Jim Quinn, Longtime Pittsburgh Talk Radio Host, Dies

Former Pittsburgh radio DJ and conservative talk radio host Jim Quinn has died at the age of 82.

Quinn spent more than 40 years in the business, making stops at stations like KQV and WTAE in Pittsburgh. He was host of The Quinn and Banana Show in mornings alongside Don Jefferson on B-94 before ultimately transitioning to WRRK.

“I’m retired now, but Jim loved radio so much he never retired,” Jefferson told TribLive in Pittsburgh. “I was 24 when they signed him up to do mornings with me in 1984 and he was 17 years older. I learned some things from him — he’d obviously had a huge career even at that point. But good radio morning shows, in my opinion, work when everyone is bringing something different to the table. In our case, it worked because we made each other laugh.

“We had a good run at B-94 and then Jim was able to reinvent himself, successfully, in talk radio, which is a tough act.”

In 2004, Jim Quinn shifted his focus to conservative political talk on 104.7 WPGB-FM. He was teamed with Rose Tennent to host The War Room for nearly a decade before the show ended in 2013 after a contract dispute. During his tenure at the station, his show was syndicated and aired on Clear Channel’s station on XM Radio.

Quinn later launched a digital media effort using the same War Room branding. He also later hosted mornings at WYSL in Rochester after departing Pittsburgh talk radio. Quinn also worked at WAVL to stay active in broadcasting in his later years.

During his career, Quinn was noted for befriending Rush Limbaugh, who later mentored the Pittsburgh talk radio host.

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BNM Staff