Dan Sorkin Dead

[michael hagerty]

Just got word that Dan Sorkin is dead at age 89. Sorkin was a big star in Chicago radio in the early 1960s and was instrumental in the launch of Bob Newhart's comedy career.


He had been already been hired by KHJ in Los Angeles to do mornings when RKO hired Bill Drake. Drake passed on Sorkin in favor of Robert W. Morgan and RKO honored its commitment to Sorkin by sending him to KFRC in San Francisco, which was, like KHJ at the time, a struggling MOR.


After two years at KFRC, Sorkin crossed the street to KSFO, where he was a huge success for close to 10 years. He left radio in the mid-70s to work full time for Synanon, which in the mid-80s resulted in Sorkin being criminally indicted (http://articles.latimes.com/1985-10-02/news/mn-16054_1_tax-exempt-status). He went back to radio for a few years in the late 90s/early 2000s at KABL.

 

[LKellerIII]

I'm sorry to hear about Sorkin's passing. I recall him as a frequent fill-in for the regular talk-hosts on KGO in the 80s, 90s and early 00s (IIRC). He was always articulate and erudite, and very gentlemanly and polite with the callers, even when they were being difficult.

 

[radioman148]

Very sorry to hear about Dan Sorkin's passing. He was a wonderful talent with a unique sense of humor. I listened to him regularly during his Chicago radio days in the late 50s and early 60s. Marvelous sense of humor and even made the commercials fun to listen to.
I remember when he gave Bob Newhart his start. After he left WCFL, Sorkin did a talk show from the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1964 that was a must listen regardless of who the guest was. His fabulous sense of humor made this show a must listen.