Wayne Messmer
Encyclopedia
Wayne K. Messmer is one of three public address
announcer
s for the Chicago Cubs
. He sings "The Star-Spangled Banner
" before many Cubs games, as well as prior to many Chicago Wolves
American Hockey League
games. Messmer is part owner of the Chicago Wolves. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
, the national fraternity for men in music.
In the mid 1980s, Messmer was the newscaster on WYTZ (Z-95) Radio's "Barsky
Morning Zoo".
For many years, he also sang for the Chicago Blackhawks
, Chicago White Sox
and Chicago Sting
. In 1991, when Messmer sang at the NHL All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium, 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. He was fired by the Blackhawks in 1994 when he began working for the "rival" Wolves. They allowed him to sing the anthem one last time at the Hawks first home game at United Center
on January 25, 1995. On October 14, 1994 he sang the national anthem at the Rosemont Horizon introducing the Chicago Wolves and the IHL to Chicago. It was his first performance since being shot (see below). On a few occasions since then, the St. Louis Blues have asked Messmer to sing the anthem at their home games. Messmer often performs the Anthem with his wife Kathleen.
Messmer's performance of the Anthem is always concluded with his trademark flourish on the final word "Brave" in which he forcefully flips the "r" and sings the word on the same pitch as the Anthem is begun.
In April 1994, Messmer was mugged and shot in the throat by a teen. During the mugging, Messmer did as the teen mugger told him. He said "you can have it all", and gave him all his valuables. The teen then shot Messmer for no apparent reason and left him to die in front of a West Side Chicago 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.
As of Spring 2011 Messmer has cut back many of his duties at Wrigley Field. He has a radio talk show Saturday mornings on WIND-AM
, "Homelife with Wayne Messmer".
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
s for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He sings "The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
" before many Cubs games, as well as prior to many Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
games. Messmer is part owner of the Chicago Wolves. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
, the national fraternity for men in music.
In the mid 1980s, Messmer was the newscaster on WYTZ (Z-95) Radio's "Barsky
Paul Barsky
Paul Barsky was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania talk radio personality. Last featured on WYSP, Barsky has previously been a fixture on other Philadelphia radio stations, including the now defunct Y100....
Morning Zoo".
For many years, he also sang for the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
. In 1991, when Messmer sang at the NHL All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium, 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. He was fired by the Blackhawks in 1994 when he began working for the "rival" Wolves. They allowed him to sing the anthem one last time at the Hawks first home game at United Center
United Center
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago. It is named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
on January 25, 1995. On October 14, 1994 he sang the national anthem at the Rosemont Horizon introducing the Chicago Wolves and the IHL to Chicago. It was his first performance since being shot (see below). On a few occasions since then, the St. Louis Blues have asked Messmer to sing the anthem at their home games. Messmer often performs the Anthem with his wife Kathleen.
Messmer's performance of the Anthem is always concluded with his trademark flourish on the final word "Brave" in which he forcefully flips the "r" and sings the word on the same pitch as the Anthem is begun.
In April 1994, Messmer was mugged and shot in the throat by a teen. During the mugging, Messmer did as the teen mugger told him. He said "you can have it all", and gave him all his valuables. The teen then shot Messmer for no apparent reason and left him to die in front of a West Side Chicago 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.
As of Spring 2011 Messmer has cut back many of his duties at Wrigley Field. He has a radio talk show Saturday mornings on WIND-AM
WIND (AM)
WIND "AM 560" is a radio station based in Chicago, Illinois, broadcasting its talk radio format on 560 kHz.Its current owner is Salem Media, a company specializing primarily in Christian radio...
, "Homelife with Wayne Messmer".