Cumulus Media Classic Hits 94.9 KCMO-FM Shawnee/Kansas City has appointed Kelly Urich as morning host filling the vacancy created by the cut of Dick Wilson last month.
Outside of a brief stint at “Y95” KOY-FM Phoenix in 1992, Urich has spent his entire career in Kansas City with stops at 106.5 KXXR and 104.3 KBEQ predating a 13 year run in afternoons at CHR “Mix 93.3” KMXV from 1995-2008 and then in afternoons and then mornings at 99.7 under three different brands CHR “Kiss-FM“, 90s Hits “Gen X Radio“, and Hot AC “99.7 The Point” KZPT from 2009-2016.
Urich will debut at KCMO-FM on Tuesday, December 26 as he becomes just the second morning host since the station segued from CHR to Oldies (now Classic Hits) in 1989 as Wilson had been in place since 1986.
Cumulus Media announces that it has tapped long-time Kansas City radio personality Kelly Urich to anchor mornings on Classic Hits station 94.9 KCMO-FM. “Kelly Urich Mornings” debuts on 94.9 KCMO on Tuesday, December 26, and will air weekdays from 6AM-10AM.
Urich has been a Kansas City radio fixture or 28 years and is a two-time Kansas City Radio Personality of the Year. He was formerly with KZPT after many years with KMXV.
Donna Baker, Midwest Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media-Kansas City, said: “We are extremely excited to have a great talent like Kelly join Cumulus Media and 94.9 KCMO! Kelly is an iconic Kansas City ratings and revenue performer and we are delighted to add him to team Kansas City Cumulus!”
Joe Russo, 94.9 KCMO Program Director, said: “Kelly has a natural ability to communicate with listeners in an authentic and compelling way. A dynamic talent and a Kansas City icon, we are thrilled to bring him back to Kansas City radio in mornings with KCMO-FM.”
Urich said: “KCMO-FM is the station I’ve listened to for the last decade and I’m thrilled to be joining this talented lineup. A giant thank-you to Donna Baker, Joe Russo and Lance Tidwell… This truly is my dream job. 94.9 KCMO is one of the best-sounding Classic Hits stations in the country. Kansas City listeners know I’m passionate about our city and about them. I’m excited about my return to the Kansas City airwaves.”
One quick correction: Kelly actually started his career in Poplar Bluff near the Missouri Bootheel. I’m thinking it was at the former “All Hit Radio” KAHR 96.7, but I’m not 100% certain.