John Records Landecker

by | Feb 13, 2024 | Uncategorized

WLS. WLUP. WCKG. WJMK. WZZN. WLS-FM, WGN. There doesn’t seem to be any major Chicago radio station that John Records Landecker (3/28/47) hasn’t worked at. Best known for his trademark saying “Records truly is my middle name,” on air his popularity soared with his personality and unique show segments including “Boogie Check” and “Americana Panorama.”

Landecker grew up in Michigan, beginning his radio career while still in high school. His path took him through a number of stations, finally landing in Chicago in 1972 as the evening jock on WLS. As the station format changed, Landecker departed for a brief stint in Toronto before being brought back by rock station WLUP (97.9) in 1983. Chicago stations were migrating from format-to-format in the 80s, causing Landecker to move to Top-40 WAGO/WCKG (105.9) in 1985, returning to WLS in 1986. He remained there until the station switched to an all-talk format in 1989.

1993-2003 saw Landecker at oldies station WJMK (104.3) working the morning drive where he received numerous national radio awards for “Best Morning Show.” Then over to “true oldies” WZZN (94.7) for the afternoon shift, followed by a period back on WLS (890 AM) co-hosting a news talk show. From 2007-2012 he was host of “Into the Seventies,” a syndicated weekend radio program from TKO Radio Networks.

In 2012, Landecker returned to WLS-FM (94.7) which had moved to an oldies format where he remained until he retired in 2015. But five years in retirement seemed enough for Landecker and in 2020 he returned to Chicago radio joining WGN where he can still be heard in the 7-10 p.m. slot Monday through Thursday evenings.

Landecker has been elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2017 and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2020. This year, he is being honored with his induction into the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 Hall of Fame. If you want to read more of his radio journey,

Landecker tells his story in his autobiography Records Truly Is His Middle Name (Eckhartz Press). And, by the way, Records truly is his middle name as his mother’s maiden name was Marjorie Victoria Records.