Buffett on the Radio with Jersey Jon Persons

Jon Persons, a proud Central New Jersey native and Rutgers University alum, embodies the spirit of the Jersey shore. Raised in the heart of the Garden State, his childhood was a harmonious blend of Bruce Springsteen’s anthems, the soulful tunes of the Drifters, the energy of Southside Johnny, and the electrifying, take-no-prisoners sound of the Smithereens. A devotee of the California Sound, Jon’s musical compass pointed to the sun-soaked melodies of the Beach Boys during his formative years. While “Songs You Know by Heart” became a staple in his musical repertoire in 1985, it was a serendipitous encounter with Radio Margaritaville on satellite radio during his 2009 deployment to Iraq that immersed him in the universe of Jimmy Buffett. Awash in the rhythmic waves of tropical melodies, Jon’s love for the broader spectrum of Tropical Americana artists, extending beyond the realm of Buffett, flourished. This passion eventually led him to the inviting shores of Radio A1A.