John Williams (radio personality)
| John Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 19, 1959 [citation needed] Chicago, Illinois |
| Show | The World of John Williams |
| Station(s) | WCCO (AM); WGN (AM) |
| Time slot | 12:00-3:00 (WGN); 3:00p-6:00p (WCCO) |
| Style | Interviewer |
| Country | United States |
| Previous show(s) | WCCO (AM) (1993–1997) WMBD (AM) (?–1993) |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Website | WGN Radio 720 - John Williams |
John Williams (born John Fillipitch, October 19, 1959[citation needed]) is an American talk radio show host at WGN (AM) in Chicago, Illinois and WCCO (AM) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has held several timeslots on WGN, including the 1–4 p.m. John Williams Experience until December 2008, Spike O'Dell's old 5–9 a.m. slot from December 2008 to June 2009, the 9 a.m.–noon slot from June 2009, and currently the noon to 3 p.m. slot.[1] Williams also hosts a 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. show on WCCO in Minneapolis.
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[edit] Early life
John Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois.[2][3] He attended grade school in different places while his father was in the U.S. Air Force, but the family moved back to Joliet, Illinois after his father's retirement from the service.
Williams graduated from Minooka High School and later from Joliet Junior College, where his father was a school counselor. He eventually graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale as a broadcasting major.[2]
[edit] Radio career
Williams worked briefly at WSPY-FM in Plano, Illinois, then spent 10 years at WMBD (AM) in Peoria, Illinois.[2][4] He also wrote a series of joke books, titled The Spieler Scale of Comedy.[5][dead link] After four years at WCCO (AM) in Minneapolis, Williams was hired at WGN (AM) in Chicago in September 1997.[4][6]
Williams annually hosts a show interviewing President Thomas Jefferson. 'Jefferson' is portrayed by an actor who speaks and replies in a manner consistent with the real Jefferson's known writings and sayings. This act is occasionally used on Williams' regular WGN AM radio show, the most recent occurrence being June 29, 2011.
[edit] Timeline
- January 2011 WCCO 3:00-6:00
- December 2011 WGN 12:00-3:00
- July 2010 WCCO 9:00-12:00
- July 2010 WGN 12:30-3:00
- April 2010 WCCO 1:00-3:00
- 2010 WGN 9:00AM TO 1:00PM
- December 2008 to 2010 — WGN 720, Chicago, Illinois: morning show host, broadcasting from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.[6]
- September 1997 to December 2008 — WGN 720, Chicago, Illinois: mid-day and afternoon show host
- 1993 to 1997 — WCCO, Minneapolis, Minnesota: mid-day show host[6]
- 1981 to 1993 — WMBD, Peoria, Illinois: morning show host and other positions[5]
- 1981 — WSPY-FM in Plano, Illinois
[edit] Recognitions
- Winner, Personality of the Year: Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards[when?][4][6]
- Finalist, Personality of the Year: 2006 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards[4]
- Finalist, NAB Marconi Radio Awards[when?][4][6]
- Winner, Best Afternoon Show on a News, Talk, Personality or Sports Station: A.I.R. Awards[when?][where?][4][6]
- Winner, Best Talent: A.I.R. Awards[when?][where?][4][6]
[edit] Life outside radio
Williams enjoys reading, running (including once around the block outside WGN in long underwear to fulfill a pledge), and playing basketball. He is married, has two sons, and his late dachshund named Fred, who he called "The World's Largest Wiener Dog".[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "WGN Radio 720 - John Williams - WGN Radio". http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/johnwilliams/. Retrieved 2011-12-6.
- ^ a b c John Williams (circa 1997). An interview with John Williams. Interview with E. Allen Campbell. Crown Point, Indiana: E. Allen Campbell (Wolverton Mountain Enterprises). http://www.wolverton-mountain.com/interviews/people/williams.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-17. "I was born in Chicago in 1959: I’ll be 39 in October.".
- ^ Joliet Junior College Winter '04 Commencement Keynote Speaker. Retrieved 2006-12-28.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "John Williams - WGN Radio". Chicago: WGN Radio. 2009-05-19. http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/johnwilliams/wgnam-john-williams-info,0,2168958.story. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ a b "Former WMBD Radio Personality on CBS". Retrieved 2006-12-28.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g WGN Radio - John Williams[dead link]
