If you want to look good in a new hat – if you want to look really good, that is – you need to pull it down a bit in the front, or curl the brim just a tad more – whatever it takes to make it look as though you’ve been wearing that new hat forever. Ron January has worn a lot of hats in his broadcast career and in each one, he got that looking-good part down pat. Whether it was sports, music, hosting or management he found a pathway to success, adding his personal style and love of the business to every accomplishment. For this and more, the ABA names Ron January, vice president of operations for Courtney Broadcasting LLC, a 2017 to the Alabama Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

“I have always been a music lover,” says January, who found the spotlight early on, movin’ and groovin’ to “My Girl” and “Just my Imagination”. “In elementary school, I had a group that mocked the Temptations,” he grins. “And through high school I had my own band performing in night clubs. I had a great admiration for the radio jocks in Birmingham and wanted to someday join their exclusive club.”

Although he felt a desire to become a broadcaster, January attended Howard University in Washington D.C. where he worked toward an education degree, planning to become a history teacher. It was around this time that the university took over radio station WHUR which became a place where students could get hands-on broadcasting experience. January was among those who took advantage of the opportunity.

When a communication department was added to Howard University’s field of studies, January switched majors from education to broadcasting. He also was one of a group of spirited students who worked to create the second of the university’s radio stations; this one a completely student-operated endeavor. Forty-one years later, WHBC 96.3 is still the voice for Howard University students.

After graduating, January returned to Birmingham to take a job at WJLD, and it was there that he proved he could master just about every aspect of the radio business. He started as the moderator of “Sound Off”, a Saturday morning talk show. Then he moved to a jock position where he got to share his love of jazz, and eventually he was promoted to Program/Music Director. Oh, and don’t forget about sports!

“That was my biggest challenge … as a play-by-play announcer,” laughs January. “I took that job with no experience.” He was a play-by-play commentator for the Miles College football program and for Lawson State Community College basketball games, and he even called a State High School Basketball Championship game. January says that although he’d never had sports broadcasting experience, he “ended up with a pretty good, respectful following”.

January moved to WATV in the early ‘80’s and has been in management there pretty much ever since. But he’s also doing what brought him back to Birmingham after college; hosting a morning show called “Open Mike” that features talk, news and music.

Of all the hats January has worn, he favors his music director job. “That has got to be one of my greatest accomplishments,” says January. “It gave me the opportunity to pick out music from the mid-70’s to 2017 – from R&B Soul to Disco to Rap … and of course, my favorite … Jazz.”

Speaking of accomplishments, January was designated a Living Legend by the Birmingham Chapter of the NAACP, receiving proclamations from both Jefferson County and the City of Birmingham for the recognition. First Ebenezer Church also honored him with a program that featured highlights of his career.

January says he’s most proud of two additional achievements. “One of my biggest accomplishments was when I first received an award for Music Director of the Year from IMPACT magazine at their convention. The second was ten years ago when I got an award from the ABA for Talk Show Host of the Year”.

With this year’s recognition from the ABA, his list of achievements grows even longer. “To be honored by a statewide organization like the Alabama Broadcasting Association is major to me,” he says. “It seems as though it gives me credibility for my many years of broadcasting.”