Chicago Radio: Tommy Edwards Announces Retirement

Tommy Edwards

After more than five decades in broadcasting, market veteran and current mid-day host at CBS Radio’s WJMK 104.3 FM Tommy Edwards announced he is retiring from radio effective on Friday, Sept. 12.

Edwards has been with the station since 2011 when 104.3 “K-HITS” made its debut as a classic hits station. He joined CBS Radio in 1990 as a program director for WODS-FM in Boston.

“It’s been a 54 year radio career that began when I was a young teen in high school in Topeka, Kansas,” said Edwards. “I’ve been blessed to work with some incredible people in cities all across this country, including New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago. For the past three years, I’ve been doing mid-days at K-HITS and loving every minute. I’m so fortunate to walk away from radio knowing I never stopped delivering the very best for the listeners.”

Edwards currently resides in Lake Forest, Ill. with his wife and looks forward to taking more time for himself and his family in retirement. “My beautiful wife and best friend, Mary Lou, and I, plan on traveling and enjoying more time together.”

“Tommy Edwards is synonymous with great radio,” said Rod Zimmerman, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of CBS Radio Chicago. “Few have enjoyed the depth and longevity of success he has experienced. We’ve been privileged in Chicago to have been entertained by Tommy for as long as we were. All of us at K-HITS and CBS Radio wish him much happiness and as he knows, the door will always be open.”

WJMK-FM Program Director Todd Cavanah added, “As sad as I am that Tommy is retiring from radio, I am so happy that we had the chance to work together and that he finished his unbelievable career on the air at K-HITS.”

The station will celebrate Edwards throughout his final week of broadcasts beginning on Monday, Sept. 8. Listeners will hear stories and memories from across his career, including special music selections as Edwards plays his favorite hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Fans can tune in on-air, online at www.khitschicago.com or by downloading the Radio.com app, available on iPhone and Android devices.



Edwards began his professional radio career in Washington, D.C. at WEAM-AM, where he worked nights at a rock radio station. After a few years, he moved to New York City for a position at WOR-FM, and then later to Chicago where he spent time as a production director, and on-air personality. As “Little Tommy Edwards,” he eventually joined Larry Lujack in the creation of the very popular on-air feature Animal Stories.



Following his tenure at WODS, Edwards worked in programming at KCBS-FM, a position he held for more than a decade. He was instrumental in transitioning the station to its current adult hits format.

In addition, Edwards serves as the public address announcer for the Chicago Bulls. This marks his 24th season with the team.