Life and career

Landecker was born in Michigan. His father, Werner Landecker, was a German Jewish refugee. His mother, Marjorie Records, was a "farm girl from Indiana". Landecker began his radio career while in high school at a station in Ann Arbor, Michigan (WOIA-FM/WOIB-AM, now respectively WWWW-FM and WLBY). He attended Michigan State University, working at stations in Lansing (WILS) and Philadelphia (WIBG, now WNTP) before becoming the evening jock on the 50,000 watt WLS 890 which broadcast from Chicago, Illinois in 1972. The powerful WLS clear channel signal reached across 38 states after sundown, giving Landecker ratings that are unheard of in this day. In 1981 Landecker left Chicago for a stint on CFTR 680 in Toronto, Ontario. Landecker returned to Chicago radio in 1984 on rocker WLUP 97.9 and WAGO (now WCFS-FM) 105.9. Landecker returned to WLS in 1985 and remained there until WLS switched to an all-talk format in 1989. After spending time in Cleveland at WPHR, 107.9 (now WENZ), he returned to Chicago in 1993, beginning a ten-year run on Oldies 104.3 WJMK where he was the morning drive D.J. until 2003. While on WJMK, his show received the Achievement in Radio award of "Best Morning Show in Chicago" in 1997, and Radio and Records Award of "Best Oldies Morning Show in America" in 2001 and 2002. In 2006 Landecker started on True Oldies 94.7 WZZN (now WLS-FM) in Chicago where he was the weekday afternoon D.J. from 3-7pm until October 10, 2007. Landecker co-hosted a show with former WLS colleague Turi Ryder for newstalk radio. In his spare time John enjoys rebuilding Swiss clocks and smoking his own pancetta.

Questioned throughout his career about the origin of his middle name, it was not, as most assumed, a stage name. His mother's maiden name was Records (her full name was Majorie Victoria Records as Landecker himself told during the 2008 BIG89 Rewind on 890 WLS AM) and was given to him at birth. "Records truly is my middle name" is a saying Landecker frequently uses on the air.

During his time in Toronto, John did a funny two-minute bit called 'Trudeau Talks Cute' in which he would ask set-up questions that would be followed by a tape recording of Canada's then-Prime Minister, the very popular Pierre Trudeau. The initialism of 'Trudeau Talks Cute' was TTC, which was also used to play up the often-unpopular Toronto Transit Commission.

When at WILS Radio (Lansing, MI), John would intro his show using a megaphone to simulate an old-time barker's voice. Called the "Radio Leviathan", John talked over openings in the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

While doing the morning show at WJMK, he would start the "5:30 club" by having co-host Richard Cantu begin his normal newscast, then interrupt him by saying "This is Anarchy! This is Rebellion!" and stating he was tearing up the list of scheduled songs and would play listener's requests instead. He abandoned this feature soon after 9/11.

Starting 1/23/2012, Landecker is heard from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm (CT) Monday through Friday and Saturday 7:00 to 11:00 pm on 94.7 WLS-FM in Chicago. Landecker ended his tenure at WLS-FM on July 31, 2015. The show was streamed live, in parts, on Periscope by his producer, Tony Lossano. His longtime friend and fellow DJ, Dick Biondi, (whose time slot followed Landecker on WLS-FM) stopped by during the show to say goodbye.

His daughter is actress Amy Landecker.

His autobiography, Records Truly is His Middle Name, is available at www.eckhartzpress.com

[ Source: Wikipedia ]