Chicago Sun-Times 2007 Media in Review-Robert Feder's in memoriam column] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20091117131622/http://www.fabfourfaq.com/news.asp Fab Four FAQ-A Tribute-Jim Stagg] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121105012514/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10166299.html '60s radio DJ interviewed Beatles-Ben Goldberger-Chicago Sun Times-2007-11-08]

===Listen=== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101005124940/http://radiotimeline.com/WCFLcomposite.ram Audio of Jim Stagg on WCFL, September 1966] (RealPlayer) *[https://archive.org/details/JimStagg-WcflChicago-FridayMarch181966 Internet Archives-Download of March 18, 1966 WCFL aircheck-Jim Stagg] *[http://www.reelradio.com/mh/jskya041461.html Audio of Jim Stagg on KYW, April 14, 1961] (RealPlayer)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stagg, Jim}} Category:American radio DJs Category:American talk radio hosts Category:Radio personalities from Chicago Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer in Illinois Category:University of Alabama alumni Category:1935 births Category:2007 deaths Category:People from Bessemer, Alabama Category:American radio executives