Renowned Musician Paul Wertico Launches New Show on 87.7

Chicago’s Smooth Jazz station, WLFM 87.7, announces a collaboration with critically-acclaimed drummer Paul Wertico on a new radio show, “Paul Wertico’s Wild World of Jazz.” The show makes its on-air debut Sunday, February 14, at 9:00 p.m.
“Wild World of Jazz” is a two-hour showcase of modern and traditional jazz across all its styles and forms. Each program will feature a mix of classic tracks and best-kept-secrets, legendary artists and local heroes, live and in-studio recordings, new releases, and one-of-a-kind gems from Paul’s private collection. In Paul’s words, “We’ll be playing everything from Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five to The Bad Plus, Bessie Smith to Kurt Elling, Joao Gilberto to Karim Ziad, and all points in between.” Moreover, Paul’s role as Assistant Professor and Head of Jazz and Contemporary Music Studies at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University will allow him to tap into music performed by his students.
According to the Program Director of 87.7, Rick O’Dell, “Paul Wertico’s musical pedigree is unmatched. Add in his genuine enthusiasm, down-to-earth personality and encyclopedic knowledge across multiple genres of music, and we have the essential ingredients for an entertaining show on straightahead jazz.”
O’Dell continues, “Jazz, being an improvisational idiom, can be a bit challenging to those of us who grew up on Top 40. What makes Paul unique is that he’s able to draw on his skills as a jazz educator to make the music accessible and understandable to even my untrained ears.”
Paul Wertico has earned seven Grammy Awards in a career spanning four decades. He taught himself to play the drums in his teens. By age 15 he was performing professionally in rock and jazz bands. In 1983 he began an 18-year stint with the Pat Metheny Group in which the band recorded several gold albums and received top rankings in numerous magazine polls. He served on the faculty of the percussion and jazz studies programs at Northwestern University for 16 years before taking a full-time position at Roosevelt.
Praise for Paul from critics over the years has been frequent and colorful. He has been described as “a restless innovator,” “a master of drumming insanity” as well as “a genius of the sticks.” A Chicago native, he lives with his wife, Barbara Unger-Wertico, in Skokie. He can be found online at www.PaulWertico.com.

Legendary Chicago Smooth Jazz radio personality Rick O’Dell is the new Program Director and Midday Personality at WLFM – 87.7FM Chicago’s exclusive Smooth Jazz station.



Pat Kelley, SVP/General Manager of WLFM-LP is pleased to make the announcement official “Based on direction of the station and the windy city’s enthusiastic response to 87.7FM, Rick was the natural choice to take the programming reins of 87.7FM as we continue to build out the local Smooth Jazz brand in Chicago. His 20 plus years in the format along with his passion and deep understanding of contemporary jazz music made him the right person.” Pat also commented on his return to the airways…”Rick O’Dell had been a staple in middays for many years on WNUA…I’m sure I share Chicago’s excitement in welcoming him back on the air at 87.7FM.” Rick is expected to begin his midday show after the first of the year.



Rick is best known for his 20 years as the midday personality, as well as the pioneering host of the Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch on WNUA prior to their change to Spanish Pop. Rick also served as program director of WNUA in 2008. Since May, 2009, Rick was the Operations Manager at Accuradio.



Rick shared his excitement as well… “Formats don't often get a second chance, so I must give credit to Pat Kelley and Venture Technologies Group for their faith in the future of Smooth Jazz in Chicago. Pat and I worked together during the heyday of WNUA, and I'm thrilled to be part of his new team at WLFM. I also look forward to reconnecting with the most loyal and passionate listeners in Chicago when I'm back on the midday show.”



For any questions…..please call Pat Kelley directly at 847-446-8774 x88 or email him at pat@wlfm877.com.