WLS FM95 AM89 Chicago – Larry Lujack Welcomes Chris Shebel to WLS – January 1982

Chicago’s 89 WLS had so many legendary personalities that grace the microphones there. Fred Winston, John Records Landecker, Tommy Edwards, Jeff Davis, and may others. But for many WLS fans, there was one name that was above all others. Super Jock, Uncle Lar. Yes, the one & only Larry Lujack.

Moving from Boston’s WMEX in 1967, Larry landed an evening shift at WCFL Chicago, beginning a relationship with the midwest that would last for decades!

The next few years saw a number of name changes and variations on the top 40 format, while the station continued to flounder. In 1984 the station’s name was changed to “Z-106”, WZGO, to lackluster results. In 1986,Hit Hits programming guru, Mike Joseph was brought in. Joseph was the guy responsible for launching WCAU-FM to success years earlier with the Hot Hits format. The station’s name was changed again, this time to “Electric 106”, WTRK. It had many of the elements of Hot Hits, but listeners seemed to be satisfied with WCAU-FM, and Electric 106 flopped.

Larry crusty & cantankerousness, and the listeners loved it! Lujack influenced many present-day radio personalities, like Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern.

Larry bounced back & forth between WCFL & WLS, until 1976, when he made WLS his home. He spent many years waking Chicago every morning, until 1987 when he moved to New Mexico.

After 2000, Uncle Lar returned to the airwaves for a few years on WRLL. Larry Lujack was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2004. He was one of a kind.

On this aircheck, Lujack interviews brand new, WLS DJ, Chris Shebel, just before he hosts his very first WLS midday show. -Ellis