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INDUSTRY PROFILE:

MARK ZANDER: "Rock Of The '80s @ WLUP"

by Sharon Pisinski

    Mark Zander is a Chicago-born rock 'n' roll kid who grew up in the
suburbs during the '70s listening to the kind of radio he now treats the rest
of us to every time he sits behind the control console.

   As a kid Zander recalled listening to such Chicago powerhouses of the day
as WLS-AM, WCFL-AM and WMET-FM.

    From what he heard pouring out of the 3-inch speaker of his pocket
transistor on those signals, his love and knowledge of music grew.

    Because he came of age in the 1980s, it only seemed right that he would
seek out a place where he could spin the the music of his youth, a music that
he holds dear to this day.

    Zander gets a lot support from '80s artist whose music he helps to keep
alive and on the dial. Many of the stars he listened to and loved as a teen
now pop by for studio visits during his show.

    Local Chicago rock legend, Jim Peterik (along with Joe Vana and Mike
Aquino) wrote and perform the opening theme song of his show.

    Zander's radio days began in 1990 on WDND in Wilmington, IL and he has
moved around the dial and the Midwest since that time. From Milwaukee,
Wisconsin to as far south as Springfield, Illinois, Mark has shared his love
of '80s music with his listeners.

    Zander's start in the Chicago market began in 1997 when he launched
"ROCK OF THE '80s" on the airwaves of WCKG.

    Most recently, Mark hosted "ROCK OF THE '80s" on WXXY every Saturday
night from 7pm to midnight.

    As Zander's intern and right-hand man, Alf punches sound carts, fields
phone calls and serves as the foil for Zander's commentary as they blasted
out tunes and rocked the air waves every weekend.

    Unfortunately for those of us nestled away in the cornfields of Northwest
Indiana, the only way we could pick up Zander's show on the WXXY signal was
via the Internet or get in the car and drive closer to the city (which I have
sometimes done).

    But fortunately, things have just gotten a little big easier for us.
Zander, Alf and "ROCK OF THE '80s" have made another career move. The show
will soon be heard on 97.9-FM, better known as THE LOOP.

     It's obvious while watching him work, that Mark Zander loves his job. He
said that he plans to keep blowing out those classic hits of the '80s as long
as Chicago radio listeners indicate their desire to keep listening.

    Next time you are surfing the internet, be sure to point your browser to
Zander's site at - www.rockofthe80s.net.

    The next project for this '80s lovin' guy is to start doing a webcast
from the site, so that he can share his passion with those who reside outside
of the Windy City.

    Once you start tuning in "ROCK OF THE '80s" (and you know you will), you
may find yourself wanting to go a step further.

   You can take that step on December 10, by driving down to the Penny Road
Pub in South Barrington Hills, Illinois. There, you will catch Zander in
action as he hosts the Rainbow Foundation's Annual Christmas Show.