larry lujack

One of Chicago’s most renowned radio personalities, Larry Lujack was born Larry Blankenburg on June 6, 1940 in Quasqueton, Iowa. Lujack was contemplating a career in wildlife conservation when he started his career as an 18-year-old disc jockey for KCID/Caldwell, Idaho. Over the next decade, Lujack worked steadily in Idaho and Washington, most notably at KJR/Seattle.  

In the spring of 1967, Lujack pulled an evening shift at WCFL/Chicago, beginning a relationship with the Windy City that would last for decades. Four months later, Lujack jumped ship to WCFL’s Top 40 competitor, WLS. During his five years at WLS, Lujack honed his sardonic humor and launched “Animal Stories,” a regular segment that became his most popular feature. Lujack returned to WCFL from 1972–1976 before rejoining WLS, where he and fellow disc jockey Tommy Edwards teamed up as “Uncle Lar and Li’l Tommy.” Lujack chronicled his career in the 1975 autobiography Superjock.  

Lujack retired from radio in 1987 and moved to New Mexico. In 2000, using a remote ISDN link, Lujack returned to Chicago radio and station WUBT without leaving his New Mexico home. In 2003, Lujack rejoined Tommy Edwards at WRLL/Chicago. On August 16, 2006, Lujack was fired along with the entire WRLL on-air staff as it was announced that the station's "Real Oldies" format would cease on September 17, 2006.

Larry Lujack was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2004.

He died on December 18, 2013.