T
talkjim
Guest
You may read this elsewhere, but as a one-time Iowa radio guy, I thought it would make sense to make a mention of the fact that one of the greatest radio talents to ever come out of the great state of Iowa, Big Ron' O'Brien, passed due to pneumonia this morning, in Philadelphia, where he had been doing afternoons for the past six years at classic hits WOGL. He was only 56--way too young.
Never worked with Ron, but had the pleasure to meet him twice--once when he stopped into KIOA/Des Moines--it had to have been either late 1985 or early 1986. Extremely warm, personable and of course, being Ron, he had some hilarious remarks to make.
Making "best" arguments in our talent-filled business is always a risky proposition, but it could be argued that during his mid-70s stop at WCFL/Chicago, Ron might have been the best Top 40 jock in America--consistently energetic, funny, and an amazing sense of timing.
I'm pretty sure that Ron's first gig was at KBAB/Indianola in the late 60's but someone else with deeper Iowa roots might be able to clarify or add to that.
R.I.P. Ron--you made a huge mark on radio and on all whose paths you crossed.
Never worked with Ron, but had the pleasure to meet him twice--once when he stopped into KIOA/Des Moines--it had to have been either late 1985 or early 1986. Extremely warm, personable and of course, being Ron, he had some hilarious remarks to make.
Making "best" arguments in our talent-filled business is always a risky proposition, but it could be argued that during his mid-70s stop at WCFL/Chicago, Ron might have been the best Top 40 jock in America--consistently energetic, funny, and an amazing sense of timing.
I'm pretty sure that Ron's first gig was at KBAB/Indianola in the late 60's but someone else with deeper Iowa roots might be able to clarify or add to that.
R.I.P. Ron--you made a huge mark on radio and on all whose paths you crossed.