A Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin native, John Rode started in radio at the age of 12, and was one of the original WRKO jocks when the station made its debut in March of 1967, arriving from WSAI in Cincinnati, Ohio to work the 9 AM to noon timeslot. He left WRKO in December, 1967 for WDRC, 1360 AM in Hartford, Connecticut, where he stayed until February of 1969.

Sources say that after WDRC, John supposedly went to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he did a show on a station there. Then, he moved to Maine where he operated a "New-Age" book store, and then to Canada, where he did the same. Today, he works for a computer firm in Canada, and fills in on Toronto's heritage CHUM/1050 whenever the station needs a professional.

Because of his booming voice, John was often the voice on WRKO promos and, was one of the announcers used in the stations first jingle package, identifying the jock of the hour.

I'm truly sorry I have only two Rode airchecks for now (below). Maybe you have some you can contribute to the Big 68?
 

If you can help fill in the blanks, please let me know!

John Rode in 1967	In 1967 at CHUM

Airchecks

•  WRKO, September, 1967
• Rode's phone answering machine (1998)