From the 60s to the mid-1980's, he had been a disc jockey and morning on-air personality at eight Chicago radio stations, including WCFL, WLS, WGN, and WMAQ.
Here's an aircheck from Joel's final program on WXYZ in 1964. [ LISTEN ] (20:56) "Four years of memories in four hours."
He began his Chicago career at WCFL as a talkative morning disc jockey. He would open each show with the greeting ``Good morning Chicago, baby, while playing Jack Jones` rendition of ``My Kind of Town.``
Joel Sebastian along with J.J. Jeffrey (first show) on 89 WLS-AM in Chicago some time in November of 1971.
Included are tons of early 70s commercials and those awesome WLS Jingles! J.J. Jeffrey would go on to station ownership later in his career. WLS would go on to number one status later that year. [ LISTEN ] (17:48)
Joel worked at WIND in 1975.Here's Joel again at WLS recorded between October 17, 1970 and April 12, 1971. [ LISTEN ] (1:07:14)
Mr. Sebastian performed a variety of radio roles, reflecting both the wide range of his abilities and the whimsical nature of the business. He was program director at WCFL, rock DJ at several stations and in the late 70s, an all-night classical music show host at WGN.
He survived a purge at WMAQ when the station switched to country music in 1975. Most of the on-air staff, including Mr. Sebastian, was fired. But he was rehired a short time later as production chief and weekend DJ.
In 1983 he stopped at a station in New York City, before returning to Chicago, joining WJMX.
Here's a treat. It's the 45 rpm record of "Blue Cinderella", sung by Joel Sebastian on Miracle Records in 1961. [ LISTEN ] (2:08)
Sebastian passed away in January 1986, from complications of pneumonia, at the age of 53.
WHERE DID JOEL WORK? Here is the list: WXYZ, KYW, WCFL, and WLS.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: WLS History, Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
