In 1982, a radio host known to Detroit listeners as “Jerry St. James” sought a new partner for his morning show at “Magic 95” — the FM radio station today known as WCSX. Joining him, inbound from a Phoenix radio station, was a host using the on-air name “Jeff Elliott.”
Together, they formed the Jeff & Jer Showgram, and in 1985 relocated to WFYR-FM in Chicago (today “103.5 Kiss FM”). Three years later, they’d relocate to San Diego, where they’d attract legions of listeners across the next two decades.
Today, many listeners and radio industry brethren are remembering the accomplishments of Jerry Cesak, who unexpectedly passed away on January 4.
He was 74 years of age and is survived by his wife, Pam (pictured with Cesak, top left).
Born in Maryland, Cesak graduated with a theater degree from the University of Maryland before embarking on what he humorously called a “short 30-year diversion” into radio broadcasting. His career began in Washington, D.C., and took him through Baltimore, Minneapolis and Detroit.
That experience at the former WMJC-FM coalesced into a 27-year journey that took an important turn in May 1988. That’s when Sandusky said goodbye to KWLT “K-Lite” and its “background AC format,” as described by Radio & Records at the time, and brought in Jeff & Jer for mornings at a station then-known as “Y95.”
In 1990, Jeff & Jer would join crosstown KFMB-FM “B100,” a high-energy Adult Top 40 station that would compete vigorously against Gary Edens’ KKLQ “Q106.” While the morning show grew, Edens’ financial woes associated with WRBQ “Q105” in Tampa and its war against Jacor’s WFLZ “The Power Pig” led to the sale of Q106 to PAR Broadcasting. With the late Al Peterson as VP/Operations, he quickly moved to bring in Jeff & Jer as Q106’s new morning show. That was successful through the station’s purchase by none other than Jacor. Less than pleased with the change in ownership at KKLQ, Jeff & Jer let their contract expire in May 1997. Enter programming icon Tracy Johnson, who left Q106 for KFMB-FM, which had been reborn as Pop/Alternative “Star 100.7.” He lured Jeff & Jer to his new home, essentially trading places with Dave Smiley, now in Indianapolis at WZPL.
At “Star 100.7,” Jeff & Jer continued to attract a huge audience in a hyper-competitive market seeing the growth of Dave, Shelly & Chainsaw following its 1997 return to KGB-FM from KIOZ. Jeff & Jer would remain at KFMB-FM through 2009, when changing music tastes and an ever-evolving San Diego radio marketplace led the audience to other stations.
In January 2011, a final on-air home would come to Jeff & Jer — KYXY-FM. That last incarnation of the “Showgram” would last through its “cancellation” in June 2017. However, Cesak (as Jerry St. James) had departed in 2015 with his retirement. Co-host Jeff Detrow, using his legal name, would go on for a stint at Educational Media Foundation’s “K-LOVE” Christian Contemporary Music network.
Even after a decade away from the mic, Jeff & Jer remain fondly remembered. Upon Cesak’s decision to end his career, he said, “Radio was never work. We always had so much fun every single day, it’s like high school with pay.”
Beyond the airwaves, Cesak was a lifelong and passionate advocate for animal welfare. He served on the boards of the Humane Society of the United States and the Rancho Coastal
Humane Society. With his wife, he founded the Unicorn Foundation, which produced the multimedia show “Bless the Beasts,” touring the United States to raise awareness about animal cruelty.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Rancho Coastal Humane Society.
As he often said, life comes in chapters; Jerry’s was one filled with warmth, humor, and unwavering kindness. He will be deeply missed.
