Yvonne Daniels

She was the "First Lady of Chicago Radio," with a powerful voice that boomed throughout much of the U.S. and Canada via the clear channel signal of Chicago's WLS. She was also a pioneer, a woman on the air at a major top 40 radio station when women on the air weren't commonplace. She was also African-American.

Yvonne and the WLS crew.

The daughter of jazz singer Billy Daniels, she began her radio career at a Jacksonville, Illinois, rhythm and blues station. Later she joined WYNR/Chicago, where her jazz show competed with popular disc jockey Sid McCoy on WCFL. At McCoy’s urging, WCFL eventually hired Daniels and soon the team was heard in 38 states, thanks to the 50,000-watt power of WCFL.

In 1973, she moved to WLS/Chicago, another 50,000-watt powerhouse. She was there in the overnight slot from 1973 to 1982 as the first female jock on WLS and the first to work full-time on Chicago AM radio. After Daniels left WLS, she jocked at Chicago stations WVON, WGCI and "Smooth Jazz" WNUA. Prior to WLS - from 1964 to 1973 - she hosted "Daniels Den" on WSDM Chicago, the nation's first all-female station (she was the only jock who used her own name on the air.)

Here is an aircheck of Ms. Daniels on WLS from April 12, 1975. [ LISTEN ] (9:00)

During her 30-year career, Daniels is credited with paving the way for future generations of female radio personalities.

Here is Yvonne broadcasting at WLS on July 12, 1975. [ LISTEN ] (20:50)

Daniels died of breast cancer in 1991 at the age of 53. A street in Chicago, Yvonne Daniels Way, is named after her. She was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1995.

WLS Chicago November 15 1979.

WHERE DID YVONNE WORK? Here is the list: WYNR, WSDM, WCFL, WLS, WVON, WGCI-AM-FM, and WNUA.