Mike Scott

Mike Scott broke into Tampa Bay radio in 1971 at WLCY as the night jock. Scott was actually Jim Shirah, who was the morning show host and Program Director at WAPE in Jacksonville, The Big Ape, one of America’s legendary radio stations. Jim served in that role from 1967 until 1971. His stint at WLCY lasted 5 years.

Jim was a very high energy jock, who kept the action rolling and request lines totally lit, a true entertainer and a man who loved people. It came across on the air.

Jim was on the air one night running a commercial for Automotive Engineering, recorded by Tedd Webb. Jim made a comment like “yeah right Webb”. A deranged listener by the name of Webb (NOT Tedd) thought Jim was taunting him and drove to the studios on Gandy Blvd and shot the windows out of the front of the building, rammed a few cars in the parking lot, and waited on the hood of his car for the cops to arrive. They still talk about it.

Jim was born in Daytona Beach, and grew up listening to great Florida radio, his exposure to WLOF (Orlando) and WQAM (MIami), plus a show and tell in grade school which introduced him to Elvis, paved the way for career in radio.

His high spot came when he met Elvis Presley in Feb of 1967 at Graceland, he spent a week with him. “Nicest celebrity I ever met in my life” says Jim.

Jim’s time in Tampa Bay, his 20 years in radio and the quality of his work make him a first ballot candidate for Tampa Bay Radio Hall of Fame.

Mike & Elvis Presley	Mike & Mickey Dolenz
Mike Scott ~ WAPE - 1968	Mike Scott ~ WAPE