WGCI-FM hires two (female) newcomers to replace Bionce Foxx, Frankie Robinson

Subject:

Comments:
: WGCI-FM hires Loni Swain, Consuella Williams; newcomers replace Bionce Foxx, Frankie Robinson : Clear Channel's WGCI-FM 107.5 plans to announce Monday that it is bringing two new personalities to Chicago, effective July 6: Loni Swain from St. Louis to become midday host and Consuella Williams from Charlotte, N.C., to take over the station's evening shift. : Swain will succeed host Bionce Foxx in the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekday slot. Williams is to replace Frankie Robinson, who had been co-hosting with Leon Rogers from 6 to 10 p.m. weeknights. Foxx and Robinson were released Friday by WGCI. : Williams will work solo at night as Rogers, who has been pulling double duty since April as part of WGCI's morning show with Tony Sculfield and Nina Chantele, will focus solely on "The Morning Riot." : Although the newcomers are not set to make their WGCI debuts until next week -- with Al B Sylk heard middays and Tommy Black evenings in the interim -- Swain and Williams may appear at the station-sponsored free Taste of Chicago concert by Ne-Yo and Keri Hilson set for Wednesday at the Petrillo Music Shell. : The new WGCI hires may come as a surprise to those who assumed the exits of Foxx and Robinson were to offset Clear Channel's addition of new local staff for Mega 95.5, the latest incarnation of WNUA-FM, which dropped smooth jazz in May. : Kris Kelley, WGCI's program director, said, "Loni and Connie will bring a unique flair and familiarity" to the station, adding she was excited about the chance "to add these very talented air personalities with proven track records to our all-star team." : Both Swain and Williams are originally from New Orleans. : Swain most recently hosted "Loni's Love Lounge" on Radio One's WFUN-FM near St. Louis, working before that for Radio One's WERQ-FM in Baltimore as well as Clear Channel New Orleans stations WQUE-FM and the former KSTE-FM. : Williams has been hosting a show called "Grindtime" on CBS Radio's WPEG-FM in Charlotte since 2006. She previously was morning co-host at Clear Channel's WQUE-FM in New Orleans. She also was co-host, writer and producer of two New Orleans TV shows and has worked in acting, modeling and singing. : Foxx, once host of WGCI's late-night "Whispers in the Dark," had been heard middays on the station for more than five years. : "My dear friends, I want to thank you for eight years of joy, pride, laughter, happiness and an awesome experience for allowing me to come into your homes, cars, jobs and lives in general via the airwaves," Foxx posted Friday evening on her Facebook page. "I am no longer with WGCI Radio and I am grateful for the opportunities that my position has given me." : Foxx on Saturday night added an acknowledgment of the support she had received from fans and friends. "A big hug and kiss to each and every one of you," she wrote. : Robinson, who had been part of WGCI's evening program since February 2007, first partnered with Victor "The Diz" Blackful and then Rogers. She earlier was a reporter for Clear Channel Total Traffic and a promotions assistant at WRDZ-AM 1300, Chicago's Radio Disney outlet. : (Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune)

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

Enter verification code: