“I wanted to emphasize following your passion,” said Jim Villanueva.
Villanueva, an independent radio producer, told Newspapers 2 students Tuesday that his radio career started with an unpaid volunteer stint. Within several months, he said, KLOS hired him, for $4.25 an hour.
Next? Howard Gelman hired him to produce a classic-rock interview show for Global Satellite Network. Villanueva said George Harrison was the first featured guest he worked with. “I knew then it was a cool job,” Villanueva said.
Today? Villanueva has his own production company, Current Classics. He also works for a national syndication company.
“A personal mantra of mine, what I call the three P’s,” Villanueva said. “Passion–follow it. Persistence…ask questions. (And) the hardest one…Patience. It will not happen for you overnight.”
