Former Orange Student Makes His Mark in the Entertainment Business.

His rise to the top is a ‘dream come true’

When Howard “Perl” was 11 years old, he said he always looked forward to going to the record store with his mother.

Now, Cleveland listeners look forward to hearing him play their favorite records on the air. A 1991 graduate. of Orange High School, Mr.

Peri said he had to pay his dues before getting nis dream job as a disc jockey for WZJM 92.3. “It was a dream come true,” Mr. Perl

said. “I wes finally back in my hometown and working at a station that I fit in best.” He said he had worked in many other markets before landing the job at WZJM. In addition to working at radio stations in Akron and Mansfield, Mr. Perl, 24, said be worked at a college station at Ashland University, where he graduated from in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Best known as the class clown at Orange High School, Mr. Perl said he especially enjoved taking a mass media class.

For his senior project, be said he produced a rap album with his friend Bill Rainey.

As a teen-ager he started becoming interested in the entertainment industry while working with local DJ Terry Macklin. Together they would DJ at parties, bar mitzvahs and other special events, By age 13, he was doing his own private parties, in addition to working at some local radio stations.

As a result of his success, be has created a direct mailing list and a fan club. Mr. Perl’s position on WZIM is that of the “Swing Guy,” he said. He said he doesn’t have a steady show; every week it is different. “By filling in for others, you have to be ready to step in at any given time for any show. He prepares for two to three hours before the show, he said. “To build my show, I have to keep up on the music I am playing,” he said. “You need to know who you are talking about” Getting regular weather and news updates during entertainment show also keeps him busy, he said “We don’t just sit here, talk on the phone and play records.”

Even though the shows are draining, Mr. Perl said while performing he gets a rush of adrenaline through his body. When on the air, heis very energetic and humorous. “I believe people want hear things that are out of the ordinary”