Big John Howell has called a variety of radio stations home. During his career, there have been many memorable on-air moments, some of which you can hear below.

2006/Big John & Ray/US99 WUSN

Here are some examples of John Howell and Ray Stevens together on the US99 WUSN Morning Show from 2004-2006.

Calling John’s son Will.

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A crazy caller wishes Big John a happy birthday

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Garry Meier claims John and Ray are #1 with Korean dry cleaners

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John’s a flip-flopper!

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One of John and Ray’s best remembered moments is when they called up John’s ex-wife Cindy to try and claim John’s ex-snowblower.

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2005/Big John & Ray/WUSN

Following a bit of Frank Sinatra, Big John is heard commenting on the discovery of the true identity of Watergate’s “Deep Throat”and Michael Jackson’s trial. Then excerpts from interviews with Donald Rumsfeld, Newt Gingrich and Denny Hastert.

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Big John is heard with Ray Stevens and news anchor/producer Katherine Kelly. You’ll hear an irate caller react to a Howell parody, a heartwarming obituary, Ray calls with a taser offer followed by a cop’s advice.

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John and Ray always made memories at company meetings. The morning after a long night with fellow broadcasters this was heard on a then midday show on WSCR with Dan and Terry.

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2004/Big John & Ray/WUSN

This show had great chemistry with John, Ray Stevens and Katherine Kelly. You’ll hear Tim McGraw questioned about his body hair, Brooks and Dunn very uncomfortable about John and Ray sharing a single stool, five year old Will Howell being given advice by Uncle Ray, John’s dating policy of “one call a day”, and a heartwarming story about a commited soccer fan who cut off his bits.

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2002/WUSN

This US99 WUSN/Chicago Morning Show Demo was produced in the fall of 2002, opening with Diane Burns introducing a Big John Howell feature piece on Channel 2. The show at that time included Ray Stevens and Trish Biondo. Joanie Young handled traffic and Christina Filliagi was the news anchor. Mick Kahler (who had worked with Howell at WCKG) was the executive producer. You’ll also hear John with Travis Tritt discussing concealed weapons and an excerpt from John’s Polar Plunge into Lake Michigan. Also, from September 11th 2001, Howell and Trish viewing the attacks in New York with Channel 5’s Brant Miller. Note that John knew in his gut it a terrorist attack from the first plane.

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Big John Howell, Ray Stevens and Trish Biondo.  This montage is from 2003…

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This is the audio from a WBBM Channel 2 feature on Big John Howell that ran on the 6pm and 10pm news the night of a CMA awards show in 2002.

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Country Gold Show/1999-2006

John hosted “Country Gold Saturday Night” on the Westwood One Radio Network from September 11, 1999 to November, 2006. The show was heard on over 100 stations nationwide and was produced live (6pm to 11pm central) every Saturday night from the US99/WUSN studios in Chicago and replayed throughout the weekend on the network. Interviews were either live or pre-taped during the week. Howell programmed the music with help from WW1’s David Felker. A wide range of material covering vintage 1950’s music up to some current artists was featured. Even after leaving WUSN John continued to host the show nationally for WW1 for 3 months. US99 Program Directors Alan Sledge, Justin Case and Mike Peterson were a big part of the show’s success as were General Managers Steve Ennen, Harvey Wells and Dave Robbins. Also, Ed Salamon, Charlie Cook and Todd Allen from Westwood One made it easy for Howell to work that extra sixth day a week for over seven years straight. This excerpt is taken from one show July 8th, 2001. It runs 11 minutes.

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Howell’s “Country Gold Host” PR shot…

Charlie Daniels

This is a portion of an interview with Charlie Daniels from the fall of 2003. Charlie was a regular guest on the show and called in as a fan to request tunes several times.

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Here John talks with George Jones shortly after the events of 9-11-2001.

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During “The Country Gold Show,” local stations had four 2 minute blocks of commercial availability per hour. John always filled these breaks with edited archival interviews as opposed to canned music. In many markets, these were heard as part of the show. In fact, while on vacation Howell was surprised to hear several of these “closed circuit” features played on a local morning show and sponsored by an auto dealer. A couple of free oil changes took care of any misunderstanding. Below are several examples from Big John’s Country Gold Show.

Hank Williams, Jr.

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Darryl Worley

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Larry Gatlin

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Collin Raye

This is an excerpt of an interview John did with country artist Collin Raye. Both John and Collin had been in concert with the legendary George Jones. The show was at the Chicago Theater on State Street. Howell opened, Collin was featured and Jones closed the show. As you’ll hear Collin Raye was booked to headline the show but refused to follow George.

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Big John Howell interviews legendary songwriter Bobby Bradock.  Howell always featured the songwriters as well as the singers on Country Gold.

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2001/Big John, Trish Biondo & Gavin Todd/WUSN

In January of 2001 John Howell’s long 11 year run in afternoon drive at WUSN US99 came to an end.

Even though it wasn’t yet public knowledge he would soon join Trish Biondo, Gavin Todd and Mick Kayler on the morning show.

Also leaving was Carol McGowen. Carol had been a huge part of the show with John for 4 years. Very professional, very natural and very funny. She was leaving to join WCCQ radio where she remains to this day. Carol and John had great rapport and an on-going battle revolving around obscure country music trivia. John references Carol owing him money in their last break together from January 19th, 2001.

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Big John welcomes Charlton Heston to the US99 Morning Show soon after 911.  Trish Biondo and “Guitar’ Gavin Todd also heard on this clip.

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Here the great Travis Tritt sings live on US99.  One of Howell’s favorite “father-son” songs: “Where Corn Don’t Grow”

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2000/Big John/Afternoons/WUSN

This edited aircheck is from a show on US99 WUSN Chicago/November 2000. John was hosting afternoon drive from 3-7pm. Featuring Carol McGowan (known on the air as “Lefty”), a bit of Channel 2’s Linda McClennan, Evan Kroft was John’s producer and can be heard on a couple of breaks (Evan now is a programmer for CMT) and a cameo from John’s son Will who was around two years old. Also on this show: Howell’s hillbilly pronuncation of karaoke, assorted corn-ball song title references, an Al Gore slam, his thoughts on America’s polarized politics, advice on dog poop revenge, Huntley’s Turkey Testicle Festival, a couple of addled callers and a closing conversation with evening jock Mike Myers.

Part 1:

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Part 2:

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1998/Big John/Afternoons/WUSN

While John was hosting Afternoon Drive at US99 WUSN/Chicago, from time to time he would be asked to write and record a parody tune for J.D Spangler the Program Director. For the record, before John Katzbeck died in the fall of 1994, The Katman wrote and performed all the parodies for “J.D & The Katman”.

The Bulls with Michael Jordan were the talk of the sports world at that time and more than a few tunes reflected their run. Also, announcer Marv Albert was in hot water for a scandal that involved him wearing women’s underware among other things. Big John wrote the tune, his friend Joe Macicak provides the harmony vocals and producer Matt Weintraub contributes the Marv impersonation. This parody was based on an early Tim McGraw song.

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Howell endorsed Olive Garden for a few years and had no problem dressing in a toga for free food…

For several years in the 1990’s US99 WUSN partnered with WBBM Channel 2 to provide afternoon news reports at 5:30pm. These were either done live or pre-recorded depending on the day and the anchor. John and Bill Kurtis always had a lot of fun together. As soon as Bill sat down the tape started rolling.

Kurtis seems to enjoy the afternoon delight…

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Kurtis will handle the report, thanks anyway Joan Lovette…

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This audio below is taken from a random afternoon show in 1998.  This aircheck available from California Aircheck.com…

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A bit of JD Spangler and the late, great John “Katman” Katzbeck on US99.  This is a promo for a US99 Party at the Sundance Saloon.

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1989/John Howell & Stephanie Miller/WCKG

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John Howell was hired by WCKG 105.9/Chicago to co-host a new morning show in the spring of 1988. He joined Stephanie Miller who arrived from upstate New York (Stephanie now is based in LA and is a nationally syndicated talk show host and also can be seen from time to time as an actress). The Program Director was Tim Sabean (who now directs Howard Stern’s channels on Sirrius). The Exective Producer of the show was Mick Kahler (who had also spent time with Larry Lujack at WLS). Mick and John would be reunited at US99 years later. Jan Shimek was Associate Producer (Jan’s now seen on Channel 9 WGN TV), Jimmy Volkman was the Sports Director (and an incredible voice talent) and Steve Scott (now with WCBS AM in New York) was the News Director and handled traffic.

On this compilation from the summer of 1989: An opening montage of celebs, John performing in-studio with Billy Preston, Howell taking a crack at sports (Volkman may have been off/or fired), a bit of Mitch Michaels, an excerpt of John in concert at Dan Hampton’s club with his band, a phoner with Howell’s old friend Mike Ferris, a Jessica Hahn parody, Mick and John sneaking a peek into the Bear’s locker room and even an uncued cart.

Howell, Miller and Kahler were fired in September 1989. Stephanie went on to work in NYC before moving to LA, Mick joined Robert Murphy at Q101 and John joined US99 two weeks later.

The rest of WCKG’s outstanding staff included Mitch Michaels, Alan Stagg, Debbie Alexander, Joe Thomas and Production Director Bill Towery. The General Manager was Marc Morgan.

This was Howell’s 1988/WCKG/PR Picture.  He took it with him to WUSN and used it for years.  Used it until children stopped believing it was him….

1988/Big John & The Apologizers

When Big John Howell came to Chicago in 1988 to join 105.9 WCKG radio as a morning host, he brought most of his band from Michigan. Howell was 27 years old at the time and was only 5 years out of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. John had fronted bands since he was 14 years old. This clip is taken from a live concert from downtown Chicago outside of Alcock’s Bar the summer of 1988. Alcock’s was the official watering hole of the staff of WCKG and the CBOT. You can hear the influence of the products that Alcock’s served. This band had some serious self-control issues. The road went on forever and the party never ended!! “Big John Howell and the Apologizers” played several rowdy Friday afternoons for the high strung members of the Board Of Trade. You’ll hear an opening montage of morning show guests, an interesting version of “Funk #49″ with John’s hideously out of tune valve trombone and John’s longtime friend Joe Macicak playing bass and singing. Bob Tedlock was the drummer (and the band’s connection). John’s old circus bandmate Barney Floyd is heard on the high-note screaming trumpet. Some Blues Brothers, Hank Jr. Seger, Stones and Asleep At The Wheel was pounded out. You’ll hear Letterman’s Will Lee, John calling out to Alcock’s hottest bartender, “Hi Sue … nice … ah … shorts!” Also, the late, great Bill Towery, who was WCKG’s multi-talented production director played in the band and did a outstanding job singing, playing harp, and looking very cool. Bill was also part of John’s “Born To Boogie Band” years later.

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1987/John Howell & Jennifer Stephens/WGRD/Grand Rapids

Howell’s billboard campaign in Grand Rapids…

Howell’s WGRD 98 Rock Morning show featured a large cast. Including Jennifer Stephens, Robert Shroll (Radar), Phil Kelly, Beth Huizenga (Jersey), Al Bober, Jim Camenga, Bill Freeman, and many others. These promos from 1987 refect the general tone.

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John Howell and Jennifer Stephens along with the rest of the crew.

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Make Me Laugh (always a popular segmant)

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Calling John’s dad without warning happened often…

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Here are some short clips from Howell’s Morning Show on WGRD/Grand Rapids from 1987. You’ll also hear Jenninfer Stephens, Robert Shroll, Al Bober and Phil Kelly.

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Robert (Radar) Shroll. Howell and Stephens’ Producer at WGRD

1986/John Howell/WGRD Evenings

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After Howell was handed his walking papers and two weeks pay from WJFM, he hooked up with WGRD 98 Rock in Grand Rapids. This station was programmed by Matt Clennott and the GM was Dave Nelson. Both had arrived from Chicago. The staff included Preston Thompson with Jennifer Stephens (just in from her Detroit experience), Shawn Stevens, Bob Berry, Michelle McCormic and Pete Bunch. Here Howell is heard working a fill-in evening shift in 1985 or 1986. This includes an early parody attempt and some standard toilet humor.

1985/John Howell/WJFM Afternoons

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After being fired from WLAV, Howell was hired at 93.7 WJFM in Grand Rapids. He worked 2-6pm for a few months before the station flipped to Soft Rock 93. The instructions from PD Dave Murray was to keep everything up, work the processing and play the same 15 songs over and over. Fortunately, the Holiday Inn bar was next door with free cheese and cheap drinks.

1984/John Howell/WLAV AM

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John’s first full time radio job was at WLAV AM 1340 in Grand Rapids Michigan. On this aircheck you’ll hear excerpts from a Friday evening show the fall of 1984. For those of you who have listened to WLS AM89 out of Chicago from that era it will be clear that Howell was a Larry Lujack fan. Also heard toward the end is a brief cameo from Johnny Mack who at that time was hosting afternoons.

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WLAV AM/FM in Grand Rapids during the mid 1980’s had great group on the air. Kevin Matthews, Allison Harte, Jon Wallace, Aris Hampers, Michael Sirianni all worked on the FM. The AM side was staffed by Ron Jay Scott, Michael Ferris, Johnny Mack and John Howell. Tony Gates programmed both sides. After Tony left, Scott quit and Johnny Mack was fired. Ferris and Howell covered most of the day. This aircheck is taken from an afternoon show in 1984 where both John and Mike screw with the format and trash the music. Not surprisingly, shortly after this was broadcast WLAV AM went to an automated beautiful music format and Howell and Ferris were both whacked. Today, Tony and Kev are back at WLAV FM, Ferris is now a programming executive for Clear Channel, Johnny Mack is a film maker in Florida and “The Amazing AM, 1340 WLAV” is just a memory … maybe it’s better that way.

WZND/Zeeland, Michigan/1983

All that remains from those early moments are pictures (thankfully).