jonathon brandmeier (johnny b)

Jonathon Brandmeier’s radio career began at age fifteen at WFON-FMin his hometown of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In January 1980, he was at WOKY-AM Milwaukee, Wisconsinwhen he was selected as one of the top five deejays in the country in a Los Angeles-based talent search, alongside Howard Stern. 

A month later, he accepted an offer from KZZP-FMin Phoenix, where he tripled the ratings in only six months. In 1983,Chicago’s WLUP-FM, The Loopwon a nationwide battle for his services. Brandmeier became “The King of Chicago Mornings” and his band, The Leisure Suits, was the hottest performing act in Chicago.  

During his years at The Loop, Brandmeier made appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Showand Arsensio Hall, which led to a television development deal at NBC. In 1995, he won the Marconi Radio Award for “Personality of the Year.”  

In 1997, after The Loop was sold, Brandmeier moved his morning show to Los Angeles. He returned to Chicago in 2005 for a final run at The Loop. In 2013, while at WGN Radio, Governor Pat Quinn declared a “Johnny B Day” in Illinois. In 2015, The Jonathon Brandmeier Showwas nationally syndicated.