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Lin Brehmer

Lin Brehmer (August 19, 1954 – January 22, 2023) was an American disc jockey and radio personality at WXRT in Chicago. Brehmer hosted mornings on WXRT from 1991 to 2020, and middays from early 2020[4] until taking a leave of absence to undergo chemotherapy in 2022.[5]

Lin Brehmer
Brehmer in 2012
Born(1954-08-19)August 19, 1954[1][2]
Queens, New York City, U.S.[3]
DiedJanuary 22, 2023(2023-01-22) (aged 68)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materColgate University
Years active1977–2022
SpouseSara Farr
Career
Station(s)WXRT, Chicago
CountryUnited States

Early life and education

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Brehmer graduated from Colgate University in 1976, where he got his start in radio while filling in at the university's student-run WRCU-FM radio station during a summer semester.[6]

Early career

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Brehmer began working professionally in radio in January 1977.[7] His first disc jockey job was in Albany, New York at WQBK-FM, where he earned the nickname, "The Reverend of Rock and Roll." After seven years at WQBK, Brehmer left the position and moved to Chicago to work for WXRT as music director beginning in October 1984.[8]

WXRT

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During his first six years at WXRT, Brehmer was named "Music Director of the Year" by FMQB three times.[9] In 1989, Hard Report's readers voted Brehmer as "Music Director of the Decade."[8] In October 1990, Brehmer left WXRT and moved to Minnesota for a job as program director of KTCZ-FM. After completing a one-year contract at KTCZ-FM, Brehmer returned to Chicago's WXRT to serve as the morning D.J., replacing Terri Hemmert.[10]

For 30 years, Brehmer (an avid Chicago Cubs fan[11]) hosted an annual remote broadcast for Cubs home opening day.[12]

External videos
video icon  Remarks by U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) on the impact of WXRT and Lin Brehmer, January 24, 2012[13]

In 2009, WXRT sent a mass email using Brehmer's name to subscribers, encouraging political action to lobby Congress regarding music royalties. In response to the mass email, Brehmer stated that he did not write, nor endorse the email. Brehmer wrote, "It's just something they do. Send out e-mails and sign my name to them without my knowledge. I will always be on the side of the musicians."[14]

During the majority of Brehmer's time on the morning drive time slot at WXRT, he was partnered with news anchor Mary L. Dixon, until decisions by WXRT's new ownership in late 2019 prompted Brehmer to move to mid-days, and Dixon to leave WXRT for the Chicago NPR station WBEZ.[15][16]

Brehmer described himself on air as "your best friend in the whole world", and frequently told listeners "it's great to be alive"[17][18][19]

Lin's Bin

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In 2002, Brehmer began writing and broadcasting essays entitled Lin's Bin. The essays were developed from responding to listeners' letters and continued as responses to email. Each year, Brehmer wrote just under a hundred essays, and he stated that in total he had written approximately 1800 pages of Lin's Bin. The essays were written and pre-recorded with producer Peter Crozier.[10]

Personal life and death

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Brehmer was married to Sara Farr, whom he met while at Colgate University.[6]

Brehmer announced on the air on July 12, 2022, that he had prostate cancer and was taking a leave of absence from WXRT to undergo chemotherapy.[20][21] He returned to the air for several weeks in November and December 2022. Brehmer died on January 22, 2023, and his death was announced to WXRT listeners that morning by his long-time colleague Terri Hemmert. He was 68.[22][23][24][25][26]

On the day of his death, the Chicago Cubs noted his death with the message "Lin Brehmer, 1954–2023" on the Wrigley Field marquee sign.[27] Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel tweeted "Lin Brehmer was the voice of Chicago. His voice was unique and a perfect way to start the day. An ambassador for the city's music scene and a dear friend, I announced the Uptown music district concept on his show. I'll miss hearing his voice on XRT. May his memory be a blessing."[28] The next day, the Chicago Tribune editorialized "He was mourned at the Metro, by Wilco, at the Art Institute of Chicago and by the Candelite tavern on Western Avenue. He was at ease with all of them." Brehmer was memorialized in a WXRT broadcast, January 23, 2023, hosted by Terri Hemmert, Marty Lennartz, Johnny Marrs, Frank E. Lee, Ryan Arnold and Annalisa."[29]

References

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  1. ^ Chris Cwiak [@ChrisCwiak] (August 19, 2022). "It's @LinBrehmer's birthday, so take a listen to @93XRT near the top of every hour as we play songs you've picked out for him all day long as he continues his medical sabbatical. We love ya, ya knucklehead 💚💎" (Tweet). Retrieved January 24, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Chicago radio's Lin Brehmer, a longtime WXRT DJ, has died at 68". Chicago Tribune. January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "WXRT host Lin Brehmer dies at 68". Chicago Sun-Times. January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Feder, Robert (December 18, 2019). "WXRT morning star Lin Brehmer moving to middays". Daily Herald. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  5. ^ "Legendary Chicago Radio Host Lin Brehmer to Take Leave of Absence in Cancer Fight". NBC5 Chicago. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Rattini, Kristin Baird (January 31, 2020). "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Him". News.colgate.edu.
  7. ^ Feder, Robert, "WXRT's Brehmer looks back on 20 years of good mornings", TimeOut Chicago, January 19, 2012
  8. ^ a b Larz, "WXRT-FM Salutes Lin Brehmer's 20 Years On The Air", Chicagoland Radio and Media, January 18, 2012
  9. ^ Zulkey, Claire (February 3, 2012). "The Lin Brehmer Interview". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Feder, Robert, "Hemmert rocked in 'XRT shakeup", December 19, 1991
  11. ^ Comitor, Lauren (July 14, 2016). "Lin Brehmer Q&A: Famous DJ ready to party like it's 1984 (again)". The Athletic. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Larz, "WXRT-FM To Host Its 20th Annual Opening Day Live Broadcast", Chicagoland Radio and Media, April 3, 2012
  13. ^ Quigley, Mike (January 24, 2012). "Quigley Speaks in Recognition of Lin Brehmer and WXRT Anniversary". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Rosenthal, Phil, "WXRT-FM's Lin Brehmer distances himself from 'Lin Brehmer' royalty e-mail", Chicago Tribune, June 10, 2009
  15. ^ Channick, Robert (December 19, 2019). "Mary Dixon out, Lin Brehmer to shift to midday as rock station WXRT-FM shakes up morning drive". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Channick, Robert (January 2, 2020). "Ousted at WXRT, Mary Dixon lands as morning anchor at public radio station WBEZ". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  17. ^ "An Ode To Chicago's Best Friend In The Whole World Lin Brehmer". Korked Bats: That Funny Sports Blog. July 15, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  18. ^ "Is it still great to be alive?". 93XRT. April 20, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Facebook. When the noted social critic Frank Zappa stood on a stage to announce that it is great to be alive, it might have seemed sarcastic. "It's so f$%&*g great to be alive is what the theme of our show is tonight, boys and girls. And I want to tell you, if there is anybody here who doesn't believe that it is f$%&*g great to be alive, I wish they would go now because this show will bring them down so much." Life is so much clearer with a guitar in your arms. But the truly cynical observer will remind us that it is always more poetic to reject life when you're not fighting for your own. If it's only pretty good to be alive, we should wonder at the young and the old who struggle to breathe. Some of us are tempted to give up. Instinct is strong but not unshakeable. In the absence of certitude, we make choices. I've made mine. Is it still great to be alive? Actually, no. It's f$%&*g great to be alive.
  19. ^ Odigwe, Mugo (January 23, 2023). "Chicago remembers late radio icon Lin Brehmer, "your best friend in the whole world"". CBS 2 Chicago. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  20. ^ "WXRT icon Lin Brehmer going on leave of absence for prostate cancer treatment". CBS 2 Chicago. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Brehmer's announcement". Retrieved July 19, 2022 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Hemmert, Terri (January 22, 2023). "Lin Brehmer, Our Best Friend in the Whole World, 1954–2023". WXRT. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  23. ^ Kogan, Rick (January 22, 2023). "Chicago Radio's Lin Brehmer, a Longtime WXRT DJ, Has Died at 68". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  24. ^ Struett, David (January 22, 2023). "WXRT Host Lin Brehmer Dies at 68". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  25. ^ Shapiro, Alex (January 22, 2023). "WXRT to Pay Tribute to Lin Brehmer With Celebration of Life Broadcast Monday". NBC5 Chicago. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  26. ^ Asimow, Noah (January 23, 2023). "Lin Brehmer Mourned by Chicago's Music Community: 'There Was No Difference Between the Person and the Persona'". Block Club Chicago. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  27. ^ "Lin Brehmer death: Legendary WXRT Chicago radio personality dies after battle with cancer". ABC7 Chicago. January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  28. ^ Skinner, Tom (January 23, 2023). "Lin Brehmer, influential Chicago DJ, dies aged 68". NME. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  29. ^ "Editorial: Lin Brehmer, a Chicago poet, was a shockingly nice jock". Chicago Tribune. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
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