Chicago Radio: Ray Stevens EXITS WUSN To Join 89WLS

Cumulus Media announces that award-winning and well-known Chicago radio personality “Ramblin’” Ray Stevens will join WLS AM 890 weekday mornings from 5:00AM until 9:00AM CST, beginning Monday, August 8, 2016.

The move reunites Stevens with current WLS AM 890 morning personality “Big” John Howell, as the two worked together for several years at WUSN US99.5 FM Chicago.

John Howell

Peter Bowen, WLS AM 890 General Manager and Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Media-Chicago, said: “Big John and Ray are deeply rooted in Chicago and are well known to the community. We are excited for our listeners, as Big John and Ray are a winning combination.”

Ray Stevens

Stevens said: “I’m thrilled to be re-joining my former partner and good friend Big John Howell for mornings on Chicago’s News/Talk leader, WLS AM 890. I want to thank Peter Bowen, Peter Bolger and Mike McVay for this tremendous opportunity to speak with Chicagoans each weekday about the news and topics important to us all.”    

Stevens has been a Chicago media fixture for over two decades. In addition to winning ACM, CMA and CRB Personality of the Year awards and having been nominated for radio’s coveted Marconi Award, Stevens is heavily involved in leadership and fundraising roles for The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, The Illinois State Crime Commission, The Ronald McDonald House Charities, P.A.W.’s Chicago and many more. Stevens is a champion for United States Military Servicemen and Veterans, dedicating his time and energy to America’s enlisted men and women and their families. In 2001, Stevens was awarded the United States Marine’s Semper Fi Award for his work with military veterans, the highest Marine honor bestowed upon a civilian.

WLS 890 AM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Howell has entertained Chicago radio audiences for almost three decades, including the last two as morning host for WLS-AM 890. Prior to that, he hosted mornings for WIND, as well as afternoons and then morning at US99.5 where he and Ray Stevens had a long and successful run.  Howell made his name with national audiences as host of a call-in request show, "Country Gold", syndicated by Westwood One from 1999-2006. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Howell has traveled nationally as a musician and arranger. He started his radio career in 1984 in Grand Rapids, MI.

Stevens was most recently co-hosting mornings at CBS Radio.s Country WUSN 99.5 FM with partner Lisa Dent.  Dent, a recent inductee into the country Radio Hall of Fame, is also out at US99. FM.