Carl Grapentine

Just in time for Groundhog Day, veteran morning host Carl Grapentine will make his long-awaited reappearance on classical WFMT FM 98.7 Monday. “I’ll pop out of my hole to return to the morning program!” he wrote on Facebook.

Grapentine, 65, has been out of commission since November when he underwent quadriceps tendon surgery on both legs. Wearing thigh-to-ankle casts he spent five weeks in hospitals and rehabs centers, and has been convalescing at home since mid-December.

“Carl is a broadcaster to his core and so he wanted to come back about one minute after the anesthesia wore off,” said Steve Robinson, executive vice president and general manager for radio at parent company Window to the World Communications. “That was probably a bit premature but shows his love for the job, and so we’re thrilled and delighted he’ll be back next week.”

Filling in for Grapentine has been chief announcer Peter van de Graaff, who doubles as host of the Beethoven Satellite Network overnight music service “Through the Night” program.

Except for six years at the former WNIB, Grapentine has hosted mornings on WFMT since 1986. The Michigan native also is stadium voice for the University of Michigan Wolverines.

In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WFMT tied for 25th in mornings with a 1.2 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 107,200.