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SALT LAKE CITY — After 32 years in the business, radio personality Jon Carter is still the voice of Utah's classic rock-in-roll.
Perhaps better known as "Jumpin' JC," Carter is in his comfort zone every morning on 103.5 The Arrow and has been with Utah listeners for four decades. He's been an entertainer, a shoulder to cry on, and he occasionally plays the role of a therapist for his listeners — all in his 5:30 a.m. slot.
"It's been a long journey, a long migration." Carter said. "But it's been a great ride and it's been a lot of fun. I'm still going, still going."
Carter has a long history with radio and music. He has been on the air as a full-time disc jockey since he was 13. He found his niche in Utah, where he's been on air since 1980.
When asked what he thought of his role as an entertainer and sometimes radio therapist, Carter said his listeners are the true entertainers and they help keep the show going.
"They crack me up you know, they really do," he said. "I don't have a partner. It's just me in the morning, but it really isn't because they're my partner."
Through thick and thin, happy and angry, his listeners are his key to success and longevity in the business.
"Somebody calls and says, ‘Hey, I heard that. I'm listening,'" Carter said. "In radio, your greatest fear is to not have listeners … I just want to make sure that they are here and I'm doing what they want so they can stay here."
Mornings come early for Carter; he wakes up by 2:30 a.m. to get to the Arrow studios in time to prepare for his show. Even after all the years and success he's had in radio, Carter still gets nervous sometimes before his shows. But at the end of the day, he said he appreciates his Utah listeners for waking up early with him to tune into his show.
"They've stuck with me," he said. "(Listeners) will say, ‘Jumpin' JC, what's happening?'"
