Connect
To Top
Local Stories

Meet Jay Harper of Nashville

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Harper.

Hi Jay, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Jay Harper is a native Texan but grew up in New Orleans where he got the radio itch while in high school. He’s been scratchin’ it now for decades!

Jay’s radio and announcer career has taken him to multiple cities and radio formats. He continues to be a part of New Country, Classic Country, Classic Hits, Classic Rock, Adult Contemporary, News/Talk and Sports Radio stations. Jay can still be heard on the legendary WSM-FM and WWTN-FM in Nashville and nationwide on Westwood One’s NASH-ICON format.

Based in Nashville, TN Jay first arrived in Music City in 1985 where he was National Radio Promotion Manager with MCA Records/Nashville where he worked with the likes of George Strait, Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Barbara Mandrell, Glen Campbell, Loretta Lynn, The Oak Ridge Boys, Steve Wariner, Patty Loveless, Conway Twitty, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett and many more.

Jay also produced Country Music concerts at fairs and festivals across America and worked with most every artist in Country music including Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and many, many more.

A lover of sports, Jay has been a radio and TV play-by-play announcer and public address announcer at the college and professional level and a live announcer for the World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters®!

In 2019, Jay founded the sports live-streaming company, The Game Time Sports Network that caters to all sports throughout the nation for schools, leagues and tournaments. Jay and his team have provided over 1000 live, play-by-play live-streaming events for schools, leagues and tournaments.

Jay also has a very successful podcast in Nashville, “Circling the Drain Podcast” with Nashville radio legend, Johnny Bozeman. The podcast that covers all things Nashville, radio, music and entertainment, is on all podcast platforms and has 14,000 Facebook followers and clips with over 2.5 million views!

Jay and his wife Lisa reside in Nashville and have two grown children, Nick and Katie and are also proud grandparents to grandsons, 4-year-old Jonas and 10-month-old Rian Harper.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is not always smooth! Media continues to evolve and with that, Jay has also evolved and has managed to stay relevant! His embracing of social media promotion as well as his live-streaming company, The Game Time Sports Network and his podcast “Circling the Drain” continue to grow and be successful.

However, the road still presents its roadblocks – from cashflow issues due to clients not paying on time, to technical issues with software and equipment. But through our patience and diligence – we solve problems and manage to make things work through all obstacles!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
If it involves a microphone, I have more than likely done it! From radio in multiple markets since 1978 to TV sportscaster and booth announcer, to live announcing events at The Grand Ole Opry, and national TV shows, to a live announcer with the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters, I am proud to have been a part of it all.

I am most proud of my willingness to evolve with the technology that has contributed to my longevity.

Change with the times or the times will change without you.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My willingness to adapt and learn as much as I can about new technology. So many announcing professionals complain how things, media in particular, are not the way they used to be. What industry is?

Stop complaining and adapt!

Contact Info:

Person with headphones in a radio studio, microphone, sound equipment, and computer screens visible.

A woman sitting at a table with promotional materials and a monitor, in front of large windows showing greenery outside.

Four people sit around a table in a recording studio with black curtains, microphones, and a monitor showing the scene.

View from inside a room showing a table with audio equipment, a window with a view of a baseball field and green landscape, blue sky, and clouds.

View of a baseball field with a camera in the foreground, netting, trees, and a blue sky with clouds.

Person sitting at a table under a tent with a banner for the Red Fish League, with electronic equipment on the table.

A man with gray hair and a beard takes a selfie in an indoor sports facility with a bicycle overhead.

Suggest a Story: NashvilleVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Local Stories