Detroit Radio: WJR's Guy Gordon Exits Cumulus' WJR

Guy Gordon out at WJR

Guy Gordon, a 40-year veteran of Detroit broadcasting, was abruptly let go by WJR-AM (760) last week, likely due to decisions by its parent company, Cumulus Media. His position was eliminated in what was described as a workforce reduction.

Gordon, a morning host since June 2023 and previously the afternoon host for six years, last appeared with co-hosts Lloyd Jackson and Jamie Edmonds on April 7. That same day, he was offered a 60% pay cut and a shift to the 2-4 p.m. slot, which he declined. “It was a purely financial decision,” Gordon was told, hinting at potential further changes for the station known as the Great Voice of the Great Lakes.

In an eight-minute farewell on Tuesday’s morning show, Gordon expressed gratitude, calling WJR “the finest radio station in America.” He explained his heart remained with the morning team, and he wasn’t sure he could excel in another role. “If this is the end of the career,” he said, “I have no grievances. I’m Lou Gehrig without the horrible disease. I’m the luckiest man on Earth.”

Gordon, 66, told the Free Press he hadn’t anticipated the cut, though he acknowledged radio’s struggles and Cumulus Media’s financial challenges. “I forfeited the right to complain about my career somewhere around the late 1990s,” he said. “I’ve been blessed.”

Reflecting on his career, Gordon recalled replacing Bill Bonds on WXYZ-TV’s 11 p.m. news in 1994 and later becoming a successor to J.P. McCarthy at WJR. He spent 14 years at WDIV-TV, anchoring mornings and cherishing time with his family. “Every time I hit a speed bump,” he said, “I wind up in a lane I like even better.”

Gordon arrived in Detroit in 1984, post-World Series chaos, and stayed committed despite early challenges. From Central Michigan University’s radio station to an NBC internship, his path led to Detroit, where he built lasting friendships and professional partnerships, including with WDIV’s Rhonda Walker and morning co-hosts Edmonds and Jackson.

A self-described Reagan Republican, Gordon maintained neutrality on air. He speculated that economic factors, like tariffs, might have indirectly impacted his job. Last November, WJR asked him to forgo a contracted raise and accept a pay cut, which he declined, citing mutual promises and optimism for 2025.