The date is January 29, 1972 on WLS.He retired from radio broadcasting on July 31, 2015. From July 2007 through June 2012, he was host of "Into the Seventies", a syndicated weekend radio program from TKO Radio Networks.
John is spinning wax at WLS-AM on October 11, 1972. [ LISTEN ] (25:12)
This is an aircheck from WLS-AM when they were known as "The Rock of Chicago." Starting with a Lyle Dean newscast and then continuing on with John Landecker entertaining the listeners as only he could.
Landecker was born in Michigan on March 28, 1947. His father, Werner Landecker, was a German Jewish refugee. His mother, Marjorie Records, was a "farm girl from Indiana". Landecker began his radio career while in high school at a station in Ann Arbor, Michigan (WOIA-FM/WOIB-AM, now respectively WWWW-FM and
WIBG 1970
WLBY). He attended Michigan State University, working at stations in Lansing (WILS) and Philadelphia (WIBG, now WNTP) before becoming the evening jock on the 50,000 watt WLS 890 which broadcast from Chicago, Illinois in 1972. John's first radio job came along while he was attending the University of Michigan High School. The station was WOIA-FM in Ann-Arbor Michigan, WOIB-AM Saline. WTIX in Flint followed. Then on to WERX in Wyoming, Michigan, WMSN (the student station at Michigan State University), WILS in Lansing, and finally to WIBG in Philadelphia.
Another job offer, this one at WLS in Chicago, would come some 18 months later. The powerful WLS clear channel signal reached across 38 states after sundown, giving Landecker ratings that are unheard of in this day.
With John Travolta, 1976.
John's playing records at WLS Chicago on March 12, 1974. [ LISTEN ] (10:49)
WLS had recently begun calling itself “Musicradio”, and was playing with a new deck of jingles, while still using the old 60s cuts sparingly. On this show, John's giving away giant packs of Wrigley's gum!.
Landecker is still smokin' at WLS in August, 1975. [ LISTEN ] (3:42)
John announces "Dinner with the Osmonds" winners! WLS is giving away a new car every 48 hours during the "Monza Bonanza" contest (Tommy Edwards produced this piece).
In 1981 Landecker left Chicago for a stint on CFTR 680 in Toronto, Ontario. Landecker returned to Chicago radio in 1984 on rocker WLUP 97.9 and WAGO (now WCFS-FM) 105.9. Landecker returned to WLS in 1985 and remained there until WLS switched to an all-talk format in 1989.
Bill Bailey, Chuck Knapp, Frisbee Girl, Charlie Van Dyke, Fred Winston, John Landecker 1972.
Behind the microphone in 1977.Questioned throughout his career about the origin of his middle name, it was not, as most assumed, a stage name.
His mother's maiden name was Records (her full name was Majorie Victoria Records as Landecker himself told during the 2008 BIG89 Rewind on 890 WLS AM) and was given to him at birth. "Records truly is my middle name" is a saying Landecker frequently used on the air. During his time in Toronto, John did a funny two-minute bit called 'Trudeau Talks Cute' in which he would ask set-up questions that would be followed by a tape recording of Canada's then-Prime Minister, the very popular Pierre Trudeau.
Life is good for Landecker: An evening with Stevie Nicks at the Playboy Mansion.While doing the morning show at WJMK, he would start the "5:30 club" by having co-host Richard Cantu begin his normal newscast, then interrupt him by saying "This is Anarchy! This is Rebellion!" and stating he was tearing up the list of scheduled songs and would play listener's requests instead. He abandoned this feature soon after 9/11.
Boogie Check 1974
Boogie Check was a humorous feature. It was the last thing Landecker did each night on his show for about two minutes. A string of brief telephone calls was put on the air in rapid succession.
STUDIO A: A Profile of John Records Landecker - WLS, 1977
Starting January of 2012, Landecker was heard from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm (CT) Monday through Friday and Saturday 7:00 to 11:00 pm on 94.7 WLS-FM in Chicago. Landecker ended his tenure at WLS-FM on July 31, 2015. The show was streamed live, in parts, on Periscope by his producer, Tony Lossano. His longtime friend and fellow DJ, Dick Biondi, (whose time slot followed Landecker on WLS-FM) stopped by during the show to say goodbye.
WHERE DID JOHN WORK? Here is the list: WOIA-FM/WOIB-AM, WERX, WILS, WIBG, WLS, CFTR, WLUP, WAGO, WPHR, WJMK, WZZN, and WLS-FM.
Landecker’s 50-year radio career has inspired countless on-air personalities nationwide and has earned him multiple Personality of the Year awards and accolades. In Indiana, where Landecker resides, Michigan City’s mayor issued a proclamation declaring September 8, 2017 as John Records Landecker Day.
He’s also the recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash Honorary Award, decreed by Indiana’s governor. Additionally, his best on-air work is enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s radio exhibit. John Records Landecker was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2017.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Radio Hall of Fame, Eckhartz Press, NWI Times, Airchexx.
