Wayne P. Messmer (born July 19, 1950 in Chicago, IL) is a professional speaker, singer, broadcaster, author and actor. He is a professional member of SAG/AFTRA and the National Speakers Association. He was the long-time
public address
A public address system (or PA system) is an electronic system comprising microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, and related equipment. It increases the apparent volume (loudness) of a human voice, musical instrument, or other acoustic sound sou ...
announcer
An announcer is a voice artist who relays information to the audience of a broadcast media programme or live event.
Television and other media
Some announcers work in television production, radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, ...
for the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
. He sings "
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the b ...
" before many Cubs games, as well as prior to all
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are the top minor-league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the C ...
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...
games. Messmer is part owner of the Chicago Wolves. He is a member of
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "w ...
, the national fraternity for men in music.
In the mid-1980s, Messmer was the newscaster/sidekick on
WYTZ
WYTZ (97.5 FM, "97.5 Y-Country") is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Bridgman, Michigan
Bridgman is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,291 at the time of the 2010 cen ...
(Z-95) Radio's "
Barsky Morning Show. He also was heard as the mid-day news anchor on WLS 890 AM. Since November 2011, he has hosted a jazz radio program Sunday evenings on
90.9fm WDCB Public Radio, the Wayne Messmer Radio Show.
For many years, he also sang for the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
,
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
,
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...
and
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting (1974–1988) was an American professional soccer team representing Chicago. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1982–83 season and again from 1 ...
. In January, 1991, when Messmer sang at the NHL All-Star Game at
Chicago Stadium
Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago, Illinois, that opened in 1929, closed in 1994 and was demolished in 1995. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.
...
, he was nearly drowned out by cheers from the sellout crowd, mainly in support of the U.S. troops that had entered the Gulf War just days prior.
Messmer also frequently performs the Anthem with his wife Kathleen. Messmer also sang at the 2016 World Series at Wrigley Field between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs.
Messmer's performance of the Anthem has always concluded with his trademark flourish on the final word "Brave" in which he concludes on the dominant note (5th). This trademark ending has frequently been copied by other singers.
In April 1994, Messmer was shot in the throat outside a
West Side, Chicago
The West Side is one of the three major sections of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, along with the North Side and the South Side. The West Side consists of communities that are of historical, cultural, and ideological importance ...
restaurant. He survived the incident and after months of therapy continued his career as a singer and announcer. However, this incident prevented him from being able to sing the anthem for the final six Blackhawks home games at Chicago Stadium before its closing. A recording of Messmer singing was used instead for these games.
On October 14, 1994 he sang the national anthem at the Rosemont Horizon (now Allstate Arena) introducing the Chicago Wolves and the IHL to Chicago. It was his first public performance since being shot. However, he was fired by the Blackhawks for working for another team, despite the fact that the Blackhawks were not playing due to the NHL's lockout. The Blackhawks would allow him to sing the anthem one last time at the Hawks' first home game at
United Center
United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is named ...
on January 25, 1995.
Academically, he has earned degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University (B.M.E.), Loyola University Chicago (M.Ed.) and LaSalle University (Ph.D.)
Messmer is also a Certified Speaking Professional, as recognized by the National Speakers Association, delivering a powerful keynote message of courage and conviction entitled "The Spirit of a Champion," drawn from his own personal life story.
Side projects
Messmer continues to frequently perform as a singer with orchestras and concert bands. He is still regularly heard at major sporting events. As a recording artist, his 2012 album ''So Lucky To Be Loving You'' features piano legend Judy Roberts as the accompanist. He also hosts a show on Sunday nights on 90.9 FM
WDCB
WDCB (90.9 FM) is a public radio station broadcasting a jazz format, serving primarily the Chicago area, and beyond through its streaming audio. The station is licensed to and owned by College of DuPage, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States, ...
where he plays standards.
He is the co-founder and co-owner of Wayne Messmer & Associates, LLC, a financial services firm specializing in personal and family retirement advisement. Messmer presents financial dinner and workshops throughout the year in the Chicago area.
Messmer appeared in the 1992 film ''
The Babe
''The Babe'' is a 1992 American biographical sports drama film about the life of famed baseball player Babe Ruth, who is portrayed by John Goodman. Directed by Arthur Hiller, written by John Fusco, it was released in the United States on April 1 ...
'' as the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
radio announcer.
References
External links
*
10 Best NHL All-Star Game MomentsThe Wayne Messmer Radio Show at WDCB.orgWayne Messmer and Associates, LLC
{{DEFAULTSORT:Messmer, Wayne
Chicago Cubs personnel
Major League Baseball public address announcers
Living people
1945 births