Chicago Hog

Can you imagine how cool it would be to hear your voice or your song on the radio? I have had this fortune so many times in the past 20 months and let me tell you- it is a big time rush to hear yourself on the air, even if you and your songs are silly and immature!  

I used to love listening to Johnny back in the 80's and 90's. In the late 1990's Johnny moved from WLUP to a different station. I remember hearing him middays on this new station and he just didn't sound happy. Then one day he was gone- moved to LA.

I was psyched to hear that he was returning to Chicago on WLUP in 2005, but was way too busy to actually listen to the show during the week. I was introduced to the new morning team via "Bit's of Brandmeier" which used to be aired on Saturday mornings.

In late October 2007, I submitted a song I recorded, written by me and my buddy Adam. Throwin Up, it was called, about the Chicago Bears. Johnny played it the next day. I didn't hear it that day, but 3 days later I heard our song on the radio. An addiction was born.

Since then, I have conceived, recorded and submitted at least 80 songs and maybe 200 voicemails. As of October 17 2008, about 40 of my songs have been aired in part at least once, and about 50 of my voice mails have been aired at least once.

It is still an incredible rush to hear my crap on live radio, even if it's only a few words or part of a song. But Johnny has been kind enough to play a few of my longer songs, up to 3 or 4 minutes, without interruption. 

The way this affected my life and my behavior over the past 19 months has been very interesting. It is not all good: while my wife, family and friends were initially impressed by my radio hobby, their interest waxes and wanes. Also, I have built up a sleep deficit that rivals the one I had in the third year of med school and in my internship. It's getting better.

I met Johnny and his team (Guy, Vince, Kent, Hector) during the summer of 2008. Hector has since left the show. I recently had dinner with Guy and Vince along with Pete, a major contributor to the show. I also have become friends with Edwardo, Godfather of contributors.

This hobby led to my being here on VOX. And about 6 months ago, my YouTube career started. That's a whole other story! It all goes back to the decision to send that first song to Johnny B in October 2007- and his decision to spin it!

One thing incredibly unique about Jonathan Brandmeier is that he takes so many live calls, voice mails, emails, and submitted songs everyday and makes them part of his show.  Then he and his talented staff make comments, get more input from listeners and the show becomes a spontaneous, hilarious form of entertainment. For the listeners, every show is like watching Michael Jordan back in the day when each game was something new and amazing.  Same with JB- every day you just know you are about to hear something special. 

Johnny is a talented musician and character voice actor in his own right. His band "The Leisure Suits" is currently engaged in an ongoing world tour with random dates to be announced! 

Over the years, the list of well known entertainers and newsmakers interviewed on Johnny B's show has been astounding. I want to see that list. Brandmeier has also helped a lot of folks develop their ideas or inventions over the years. 

This has been a very enjoyable, although somewhat out of control, hobby for me. If anything on this blog made you smile, I have done my job! And if you actually laughed, bonus!