Posted by Bud on February 19, 2010 at 13:08:15:
87.7FM, Chicago's Smooth Jazz station, continues to become even more of a Chicago-based radio station. Pat Kelley, WLFM's Senior Vice-President and General Manager, and Rick O'Dell, WLFM's Program Director, are today announcing the return of Loni Taylor to Chicago's airwaves. Taylor will be the host of a new evening show called "Chicago After Hours." The after-dark Smooth Jazz program will air from 7:00pm until Midnight each weekday.
Loni Taylor was a top-rated afternoon drive host on WNUA-FM for seven years, between 1994 and 2001, until she moved back to her hometown of Philadelphia to be with an ill family member. She is a radio veteran of over 26 years who has worked in many other markets as well, including Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
Although she has previously worked in numerous formats, Taylor is best known as a Smooth Jazz personality, a reputation she first gained here. Rick O'Dell, recalls the years he and Loni worked together at WNUA: "Her first radio gig in Smooth Jazz was at WNUA, and I remember how quickly she took to the format, because she's a true fan of the music, in addition to being a solid pro." O'Dell is very confident that the Chicago audience will embrace her new show on WLFM just as easily as they did in the mid-1990s. "It's like Loni never left Chicago. She's still intimately connected to things we like to do and talk about around here." said O'Dell.
Loni Taylor feels the same. She said in today's statement, "I'm absolutely elated to be back on the airwaves in Chicago. I truly consider myself lucky and blessed to once again be able to share my passion for radio and Smooth Jazz in one of the most beautiful cities in the world with our amazing Smooth Jazz listeners who are just as passionate about the music as me... and the artists themselves!"
Pat Kelley said about Taylor: "It's just great to have Loni back on Smooth Jazz in Chicago on 87.7FM. Her style and personality fit our format and the direction we are taking the station perfectly."
In addition to her radio work, she is the owner of a home-based freelance commercial production company, SayItCreatively. Describing herself as very domestic, she enjoys cooking, gardening, sewing, decorating, and most of all, spending her free time with her son, Garrett. Taylor also enjoys roller skating and racquetball.