Rock Radio Heaven (R)
CLARK RACE
Died: July 27, 1999, New Wilmington, Pa.
Stations: KDKA, KDKA-TV Pittsburgh, KMPC, KBRT Los Angeles, KYUU San Francisco, KYXY San Diego
Notes: Has been called "The Dick Clark of Pittsburgh". His afternoon show at KDKA - which lasted from 1959 to 1970 - had a 50 share at one point. He had no formula - he simply played what he thought the listeners would like to hear. Also hosted the popular "Dance Party" TV show on KDKA-TV. While on the west coast, hosted ABC-TV's "The Parent Game". He and his wife hosted a bed-and-breakfast in Pennsylvania in his later years. Native of Hudson, N.Y. Died at 66 after a battle with throat cancer.
BOB RALL
Died: January 5, 2010
Stations: WSLI, WJXN, WRBC, WKKE, WJDX Jackson, Miss., WKGN Knoxville, Tenn., WTIX New Orleans, WABB Mobile Ala., KBOX Dallas
Notes: Started in radio in 1958 while in the 10th grade. Final gig was doing airborne traffic reports at WLBT-TV Jackson. Died at the age of 67.
BILL RANDLE
Born: March 14, 1923, Detroit
Died: July 9, 2004, Cleveland
Also known as: Birth name was William McKinley Randle, Jr.; The Pied Piper of Cleveland
Stations: WJLB Detroit, WERE, WBBG, WRMR Cleveland, WCBS-AM New York
Notes: "Time" magazine once called him "the number-one deejay in America". Also ran a nightclub, was a concert organizer, held a doctorate in history, and was a practicing lawyer. In 1955, a musical documentary called "The Pied Piper of Cleveland: A Day in the Life of a Famous Disc Jockey". Died of cancer.
MARV RAY
Died: 1968
Stations: WALT, WFLA Tampa Bay
Also known as: King of the Bay Birth name was M.J. Sklute
Notes: One of Tampa's most popular deejays, Ray was only 35 when he died.
B. MITCHEL REED
Born: June 10, 1926, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Died: March 16, 1983, West Los Angeles, Calif.
Also known as: The Beamer, BMR, The Fastest Tongue in the West; Birth name is Burton Mitchel Goldberg
Stations: WOR, WMCA New York, KFWB, KPPC, KMET, KRLA, KLOS Los Angeles, original host of ABC's Rockline.
Notes: Featured on Cruisin' 63, Reed was a study in opposites - a fast-talking Top 40 d.j. at WMCA and a introspective progressive rock announcer later on in Los Angeles. Such was his popularity that he was cheered by thousands of fans at the airport when he departed New York in 1965, then was greeted by fans a few hours later on arrival at the airport in Los Angeles. Died of heart problems.
MIKE REINERI
Died: January 3, 2003
Also known as: Mike Holiday (at WQXI)
Stations: WIXY Cleveland, WIOD, WAXY Miami, WQXI Atlanta, WJJD Chicago
JAY REYNOLDS
Died: March, 1996
Stations: WABC, New York, WFMS, WNDE, WIFE Indianapolis, WAKY Louisville, Ky., WCNT Centralia, Ill., WGGH Marion, Ill., KIOA Des Moines, Iowa, WPEO Peoria, Ill., WMAK Nashville, Tenn.
Notes: All-night jock at WABC from 1970 to 1976 - he held the shift longer than anyone else. Held a number of management positions in Indiana radio. Native of Mount Vernon, Ill. Died at age 61.
KEITH RICH
Born: 1927, Dugald, Man.
Died: November 19, 2007, Meaford, Ont.
Stations: CHOB Pembroke, Ont., CJBI Victoria, CJCA Edmonton, CKWX Vancouver, WNBC New York, CFRB, CKEY, CJCL Toronto
Notes: The Edmonton-raised Rich teamed with Steve Woodman at WNBC in the early '60s. From there, Rich moved to CKEY where he enjoyed a 22-year stint, mostly in mornings. Rich finished a radio career that began in the 1950s with a four-year stay at CJCL that ended with his retirement in 1990. Rich turned to farming and breeding Australian sheepdogs after he left radio. He was also a licensed pilot who wrote and researched Canadian and British aviation history. Died at the age of 80.
J.P. RICHARDSON
Born: October 24, 1930, Sabine Pass, Tex.
Died: February 3, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa
Also known as: The Big Bopper; Birth name was Jiles Perry Richardson
Stations: KTRM Beaumont, Tex.
Notes: Was a deejay in the '50s at KTRM in Beaumont, Tex. In May, 1957, he set a world record by staying on the air for six consecutive days and spinning 1,821 records. Biggest hit as a recording artist was "Chantilly Lace" in 1958. Was credited for creating the term "music video" in 1959. Called himself "The Big Bopper" after seeing some teenagers dancing "The Bop". Was also program director at KTRM. Died in the plane crash was also killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
JOHN RICHBOURG
Born: August 20, 1910, Manning, S.C.
Died: February 15, 1986, Nashville, Tenn.
Also known as: John R.
Stations: WTMA Charleston, S.C., WLAC Nashville
Notes: Hosted evening R&B show at WLAC from late '40s until his retirement August 1, 1973. Credited with getting many black artists airplay in the early days of rock 'n' roll. His listeners thought he was black and outgoing, but he was actually white and shy. More on the gentlemanly John R. here.
CHUCK RILEY
Born: July 21, 1940, Kaplan, La.
Died: May 10, 2007, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Also known as: Birth name was Charles D. Hanks. Used the name Chuck Dann at WKYC and KOMA before using Charlie Tuna and then giving it to Art Ferguson
Stations: WKYC Cleveland, WIBC Indianapolis, KMPC, KZLA-KPOL Los Angeles, CKY Winnipeg, WQWB Fargo, N.D., KOMA Oklahoma City, Okla., WQHT (Hot 97) New York.
Notes: One of the leading voice-talents of all-time. Among his many projects, he narrated CHUM's History of Rock 'N' Roll. His voice was used to promote literally thousands of movies for Warner Bros., Universal, Fox and Paramount. Riley's narration could also be heard in numerous movies, including Oliver Stone's "Nixon". Also narrated hundreds of children's audio books and too many commercials to count. Riley voiced the longest-running produced ID in radio history - nearly 30 years - Radio Indiana (bong) W I B C Indianapolis. Died of renal complications.
MIKE RIVERS
Died: September 13, 2004, Antioch, Tenn.
Also known as: Mighty Mouth; Birth name was Ralph Wendel Wright
Stations: CKLW Windsor, Ont., WIBG Philadelphia, WCAR Detroit
Notes: Was known as Ed Richards at WIBG and Mike Donahue at WCAR. Died at the age of 60.
TOM RIVERS
Born: September 22, 1947, Newberry, Mich.
Died: November 20, 2004, Toronto
Also known as: Shotgun Tom, Big Tom Rivers (he stood six feet, eight inches according to the book Los Angeles Radio People). His real name was Thomas Neil Loughridge.
Stations worked at: WNBY Newberry, Mich., WIDG St. Ignace, Mich., WVIC Lansing, Mich., WKNR Detroit, CHUM (several times), CFTR, CKFM, CJEZ, CFYI Toronto, CKLW Windsor, Ont., WIBG Philadelphia, KIQQ Los Angeles, KFRC, KYA San Francisco (both stations as Mike Rivers), KFQD Anchorage, Alaska, CKRA Edmonton, CHWO Oakville, Ont.
Notes: Rivers is perhaps best known for his years at CHUM, where he did several tours of duty. Some special rememberances of Tom are gathered here.
SCOTT ROBBINS
Born: Toms River, N.J.
Died: June 29, 2002
Also known as: Birth name was Marc Werboff
Stations: Coast 107.3 (WCOF-FM), U-92 (WYUU-FM), Mix 96 (WMTX-FM), WSUN-FM, WHBO Tampa, Fla.
Notes: Voted Tampa Bay's favourite deejay while at WHBO in 1989. Died of a heart attack at age 54.
ART ROBERTS
Died: March 6, 2002, Reno, Nev.
Stations: KALT Atlanta, KTBB, KDOK Tyler, Tex., KLIF, KLUV Dallas, WCUE Akron, Ohio, WKBW Buffalo, N.Y., KNBR, KNEW San Francisco, WCFL, WLS, WKQX Chicago, WOKY, WBCS Milwaukee, KBUC, KXTN San Antonio, KWKH Shreveport, La., KGVM Reno, Nev.
Notes: Legendary late-evening program host on WLS in the '60s and a veteran of many other stations. The New York City native died at the age of 70 after suffering a stroke.
LAN ROBERTS
Born: December 18, 1936, Bonham, Tex.
Died: December 30, 2005, Texas
Also known as: Lanny Lipford
Stations: WTIX New Orleans, KJR, KOL, KYYX Seattle, KORL, KIKI Honolulu, ICRT Taipei, KRQR San Francisco, KBIG-FM Los Angeles
Notes: Is most identified with the golden years of KJR in the 1960s and '70s. One of his side interests was sky-diving, and he recorded his 200th jump by 1971. Suffered from lung cancer.
GORD ROBSON
Born: September 9, 1951, Lethbridge, Alta.
Died: March 21, 2008, Edmonton
Also known as: Birth name was Gordon S. Robison
Stations: CKXL Calgary (twice), CFOX Montreal, CHED, CKNG-FM, CKRA-FM, CHQT (Cool 880) Edmonton, CKLG Vancouver, CHAB Moose Jaw, Sask., CFRV (The River) Lethbridge, Alta.
Notes: Was APD at CKLG, PD at CHAB and PD at CFRV. Acting PD at CHQT, his last gig. Left CFRV with a number-one rating in target audience of women. Also anchored "Sports Page" on CKVU-TV Vancouver from 1978 to 1980. Was 56 when he died. Former PA announcer for the Edmonton Eskimos and ring announcer for the WWF. His father, Ron Robison, had a long career in radio and TV.
ROD RODDY
Born: September 28, 1937, Fort Worth, Tex.
Died: October 27, 2003, Los Angeles
Also known as: Birth name was Robert Ray Roddy
Stations: WQXI Atlanta, WKBW Buffalo, N.Y., KXOL Fort Worth, Tex., KLIF, KNUS-FM Dallas, KOMA Oklahoma City, KQV Pittsburgh, KOST Los Angeles
Notes: Roddy was the announcer on TV's "The Price is Right" for 17 years, and also announced the situation comedy "Soap" for four years. Other TV announcing jobs included the game shows "Whew!", "Battlestars", "Love Connection", "Hit Man" and "Press Your Luck", and as Mike the Microphone on Disney's "House of Mouse". Lost close to 200 pounds during his time as "The Price is Right" host. Died of colin and breast cancer.
DR. DON ROSE
Born: July 5, 1934, North Platte, Neb.
Died: March 30, 2005, Concord, Calif.
Also known as: Birth name was Donald Rosenberg
Stations: KOIL Omaha, KTSA San Antonio, KRNY Kearney, Neb., KWMT Fort Dodge, Iowa, WEBC Duluth, Minn., WQXI Atlanta, WFIL Philadelphia, KFRC, KFIS, KIOI San Francisco
Notes: Named Billboard Magazine's "Disc Jockey of the Year" at both WFIL and KFRC. Radio career spanned 33 years, and he also spent a decade hosting TV cartoon shows on four major market stations. Featured on Cruisin' 67. His 20 years of March of Dimes Superwalk raised more than $10 million. An avid sailor. Botched heart surgery in 1972 led to chronic knee problems; eventually his kneecap had to be removed and later his leg was amputated. Died of pneumonia.
MIKE ROSZMAN
Born: December 19, 1944
Died: January 11, 1993, Buffalo, N.Y.
Stations: WGR Buffalo, N.Y.
Notes: Worked at WGR in numerous on- and off-air jobs from 1971 until his death in 1993 in a helicopter crash. He was working as WGR's traffic reporter at the time of the crash, which also killed the pilot, retired Lt. Col. Herm Kuhn. Mike did afternoon drive at 'GR after Frank Benny left in the mid'-80s.
MIKE RYAN
Died: November 8, 2010, Buffalo, N.Y.
Stations: CKEY-FM, CFLZ (The River) Niagara Falls, Ont.
Notes: Co-hosted CFLZ's morning show from 2005 to 2009. Was at CFLZ for 13 years including a stint as PD. He was so familiar that Niagara Falls, Ont.-mayor Ted Salci called him "Niagara's Unofficial Son." Worked in debt collection after leaving CFLZ in 2009. Died of a heart attack at age 45.
BROTHER JOHN RYDGREN
Born: February 14, 1932
Died: December 15, 1988
Stations: ABC radio, KRTH, KRLA, KMET, KROQ, KOST Los Angeles
Notes: An ordained minister. Was the voice of ABC FM Radio's LOVE network in 1969-70. Later went to the west coast.