Done Deal: St. James To WLS
• We loudly hinted at this scenario in Monday’s RAMP, and now — PRESTO! — the official release has dropped, formally announcing Bruce St. James as the new morning host for Cumulus News-Talk WLS 890 AM/Chicago, starting Monday, Dec. 14 at 5:30am. He will succeed market fixture Erich “Mancow” Mueller, whose last day is Nov. 25.
A native of Washington, D.C. and Tucson, AZ, St. James got his radio start at the age of 17 and has worked both sides of the microphone in Tucson, San Diego, Los Angeles, and mostly, Phoenix, where he spent the past decade co-hosting the 9am-noon show with Pamela Hughes on Bonneville News-Talk KTAR/Phoenixuntil their departure in February. St. James has enjoyed a lengthy tenure in the Phoenix market, most notably 13 years as PD of Rhythmic KKFR, followed by a brief stint programming CBS Radio’s KZON & KMLE until May 2010, when he made the transition to Talk and joined KTAR.
In a staff memo, Stephanie Tichenor, PD of WLS 890 AM, said, “WLS 890 AM has served our Chicagoland audiences for 96 years. From John Landecker to Roe Conn to Mancow, every host has left his mark on the Big ’89, and none more so than Rush Limbaugh. In 2021, we will bring the focus back to those who matter most — our listeners. Bruce St. James is here to have a conversation with our listeners, not a lecture. He is not here to change formats. He is here to continue what 890 already does best — inform and entertain our listeners. We are thrilled to welcome Bruce to mornings on the New ’89. Bruce knows radio. And, now Chicago will know Bruce.”
St. James remarked, “‘Thrilled’ doesn’t begin to describe my feelings. It’s an honor and privilege to host a show on the legendary WLS, and I accept the responsibility of living up to the standard set by those before me. Now, more than ever, people need to connect, as well as be informed in an entertaining way. That is our goal every morning and I look forward to getting to know the amazing city of Chicago. Now, about the weather…”
