Rising Stars: Meet Jason “SugaBear” Harris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason “SugaBear” Harris.

Hi Jason “SugaBear”, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is SugaBear, and I am a radio veteran of 21 years. I was introduced to radio in college at Oregon State University, in 1990. At the time, it was just a hobby for me. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, music has always been the centerpiece of my life & childhood. I would wake up and go to bed with music playing, and/or singing melodies from what I heard on the radio. After my mother & I moved to Phoenix, I was able to meet several people who worked at radio stations that I had befriended. One of those friends who was on a morning show asked me to sing a parody song for him that would play during their show. These parodies became very popular, and before I knew it, I was asked to work part-time as an on-air personality. That lasted about five years until another opportunity presented itself for me to have my very own show. That was received well and was the creation of my radio brand in the Phoenix market. In 2012, I was recruited for KSFM in Sacramento to do nights, where I was employed for 4 years. That show then lead me to another station in the market, KHHM Hot 103.5, where I hosted a morning show for 5 years. Once Covid-19 hit, I was dormant as an on-air personality for 2.5 years, until Nikki Swarn heard my audition tape, and thought that I would be a good fit for the city of Denver, and Rocky Mountain Public Media. I am now a proud member of “The Morning Drop” with Amerykah Jones on KUVO 104.7 The Drop, and I absolutely love this city & this station.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was somewhat of a challenge going back to doing what you love, after being absent for so long. However, falling back into the groove of things happened rather quickly, being that I have been doing this for 21 years. Also, anytime you move from one state to another, there are many logistical things that come into play with acclimating to a new environment, the landscape of the city, etc., but I love the process! I’m just blessed to be able to be behind the mic again, especially for such a great company.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a morning radio show co-host on 104.7 The Drop/6am-10am Monday-Friday. I would say that my conversational/relatable approach to radio is where I excel most. Connecting with an audience is one of the best feelings in the world, and I want listeners to feel like they know me, and/or remind them of someone they know. That’s the secret!

Throughout my career, I have always taken pride in my community efforts to strengthen, build, and give back for its overall improvement. In 2018, I proudly created an annual “Socksgiving Drive” which has up to date, collected over 200K pairs of socks for the homeless in Sacramento county for men, women, & children. This is a project that I am looking forward to inserting into the Denver community, and beyond to make an impact. I have a passion for helping others, and a huge appreciation for life and all that it brings.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The best advice that I could give someone is to always be a good person. Our business can foster a ton of fake friends and people because of the “status” that you may hold, so being true to yourself and a good person will take you a long way. One thing that I wish I had known starting out is that “you can’t see a rainbow without the rain”. For every bad day, there will always be something better on the other side. I live by it now!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sugabearonair?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBOnAir
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SugabearOnAir
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/SugabearOnAir/