Garry Meier

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Garry Meier has been a Chicago-based radio talk show host since 1973.

Meier started out as a DJ at WFYR in 1973, then moved to WYEN in 1974. He left WYEN in 1977 and joined the Loop in 1977 as their overnight jock, where he eventually was teamed up with morning man, Steve Dahl, in 1979 to be his sidekick. Years later, they were billed as "Steve & Garry". During their tenure at the Loop (1979-81), the team was number one and continued that success at WLS-AM & FM from 1981 through 1986 in afternoon drive.^[1] In 1986, they returned to the Loop AM 1000, and then back to the Loop's FM 97.9. ^[2] They later shifted back to mornings on WLUP until Garry quit the show in 1993 due to personal issues with his partner. One of Steve and Garry's most famous events was Disco Demolition on July 12, 1979.^[3]^[4]^[5]

After leaving the "Steve & Garry" show, Meier hosted his own show on the Loop for one year. In 1994, Meier left WLUP to join WGN-TV in Chicago as a feature reporter on their morning show. He left the show in 1995 to join WLS-AM's Roe Conn. The Roe & Garry show enjoyed high ratings through its 8 year run. Garry quit the Roe & Garry show due to a contract dispute. It has been reported by both former partners that Garry Meier's wife, Cynthia, (who is now his agent) is responsible for the demise of the partnerships, something Garry denies. He instead blames the behavior of Steve Dahl in the first case, and Disney/ABC Management in the second. Garry wouldn't accept WLS's offer $12 million over 10 years, claiming that WLS was a "toxic environment". It should be noted that Garry has not worked since he left WLS in a contract dispute in January of 2004 (he turned down WLS' final offer in June 2004 which was reported at 1.7 million a year over 5 years.) Many people blame his wife, who became his agent, for some of his difficulties, and believe that had he kept his previous agent, he would still be on the air with Roe Conn today. [1]

On Friday, August 18th, 2006, during a remote broadcast by Dahl, Meier stopped by to visit on WCKG. ^[6] Garry was eating lunch at the Oak Street Beachstro, the site of a WCKG Steve Dahl remote, when Steve learned of Garry's presence there. Steve invited Garry to appear on the air with him, and Garry accepted. Garry wound up staying for the entire remainder of the show, which was covered widely throughout the Chicago media that evening.

It was announced on March 27th 2007 on that Garry will be joining WCKG 105.9FM to host a late morning show from 8-11am. The announcment, ironically enough, was made during the Steve Dahl show.

[edit] References

^ "Radio: Baby Boomers Looking for a Great Personality," Strazewski, Len. Advertising Age. (Midwest region edition). Chicago: Aug 29, 1985.Vol.56, Iss. 67; pg. 22
^ "Meier, Dahl Spill the Beans about Loves (?) & Hates That Drive Them," Ingram, Bruce, Segers, Frank. Variety. New York: Dec 14, 1988.Vol.333, Iss. 8; pg. 43
^ "Anti-Disco Rally Halts White Sox" New York Times New York, N.Y.: Jul 13, 1979. pg. A16
^ "No anniversary party for disco debacle;"[FINAL Edition] Rod Beaton. USA TODAY. McLean, Va.: Jul 12, 2004. pg. C.03
^ "WLUP Chicago Reminisces," Billboard. New York: Apr 22, 1989. Vol. 101, Iss. 16; p. 10
^ "Beach awash in strange radio waves: A funny thing happened on the way to the air and water show: Steve and Garry reunited," Phil Rosenthal. Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. Washington: Aug 19, 2006. pg. 1