Milwaukee Radio: Market Vet Karen Dalessandro Exits For Phoenix

Karen Dalessandro

Longtime Milwaukee radio personality Karen Dalessandro is leaving town for a new gig in Phoenix. 

Dalessandro, the former country music host who has been on the afternoon drive shift at WKLH 96.5 FM for more than two years, will be taking over the same gig at another classic rock station, Phoenix's KSLX 100.7 FM starting April 5. 

According to OnMilwaukee.com, her last day at WKLH will be March 26. 

Dalessandro spent 20 years as a country radio host in Milwaukee at WMIL 106.1 FM. After briefly retiring in 2017 — she was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2015 — Dalessandro joined WKTI 94.5 FM, which had switched to a country-music format. After WKTI flipped to an all-sports format in 2018, she landed at WKLH as a part-time host, going full-time as the station's host from 3 to 7 p.m. in 2019. 

"I'm beyond blessed to have this amazing radio career and can't believe I'm adding KSLX call letters to my résumé," Dalessandro said. " … Milwaukee will always have a special place in my heart." 

Sharing the news on Twitter Tuesday, Dalessandro said she was "happy for this exciting, new adventure, but my heart is breaking to leave the city and the people I love so much."