Tom Marker, the iconic Chicago radio voice synonymous with the city's blues scene for nearly 50 years, announced his retirement today, capping a career that defined airwaves at WXRT and beyond.
Marker, 75, will sign off from his long-running "Blues Breakers" show on WXRT-FM 93.1 after hosting it since 1984, as well as "Blues Time" on WDCB-FM 90.9, where he has spun tracks every Saturday since 2015. The move ends an era for Chicago's blues faithful, who have tuned in for his encyclopedic knowledge, gravelly narration, and unyielding passion for artists from Muddy Waters to modern local talents like Joanna Connor.
The retirement comes amid personal reflections on a life in broadcasting that began in the mid-1970s. "It's time to let the records rest," Marker said in a statement shared via his Facebook page, Tom Marker Blues From Chicago, thanking listeners for "making the blues breathe through the speakers all these years."
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| Tom Marker |
Beyond the mic, Marker emceed the Chicago Blues Festival's main stage for decades, rubbing shoulders with legends at clubs like Kingston Mines and Buddy Guy's Legends. His sets blended classics like John Lee Hooker's "In the Mood" with fresh Chicago cuts, always with a Windy City edge.
Tributes poured in immediately from peers and stations. WXRT posted: "Tom didn't just play the blues—he lived them. Chicago won't sound the same." WDCB echoed: "A giant steps off the air, but his playlist echoes forever."
Marker, a Columbia College grad who started as program director at WJKL in Elgin, leaves a void in an industry he helped shape. No successor has been named for his slots, but stations vow to honor his legacy with blues marathons in the coming weeks.For those who grew up with his intros—"This is the blues, from near and far, but mostly right here"—Marker's exit feels like the final chord of a smoky set. Yet, in true blues fashion, it's not goodbye, but a riff on resilience.