Career
He was the long-time public address announcer for the Chicago Cubs. He sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" before many Cubs games, as well as prior to all Chicago Wolves American Hockey League games. Messmer is part owner of the Chicago Wolves.
In the mid-1980s, Messmer was the newscaster/sidekick on WYTZ (Z-95) Radio"s "Barsky Morning Show.
He also was heard as the mid-day news anchor on World's Largest Store 890 Department of Administration and Management. Since November 2011, he has hosted a jazz radio program Sunday evenings on 90.9fm WDCB Public Radio, The Wayne Messmer Radio Show. Foreign many years, he also sang for the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears and Chicago Sting.
In January, 1991, when Messmer sang at the National Hockey League All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium, he was nearly drowned out by cheers from the sellout crowd, mainly in support of the United States. troops that had entered the Gulf War just days prior. 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 (now Allstate Arena) introducing the Chicago Wolves and the IHL to Chicago.
lieutenant was his first public performance since being shot (see below). The Saint Louis Blues invited Messmer to sing the anthem at their home game when they opened the Kiel Center. Messmer"s performance of the Anthem has always concluded with his trademark flourish on the final word "Brave" in which he concludes on the dominant note (5th).
This trademark ending has frequently been copied by other singers.
In April 1994, Messmer was shot in the throat outside 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.
Academically, he has earned degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University (Biomedical Engineering), Loyola University Chicago (Master of Education) and LaSalle University (Doctor of Philosophy)
Messmer continues to frequently perform as a singer with orchestras and concert bands.
He is still regularly heard at major sporting events. As a recording artist, his 2012 album So Lucky To Be Loving You features piano legend Judy Roberts as the accompanist. He also hosts a show on Sunday nights on 90.9 FM WDCB where he plays standards.
Messmer presents financial dinner and workshops throughout the year in the Chicago area.
Messmer appeared in the 1992 film The Babe as the New York Yankees radio announcer.