Radio Legend Fred Winston - Comes back to WLS

Is Chicago radio legend Fred Winston about to make a comeback?

It’s too soon to say for sure, but fans should look for the legendary radio personality to turn up August 26 on WLS-FM (94.7), the Cumulus Media oldies station. The company also owns news/talk WLS-AM (890), the former Top 40 powerhouse where Winston began his Chicago radio career in 1971.

If all goes well, the three-hour guest shot (from 9pm to midnight) could lead to regular work on the station, where Winston would be reunited with longtime friends and colleagues Dick Biondi, John Records Landecker and Greg Brown.

“The plan is to blow the carbon and dust balls out of the pipes that Sunday night and see how it feels and then go from there,” Winston, 66, said from his farm in southwest Michigan.  I’ve still got a lot of gas in the tank.”

Except for occasional appearances, he’s been off the air since June 2005 when CBS Radio switched WJMK-FM (104.3) from oldies to Jack FM, shifting Winston and his colleagues to HD Radio and online for a year. “I’ve never been off the air as a performer full time for over five years,” he said. “You would think that in all this time someone would say hmm, Fred Winston, what a marketable brand name.”

“I’ve still got a great passion for radio,” he said. “I love to make people laugh, to entertain. I’m bringing a brand name to the table for WLS. I get to indulge in my passion and they get to benefit from my brand name. It’s a win/win situation.”