“Captain Jack” Aponte
“Captain Jack” Aponte has announced his retirement from radio after more than 50 years in the industry.
“The last few months have been very difficult due to various health issues that have included a cancer scare, two major surgeries, and weeks of recuperation,” Aponte shares with MusicRow. “I have had to put our important business on hold while working on getting well. Thank God no cancer was found. All that time, while I sat in the hospital bed and at home, I looked at my 50 years in this business. I realized I had accomplished a lot. In many cases I dared go where others had not.”
Aponte’s beginnings start in the New York metro area, which helped shape his major market mentality all while keeping his down home values front and center. His long-time love of country music is what drove him to make Music City his home over a decade ago.
In 2011, Aponte launched internet radio station, Renegade Radio Nashville, and within 6 months RRN became the first and only internet radio station in music history to be given legitimate “reporting” status on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
The veteran’s passion has always revolved around the Nashville scene and country music. Throughout his career, Aponte strongly believed in exposing new country songs and breaking new country artists to his audiences. As a contemporary country music programmer, he always went the extra mile to find a sound unique to his format.
In 2019, he moved back to his home state and settled in Seaside Heights, New Jersey where he set up a new online station covering the tristate areas of NJ, NY, and PA which also broadcasted live from the beach. Named Jersey Shore Country, this became the primary reporting station on the MusicRow Radio Chart.
Aponte states, “From moving to a new town, changing work hours to accommodate mine or just spending days, nights and weekends alone while I built up radio station listenership, my wife and family have cheered me on giving up so much of their lives to support me. After weeks of careful consideration, I have made the hard decision to retire.
“This wonderful experience that Music Row has afforded me and the opportunity to work with the best professionals in the music business will be something I will cherish forever,” he continues. “I don’t know what the future holds, as none of us do, however these are decisions I will make with my family in mind. I wish you all the best life has to offer and I will never forget our amazing relationships.”
He sums, “I hope growth and success is in all our futures.”
MusicRow wishes Aponte all the best in his retirement.
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