|
|
Hi Scott, Thank you for including me in your history of WLS FM. I am attaching my bio for your information. Keep up the good work. Best Wishes, -Art Hellyer http://hometown.aol.com/sschix/myhomepage/profile.html ...and wow, what a bio it is! In addition to his pioneering years at WLS-FM, Art has a resume a mile long! -Scott
|
||
|
Scott, What a great site. I really enjoyed it and have put it on my favorites list. I am 38 years old and started listening to WLS somewhere in 1968. My only wish is that there was more mention of Z95 which was a favorite of mine for so long. B96 never played all of the hits opting for the more dance orientated songs. Z95 on the other hand was playing everything that charted on the top 40. I would like to suggest that more mention be placed on Brant Miller, who was such a strong and long lasting voice on WLS and Z95. I was very disappointed when Z95 was scrapped. And I feel that there has never been a true top 40 station since. In my eyes Z95 was always WLS to me under a different name. Thank you for a great site! -Danny Danilovic You are right Danny, Brant was (and still is as Chief Meteorologist on NBC Channel 5 here in Chicago) a true talent and a great person! I have been fortunate enough to work with him after all those years of enjoying his personality on WLS, WYTZ and WTMX. Of course you can check out the Quick History of Chicago's 94.7 FM. Look for more on Brant and on Z95 as time permits. The site is always being added to, so be sure to check the "What's New" area often! -Scott
|
|||
|
Scott, I thought I'd share with you this picture of WLS AM Radio "live" in 1938. The drummer (my uncle) - Fredrick Roland Kuhmann, the trumpet player - Wilbur John Kuhmann (my Dad). They played with silver screen cowboy star, Gene Autry during his 4-year stint at WLS My sister Jane gave me some old hand-written notes with a few names. As a kid, I used to dress up as a cowboy all the time (hell, I STILL wear boots - no kidding, and always have). We feel like Dad and his brother played a part in US Radio history... and fact is - THEY DID! We used to own a 1920's vintage hand-made guitar that Gene Autry gave to Dad - I've been trying to track it down (I think one of my cousins has it). I wonder how many people are still alive who remember those "Cowboy Radio" days?
LEFT : Trombone & Alto Sax(?), Trumpet & Guitar (Wilbur John Kuhmann), Drums (Fredrick Roland Kuhmann), Tenor Sax & Violin (?), Banjo (?), Tenor Sax & Guitar (?), Piano & Accordion (June Winder), standing (Tom Owens). WLS Radio, Chicago 1938 - Note the two megaphones. June Winder, piano (from Sheridan, Illinois) started this band along with two of her sons. The original band was called, "The Glenn Victorians." Tom Owens took them to radio where they were known as the "Corn Huskers" (thus, the brooms). Dad and brother Fred later joined with "Falletti's Band" and played the dance ballroom circuit across the Midwest. Falletti was the Uncle of an Organist, Mr. Larry Baudino - who became Dad's best (and life-long) friend over the years. Larry, Wilbur, and Fred then formed the "Larry Baudino Trio." They frequently played at the Geneva Hotel (Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed that building), in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin - until the hotel was torn down and the band members retired. Dad died in 1975 and Fred in 1979. P.S. The photo was from postcards in the possession of my Aunt Eileen Briggs-Kuhmann, of Yorkville, Illinois. Thank you much and enjoy! -Robert C. Kuhmann Thank you Bob for providing us with a great slice of WLS History right from your own family's history! -Scott
|
|||
|
Scott- Terrific web site! As a former Chicago area jock.... WCGO-WTAS & WYEN early in my radio career, WLS was my earliest influence. While attending UICC, I landed an internship for seven months at "The Big 89" ....one of the thrills of my career! WLS was a monster...the absolute greatest personality radio station of all-time with Lujack, Landecker, Sirott, Roberts, Winston, Weber, Biondi just to name a few! -Bob
Worthington,
|
|||
|
Very nice job on your page. I grew up listening to WLS from nearly the beginning of the Top-40 era! This is one of the best sites I've seen on the station! -Bill Kelly,
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
