Terri Hemmert knows a thing or two about music.
"My mom was a singer and a musician. I played the French Horn in fourth grade and sang in the choir. I always had my ear to the radio since I can remember and that was back in the 50's."
She also knows a thing or two about shattering the glass ceiling.
"Oh I've paid my dues and then some," she laughed.
Nearly 60 years in the business, 53 years in Chicago, she was the first female drive time host for a rock music station in 1981.
"I remember back in college, in college radio, my friends, my peers, my classmates said you can't do a rock show, why ? Cuz you're a girl. And? " she laughed. "It's a difficult industry anyway but it does touch me because I feel strongly about the progress we've made. It's had its influence too outside of radio because you take with you what you hear on the radio. You soldier on and you don't take no for an answer," she said.
She recalls her first job out of college and a particular General Manager who doubted her.
"My first radio job was at WGLD in Oak Park and I got a job answering the request line. They put me in this walk in closet. One day the program director asked me if I did college radio. They put me on the air on Thanksgiving Day. I was starting to get fan mail from prison," she laughed. "One day I was working. The GM was a jerk and he came out one day and he was watching me and he said 'you think you've got it made just because you've done a few all night shows." I said I'm learning a lot, and I'm not getting restless, I'm still learning. This is my favorite station and I'd love to be on the air. He said 'you don't have what it takes, you're not going to make it'. That man never made it past Florence, Alabama and I'm in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I usually put another f word in there to give it some spice," she laughed.
Hemmert also remembers a particular moment with one of her favorite DJ's Jimmy Stag.
"He came to Elmhurst College back in the day. It was a big hall and all these college kids and I was one of the few women in the room. Between WCFL and WLS, these DJs were rock stars themselves and he was one of them. I raised my hand and asked him 'do you think there's any chance of a woman getting on the air?". When I met him, he said 'be the first one, don't let anyone talk you out of it.' I always remembered that and I share that story with my students."
As for the future of radio?
"There's still something magical about hearing a local voice talk about a song, the lyrics, the meaning or a funny story about the artists. You don't get that with Spotify or Apple Music or whatever. WXRT is still one of the originals who still offers that and that's why we are successful."
Terri Hemmert inducts Muddy Waters into the 2021 Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2021
Illinois Rock and Roll Museum
On Sunday, she'll be inducted into the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"This (induction) means a lot. It's a wonderful thing because I'm on the list with a lot of other people I just adore: Koko Taylor, Curtis Mayfield. I co emceed Koko Taylor's funeral with the Reverend Jesse Jackson." she said.
"Although I was born and raised in Ohio, so I'll always have the Buckeye in my heart, but I moved out here when i was 22 to go to college and I never thought I'd stay here. I'm going to die here because I love this city and this state. It means a great deal to me, because it's the music scene here."
Hemmert was a part of the 2021 Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony at the Rialto Theater as she inducted blues legend Muddy Waters into the inaugural class.
"It was a thrill for me. Not only is he a reason why I moved to Chicago. I was so curious about the Blues back then. One of the first things I did was go to Piper's Alley and buy a Chess Records album of Muddy Waters, Koko Tayler and that record changed my life. His family was there and I showed them a photo of Muddy and I at Chicago Fest at Navy Pier. That night meant a lot to me as his family is so wonderful."
Celebrating Terri Hemmert's 50 Years On 93XRTTerri Hemmert (Photo by Lyla Lane Live @lylalanelive)Her former student and her WXRT colleague, Marty Lennartz will be inducting her this year.
"I'm so proud of him. I love that he is now sitting in the chair that me and Lin (Brehmer) sat in. Marty was an outstanding student. It means a lot to me that he will be part of this on Sunday," she smiled.
When she looks back at her storied career, it's not about having a good voice or a fan base, it's about the people she's met and influenced over the years.
"I love when listeners come up to me and say 'you turned me on to this artist or that artist', 'you played that Beatles song and now I love it.' That's what I love the most," she said.
Hemmert has received dozens of awards over her career, but being honored by her fans and peers in her adopted home means the most.
"Every time I get one of these, I know my mom and dad are looking down saying 'you did it'. she smiled.
Every year, the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 honors everything music thanks to its more than 1100 charter members who nominate musicians, song writers, radio stations, DJs and record companies.
The 5th annual Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on Sunday at the Harris Theater.
All proceeds from the event will go toward the construction of the museum and its music education program.
Tickets are still available here. Use discount code IRRHF26
