Cadillac Jack was John Wheeler, a former bull rider and longtime farrier who got into radio in his 50s. If you listened to KKCS in the early 2000s, or to Star Country in Cañon City after that, you heard his easygoing voice.
From the saloon to the microphone
The story goes that a chance meeting with KKCS personalities Travis Daily and Uncle Steve at a Pueblo saloon turned into a fast friendship. KKCS hired him as a part-time announcer in 1998; he later took over the full-time evening slot and stayed through 2003. A December 13, 2002 Radio & Records photo caption identifies him as a KKCS/Colorado Springs air personality, pictured with program director Shannon Stone and Keith Burns of Trick Pony, and an archive photo from around 2001 shows him backstage at Cowboys in Colorado Springs with the station staff and country artist Terri Clark.
Star Country
Jack then hosted mornings at KSTY-FM, Star Country in Cañon City, through 2021. He died on January 7, 2022.
Sources
- Radio & Records, December 13, 2002 — photo caption naming Cadillac Jack at KKCS
- Colorado Radio Archive, “Staff” — KKCS backstage photograph
- The Pueblo Chieftain obituary search for John Wheeler
Stations They Worked At
FROM THE TIMELINE
Career Moments
Cadillac Jack hired part time at KKCS
Cadillac Jack (John Wheeler) began his Colorado Springs radio career as a part-time announcer at KKCS-FM. The exact hiring date in 1998 is not reported.
Cadillac Jack’s KKCS tenure ends
Cadillac Jack remained at Colorado Springs country station KKCS-FM through 2003. His exact last broadcast date is not reported.
Cadillac Jack established in KKCS full-time evenings
By the end of his KKCS-FM tenure in 2003, Cadillac Jack had moved from part-time announcing to the full-time evening slot. The promotion date is not reported.
Cadillac Jack moves to Star Country KSTY mornings
After his reported 2003 departure from KKCS, Cadillac Jack became the morning host on Cañon City’s Star Country KSTY-FM. The transition year is approximate; the exact start date is not given.
Cadillac Jack’s KSTY morning-show tenure ends
Cadillac Jack worked as morning host at Star Country KSTY-FM through 2021. The exact final broadcast date is not reported.
Cadillac Jack (John Wheeler) dies
John “Cadillac Jack” Wheeler died on January 7, 2022. His Colorado radio work included KKCS-FM in Colorado Springs and Star Country KSTY-FM in Cañon City.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Photos, Video & Airchecks
Photo · 2000
Cadillac Jack & Kevin Willz
Cadillac Jack and Kevin Willz at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming.
Photo · 1998
Cadillac Jack Halloween
Halloween with Cadillac Jack (General Custer) and Uncle Steve (The Crocodile Hunter)
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