Remembering Don Wade (1941-2013) (Audio)

890 WLS ^ | 9-15-13 | WLS Staff

[bigbob]

89 WLS celebrated the life, the career and the memory of Don Wade in a special broadcast last Sunday. You can listen to the podcast of this show, hosted by WLS Newsman John Dempsey.

When WLSam changed from a music format to Talk Radio in 1989, Don Wade and Roma were the only air talent asked to remain and try their skill at becoming morning talk show hosts. Suddenly Don's rapier wit, piercing analysis and passionate oratory roared to the surface. He was a natural. Agree or disagree, listeners were riveted to his thought-provoking, persuasive, even maddening dissections of the world around him. Don and Roma's combination of brain food and joyous laughter became addictive for hundreds of thousands of loyal broadcast and internet listeners around the globe. They were a "family" of morning friends through good times and bad.

[bigbob]

I post this primarily for the benefit of radioheads who loved Don Wade and Roma, and their long and incredible run on The Big 89, WLS. Don was an outspoken true-blue conservative who used his microphone to say what most of us would have said in his place.

But he was also a fabulously talented radio performer who achieved career success during the heyday of Top 40 personality radio, and this 86 minute tribute pays homage to his entire career, even including the previously unheard audition tape that got him hired at Music Radio WLS. A great tribute, and remembrance of the way things used to be.

[Paul46360]

WOW..I am just listening to the podcast now!!! He will be missed.

[GreyFriar]

RIP Don. I use to catch bits of their show on the drive to work here in DC due to the before dawn skip of WLS’s 50,000 watt signal. And listened to them when I was back in Chicago area.

[PATRIOT1876]

I used to listen to Don Wade and Roma. Thye had a good show.