R.I.P.: WLS-AM Personality Jake Hartford Was 63

WLS-AM's late morning personality and veteran weekend host, Jake Hartford passed away Saturday night after suffering a major heart attack.

He was only 63 years old.

According to Chicago Radio & Media, the loss of Jake Hartford is a major blow to WLS-AM, which just revamped its line-up. It is still too soon to know what will become of Hartford's 9:00am-11:00am shift.

This morning, WLS-AM's website posted up the following note from Jim Edwards'/Jake Hartford' family:

"We're currently mourning the loss of Jake Hartford, a husband, father, and friend. This is devastating news for everyone in our family, and we greatly appreciate all of the kind words that have been offered to us during our struggle. It's truly incredible how many people he has affected positively through pursuing the work that he loved so dearly. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts as we do our best to 'spring forward.'"

Read More Here.

WLS described Hartford as a mainstay at the radio station since 1989, hosting weekends and filling in and most recently teaming up with Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass on the station’s 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. show. According to the Sun-Times, he lost his job in a cost-cutting move at the station in 2008 and was picked up by WCPT-AM.

Hartford referenced the episode in his online WLS biography, where he said he experienced a fall from grace “because he was too successful” but came back home to WLS in the spring of 2010 for a “triumphant return.”