Music of the Stars: Lou Rugani’s Radio Journey

I’d worked over ten years for American Motors Corporation in its Kenosha (my hometown) facility and on a Saturday morning I watched a local talk/music radio show happen at WAXO here and thought “I can do that!”.
The following Monday I met the manager, Darrell Gorr, and started in cold on January 3, 1969. I’d listen to other stations  for inspiration, which was most helpful. I mostly admired Jack Raymond/ WFOX, Wally Phillips and Franklyn MacCormack/ WGN, and Night Flight at WJR, Detroit.

Darrell and I partnered later in the former Phillips Advertising radio agency and did well until it folded, then he got into television and I worked for WEXI (“Stereo Excitement”) in Chicago, then news at WKZN/WZBN in Lake County, IL until 1980.   I’d do voiceovers sporadically for several radio/TV stations while I took jobs in small area newspapers and produced local cable-TV programs, some of which are on YouTube to this day.

The Music of the Stars originated on Memorial Day of 1992 at WLIP/Kenosha and lasted until March, 2023 after which I applied at WRJN and began on November 5 of 2023.

I love radio for its ability to paint pictures through imagination and past memories.

My favorite artists are those who tell stories through poetic lyrics and chord structures – too many to mention here, but a few include Johnny Mercer and Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and Michel Legrand.