Cumulus Conservative Talk 890 WLS Chicago is moving ‘Big’ John Howell from mornings to host a new 5-7pm show starting January 3.
Howell host co-hosted mornings at WLS since January 2015 following eight years at Salem’s 560 WIND. He has been continuously heard in the Chicago market since 1988 with runs at 105.9 WCKG and 99.5 WUSN as well. No word on the status of current co-host ‘Ramblin Ray’ Stevens in mornings yet.
Howell and Cumulus’ new syndicated show hosted by Ben Shapiro fill the lineup opening created by Steve Dahl’s exit next Friday.
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that 30-year Chicago radio veteran John Howell will host a new late afternoon show on WLS-AM. “The John Howell Show” will air live on WLS-AM weekdays from 5pm–7pm. Howell segues to Afternoon Drive from his current 6am-9am time slot on January 3, 2019.
Marv Nyren, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Chicago, said: “As part of the new lineup at WLS-AM 890, keeping an experienced Chicago talent like John Howell solidifies the lineup and will give our audience a reason to stay tuned throughout the entire day. John has been entertaining Chicagoland for over 30 years and his program will be the perfect way to wrap up the day on your way home.”
John Howell said: “I’m very excited about hosting the new afternoon show at WLS-AM 890. I intend to present Chicago with a quick-paced, informative, honest and intelligent summary of the day’s biggest stories; an afternoon wrap of the day’s biggest events featuring prominent newsmakers, reporters, experts and stars. Of course, our town’s most colorful characters will also be welcome. In addition, I’m looking forward to (finally) golfing when the sun’s in the east.”
About John Howell
John Howell has hosted the “Big John and Ramblin Ray Show on WLS-AM 890 for the past four years and has been a daily presence on Chicago radio for 30 years. Arriving in 1988 to host mornings at WCKG, he spent the next 17 years at WUSN, followed by an 8-year run at WIND. In addition, John hosted a nationally syndicated weekend show for Westwood One from 1998-2006. John grew up in Holland, Michigan, and graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He lives in Chicago’s northern suburbs with his wife Sarah, children Will and Penny, and an ever-growing brood of canines.
