Couldn't Silence

National Anthem Singer Extraordinaire

Chicago's "Voice for All Seasons," outstanding tenor, Wayne Messmer is best known as the "Voice of Wrigley Field" as well as the field announcer and vocalist for the Chicago Cubs for ten seasons. Prior to that he served in the same capacity for the Chicago White Sox for three years. He was also the soloist for the Chicago Blackhawks for thirteen remarkable seasons.

Messmer's rousing and patriotic renditions of the national anthem build to a climatic, emotional and inspiring wake up call for all present to embrace. This tingling sensation ranges from pride, enthusiasm and happiness, all the way to tears of joy. No one brings out the goose bumps like Wayne does. Before the song even comes close to finishing, Messmer has made us feel proud to be an American.

He was the announcer at the last two Major League Baseball All-Star games played in Chicago; at Comiskey Park in 1983 and Wrigley Field in 1990. His spirited rendition of the United States and Canadian anthems for the NHL All-Star Game in Chicago Stadium in January 1991 was seen worldwide just two days after the start of Operation Desert Storm. It was also seen live by allied troops overseas. His emotional performance was replayed on every major network newscast that evening.

Things were going well. Then, in April of 1994, the golden voice of Wayne Messmer was nearly snuffed out. He was leaving a West Side restaurant one early Saturday morning following a Blackhawks game and out of nowhere, he was robbed at gun point. He turned over his valuables and said "you can have it all" --then BANG, for no apparent reason at all, a 15-year-old boy had pulled the trigger and shot him in the throat.

Messmer underwent a grueling 10 hours of life or death surgery. At the time he was shot, dying was never an option for our courageous survivor. How could it be? Who could ever replace his version of the national anthem that had become so dear to the people of Chicago? He hung on by a thread. Many, many months of long, hard, physical therapy and rehabilitation are attributed to his comeback.

Wayne adds nearly 20 years of professional, radio broadcasting experience, musical theater, voice-over, jingle singing, commercial work and public speaking to his credit. He also had a character role in the Universal Studios release, The Babe, starring John Goodman.

He can be heard on AM20 WYPA in Chicago delivering his Messmer-izing Moments, motivational audio essays which he writes and delivers on the air six times each weekday.

His entertaining wit and sense of humor make him tops among sports and entertainment fans. A reader's poll of North Shore Magazine once listed him as their favorite Chicago personality, second only to Michael Jordan.

He is the founder of Wayne Messmer & Associates, a company specializing in media coaching, corporate communications and presentation skills training.

Messmer gives us all hope that we can hang on, despite any ordeal we may face. The key is applying his 3-F's of faith, family and friends as a source of strength along the road to a successful recovery.