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Pat O'Day dies at 85

I got a call from a friend earlier tonight about Pat. It's hard to come up with words to describe his influence in radio and in rock, other than the fact KJR was so influential and broke so many new acts, I've heard it said New York City and L.A. stations used to follow playlists from KJR as tip sheets because it was always on the cutting edge for it's time. A Seattle station!

But what really blew me away was going to Australia and finding out there were people there who knew of KJR (if not actually heard it.) They thought it was this big gigantic American rock n' roll station in the '60s. That couldn't have happened without Pat O'Day.

He turned KISW from a Classical station into Rock, started the legendary KYYX, owned stations in Hawaii, started Concerts West, launched the career of Jimi Hendrix....and that's not even the beginning.

2020 is now officially The Worst Year of Our Lives.

RIP Pat. Say hi to Gary, Charlie and Jimi for us....
 
Nooooooooooo!!! Pat made Seattle radio great back in the day. As a teenager, my dad (now deceased) came home from school every weekday tuned to KJR Seattle, Channel 95, for Pat O'Day's shift in the '60s. And he was still doing commercials for Schick Shadel not too long ago!
May he forever and ever RIP...and may he play those great tunes for everyone up in the skies!

Yup. With the virus lockdowns, compromised mental health of everyone and the celebrities who have died left and right, 2020 IS the worst year ever. :-(
 
Pat was one of the best BS-er's ever. The man could completely make something up in a heartbeat, then sincerely sell it like it happened only seconds earlier. One of those people who could sell snow in a snowstorm.

RIP Pat
 
Bongwater said:
I got a call from a friend earlier tonight about Pat. It's hard to come up with words to describe his influence in radio and in rock, other than the fact KJR was so influential and broke so many new acts, I've heard it said New York City and L.A. stations used to follow playlists from KJR as tip sheets because it was always on the cutting edge for it's time. A Seattle station!

But what really blew me away was going to Australia and finding out there were people there who knew of KJR (if not actually heard it.) They thought it was this big gigantic American rock n' roll station in the '60s. That couldn't have happened without Pat O'Day.

He turned KISW from a Classical station into Rock, started the legendary KYYX, owned stations in Hawaii, started Concerts West, launched the career of Jimi Hendrix....and that's not even the beginning.

2020 is now officially The Worst Year of Our Lives.

RIP Pat. Say hi to Gary, Charlie and Jimi for us....
Click to expand...

Actually Les Smith, from what I understand, was behind turning KISW into the station it became. Pat probably was involved also. Les Smith, of course, was one of the owners of KJR.

So many greats in our city in this industry.

I remember hearing Pat O'Day on the radio. He really was, in many respects, radio in Seattle. A very sad day.
 
Don't forget all his work announcing hydro races. What a legend!

"Do you recall the day the music died."
 
DN14224 said:
https://komonews.com/news/local/legendary-seattle-disc-jockey-pat-oday-dies-at-85

(Mods - please leave this up for a couple of days if you would so it's seen here - thanks!)
Click to expand...

A true legend in Seattle radio. He ran KJR in the 60's as if it was a full personality top40 station. Nobody could touch him during this era. He allowed his personalities to be just that, letting them show their talent without strict format guidelines.

Also was a great concert promoter, that shouldn't be overlooked. Later became a manager at KJR, then moved on to some other radio endeavors, such as KYYX in the 80's. Seattle radio history must include Pat O'Day.
 
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Kevin O’brien (Kevin Metheny) was a great hire by O’Day. I think he was just 18 when he did nights at KJR. Of course he went on to great success eventually as pd at WNBC in NYC and later an exec at mtv. See the movie “Private Parts". Rip Kevin. But back on topic, Pat knew how to hire talent, no doubt.
 
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