After 27 years with public radio WBEZ FM 91.5, show host and correspondent Richard Steele will retire on October 10 from his full-time position. Richard will not leave the air completely: He will continue to host his popular weekly talk show, “The Barber Shop Show.” The program is taped at Carter’s Barbershop in the North Lawndale neighborhood and airs Fridays and Saturdays on Vocalo and Sundays on WBEZ.

Richard started his Chicago radio career in 1970, as a disc jockey at the former WGRT. As one of the “great guys,” he became known by fans as “The Real Steele.” When the station was relaunched as WJPC, Richard became the program director. His career subsequently took him to Chicago radio stations WBMX, WVON, WGCI AM and FM, and WVAZ FM 102.7, where he launched the station’s urban adult-contemporary format as its first morning personality.

Richard joined WBEZ in 1987 as a part-time host of a jazz show. From there, he expanded into anchoring several of the station’s most popular music and talk programs, including “The Richard Steele Show,” “Talk of the City” and its flagship newsmagazine “Eight Forty-Eight.”

Congratulations to Richard on a stellar career. To NABJ-CC, he will always be a “great guy”!