Today we’d like to introduce you to John Ulett.
Hi John, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I knew early in my life that I wanted to be on the radio in my hometown and my friends and family could listen to me. A simple dream that came to fruition. Jack Buck was my inspiration. While still a senior in high school and also attending a local broadcasting school, I got a full time on air job at KEZK when they first signed on the air in 1974. From there I went to a local adult contemporary radio station based in St. Charles, MO. KIRL for the summer of 1975. I was then hired by an AM/FM combination company in Jefferson City MO. Stayed there 8 months before being hired at KSHE at age 19 and I’ve been there ever since. Along the way I also became the P.A. Announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals and I’m now in my 41st full season in that position. And for the last 20 plus years, I’ve co-hosted their TV show aimed at children called “Cardinals Kids” with Fredbird and Brad Thompson.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I grew up in the inner city where opportunities seemed remote until I heard a commercial on the radio for a local broadcast school called “The Broadcast Center.” It got me out of a less than desirable environment and got me focused on my future. Also, I lost the Cardinals P.A. job for 2 seasons in 1991 and ’92 when they were not pleased with an attempt at satirical humor on the KSHE radio morning show. I stayed in touch with friends in the organization and got the job back in 1993.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My main job at KSHE was to co-host the morning show. It required me to be up at a very early hour everyday and come up with information and creative ways to deliver it to the audience. My job also entailed staying on top of what was going on in the world of rock music. That was my specialty. I loved doing that everyday.
I’m known for being a born a raised St. Louisan who has been apart of two of the most iconic brands in the cities history. KSHE radio and the St. Louis Cardinals.
I’m most proud of being with those two brands and finding a way to maintain those jobs for a very long time under very difficult demands that each put on me and on my schedule.
I don’t think there is anything that sets me apart other than I’ve been much more willing than most to sacrifice a lot of free time and family time to accomplish what I set out to do professionally. And with no regrets.
What were you like growing up?
I was a shy kid. Grew up in a very religious environment and raised by devout Catholic parents and Grandparents who lived below us in a 4 family flat. We lived in a very dangerous part of the city in the 1960’s and 70’s and I saw quite a bit of tragedy in my childhood. It was often a scary place which was on the cities near Southside.
My grandfather was an immigrant from Lebanon and he and my grandmother spoke Arabic as does my mother. Our meals were often great Lebanese dishes so that part of my ethnicity was dominant in my early life. My father was Italian. My parents and grandparents were very loving. I’m sure that helped me deal with hardships along the way in my life.
I don’t know why sports became such an interest of mine as a child because neither my parents or grandparents were into it but somehow baseball became exciting to me and then eventually most other sports. It was that interest that led me to hear Jack Buck on the radio and then wanting to do what he did. I never did do baseball play by play but the Cardinals P.A. job put me close.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @johnnyulett instagram
- Facebook: John Ulett and or John Ulett KSHE 95 Facebook
- Other: @UmanSTL on TikTok
