Leonard “Len” Ellis, known as “Uncle Len,” was a pioneering country music disc jockey and radio entrepreneur. He founded Radio One Communications and launched several radio stations, including WAKE and WLJE in Valparaiso, IN, introducing country music to the region and pioneering stereo broadcasting in the Chicago area. Ellis was also a founder of the Country Music Association and held numerous awards for his contributions to radio and music.
Len Ellis began his broadcasting career in 1951 at WJOB Radio in Hammond, Indiana, where he started playing country music to cater to the local audience who had moved from Kentucky and West Virginia to work in the steel mills.
He adopted the on-air persona “Uncle Len,” which became iconic in the region. In the early 1960s, Ellis and his wife Bee founded Porter County Broadcasting, which later became Radio One Communications. They launched WAYK AM-1050 (later WAKE-AM) and WKYK Radio in 1964, marking the beginning of their radio network in northwestern Indiana.
Ellis was one of the 15 founders of the Country Music Association in 1959 and served on its Board of Directors from 1981 to 1984. He was recognized as “Mr. Dee Jay, USA” in 1963 and named the Country Music Association’s “Small Market Disc Jockey of the Year” in 1978.
Ellis also introduced cable television to Valparaiso, showcasing his innovative approach to media. His company, Radio One Communications, expanded to include several stations, with WLJE (now Indiana 105) becoming a top-rated local station in the Chicago market.
Throughout his career, Ellis received numerous accolades, including election to the Indiana Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1996. He continued to be involved in radio until his later years, serving as chairman of Radio One Communications while his son Leigh managed the daily operations.
Ellis passed away on January 14, 2018, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer in country music radio and local broadcasting.
