Jim Benitez / Host
Jim Benitez shows
A self-taught Latin percussionist since the age of 12 and former computer network engineer, Jim keeps busy scouring the internet for new and exciting Latin Jazz musical works for the audience, including but not limited to classic music masters of years past.
Jim is a United States Army Vietnam-era veteran and served as an Air Traffic Controller, admitting, “That was my first real foray out in radio broadcasting, directing all those aircraft.” His first commercial radio experience began at Worcester’s Gois Broadcasting Inc.’s WORC 1310AM in 2006, co-hosting the first Latin Jazz show in Worcester, called Ran KanKan, with his friend Edwin Cancel. The show lasted about six months until Edwin resigned and Jim took over the show, renaming it Latin Jazz Sundays. Jim also hosted a Salsa show at the same station on Saturdays called Salsa Dura Sabados, (Hard Salsa Saturdays), and again on Sundays with Alex Vega on Salsa Na’ Ma. Both became major hit shows in Worcester’s Latin community, which achieved a 2.5 rating in the Arbitron radio ratings for two years.
Although short-lived, it was well-remembered by his listeners, leading to an opportunity in Hartford again with the Gois Broadcasting group of stations at WNEZ 1230AM. A fusion of the two shows became an all-Spanish language show called Jazz Latino Ahora, or Latin Jazz Now!
Through all of this, Jim developed a following that extended to New York, Central Florida, California, Hawaii, Canada, Italy, France, and Sweden, thanks to the show being streamed online to listeners worldwide. “I am honored to be at WICN surrounded by the finest and most supportive group of radio professionals in the world. Latin Jazz has a home on public radio here in Worcester, and it’s 90.5 WICN, New England’s Jazz+ station.”
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