Founded in 2015 by Crazy Jay Bird, Radio Vegas Rocks was a web radio station and app featuring a 24/7 stream of diverse music and talk programs, hosted by some of the most talented people in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, on February 1st 2021, our friend and leader Jay passed away. The work he did to coordinate sponsors and licensing was immense, more than a full time job, and no one could fill his shoes.
Before starting this station, Jay created what would become at one point the most-listened-to podcast in Las Vegas, The Rocking Comedy Show. The first episode was posted on August 1st, 2005. The show held two world records. The first was for the most magicians on one radio show. Then, over the course of more than two days, he stayed up and led several hosts in creating the longest continuous streaming broadcast in history. The games and hilarious segments he created for this show will live on in the people he inspired forever. In addition to the many famous guests that appeared, including his dear friend Weird Al Yankovic, many young musicians also got their first opportunity to play in a studio, on this show.
The number of people that Jay introduced to the world of broadcasting cannot be counted. His studio served as an incubator for men and women of all ages, races, and backgrounds to get behind a mic and try to create a show. He even payed for all the licenses needed to DJ any sort of music people wanted to play. He was a selfless man, only caring about making enough money to cover the station’s expenses so that he could keep broadcasting.
Jay’s biggest influence was Barret Eugene “Barry” Hansen, known to the world as Dr. Demento. Later he would actually land a job working for Dr. Demento, who would become his mentor.
Jay pioneered web-radio before podcasting existed. He streamed his show online before that term had been created. He kept creating when the professionals he studied with in broadcasting school told him the internet would never replace radio. He never gave up. Now, no one can count the people that have experience and careers that began behind his microphones.
