After spending some time at “Q-Country” WCCQ-FM 98.3 and “Soft Hits” WFYR (now WKSC-FM KISS 103.5), I brought my Forgotten 45s to 1530 WJJG. This suburban station is owned by “The Baron of Barrington” Joe Gentile (Family). “Your Hometown Station” is a local neighbor providing entertainment as well as information. “The Forgotten 45s” on 1530 WJJG are popular songs from the golden age of top-40 radio that was heard on the weekends 1995-2012. “The Forgotten 45s” shared memories of yesteryear and the music of our generation.
On September 19, 2012 1530 WJJG became AM 1530 WCKG The Voice Of DuPage County.
As an alum of Lyons Township High School (class of ‘79), I have returned to my alma mater to supervise the students participating on the campus’ radio station. I have lectured at Columbia College as well as Prairie State University. I was also a teachers assistant at NIU. Now, I am returning the education that was given to me as a student. Help that developes talent and skill with hands on experience. Guidence that is better than any words you can read in a text book.
LT students participated in radio dating back to 1922 when the school began a wireless club. High Schoolers were first heard on WTAQ. LT high school was close to going on-the-air. The first choice of a call sign was turned down. WLTS would have stood for Lyons Township Schools. The second choice was WLTL, Lyons Township LaGrange or Lyons Township Lions. WLTL hit the airwaves January 5, 1968. The station first broadcasted on 88.3 MHz. A couple of years later, WLTL moved to 88.1 MHz so another high school station could squeeze on the dial. Milestones include: using WIND/Group W as a news resource; moving the studio from the third floor of the Vaughn Building to Room 9 at North Campus; increasing from 10 to 180 watts; and turning a mono signal to stereo.
Under the management of Bob Channick, Q-Country 98.3 WCCQ was once the spot on the dial to listen to the “Q-Country Cavalcade” request show on Saturday afternoons with the “Cosmic Cowboy” Jim Felbinger. It was like magic, one Saturday afternoon I prepared for the over night programming while the Cosmic Cowboy was on-the-air. He needed some help as he spoke in the mic. He referred to me as “Engineer Mike” which started a long relationship on-air as well as off. From 1985 through the end of the decade, the “Q-Crew” appeared at several country and bluegrass events around the Joliet area in Illinois.
Later, the “Q-Crew” hosted the “Q-Country Bluegrass Connection” on Sunday nights featuring Bluegrass music and events.
You may find out more about the Q-Crew, Jim Felbinger and Mike Baker, the Cosmic Cowboy and Engineer Mike in “Valley Voices: A Radio History” by John Russell Ghrist.
