Remembering Iconic Superjock Larry Lujack

Yommy Edwards, Larry Lujack

Larry Lujack was born Larry Lee Blankenburg in rural Iowa. While in college, he took a job as an announcer for KCID-AM in Caldwell, Idaho, for kicks and extra cash according to CRM.

Not able to use Blankenburg as his professional name, he took the last name of Notre Dame quarterback Johnny Lujack to be his new radio name.

Lujack began his legendary Chicago career at WCFL 1000 AM in April 1967, working nights.
Four months later, WCFL-AM's chief rival, WLS 890 AM, stole Lujack away to be their afternoon host.

His popularity grew rapidly and he eventually was promoted to mornings, where he became a local radio star.



It was on this morning shift that he began to do a radio bit that will be remembered for decades to come: "Animal Stories." The "Animal Stories" segment had Lujack reading funny small town news stories and farm reports that involved animals. He did this at first by himself, and then eventually along with fellow DJ Tommy Edwards, who would become sidekick "Lil' Snot Nose Tommy" to his gruff persona of "Uncle Lar'," at least for these segments.

Lujack was also known for his bits "Klunk Letter of the Day" and "Cheap Trashy Show Biz Report."

In July 1972, WCFL-AM was able to steal Lujack back from WLS-AM, placing him in afternoons. He stayed with the station through its end of being a Top 40 and for a while longer, playing "Beautiful Music." No longer happy at WCFL-AM, Lujack rejoined WLS-AM as soon as he was able to in September 1976.

He also returned to his familiar morning role and once again became a radio superstar. For many years, his AM radio morning show was simulcast on WLS-FM.

John Gehron, Lujack's PD for many years at WLS and now an exec with AccuRadio, posted on his Facebook page: "It was difficult news to hear Larry Lujack had passed away. He was gruff on the outside but warm inside. I've enjoyed the many posts about Larry and how he influenced many of us. He made me a better program director at WLS. "

According to Chicago Media Blogger Robert Feder, In 1984, ABC rewarded  Lujack with an unprecedented 12-year, $6 million contract in order to keep him from jumping to WGN.

“It ain’t no big deal,” a typically nonchalant Lujack told me at the time. “I can honestly say — and my wife even finds this astounding — that I am not the least bit excited. Trite as it may sound, you can’t take it with you.”

Ratings declined with his ill-timed move to afternoons in 1986, and Lujack signed off from WLS a year later when ABC bought out the remainder of his contract and sent him into much-too-early retirement at age 47.

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Post by Jeff Davis.

Country consultant Jaye Albright blogs here are many, many brilliant Lujack quotes that will live on in the content of the personalities he inspired and motivated with his bigger than life, always entertaining, never boring, totally unique character:

"Advice for buying a used car: Before you even test drive it, turn the radio on. If all the buttons are set to rock stations, it's gonna need a new transmission." 

“What do you say to a kid who wants to be a disc jockey when he grows up?  You can’t do both.”