So…you’ve got to wonder how a person goes from being a successful DJ to becoming a priest. As it turns out, there’s much more to the story. Since becoming a friend of Father Drucker, I have been able to get at least some of the whole story.
It would seem unlikely that little James Drucker would ever become a priest. He grew up in a tough neighborhood in Philadelphia. He was raised a Catholic and went to Catholic school until second grade. Apparently, his behavior prompted a nun to crack his head open with a ruler, so his mother transferred him to the neighborhood Hackett public school. From there it was John Paul Jones Junior High and Edison High School.
It was while in high school that Jim Drucker started a lifelong love affair with music. He took music lessons and sang in the hallways and in the bathrooms-often at the expense of the classes he was supposed to be attending. Philadelphia has long been a hot bed of singing groups and Edison had their share. Jim knew and sang with some of them. That included The Boss-Tones who had a hit with “Mopeity Mope” and The Equadors on recorded a minor hit on RCA Records called “Sputnik Dance”. Drucker would work again with Alan Turner of The Equadors when Jim became a talent scout for the famous Jolly Joyce Booking Agency in Philadelphia.
Besides being a talent scout, Jim Drucker produced some of the famous WIBG record hops. That led to him producing the WIBG record albums for Post Records. That included those by the famous WIBG lineup of Hy Lit, Joe Niagara, Don L. Brink and Bill Wright.
This was followed by Jim being the personal and road manager for Patti LaBelle. Then some promotional work that included breaking the hit record for the Beau Brummels called “Laugh, Laugh”.
In 1964 Drucker decided to try his hand at being on the other side of the mike and go on the air. His first gig was at WYNS in the Leighton-Allentown Area. From there it a swing upstate to WSCR in Scranton from 1967-69. Then his big step up came in 1969 when he was hired by WARM.
During his radio years he established Drucker Publishing which owns the rights to some hit records. He also produced records at many of the best recording studios in the country and for record companies like Decca and Vanguard. He even played on some sessions.
Then, in what would seem to be an unlikely career change, Jim decided that he had a higher calling than the music industry. He attained a total of four degrees. From the University of Scranton in Sociology/Philosophy, from SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Master of Arts, Theology, from Journalism School of Arkansas in Little Rock Master of Arts (Magma Cum Laude).
He went on to serve as a parish priest but got special permission in 1987 to leave and enter the US Army as Senior Catholic Chaplin with the rank of Captain. He served honorably in the combat zones in the first Gulf War. He has received numerous awards for his tour of duty in the Army. After his tour of duty ended, he devoted his time to helping in the Department of Military Affairs. He remained active until 2007.
While Father Drucker no longer serves as an active priest, he serves in other ways. He has never forgotten his roots in Philadelphia and frequently visits his many friends here. Among those friends are Bobby Rydell. Father calls Bobby and his other South Philly buddies “the Ghumba Gang”. See them at one of their Wednesday night dinners below.
Father Drucker has returned to his love of music. He has and will be the MC for oldie shows and has been on the air (see below). Look for more from Father Drucker in the near future.
Father Drucker with T. Morgan
Bobby Rydell and Father Drucker
Father Drucker with Lou Costello
Father Drucker and Friends
Father Drucker On Air Recently
