Rock ‘n’ Roll Guru Jim Villanueva Speaks to Young Journalists
Brennen Jacobsen and Laura Bauer
Contributing Editors
August 11, 2010
Filed under newspaper2 2010
“What are you guys passionate about? What do you want to do?” Jim Villanueva asked a group of journalism students at Cal State Long Beach on Tuesday August 10. His advice? “Follow it.”
Following your passion is something that Villanueva has experienced first hand. After quitting his boring yet practical job, he decided to dive right in to what he loved: music.
“I’m a music junkie, obviously,” Villanueva joked.
Following music definitely hasn’t led him astray. At this point, he has worked on many radio stations and production companies, gone to award shows such as the Grammys and Emmys, and interviewed music acts like Train and Carlos Santana.
But Villanueva didn’t make it to the top easily. In fact, his first job was a volunteer position at KLOS 95.5 FM.
“That was my in for radio,” he said. So even though the job had no pay, he worked hard and started to move up in the food chain. Soon enough, Villanueva was given the position of assistant manager due to what he likes to call “fate and luck.”
After four and a half years at KLOS, Villanueva received a call from the Global Satellite Network saying that there was a opening for a producer on “Rockline.”
“Rockline” was a weekly radio show that aired on Mondays from 8:30 to 10pm. Villanueva jumped at the opportunity, and he soon found himself working on the show interviewing rock stars such as the Beatles’ George Harrison, who showed up on Villanueva’s first day.
It wasn’t long until Villanueva found himself taking pictures, going out to dinner, and making friends with “the biggest names in rock and roll.”
Villanueva’s adventurous and restless side has led him through many jobs in the music and radio industries throughout his life. Each one of these jobs has added more and more networking to his career, (he was even able to create his own production company with a weekly radio show called “Current Classics”).
As of now Villanueva works with a group called Dial Global and has been there for six years, which is the longest he has ever stayed at a company. Villanueva loves working for Dial Global especially the fact that he is able to “wear a lot of hats,” including working in all forms of entertainment, and still managing “Current Classics.”
But even though Villanueva is comfortable where he is right now, that doesn’t mean his restless side hasn’t completely died down. In fact, when asked where he might be next year, Villanueva said, “Check in with me next year.”
Before leaving the class, Villanueva had one piece of advice to give the students, this advice came in the form of what he likes to call the “Three Ps.” These three traits are what lead him to be successful, and consisted of Passion, Persistence, and Patience. He recalled how each one got him to where he was now, and how they helped him to follow his passion. He added, quoting his friend Carlos Santana, that if you combine what you love with what you do, then “you’ll never have to work again.”
