Gary Gears

Gary Gears may have had one of the best voices of all. The "Big G" joined WLS in 1971 after a brief stop at WCFL. Gary started at the Big 89 doing the 1-5 am overnight shift. By 1972, Gary had moved to middays working 9 til 12 noon replacing Joel Sebastian. In 1973, Gary was replaced by J.J. Jeffrey.

Gary Gears spent time at the legendary KOIL in Omaha before joining and serving in the US Armed Services. Gary was heard on AFVN radio in Vietnam. After his time in the service, Gary went to KQV in Pittsburgh from Minneapolis St Paul.

After leaving Pittsburgh , Gary spent most of his career in Chicago at legendary stations WCFL, WLS and many others including WDAI, WIND, WJEZ, WJJD, WKQX, WMAQ and WRQX. He also spent time at CHUM in Toronto.

Another cool program from Gary while he was at WLS on January 21, 1970. [ LISTEN ] (30:37)

Gears spent much of his radio career in Chicago, and also came up to Toronto now and then to do the occasional weekend shift at CHUM. Also heard is newsman Jeff Hendrix, who spent 31 years at WLS, from 1968 to 1999.

Gary Gears, Fred Winston, and Kris Erik Stevens all worked in Pittsburgh at ABC owned and operated KQV before joining WLS.

The station is WLS the Rock of Chicago, the date is December 29, 1971, and the jock is Gary Gears putting in another honest day's work behind the mic. [ LISTEN ]

Gary's voice was heard on commercials all over the country in the 70's. Followers should remember his voice from the many spots he did for Sears Auto Centers. Many people may have even bought tires or a battery solely after hearing Gary.

Gary Gears was the station voice on many radio stations throughout the country. In addition to being a jock, Gears was a top commercial voice, appearing in spots for Sears Auto Centers, Tuna Helper, and Dial Soap. He also did the "Ho Ho Hos" on the Green Giant commercials. Gary did additional commercials for Montgomery Ward, Dial soap and Cheer laundry detergent, and he was often hired to play the ``voice of God.``

Here is Gary and Peter Ray with the news on CHUM, December 16, 1973. [ LISTEN ] (31:10) and again from WIND in Chicago on June 1, 1974. [ LISTEN ] (9:24)

And more airchecks with Gary working the turntable...

WIND, Chicago. July 24, 1974. | CHUM, Toronto, Canada. 1973. | 1968 AFVN part 1. | 1968 AFVN part 2. | WCFL 2 - 6 pm. Early 70's. | WLS, Chicago. Early 70's. | WIND, Chicago. 7 - 10 pm. "Off air" recording. | Out Takes from the LOOP.

Gears was great at giving energetic song intros, outros, and commercial live reads. Gears was a fixture on Chicago radio in the 1970s, working as a DJ at numerous stations. He was a Chicago favorite.

Gary passed away suddenly of a heart attack on February 17, 1991. He was 46.

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Rock Radio Scrapbook, Libsyn.