Wichita, Kan. — Between hosting his own full-time radio show as a teenager in the 1940s to being named 2008 Disc Jockey of the Year and marking his 60th year in radio in 2009, Johnny Western’s career reads like a true American celebrity success story. On April 10th the legendary DJ and country music star will take his final on-air bow as he retires from radio.
“We consider it an honor to have worked with a legend—a true Country and Western icon. Johnny is the greatest storyteller and joke teller; he makes us laugh every day and we’re sure going to miss him,” said Eric McCart, Journal Broadcast Group vice president and general manager – Wichita Operations.
Western received his first guitar when he was 12 and was singing and playing on the radio by the time he was 13. By 1949 he had his own full-time radio program on KDHL in Minnesota and was dubbed the youngest DJ in the U.S. in commercial radio by Billboard Magazine. At 16 he recorded his first release, “The Violet and the Rose.”
Put under contract by his idol, Gene Autry, after graduation, Western was featured in several movies between 1957 and 1959. Signed by Autry’s agent after Autry retired, Western then did a pilot for a series called “Pony Express,” was cast in five feature western films and appeared in 32 episodes of televised westerns.
Through writing the monthly column “The Filmland Horseman” for “Western Horseman” magazine, Western befriended many of the biggest TV and silver screen cowboy legends like Ben Johnson, Clint Walker, Dale Robertson, Jim Arness, Richard Boone, Hugh O’Brien, Steve McQueen and Chuck Conners. He toured and performed with the Johnny Cash Show from 1958 to 1997; co-wrote themes for “Johnny Yuma,” “The Rebel,” and “Bonanza” with Cash; and wrote and sang the theme song for the TV series “Have Gun Will Travel.”
Western joined KFDI-AM (now KFTI-AM) as a disc jockey in 1986, bringing his first-hand knowledge of the business and the stars to his daily broadcasts. In addition to quickly becoming a listener favorite in the market, his innate talent and showmanship—combined with a legendary history—led to numerous honors: induction into the TV Theme Hall of Fame in 1993, induction into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame and America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, and induction into the Western Music Hall of Fame in 2001. That year he also received what is considered the ultimate honor for a cowboy showman when he was inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Western received “The Cowboy Spirit of the West” award from The National Festival of the West. In 2004 he was honored with the Western Swing Music Society of Kansas “Hall of Fame” Award. Two years ago, in the 59th year of his on-air career, Western was voted 2008 Disc Jockey of the Year by the Western Music Association. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award last September—his 60th year in the business—during the annual Cowboy Symposium.
“On behalf of all of the employees of Journal Communications and Journal Broadcast Group, we say thank you to Johnny Western for an inspirational career in country music and country radio. We have been the beneficiaries of his dedication to the industry. We thank him for his great work and wish him a wonderful retirement,” said Steve Smith, Chairman, CEO and President - Journal Communications and Chairman and President - Journal Broadcast Group.
“Johnny has been an important part of the country music landscape not only in Wichita, but around the world. His ability to connect with audiences over the years is a big part of his success and longevity. It’s been an honor to work with a true legend, and all of us at Journal Broadcast Group would like to thank him for his passion and loyalty to radio and country music,” said Journal Broadcast Group’s Director of Radio Programming Tom Land.
Western admits that retiring from radio comes with mixed emotions. “I’m going to miss it tremendously. These last 21 years with KFTI, 11 of them with Journal Broadcast Group, have been an absolute joy. I’ve had the pleasure of working with the greatest people in radio. That goes for the air staff to the sales staff to Eric McCart and (program director) Beverlee Brannigan, who are absolute jewels,” he said.
During this, his last week on-air, Western can be heard during his normal time slot on AM1070 the Ranch (KFTI-AM): Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. He and his wife plan to move to Arizona to be closer to family, and Western will begin another packed concert tour schedule in June when he performs at the Memphis Film Festival.
KFTI-AM is one of six radio stations in Wichita owned by Journal Broadcast Group.
About Journal Broadcast Group
Journal Broadcast Group owns and operates 33 radio stations and 13 television stations in 12 states and operates an additional television station under a local marketing agreement. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it is the broadcast business of Journal Communications Inc., a diversified media company with operations in publishing, radio and television broadcasting, interactive media and printing services.