ALWAYS UP FOR SOME CLOSE BONDING IN THE US*99 MORNING SHOW OFFICE.
Recently, Big John Howell signed off for good from his afternoon talk show on WLS AM 890. Whenever I hear John’s name I smile broadly and remember the loads of great times we had years ago as brothers in sound. Though we haven’t seen each other in person for some time, he’ll always be a dear friend to me and I hope I am to him as well.
We first met back in 1987 when John and some pals came down from Grand Rapids Michigan to watch through the lobby viewing window as Larry Lujack did his afternoon show at WLS. I was Lujack’s producer at the time and John brought Lar a hairbrush with Elvis Presley’s likeness on it. I came out to the hall to pick it up and Larry talked to the group on the air. Lar loved that hairbrush and used it!
Less than a year later John and I would meet again as I was producing the morning radio show at WCKG FM. John was the new hire to replace John Fisher and his co-host would be Rochester, New York radio star Stephanie Miller. I was to be the show runner for the Miller and Howell show and that’s when John and I bonded like super-glued Legos both on and off the air.
JOHN HANDLING THE MORNING SHOW CONTROLS AND ME EDITING TAPE DURING OUR DAYS AT WCKG. ON THIS DAY, WE HAD AN UGLY SHIRT CONTEST AND I THINK WE TIED.
John Howell and I shared very similar sensibilities in radio presentation, attitude and dedication. This was so important because like any other job, just because you work with someone, it doesn’t mean you click and ‘get each other.’ John and I got each other and I dare say we still do.
My book “Raised on the Radio” (to be released next year) will share plenty of stories of Howell & me, so I don’t want to spoil too much right now. But I will give you a taste of what’s coming. By the way, John will try to downplay my stories by putting his own spin on the past. However, with my keen and eidetic memory you can trust only me for the real and unvarnished truth to our history together.
BROTHERS IN SOUND AT A RADIO FUNCTION ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR SOME FREE BEERS AND FREE EATS.
Some of what you’ll read in “Raised on the Radio” include things like:
How I was responsible for John meeting and marrying his first wife Cindy and me being one of John’s groomsmen at their fantastic wedding. I think both sides have forgiven me for that. I mean they both still talk to me.
Our many adventures at concerts like the Rolling Stones and yes, the Rod Stewart debacle.
Hanging out at Cubs and Sox games in box seats and luxury skybox suites.
Listener parties on night time cruises, the Navy Pier Ballroom and many bars and night clubs.
Carousing with women. (This before John met and married Cindy and me, I’m still looking for the right woman who can stand my presence enough to marry me)
The post-morning show breakfasts at Le Bordeaux which vacillated between omelets and pancakes and other times, vodka and beer slamming. There were also power lunches at Redamaks back when they had an eatery on Lincon Avenue.
The morning show remote broadcasts including a weeklong stone groove in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Then there’s us being canned from WCKG which would eventually lead to our reuniting at country music juggernaut WUSN US*99 when I signed on there in June of 1993.
Some of the US*99 fun included Bears trips to Tampa Bay with listeners, lots of ratings success, the rise of Garth Brooks and other country stars, the 9/11 evacuation and more memorable times both on and off the air.
The best thing besides working with John as I did, was that he showed me how to get the most fun out of a job that was a f—ing blast at all times. Thanks for that Big John!
HANGING OUT IN TAMPA BAY WITH SOME BUCS’ CHEERLEADERS. GOOD CLEAN FUN AS ALWAYS.
So, John Howell is off the air. No word on if he’s actually going to retire or not but I think we’ll hear from him again. Howell still has a lot to say. The funny thing is back at WCKG when we were a struggling morning show trying to find its groove, John often fretted to me that his time in Chicago would not last long. I told him to not worry and take things one day and one show at a time. The guy lasted from the spring of 1988 until the late summer of 2023. Through classic rock, country music, oldies and talk radio, thirty-five years is a damn fine run! Well done pal, well done.
NEXT BLOG: Not sure yet. I’ll let you know…