It is with deep regret that to report that Marty Ambrose lost his fight to ALS this morning at one. Our condolences and prayers go to his wife Mary and his family.
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Houston radio voice Now Silent
- Thread starter ChuckTiller
- Start date
Sorry to hear about that, Chuck. Sorry for his family's loss.
No news as of yet, but here's a Channel 13 report about his battle published just two weeks ago:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7507546
No news as of yet, but here's a Channel 13 report about his battle published just two weeks ago:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7507546
I never met him, but heard him when he did traffic for us at the old KKTL "97 Talk" back in the day. I particulary remember a long back and forth between Marty and Roger Gray. I guess things were slow at 97 Talk, and Roger got Marty on the air and went on for several minutes about nothing in particular. But it was fun to listen to. I remember Marty as sounding like a very nice, warm human being. His family is in our thoughts and prayers.
A moment of silence, and condolences
Anyone who knew Marty can tell you he was one of the truly fine and decent people in this business. Even when things weren't going well for him personally, he always greeted you with a smile and a hearty handshake.
I've known him since he and Beth Eldridge practically invented traffic reporting back in the early 70s, and I worked with him at Metro Traffic for a time back in the early 90s. He was the most upbeat guy I ever knew.
My prayer for Marty and his family
O Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
As to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Anyone who knew Marty can tell you he was one of the truly fine and decent people in this business. Even when things weren't going well for him personally, he always greeted you with a smile and a hearty handshake.
I've known him since he and Beth Eldridge practically invented traffic reporting back in the early 70s, and I worked with him at Metro Traffic for a time back in the early 90s. He was the most upbeat guy I ever knew.
My prayer for Marty and his family
O Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
As to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
A
aunti-terrestrial
Guest
I am so sorry to hear it. Prayers with his family.
That's beautiful, Filio. I loved working with Marty. I brought my family (including little kids) to see him the other day and we shared some crazy stories about the earlier days of traffic reporting when we didn't have TXDOT cameras to rely on. We called businesses near traffic accidents to spot them for us; we talked to truckers on the CB; we encouraged people to call us if they had details on accidents or stalled cars; we were constantly on the phone with police and firefighers and Janell Gbur at TXDOT; we had guys in cars even in midday checking out information. Each day was a frenzy of information gathering, a circus even before there was a Q-Zoo.
Even through the pain and loss of ALS, it was great to see him laugh. Mary by his side, holding his hand.
Even through the pain and loss of ALS, it was great to see him laugh. Mary by his side, holding his hand.
I had the pleasure of working with Marty for many years, and, as TexasTuner correctly pointed out, it was a big help to have Marty doing your traffic reports when you needed someone to bounce off of, help with a bit, etc. A truly talented broadcaster.
In one of those weird coincidences, I was thinking about Marty last night while I was watching a documentary on the Broadway composer Frank Loesser ("Guys and Dolls"). Sometime in the early '90s, Theater Under the Stars was doing a production of Loesser's show "The Most Happy Fella," a musical set in a vineyard. As a PR stunt, TUTS put together a "Celebrity Grape Stomp" at an Italian restaurant on Westheimer. A bunch of us radio and TV types were all dutifully squishing away when we heard a cry of "Banzai!" and saw Marty flying through the air and landing in a tub of grapes. Frank Billingsley was the winner of the grape stomp that day, but Marty received the award for "Style!"
In one of those weird coincidences, I was thinking about Marty last night while I was watching a documentary on the Broadway composer Frank Loesser ("Guys and Dolls"). Sometime in the early '90s, Theater Under the Stars was doing a production of Loesser's show "The Most Happy Fella," a musical set in a vineyard. As a PR stunt, TUTS put together a "Celebrity Grape Stomp" at an Italian restaurant on Westheimer. A bunch of us radio and TV types were all dutifully squishing away when we heard a cry of "Banzai!" and saw Marty flying through the air and landing in a tub of grapes. Frank Billingsley was the winner of the grape stomp that day, but Marty received the award for "Style!"
As I've mentioned elsewhere on these boards, Marty was a friend through my decades there. I even changed my name and flew fill in for them a few times in some little spit and bailing wire plane they used. He was always available, always friendly, always a complete professional on the air and gentle soul off the air.When you do anything long enough, you'll start losing friends over the years. This one truly hurts.
A
AndyWaldrop
Guest
Marty had mentioned to, I believe, Scott Arthur earlier yesterday something to the effect "I will be going home today to be with the Lord."
Rest In Peace my friend and mentor.
Rest In Peace my friend and mentor.
F
foursider
Guest
It was such a pleasure to get to talk with Marty in his last on-air days at KUHF. As someone else said, he just about invented radio traffic reporting. I remember listening to him when he worked at KMJQ. Those were the days that they relied on anyone who could provide traffic and accident information. I remember one of Marty's favorite CB contacts known as the "Green Frog". As you can well imagine, he had a lot of fun with that one. He could play off of anyone else he had on the air with him. One of the marks of a true broadcast professional. Radio isn't making any more legends like him. I hope he is still at the top of the list in the TRHoF voting.
Marty's Funeral
I've learned from KUHF that Marty's funeral will be held at 2pm on Friday July 9th at Saint Martin's Episcopal Church on Sage Rd at Woodway.
I've learned from KUHF that Marty's funeral will be held at 2pm on Friday July 9th at Saint Martin's Episcopal Church on Sage Rd at Woodway.
Thanks for that info. Marty had to be one of nicest guys in the world.
Yes he was. A real gem of a guy.
It's always painful when someone as popular and well liked as Marty passes away. Those of us who knew him will remember how gracefully and peacefully he accepted what was happening to him. He set an example we will all do well to emulate when our turn comes.
He reminded me of one of my favorite passages of poetry, from Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant.
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
That was Marty.
It's always painful when someone as popular and well liked as Marty passes away. Those of us who knew him will remember how gracefully and peacefully he accepted what was happening to him. He set an example we will all do well to emulate when our turn comes.
He reminded me of one of my favorite passages of poetry, from Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant.
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
That was Marty.
C
crbigband
Guest
Just heard the news from a mutual friend yesterday. I knew Marty for years and it was he that was partly responsible for my whole broadcasting career.
No one's mentioned it yet, but Marty did a lot of acting in theatre in the 1970's and 80's, which is where I first met him. In a production called "Pidgeon's on the Walk" he was in the cast and I was on the stage crew. Later after I started my big band in Houston and I started to work around Houston, Marty, Scott Arthur and other KQUE-types would come out where ever we were performing.
On more than one occasion, Marty and Scott would get up and sing "Mack the Knife" with the band. Marty couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, often forgot the words, with the net result being that he made Scott sound like Bobby Darin. Sometimes they'd be laughing so hard they'd have to hold each other up just to finish the tune!
In the lates 80's during one of my many "lulls" in the music business, Marty got me a job as a mobile reporter with Traffic Central (solely on his recommendation). Eventually, I moved up into a traffic anchor and was doing Paul Berlin's noon traffic feeds on KQUE.
When Ronnie Renfrow left the Sunday night Big Band Show, Paul hired me to take over the show and I was there for 6 1/2 years - on the strength of those traffic reports! Moved to Dallas in '96 and worked in radio for the last 20 years total. I owe my second career to Marty Ambrose, a generous, wonderful friend who I miss already.
If there are ever any traffic jams in Heaven, I know Marty will be advising angels on the best alternate routes!
My Condolences to his Friends and Family,
Cary Richards
No one's mentioned it yet, but Marty did a lot of acting in theatre in the 1970's and 80's, which is where I first met him. In a production called "Pidgeon's on the Walk" he was in the cast and I was on the stage crew. Later after I started my big band in Houston and I started to work around Houston, Marty, Scott Arthur and other KQUE-types would come out where ever we were performing.
On more than one occasion, Marty and Scott would get up and sing "Mack the Knife" with the band. Marty couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, often forgot the words, with the net result being that he made Scott sound like Bobby Darin. Sometimes they'd be laughing so hard they'd have to hold each other up just to finish the tune!
In the lates 80's during one of my many "lulls" in the music business, Marty got me a job as a mobile reporter with Traffic Central (solely on his recommendation). Eventually, I moved up into a traffic anchor and was doing Paul Berlin's noon traffic feeds on KQUE.
When Ronnie Renfrow left the Sunday night Big Band Show, Paul hired me to take over the show and I was there for 6 1/2 years - on the strength of those traffic reports! Moved to Dallas in '96 and worked in radio for the last 20 years total. I owe my second career to Marty Ambrose, a generous, wonderful friend who I miss already.
If there are ever any traffic jams in Heaven, I know Marty will be advising angels on the best alternate routes!
My Condolences to his Friends and Family,
Cary Richards
Cary,
If Marty "couldn't carry a tune in a bucket" he sure had the Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus fooled. I attended a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony last fall and was surprised to find Marty's name listed as a member of the chorus. The fourth (Chorale) movement was also sung in German. I believe Marty also sang in his church's choir.
Mike Marshall
If Marty "couldn't carry a tune in a bucket" he sure had the Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus fooled. I attended a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony last fall and was surprised to find Marty's name listed as a member of the chorus. The fourth (Chorale) movement was also sung in German. I believe Marty also sang in his church's choir.
Mike Marshall
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