About Me

Chicago Hog

I planted an mp-tree.

Member since Dec 18, 2007
Chicago
United States
Stay in touch with me. Join Now

I am a member of the animal kingdom.

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 few 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 have written music since I was knee high to a swine. Recently, my hobby writing and recording music has taken a somewhat addictive leap due to Jonathan Brandmeier. This VOX site includes a sample of my contributions to the Johnny B morning show on WLUP 97.9 FM Chicago Many of these have been aired on live radio (which will be transmitted to the outer reaches of space for several light years) and on live internet stream at wlup.com.

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.

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 be 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 myself singing on the radio. An addiction was born.

Since then, I have conceived, recorded and submitted at least 35 songs and maybe 70 voicemails. About 1/2 of the songs and 2/10 of the voicemails have been aired at least once, and some have been aired many times. I have developed a system to monitor most of each day's show to see if my contributions have been aired. But it is getting a little tiring to do so, and I am learning to just be happy to know my songs might one day entertain someone through this blog or courtesy of Jonathan Brandmeier, my favorite lebanese/ german hyperactive cheesehead freak.

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 9 months has been very interesting. It is not all good: while my wife, family and friends were initially impressed by my radio hobby, they now have minimal interest and actually seem annoyed when I announce a new "airing". I can understand this- it's like hearing from a gardener who keeps planting new flowers which take root. Also, I have built up an sleep deficit that rivals the one I had in the third year of med school and in my internship. It's getting better.

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!