John Williams (radio personality)
John Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | John William Fillipitch October 19, 1959 Chicago, Illinois , US |
| Career | |
| Style | Interviewer |
| Country | United States |
John Williams (born October 19, 1959)
Early life
Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois, as John William Fillipitch.[2]
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.[1]
Radio career
Williams worked briefly at WSPY-FM in Plano, Illinois, then spent 10 years at WMBD (AM) in Peoria, Illinois.[1][4] He also wrote a series of joke books, titled The Spieler Scale of Comedy.[5] After four years at WCCO (AM) in Minneapolis, Williams was hired at WGN (AM) in Chicago in September 1997.[4][6]
Timeline
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- 1981 — WSPY-FM in Plano, Illinois
- 1981 to 1993 — WMBD (AM), Peoria, Illinois: morning show host and other positions[5]
- 1993 to 1997 — WCCO (AM), Minneapolis, Minnesota: mid-day show host[6]
- September 1997 to December 2008 — WGN 720, Chicago, Illinois: mid-day and afternoon show host
- December 2008 to 2010 — WGN 720, Chicago, Illinois: morning show host, broadcasting from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- April 2010 — WCCO 1:00-3:00
- July 2010 WGN — 12:30-3:00
- July 2010 WCCO — 9:00-12:00
- December 2011 — WGN 12:00-3:00
- January 2011 — WCCO 3:00-6:00
Recognitions
- Winner, Personality of the Year: 2001 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards[4][6][7]
- 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: 2001 Chicago A.I.R. Awards[4][6][8]
- Winner, Best Talent: 2001 Chicago A.I.R. Awards[4][6][8]
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]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d John Williams (c. 1997). "An interview with John Williams" (Interview). Interviewed by E. Allen Campbell. Crown Point, Indiana: E. Allen Campbell (Wolverton Mountain Enterprises). Retrieved 2009-06-17.
I was born in Chicago in 1959: I'll be 39 in October.
- ^ "On the air: Growing up in Joliet". Chicago Tribune. 9 November 1997.
- ^ Joliet Junior College Winter '04 Commencement Keynote Speaker. Retrieved 2006-12-28. Archived July 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h "John Williams - WGN Radio". Chicago: WGN Radio. 2009-05-19. Archived from the original on 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ^ a b "Former WMBD Radio Personality on CBS". Retrieved 2006-12-28. [dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f "Welcome to the World of John Williams". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
- ^ Scott, Greg (4 May 2005). "Chicago-area social features broadcasters". Saluki Times. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ Daily Herald (Arlington Heights). Retrieved 24 August 2013.