Legendary Jeff Davis Out at WLS/Chicago

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, April 13, 2012 | 11:19am CT

The legendary Jeff Davis has been let go by Cumulus Media news/talk WLS-AM Chicago after being with the station for 38 years - both on air and as the voice of its imaging. Chicagoland Radio and Media notes Davis was in his early 20s when he joined WLS in 1974, starting as Director of Special Projects, working as an assistant to MD Jim Smith and PD John Gehron, as well as on-air Saturday nights. In 1978, Davis took over weeknights 10 p.m.-2 a.m. and remained there until 1986, when he was supplanted by syndicated "Sex Talk with Phyllis Levy." Soon after, all of the music jocks on WLS-AM were replaced by talk shows, although Davis remained, producing specials, before he moved on to a station in California. He soon returned to WLS (while still residing in Cali) and for the next 20 years was the voice of its imaging, as well as breaking news stories. He also hosted WLS live events.

All that came to an end yesterday when WLS-AM Operations Manager Drew Hayes called Davis at home to tell him that effective immediately, the station had decided to change voices -- on the eve of the station's 89th anniversary. Speaking with Chicagoland R & M Davis said, "I remember when I used to walk to WLS on the way to an airshift up Michigan Avenue on an early, very cold Sunday morning, early enough that the streets were deserted, and thinking 'This is my city, this is my radio station.' Over the years I think I had come to a feeling of ownership of WLS. I am not angry. I am not bitter. I don't think I'm even sad. I think the thing I am most is disappointed."