Former celeb DJ Brian Kelly rocks out on internet-based CTown radio with nostalgic fun

Brian Kelly slid into his seat at his home radio studio in Jackson Township, decades removed from his DJ glory days but seemingly able to turn back time to the '80s.

Smooth, direct and ear-friendly, his voice hearkened back to an era when local radio personalities were celebrities and integral to the daily routines of their listeners.

Kelly was broadcasting his Friday night '80s show on CTown Rocks, a fledgling internet radio station based in downtown Canton eager to expand its reach with the help of a veteran radioman boasting an expansive resume dating to the '80s and '90s with FM stations in Alliance, New Philadelphia, Canton, Akron, Cleveland and Columbus. Those included 92.5 WDJQ, 95.9 WNPQ, 96 WKDD, WNCI 97.9 and WRQK 106.9.

Along the way he worked with radio icons in Northeast Ohio, including the late "Uncle Vic" (Victor Blecman) and "Dancin" Danny Wright at WGCL 98.5.

"What's going on?" Kelly said with an exaggerated crescendo. "I'll be playing all your favorite rock, pop, dance, punk and funk! Let's get it going on right now with Sly Fox, and let's go all the way − great tune from the '80s on Friday night '80s. Crank it up!"

'Radio is so much fun.'

Surrounded by keepsakes of his radio career, including an autographed drumstick and prominently displayed black-and-white photo of a younger Kelly sporting a monumental mullet haircut, he sounded as if he had never left the trade.

As Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" played, the 57-year-old seemed genuinely enthused to be behind a microphone again following a lengthy hiatus.

"Radio is so much fun," he said in between songs while studying an improvised show list of advertisements, news tidbits, concert announcements and requests. "It truly is what I love, and my wife says, 'Why are you doing this stuff?' But I love it.

"The thing is with me, if I can make someone smile or laugh, or just knowing I'm their friend, that's what means everything to me. It just means a lot; that's the heart of a radio DJ."

C-Town Radio: 'We have to try to wake the people up.'

Although times have changed since his heyday, Kelly didn't dial down his DJ game during a recent broadcast, introducing songs with flair and the occasional Michael Jackson impression. Programs also include his Monday night '70s music program (7 to 9 p.m.) and a Saturday morning slot (10 a.m. to noon) featuring '80s and '90s songs.

Kelly also incorporates interviews into his shows, including old DJ friends, music celebs and retired athletes such as former NBA All-Star Otis Birdsong.

Jeff Woodson, part-owner of CTown Rocks, brought on Kelly to give the online startup a boost with his radio know-how and name familiarity. Woodson hopes it leads to ultimately attracting more radio talent and original content while reducing automated playlists.

"It's kind of a new thing what we're doing," said Woodson, a retired computer engineer who grew up in Perry Township. "We're focused on Canton, Ohio, and the surrounding areas, so we have to try to wake the people up to let them know we're offering this service, and it's been going kind of slow honestly."

Great set list, silky voice

Fast, however, was the tempo during Kelly's '80s show.

Another song was cued − "When Doves Cry" by Prince. Kelly prepared to read plugs for a travel business and the Canal Fulton Concert Series. Other times he scrolled through emails and text messages and social media posts to find out what songs his listeners requested or to silently read their compliments and encouragement. And for two hours he was unrelentingly energetic, his pep belying the mileage he's logged in the business.

Listeners tuned in from across the country − Dalton, North Canton, Jackson Township, Akron, Florida, Denver, Houston, Atlanta, Arizona and Upstate New York. Many of them were former fans from his radio prime.

"Brian is awesome, and I love listening to him any time I can," said Jeff Scott of Orlando, Florida. "I'm glad I can hear him online now from Florida. I also listened to him regularly years ago when I lived in Ohio, and he was on Akron/Canton radio. He always plays a great set list and has a voice as smooth as silk.

"People like Brian, you felt like they had a bond with, you got used to hearing his voice, and I guess you can say listeners would form a personal relationship listening to their favorite DJ every day," said Scott, who listened to Kelly when the fan lived in Cleveland in the '90s. "To and from work, or relaxing around the house. I think (radio) was a bigger deal back then, before the internet − it was the only deal."

What is CTown Rocks radio?

Launched about two years ago, CTown Rocks bills itself as "The Hall of Fame City's Home for Rock and Roll." Kelly started with the station about 16 months ago.

A sister station is C-Town Radio, an R&B, soul and jazz music format playing songs like "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, "That's What I Like" by Bruno Mars, George Howard's "(You Caught Me) Smilin'" and "You Belong To Me" by Carly Simon.

C-Town Radio also has featured on-air programming by Ron Ponder, a former WHBC 1480 radio show host, community advocate and marketing consultant.

Due to other commitments, Ponder said he's been limited on the time he can devote to the radio initiative, but he hopes to become more involved in the future.

At the helm is Woodson, a guy who enjoys radio but never worked in it until now.

"I'm just a tech head, I'm like a nerd," said the 66-year-old Plain Township resident who co-owns the business with local resident Crystal Smith. "A lot of things I dabble in, and all of the new things coming up in technology.

"Internet radio is picking up, so I wanted to get on the bottom floor and establish something and work my way through all the problems and all the hurdles we would meet and that we would run into."

Challenges include building the online station's listener base enough to attract more advertisers. That would generate revenue to expand the on-air personalities and original content. With the exception of Kelly and a few other programs, including Saturday night's "Metal Meltdown" (7 to 9 p.m.) with Dave Selby, CTown Rocks plays automated songs mostly mined from the '70s, '80s and '90s, such as Mötley Crüe's "Dr. Feelgood," Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman" and The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony, as well as more recent tunes like "Payphone," a 2012 release by Maroon 5.

"It's just a work in progress," Woodson said of the twin stations.

"My budget is so low that I can't even promise pay," said the Air Force veteran. "I always say we're boot strapping. I believe it can be done. In fact, I know it will be done, and we'll keep pushing, and and we'll try everything there is to try, and longevity is in our corner. So it's just a matter of time before people catch on, and the more they catch on, the more content (we'll) have)."

Interviews and community-oriented content also have been featured, said Woodson, including with local political candidates and those who have performed at the Canton Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra has advertised many of its concerts on C-Town Radio and plans to do so again this year.

Kelly is also looking for on-air personalities, whether they have a radio background or not.

"Send me a tape to (ctownrocksradio@yahoo.com)," he said of those interested. "Even if they just want to be critiqued by an old radio guy. ... I think if you really want to take a shot on internet radio at CTown Rocks, ... send me that tape, send me three minutes of your best, and maybe you'll end up on CTown Rocks or the sister station."

Why did Brian Kelly get back into radio?

CTown Rock's most recognizable name is Kelly, drawing listeners like Scott, the former Northeast Ohio resident who discovered Kelly's radio resurgence through Facebook.

"It was a huge moment of happiness, to be able to hear him live again," Scott said. "Especially since I now live 1,000 miles away. The internet is great in that regard. (And) nostalgia certainly has a lot to do with it, being able to hear the same guy and great DJ I grew up with and loved listening to for many years, and he also certainly captures that moment in time and takes me back every time he plays a great song from any numerous great classic bands."

Kelly admitted that his wife questioned the thought of him giving radio another try even on a minimal basis.  To her, Kelly's DJ life is behind him, pages in a scrapbook, photos on a wall. Now he's a husband and father who works for a company providing commercial sound systems for restaurants, hotels and retail businesses.

But Kelly, who also serves as program director of CTown Rocks, was intrigued by the offer to dabble in online radio.

A former club and wedding DJ, Kelly clearly loves the music he plays, transporting listeners to an '80s sonic paradise on Friday nights, where Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, David Lee Roth, Adam Ant, Cyndi Lauper, Bon Jovi and their ilk are in heavy rotation.

Mixed in with the music are sexual innuendo and an endearing silliness.

"It's putting the fun back into radio, and it's putting the fun and spark back in it for me," he said in his characteristically upbeat voice. "And having this opportunity to do this is just amazing."

Now he's open to seeing where the online radio road leads. Not dependent on it for income or to break through in the business, but instead curiously embracing the platform and hopeful for its success.

"It's love, man," Kelly said. "I used to love what I used to do on the air, and when this opportunity came about, I thought, 'I'm always going to have radio in my blood.'"

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Northeast Ohio DJ Brian Kelly back on the air with Canton online radio