Beloved CK-105 Voice from the ’90s Has Passed Away

A DJ who once dominated Mid-Michigan airwaves has passed away.

If you grew up in the 1990s listening to hits like “Baby Got Back,” “I’m Too Sexy,” and “Gonna Make You Sweat” on the radio, you probably remember Ian Richards, who served as a midday host for both WWCK-FM (CK-105) in Flint and WIOG-FM in Saginaw.

Remembering Ian “The Neon” Richards

After leaving Mid-Michigan, Richards (whose real name is Jani Bers) relocated to Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a videographer. He died of a heart attack last week at his home, after years of heart problems that required a pacemaker. His friend Dean Cameron, who found him, noted in a LinkedIn post that Richards passed with headphones on, listening to music. Cameron described Richards as “someone who lived life full throttle.”

From WWCK to WIOG

When he arrived in Flint, Richards’ distinctive British accent gave Mid-Michigan listeners a sound they’d never heard before. Known on air as “Ian the Neon,” Richards was a member of the “CK Bad Boys” club during the once-popular station’s short run as a leading Top 40 outlet.

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As WWCK’s ratings began to slide in 1993, Richards moved on to Saginaw’s WIOG-FM — another Top 40 station that achieved mediocre success in the Flint market through the mid-’90s.

A memorial to honor Bers is scheduled for February in Spokane.

As a competitor and fellow radio voice in Mid-Michigan, we tip our hats to you, Ian. Rest in peace.