"Greetings, this is Uncle Johnny, on K-WAVE 107.9!"


Some who have followed my professional wrestling announcing career have wondered, "Whatever happened to Straight Up John Watanabe?" Well, for more than a decade now, I have been happily working full-time on-air in Christian broadcasting, at KWVE (K-WAVE) 107.9 and its sister radio station KSDW (88.9 & 96.9) in Southern California. Both Christian radio stations are owned by and on the campus of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, founded by the late, great Pastor Chuck Smith (by the way, Kelsey Grammer plays Chuck Smith in the major motion picture "Jesus Revolution", coming soon to a theater near you).

I have committed my life to serving Jesus as my Savior and Lord, who shed His blood on the cross to wash away my sins and then rose from the dead (Romans 5:9--"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him"), but I still have respect for those who have bled in wrestling rings while entertaining fans in various arenas. 

Along with doing on-air shifts on these stations as a host (or "presenter", as they say in the U.K., mates) between Christian teaching programs and Christian songs, I have also enjoyed representing K-WAVE at "the K-WAVE booth", at various live remote broadcasts and public appearances. The above photo features me & my beautiful wife April at the annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, which we have enjoyed appearing at for several years, and it is always wonderful meeting our K-WAVE radio listeners who stop by to wave "hi" to K-WAVE!

My favorite role at K-WAVE is being a host during K-WAVE's "Saturday Morning Kids Show", in which I announce the birthdays of listeners (ranging in age from 1 to 100) on the "Saturday Morning Kids Show Birthday List" (at around 7:25am Pacific Time) as "Uncle Johnny"! Not only have I announced the birthdays of listeners from California, but from other states as well (who listen via our website KWVE.com or our K-WAVE app). I have been overjoyed by joyful comments from these listeners over the years.

Until next time, Lord willing, this is Uncle Johnny...you keep looking forward and upward, and you keep it right here, on K-WAVE 107.9! 




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