Almost every listener has fond memories of the music on WNUA, but my almost nine years as the station’s news director left me plenty of non-musical memories to cherish.
Our Sunday morning public affairs show, Point of View, featured interviews with one fascinating person after another, including Nobel Prize laureate Leon Lederman, Pulitzer winner Dave Barry and Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee.
With talented news staffers including Jenette Kerr and Susan Wiencek, we won awards from organizations like the Chicago Headline Club, UPI and the Radio-Television News Directors Association. At the dawn of the Internet, we may have been the first Chicago newsroom to offer listeners email updates.
And we had fun. One of my most vivid memories is of a morning shortly after my old friend Dean Richards had taken over the morning show. My traffic report featured word of an accident involving a truck whose cargo—potatoes—had spilled onto the road. With perfect timing, Dean said something like: “All we need now is a jackknifed truck of chives.” And I lost it. Maybe my longest giggle-fit on the air ever.
WNUA apologizes for the disruption.
~Charlie Meyerson
@Meyerson
(News Director, WNUA 95.5/Chicago,
1989-1998)
WNUA was the best station! The music was current, varied and fresh. Rick O’Dell was my favorite. He told it like he felt it. Through the station I stayed aware of new jazz artists plus kept up with my favorites, Dave Koz & Rick Braun. I truly hope we can again have a smooth jazz station in Chicago, a great jazz town.
~Barb Howe
I remember:
Being a member of the smooth jazz listener advisory board.
Meeting Rick O’Dell after talking with him to play my favorite melodies.
Artists like Basia, Whitney Houston and Marion Meadows.
Meeting Rick, Loni Taylor, Danae Alexander, Dean Richards, Scott Adams, Ramsey Lewis, Karen Williams.
Winning tickets to concerts, a computer and a trip for two to San Francisco.
Smooth Jazz in Paris.
~Antoinette Harris
My fondest memory is the good old days of buying tickets for the entire series of concerts at the Skyline Stage at Navy Pier each year. I remember the night Chris Botti played my favorite, “Indian Summer,” exactly the way he recorded it. I’ve heard him play that tune in concert several more times, but he “jazzes” it up now. Nothing will compare to that perfect night at Navy Pier.
Honestly, I loved the station and all its people, but my favorite was Shirley Hayes, my “co-worker.” But not having the station on my dial at all is almost too much to bear.
~Shirley Noah
Being enthralled with WNUA, I threw a beautiful Sunday Brunch for friends with WNUA music surrounding all of us. It was a great day! (Circa 1989)
~Ellyn Malina
More memories tomorrow!
(Last Friday, August 3, marked the 25th anniversary of the launch of WNUA 95.5 in Chicago. Throughout the month of August, the Smooth Crew, some of our former co-workers at WNUA and listeners will be sharing our favorite memories of the station. If you haven’t submitted yours, we’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line via email at [email protected], or message me on Facebook.)
Our Smooth Video of the Day: A special treat for Shirley Noah and everyone who enjoys Chris Botti’s dreamy original rendition of “Indian Summer.” Chris will be appearing with Barbra Streisand at the United Center on October 26. Click here for tickets.
I'm pretty new to Chris Botti and had not heard this before. Yay, Shirley ~ I see why its your favorite!!
Posted by: Cyn Cooper | 08/11/2012 at 05:23 PM