Jimmy Olson at The Grammys

Every year, Jimmy Olson – VP of Operations at Waller Broadcasting and DJ on 102.3 The Breeze and other Waller stations – makes a pilgrimage to the holy grail of the music business, the Recording Academy Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. BSCENE had a chance to chat with the man after his trip and the behind-the-scenes scoop on this historic annual event.

BSCENE: You and your family have attended the Grammys for several years now, right?
JO: I've taken my kids every time one of them turned 12 years old, and I've been invited 12 years in a row. My experience in radio is pretty much in the Houston, Dallas, New York and L.A. Markets, so I've had a chance to come into contact with and affect a lot of music over the years. So they've re-ordered tickets for me every year.

BSCENE: Is there a specific reason you've chosen the number 12 to be the deciding age in which to take your kids with you to the Grammys?
JO: I think it's because they're kind of at that age where it still blows their mind. And they're also at that age where they'll never forget it.

BSCENE: Have they seen any of their favorite performers?
JO: Both of them have met Justin Bieber this year. Victoria absolutely loves Selena Gomez, so she got to meet her. Of course Beyonce', who has been my friend since she was 12, snuck my camera into the show for me this year. And we were sitting in the front, third row, where the press sits, and it was off to the side so we could see behind the stage and see them setting up the next act. It was actually really cool to have that level.

BSCENE: Were there any activities before the show?
JO: There was a party beforehand and there was also an after-party, and we went to both of those. What was so cool was that the dinner party, the Saturday before, was at Mr. Chow in Hollywood. And [recording artist, a favorite of Olsen's daughter] Auburn presented Britney with her Grammy tickets.

BSCENE: At this point, are you used to experiences like these?
JO: I could pick up the phone and call a lot of artists. They trust me and know that I don't give their information out. They send me their songs before they're released to get my opinion on it and see if I could lead them in a direction I think they should go. Whether they take my advice or not, I see them as regular people; as everybody should. When they know you, trust you and respect you, they're going to treat you a little different than the average person.

BSCENE: In your 12 years, I'm sure you have some interesting stories and experiences.
JO: [laughing] to say the least...
BSCENE: Are you open to sharing or are you sworn to secrecy?
JO: [laughing] I could tell you some things you already know. But the thing that blew my mind away, in the 12 years I've been going to the Grammys, was Mick Jagger. I don't know what he was on, but he was hopping around the stage and everything like he was 30. And during the after-party, the guy was still going!

BSCENE: Do you ever broadcast from the Grammys?
JO: Yes, but they scaled back a little this year, and I don't know why. But, I still get everything that I need. There's a lot of radio stations there from all over the country. You would think they would get the most prestige. But I've been around radio since I was 15, and people that I knew that were record reps at the time are now vice presidents and presidents. Barry Weiss is over JIVE records, and when I knew him he was just a little record rep guy.

BSCENE: Any more cool stories you would like to share?
JO: Yeah, this year we stayed at the hotel with the cast of American Idol. So we got to hang out with them, and it was a lot of fun. We all went to Universal Studios together Saturday morning. So that was pretty cool...

Check out Jammin' Jimmy Olsen and all the other great personalities and music on The #1 Hit Music 102.3 The Breeze every day!