04/07/2026
Another gem of 93X Homegrown Lima rock-n-roll has been uncovered from the personal library of BIG JIM EDWARDS. If you remember this group of guys, then you know. But, if you weren't there, here's the story.
'Nemesis' was very different and unique to the Lima music landscape in their day. Unlike a number of other bands who played the bars and 18/21+ establishments, the boys from 'Nemesis' weren't able to be heard in those places when they first started. Why? Because they were all still in high school. That's right, it was a group of young people who weren't even old enough to vote!
'Nemesis' would eventually play in those establishments when the time would come, and in turn they built a following with an audience that, prior to the band's arrival, had been incredibly under-served. While it was the Kosher thing for some bands to cover songs by the Top-40 MTV bands of the day, 'Nemesis' walked into a 'Battle of the Bands' at the Square Fair one year and did a cover of "Coma White", originally performed by Marilyn Manson. They completely blew everyone away, winning the competition and being crowned the winners for that year.
During the time 'Nemesis' was starting and looking to get booked, 93X was seeking out all forms of local music for a program started in 1997 called, 'The 93X Local Rock Block'. One day in the latter part of 1997/early part of 1998, Zack Ryan, one of the band members, struck up a conversation with a kid he had never met before in the hallway of where he went to high school. It was a conversation where they discussed their love for different styles and genres of music. The kid Zack had never met before talked about how he was looking forward to watching the band play at the upcoming talent show. Zack thanked him for his support. Then, as a way to say "Thank You", Zack passed a three-song demo tape to the kid in the doorway to the men's room just outside of the 'old gym'. That night the kid took the tape home and played it with the volume turned up. The kid's dad asked, "who is that?". The kid explained it was a band at his high school, and the dad asked to borrow the tape and bring it back the next day. That 'kid' was the son of BIG JIM EDWARDS, program director of 93X (yes, I was that 'kid' if you haven't figured it out already 🤣🤣🤣). Jim took the tape and pulled the song, "The Seventh Sign", and the next week it was on the air. The song you hear in the video attached was the version that came directly from the tape that Zack handed off that day.
PLEASE NOTE: The year is listed as 1997 on the video attached, but that was the year the local music program was started, NOT necessarily the year the song was released!
93X was a game-changer for the local music scene, but that game-changing force had a bigger backing than what anyone knew. That 'backing' was BIG JIM EDWARDS. He led the charge for local music on the radio in Lima and the surrounding areas. This Saturday at the Sugar Street Bar and Grill, we celebrate the life, the legacy, and 'the man' himself.
Type this address in your GOOGLE MAPS...
'1341 North Sugar Street, Lima, Ohio'.
Save it and make plans to join us beginning at 1pm this Saturday, April 11th 2026. It's the triumphant return of the original line-up of 'Candi's Dirty Secret', the music of 'Will Freed', the Black Cat Five, the solo-debut of 'Shae', and so much more!!!
The CELEBRATION OF LIFE would not be able to take place without the multitude of generous support from 104.9 The Eagle and the Ohio SPCA & Humane Society. Also, the people at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, Inc. and Cremation Services, the Sugar Street Bar & Grill, The Indoorfins, Groamy from Groamy's Cd's and Tapes, and too many others to mention.
So, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???!!!
Make plans to join us this weekend. It's the 'Celebration of Life' for Jim 'Diesel' Edwards, the "man behind the voice" of local and regional entertainment, this Saturday, April 11th beginning at 1pm at the Sugar Street Bar and Grill.
ACCEPT NO 'CHEAP IMITATIONS'!!! 😎😎😎
THE JT SHOW FACEBOOK PAGE - facebook.com/thejtshow
FACEBOOK INVITE FOR CELEBRATION OF LIFE TO SHARE - https://www.facebook.com/share/18RqRgfR7p/
GOFUNDME for final arrangement costs - https://gofund.me/3874d1fc3
EMAIL: [email protected]
[email protected]
