(radio static) - 98.5.

K-R-Z.

It's Jumpin' Jeff, hey, thank you for listening.

(bright music) Well, everybody has to begin somewhere.

But living in the shadows of Boston, I was certainly not ready for that level of radio.

I heard about a station they were kicking off in an area I had never heard of, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

So I said, "What the heck?"

Packed everything in my car.

I drove out here and here I am all these years later.

(upbeat music) You know, it's funny, most people think I walk in here at 2:00 with Kristen and boom!

The magic happens.

Actually, I read for a couple of hours before the show.

Everything going on in the world, pop culture, sports, news.

Then late at night, when I'm at home, that's when I write the material for my show.

(soothing music) What you need, number one, is a burning passion to entertain.

Number two, this will help you so much.

If naturally you're different, you think differently, you have odd thoughts, be unique.

That's the most important thing.

And, of course, develop your voice so it sounds the best it can possibly sound.

(bright music) Radio has changed a lot over the years.

We can't do the really crazy, insane stuff that I love doing because of lawyers.

We used to do my show every summer where I would, I would be in a hot tub on the back of a flatbed, being pulled down 81 at 60 miles-an-hour, and I'm broadcasting live in this hot tub.

No seatbelt, but having a great time.

We did a show naked.

My co-host and I at the time.

I forget why, but we did it naked.

Oh!

And then there was the underwear show.

I can't even remember why, but we had about 40 people lined up along 315 in front of our building, all in just their underwear.

(lively music) Whenever I meet people in public, I hear the same thing.

Every single (laughs) time.

After we've chatted a bit, they'll say, "Oh, my God, you sound just like you do on the radio."

And I always respond, "Shouldn't I?"

After we chat, they always say, "You know, you're a lot nicer than I was expecting."

And I'm shocked by that.

But then I realize on the air I'm kind of a...

I'll bust your butt, you know?

And it's all in the name of comedy and having fun, but I probably am a lot nicer than a...

It's like the mirror on the side of your car.

It says, ""Objects may appear closer than they really are."

I may appear a little nastier (laughs) than I really am.

(gentle music) In radio, naturally, we are here for the community and we're involved in almost every major fundraising activity in any PA.

The one I grabbed by the horns, personally, was years ago I discovered I had a knack for making funny parody songs and I formed a group called The Whack Jobs.

And over the years we've sold tens of thousands of albums and the money has always gone to local charities, usually involving children.

And I'm very proud of it.

And it's been fun making these CDs all these years.

Most people don't realize The Whack Jobs did perform one full-blown concert in 2001 at the Arena in Wilkes-Barre.

We actually opened for the Wallflowers and EVE 6.

We acted out a bunch of songs and it went phenomenal and people loved it.

(bright music) ♪ Goodbye chipmunks ♪ ♪ I'll miss you all ♪ ♪ When my head is mounted on a wall ♪ (upbeat music) - One moment I'll always treasure because it was in the middle of COVID where you really couldn't do anything, but Mayor Lombardo from Pittston made his way down to our station and awarded me the key to the city of Pittston.

If you ever come to the KRZ building, glance up at the sign as you pull up the driveway, it is legally named Jeff Walker Way.

That was done by management and my former co-host, Amanda, for my 40th anniversary here.

It even shows up on GPS.

You'll hear it right through GPS, "Jeff Walker Way."

Take a drive on it sometime.

(gentle music) You know, I moved here many years ago from the Boston area to N-E-P-A where I knew nobody, going to a job I knew nothing about.

Here I am, 44 years later, I've had the time of my life and what I immediately recognized here in N-E-P-A, the people are very welcoming and I'm a part of the community and this really is home to me now, more so than the Boston area.

I've loved it, and I want to thank everybody sincerely for being so supportive and basically cheering me along on this incredible journey.

Thank you so much.

(gentle music continues)