Johnny B. says Deerfield man “Set the Bar” on WGN Cubs theme song

• Reprints

Derrick Procell at Hear and Now Music studio. | Photo courtesy of Meredith Colby Procell

Updated: March 24, 2012 8:04AM

The phone rang at the Procell house at 6:31 a.m. one morning, and when Derrick Procell’s wife, Meredith, saw WGN on the caller ID, she answered with a cheerful, “Good Morning!”

Procell, a local songwriter, producer and voice talent had submitted his song “Rockin’ Right at Wrigley” to WGN earlier in the week. WGN is looking for the official Chicago Cubs song of the 2012 season, and is running a contest to find the best song. Having spent the last few decades both writing songs and rooting for the Cubs, Procell knew he could write a winner.

“You’ve set the bar, buddy”! Jonathan Brandmeier told Procell on the air. The famous DJ shared his complimentary assessment with enthusiastic callers who urged WGN to “close the contest” because they’d “found the winner.”

“I knew he’d love the song if he heard it,” Procell said. “Johnny B. is a rocker, and my song rocks”. He added that even though his song was played on the air to favorable reviews, in the end it will all come down to the voting.

“WGN is going to narrow down the choices, but the song that wins is going to be the song that gets the most votes”, said Procell realistically. “I hope my being in the contest brings out loyalty in the people of Chicagoland. The Cubbies theme should be written by a home-town guy”.

Online voting for the 2012 Cubs theme song will take place March 2-16 and the winner will be announce on March 23.