Sorely, sorely miss radio like this. Growing up across the lake in southern Michigan, I was lucky enough to be able to get the Big 89 during the day as well. At night, they were an absolute powerhouse of a station - strong as an ox and clear as a bell unless there were really bad thunderstorms. Everyone was having a good time with the Rewind, but Tom Kent was at a whole different level. You could tell he was having a BLAST doing this.
Great, great radio! The Rock of Chicago is sorely missed. I grew up with WLS. This was radio at its best. Larry Lujack, Fred Winston, Lyle Dean , Bill Bailey, Catherine Johns, Jeff Davis, Tommy Edwards, Tom Kent, John Landecker, etc. you are remembered / replaced / but never forgotten!
I grew up listening to WLS back in the late 60’s/early 70’s when jocks like Art Roberts and Ron Riley ruled the airwaves. Later on, when I was working on-air at a different midwestern radio station, I met Art. He was everything I expected him to be...a REAL PRO both on and off air, as well as a genuinely nice guy. In the early 90’s, I got the chance to chat with Lyle Dean for a bit. There will, unfortunately, NEVER be another WLS, and that is a REAL loss to modern-day radio!
That was a great day of listening to the radio, Memorial Day 2007. I meant to listen for just a little bit, but I ended up listening to almost the whole thing all day and night. It just goes to show just how great those guys were on WLS.
I grew up on WLS Musicradio... I miss it so much and I was ELATED to hear it is back on the FM dial... I tune it in on my computer... THIS is MY BBC Home Service.
Every jock in the Midwest (including me) wanted to have a gig on the Big 89. Didn't make it, but still loved listening to it. Met a few of these folks at Loyola's college radio conference in 1976.
WOW.this is awesome to see the faces that you listened to in the 70's and 80's. A great memory from listening to the radio growing up in southern Minnesota and listening to boogie check fading in and out.
Forget everyone else, and give me MORE TOM KENT--Tom that was great. Used to listen to you in Cleveland at G98. You're one of the few jocks I actually respect, and you stil can "kick it" good!!
So sorry to hear about WLSQ. We had the same thing happen to us last year in Joplin Mo. Our neighbor city, Pittsburg, Kansas had a great station, STAR 101.7. Their motto was, "It's all coming back," playing 60s-70s-80s with real DJs and contests & a lunch hour request show, and the largest music library I've ever heard. They had a great run for 3 years but the owners cut its throat, sold it out & at midnight they flipped a switch and turn it country. :-(
I can remember when the Big 89 could be heard just about anywhere West of the Rockies at night, in AM Stereo! A tremendous station. Now the signal has deteriorated to match its format. I think Darwin had it backwards.
Dave Wollenberg what i thought exactly! i thought if WLS could rebroadcast the big 89, along with 94.7 as a classic hits station, 60's-80's leaning, then yes! bam! my first and original thought was that WLS-AM could do an oldies format (50's-70's) while the FM side would take the current classic hits format. Although if they could do it, they both could rework the playlist as a 50's-80's station.
@@blind_t2 At the rate Cumulus is going, they'll probably wind up selling their Chicago cluster to EMF. EMF will then sell off 890, and it'll be up for grabs cheap!
I think there have been multiple attempts to reinvent WLS but all have failed. At some point, the audience is just too old, unfortunately. @@fredmorton4291
It's you. TK isn't in the main studio, but the side announcer's booth. The board operator has to look across the main studio to see him through two soundproof glass windows. That's why JRL had to cue the board op for him. The only problem I have with TK is he just doesn't seem animated enough. :)
Tommy Edwards was a great sidekick for Ole Uncle Lar. On his own, he was a bit lacking. It was like Ed McMahon hosting the Tonight Show. The was no better second banana than McMahon, but a host he was not. That's why a guest host was always brought in rather than let Ed sub for Johnny. The same is true of Little Tommy.
I agree. I grew up listening to WLS in the 1960's. Maybe classic rock with some 1980's big hair glam rock would be good for nowadays. Talk radio are just boring opinions with tons of commercials.
I was thinking, since 94.7 is mainly classic hits, maybe a flanker would be this. They could simulcast 890 with 94.7, however, 89 would have the larger library adding 60’s to the mix.
I remember all these guys at least from the 70s. Those were the days but FM killed the AM radio star at least as far as music goes. I still couldnt believe it when I thought I'd turn on WLS to do some painting with in the mid 80s and it was all talk radio, bummer. I'm still surprised people listen to talk radio on a regular basis, especialy all the political crap.
This was probably the most amazing day I ever spent listening to the radio. Today's radio doesn't even come close to the great Top 40 era.
I could not have typed that any better.
Sorely, sorely miss radio like this. Growing up across the lake in southern Michigan, I was lucky enough to be able to get the Big 89 during the day as well. At night, they were an absolute powerhouse of a station - strong as an ox and clear as a bell unless there were really bad thunderstorms.
Everyone was having a good time with the Rewind, but Tom Kent was at a whole different level. You could tell he was having a BLAST doing this.
God do I miss those days...
Great, great radio! The Rock of Chicago is sorely missed. I grew up with WLS. This was radio at its best. Larry Lujack, Fred Winston, Lyle Dean , Bill Bailey, Catherine Johns, Jeff Davis, Tommy Edwards, Tom Kent, John Landecker, etc. you are remembered / replaced / but never forgotten!
The BIG 89 WLS..Grew up with the best station in America and best Dj's ever.
I grew up listening to WLS back in the late 60’s/early 70’s when jocks like Art Roberts and Ron Riley ruled the airwaves. Later on, when I was working on-air at a different midwestern radio station, I met Art. He was everything I expected him to be...a REAL PRO both on and off air, as well as a genuinely nice guy. In the early 90’s, I got the chance to chat with Lyle Dean for a bit. There will, unfortunately, NEVER be another WLS, and that is a REAL loss to modern-day radio!
That was a great day of listening to the radio, Memorial Day 2007. I meant to listen for just a little bit, but I ended up listening to almost the whole thing all day and night. It just goes to show just how great those guys were on WLS.
This really takes me back, I grew up in the Chicago area, and I remember Larry Lujack, and WLS, good memories.
I forgot how good Tom Kent was on that show!
I taped the entire rewind...it was incredible.
OMG, this is amazing! I just found it.
I grew up on WLS Musicradio... I miss it so much and I was ELATED to hear it is back on the FM dial... I tune it in on my computer... THIS is MY BBC Home Service.
We won a trip with WLS back in 1986 to Disney, and this brings back those memories!
Boy howdy, if that ain't a time machine! Simply amazing.
WLS Rocks!
Rocked.
Every jock in the Midwest (including me) wanted to have a gig on the Big 89. Didn't make it, but still loved listening to it. Met a few of these folks at Loyola's college radio conference in 1976.
What a way to spend a great Sunday ! Listening to people who are legends in their time ! Thx a lot WLS ! ---When are we gonna get more ?
Love Love as a kid growing up three hours southwest of Chicago WLS rocked!!!!
I grew up in Rockford area 100 miles northwest of Chi-town! and this was my station!!
WOW.this is awesome to see the faces that you listened to in the 70's and 80's. A great memory from listening to the radio growing up in southern Minnesota and listening to boogie check fading in and out.
"listening to boogie check fading in and out"
Great image! Everyone who ever listened to the AM radio late at night can relate.
Nobody's voice has ever topped Fred Winston's. Some are close, but none better
Great!
Forget everyone else, and give me MORE TOM KENT--Tom that was great. Used to listen to you in Cleveland at G98. You're one of the few jocks I actually respect, and you stil can "kick it" good!!
So sorry to hear about WLSQ. We had the same thing happen to us last year in Joplin Mo. Our neighbor city, Pittsburg, Kansas had a great station, STAR 101.7. Their motto was, "It's all coming back," playing 60s-70s-80s with real DJs and contests & a lunch hour request show, and the largest music library I've ever heard. They had a great run for 3 years but the owners cut its throat, sold it out & at midnight they flipped a switch and turn it country. :-(
Bravo, just Bravo!
Fred-- I was born in '59 & I don't remember much of the '70's either!
we have a school in germany and the name is wilhelm-Leuchtner-Schule and abbreviation is WLS!
Tom Kent obviously forgot the long intro time to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" but he improv'ed well and literally didn't miss a beat!
I spent some time with Larry and Judith as he was my ex-wife's Uncle. Great guy.
I'm sorry. Please accept my most heartfelt sympathy.
boogie check, boogie check, ooh, ahh! boogie check boogie check, ooh, ahh!
I remember Uncle Lair and little snot nose Tommy.
I can remember when the Big 89 could be heard just about anywhere West of the Rockies at night, in AM Stereo! A tremendous station. Now the signal has deteriorated to match its format. I think Darwin had it backwards.
BOOGIE CHECK!
Hey, gang. Anybody else think that WLS-AM could turn a profit again, as a '70s-'80s top 40 station? Please get back to me on it. God bless!
Dave Wollenberg what i thought exactly! i thought if WLS could rebroadcast the big 89, along with 94.7 as a classic hits station, 60's-80's leaning, then yes! bam! my first and original thought was that WLS-AM could do an oldies format (50's-70's) while the FM side would take the current classic hits format. Although if they could do it, they both could rework the playlist as a 50's-80's station.
@@blind_t2 At the rate Cumulus is going, they'll probably wind up selling their Chicago cluster to EMF. EMF will then sell off 890, and it'll be up for grabs cheap!
I think there have been multiple attempts to reinvent WLS but all have failed. At some point, the audience is just too old, unfortunately. @@fredmorton4291
It's you. TK isn't in the main studio, but the side announcer's booth. The board operator has to look across the main studio to see him through two soundproof glass windows. That's why JRL had to cue the board op for him. The only problem I have with TK is he just doesn't seem animated enough. :)
boogie check
Is it me, or does it appear Tom Kent is pissed off at his engineer?
What are the names of the songs that Tom Kent were doing intros for?
Tommy Edwards was a great sidekick for Ole Uncle Lar. On his own, he was a bit lacking. It was like Ed McMahon hosting the Tonight Show. The was no better second banana than McMahon, but a host he was not. That's why a guest host was always brought in rather than let Ed sub for Johnny. The same is true of Little Tommy.
without john records landecker, just aint the same!!
Sure wish the big 89 ran for more than just the 2 years of '07-'08. Talk radio blows!
WLS was great!! If they were smart, they would get rid of the talk radio crap and change back to music and great DJs like they used to have.
I agree. I grew up listening to WLS in the 1960's. Maybe classic rock with some 1980's big hair glam rock would be good for nowadays. Talk radio are just boring opinions with tons of commercials.
I was thinking, since 94.7 is mainly classic hits, maybe a flanker would be this. They could simulcast 890 with 94.7, however, 89 would have the larger library adding 60’s to the mix.
Larry sounds different.
I remember all these guys at least from the 70s. Those were the days but FM killed the AM radio star at least as far as music goes. I still couldnt believe it when I thought I'd turn on WLS to do some painting with in the mid 80s and it was all talk radio, bummer. I'm still surprised people listen to talk radio on a regular basis, especialy all the political crap.