Mitch Michaels, born Richard Salchow, is a legendary rock and roll radio disc jockey who helped shape the Chicago radio landscape.

His path to broadcasting began almost by chance. After receiving a disappointing grade on a college midterm, Michaels returned home and heard a voice on the radio that seemed to speak directly to him: “Did you just fail a test? Do you hate what you’re doing?” It was an ad for a radio school—and he decided to run with it.

Michaels launched his career in 1968 at WHFS-FM in Bethesda, Maryland, he returned to college at Kent State, then was part of the staff of WKSU the was part of the original staff of WNCR followed by a stint on WMMS.

In 1971, WGLD-FM lured him from Cleveland, and his first Chicago broadcast came from a studio located in an old folks’ home on the fifth floor of the Oak Park Arms Hotel. From there, Michaels became a fixture on the city’s airwaves, working at a string of iconic stations including WXRT, WDAI, WKQX, WLUP (“The Loop”), WCKG, WLS, WXCD, and WERV The River.

He was instrumental in launching WXRT-FM, where his voice became a beloved presence for generations of rock fans. His signature program, Doin’ the Cruise, blended deep cuts of classic rock with stories from his decades in the industry, cementing his reputation as both a tastemaker and storyteller.

At The Loop, Michaels worked alongside Steve Dahl and played a central role in the infamous Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, an event that spiraled into chaos and forced the Chicago White Sox to forfeit the second game of a doubleheader. He also helped pioneer the first local stereo/video simulcast of a live rock concert, broadcasting The Who directly to nine sold-out theaters.

In 2017, Michaels published his memoir, Doin’ the Cruise: Memories from a Lifetime in Radio and Rock & Roll, chronicling his remarkable journey through the music world.

Through his voice, vision, and passion, Mitch Michaels became more than a DJ—he became a cultural force, a cherished figure in Chicago, and a lasting influence on rock radio.