According to the WKLH website, "Marilynn Mee lights up middays, sharing her heart and soul with her listeners and making connections that only local and live radio can. Her knowledge of the format and love for the music are known and respected by all who have followed her for decades."
But, still, after one of the longest and most respected rock and roll radio careers in the city, Mee is no longer in that midday slot.
This morning, she posted to Facebook, saying, "It is my understanding that my live mid-day position has been eliminated. I will miss my wonderful KLH listeners more than words can say. Whatever my future holds, I promise to continue to be a voice for animals & animal shelters/rescues, love music and live my life with compassion & kindness. XO"
"You no doubt have run articles about the massive 'reductions in force' happening at other media companies, and businesses big and small throughout the world," said Bob Bellini. VP/General Manager of Milwaukee Radio Group, which owns the station, confirming the news. "We have been able to limit any reduction of personnel for as long as possible.
"That does not make this any easier, better or less distasteful. We can only hope the pandemic and the awful economic impact it has had will end soon. Very sad, we all wish Marilynn the best and know she'll be successful in whatever she decides to pursue."
Mee – who was added to the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Wall of Fame in July – got her start like so many at the old WQFM and later moved on to Lazer 103. She joined WKLH in 2005.
"I still think of the start of my career really began at Lazer, and that was in '87," she told Andy Tarnoff in 2002. "When the station signed on I was one of the original group of jocks hired. I was originally hired to do 7 p.m.-midnight. But I was doing radio a long time before that. Everybody in Milwaukee radio paid their dues at QFM, at least for a short time. Everybody had to use their powers for evil at one point in time. So I was for a short time doing mornings (there)."
Mee has been a fixture on local radio and on the Milwaukee music scene, which she has always supported, ever since.
I'd say this is the end of an era but I have a feeling Marilynn will be back and we wish her the best.
(NOTE: This post was updated with quotes from Milwaukee Radio Group's Bob Bellini.)
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
