A Saugus resident is set to be inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame after being in the radio industry since 1966.

Jim Duncan grew up in San Diego in a military family.

Each time his father would go on deployments, he would bring his children back different gifts.

“When I was 14 years old, he brought me a transistor radio, and that changed my life,” Duncan said.

After receiving the radio, he started imitating people he heard on the radio and decided to pursue a career in the radio industry instead of being a doctor.

Duncan would also sit in his room and play records and talk before the song would play as if he was on the radio.

Once Duncan went to college, he studied radio and television communications.

Duncan’s first assignment in school was to record a mock show introducing records, he said.

When Duncan turned in his assignment the teacher listened to the first three minutes of the tape and handed it to Duncan.

“She told me, I think it would be in your best interest to change your major,” Duncan said.

After leaving his teacher’s classroom, Duncan remembers throwing the tape into a hillside full of tall ivy.

However, he decided to use the discouragement from his teacher to continue his dream of being in the radio industry.

Starting in 1966, Duncan worked for three different radio stations in San Diego until 1974, he said.

After working in radio in San Diego, he got a job working as an editor where he wrote different music columns.

For nine years, Duncan served as vice president and Country Editor for legendary trade newspaper, Radio & Records, according to the Country Music Seminar.

In that role, Duncan was a true ambassador for country radio, and the music industry and was instrumental in the career development of many industry professionals who went on to be our format’s most influential leaders., according to officials.

However, as soon as Duncan was hired with the newspaper, he was unsure he would be able to succeed in that job and immediately got hired to work on KLAC AM 570 LA Sports radio on the weekends.

Through his career, Duncan has done voice introductions for the Los Angeles Lakers and done voiceover work for commercials, which he continues to this day.

In June, Duncan is set to be inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I am humbled that I was given this honor and will always be on the Wall of Fame in Nashville,” Duncan said.

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