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Kfyi Middle of the Damn Night Show

guess I'll reply too myself on this one......It looks like I am in for some bad news after researching the boards a bit I keep reading things like "late" I am hoping this is not the case as i was not only a fan of his but an old girlfriend...
 
Christine1032 said:
guess I'll reply too myself on this one......It looks like I am in for some bad news after researching the boards a bit I keep reading things like "late" I am hoping this is not the case as i was not only a fan of his but an old girlfriend...
Click to expand...
I am very saddened to tell you that Duke Shirlaw passed away in 2002, I am not completely sure of the cause of his death, however he was only 47 If I am not mistaken. Duke was a Hell of a nice guy and talent--he was nuts--but that's why people loved him. I was one of the regular callers to his show for several years... and despite the fact I was only about 11-15 years old when I called in, it was a great experience... fun times for sure.

I know a little of the saga behind Duke leaving KFYI but that's not really for here and now... the last time I heard his voice was in 2000 (or so) when he called into Bob Mohan's show on KFYI to commemorate Mohan's 15th anniversary with the station.
 
Duke passed away several years ago.

I recall when I started at KFYI many moons ago and I first met Duke. He looked like a psycho on work-release from prison. I had accidentally bumped his motorcyle in the parking lot and damaged a tailight. I was nervous as heck to tell him. (See reference to psycho on work-release.) I fessed up, and he couldn't have been more gracious. He was always helpful as a board-op and call screener and MOTDN was a cool show.

He was a great guy and he's missed.
 
Duke and I lived together in the '80's. I used to call into his show also (when I was up late nursing babies, )I remember his brother worked the boards for him. I left the valley about 6 years ago for higher ground, so I really have not had contact with anyone from then. This was during the time he was with AJO Rep. I am getting ready to move to a different house and just came across a box of his things, old plays,short stories etc. which caused me to try to locate him. I am shocked, sorry and saddened to hear he is gone. He was beyond funny and we had some times. I have wonderful memories of staying up drinking all night and I will never forget the man who introduced me to Hunter S. Thompson. A copy (Duke's old copy) of The Great Shark Hunt is on my nightstand as we speak.
 
Bob or Barry (can't remember) had a handwriting analyst on once who read a sample of Duke's handwriting without having met him. He said whoever had written the sample was a cross between Roy Rogers and Hunter Thompson (or Timothy Leary?-again, sorry can't recall which), anyway, that was Duke. What a great show MOTDN was. He always called Barry (backwhen Barry was the PD) "the man who would be tall", so I figured he would get the ax someday over a falling out with him.
 
Duke's show was great! And his great "Loser!" clips were fun.

Phoenix radio needs someone that is generally twisted like Duke
 
Duke's brand of radio was something that isn't---and can't be---taught. It truly was a reflection of Duke's persona. I remember him much more from his days with the Ajo Repertory Co. over at the old NFL bar run by Paul LoDuca and Tommy Dee. They presented the funniest, most outrageous comedy show I've ever seen....to this day. And as talented as they all were (Ben Tyler, Cathy Dresbach & Jeff), Duke definitely stood out as a different kind of talent. I join all of you who have expressed missing him.
 
KMGX said:
I was one of the regular callers to his show for several years... and despite the fact I was only about 11-15 years old when I called in, it was a great experience... fun times for sure.
Click to expand...

Shawn?
 
Re: KFYI - Duke Shirlaw's Middle of the Damn Night Show

Well... I also found this very late - I directed, and was the Technical Director of the "Middle of the Damn Night" show for about 4 months amongst other weekend and overnight duties at KFYI-AM. Although it was very short I have listened back to a few of the shows I had respectfully produced of Duke's. I still look back on the summer of 1991 as probably some of the most fun I have had in the business and grew to love the career insight that Duke provided. Although nobody will ever effectively re-create the magic that happened in that 12:00A - 3:00A time slot but he still resides in our memory.

Duke and the rest had opened my world to talk radio and to this very day I have no clue how KFYI survived this long without him, and the show.

To the great listeners (I'd like to think so)that miss those nights while we were all waiting for our meds to kick in, and hear Duke's own thoughts on the way Arizona should be. Just remember there are gun toting rogue politicians, and finally... losers in the news that are waiting to be made fun of. ;)

Respectfully,
The Beave -
(Brian Douglas Spieker)
 
Belated sympathies to the passing of Mr Shirlaw.
I had the pleasure of calling into his show at KFYI a few times.

This market could use another Duke Shirlaw.
He came across as sincere.
Another present night host ("Top 7 at seven") comes across as a wanna-be.
 
Desert and others,

I'll be honest... I honestly believe nobody could touch what Duke had.

Although (you read it here FIRST) I have absolutely NO hosting experience behind the microphone in N/T, (News Talk) But there a few out there in Phoenix I could actually do better than if given the opportunity. (given some time)

The top 25 are simply not willing to take that chance. They would rather run Syndicated, or satellite programming. and save a few bucks.

PHOENIX Programmers & Ops Mgrs. are you listening???
Serious inquiries ONLY please. Send me an Personal Message on this board if this remotely has your interest.


The Beave
 
Go for it Beav. You were groomed by one of the good ones.
 
I was Mohan's producer when Shirlaw called into for the 15th Anniv. show. You should've heard what was said during the breaks. Thankfully, I recorded it and will make my aircheck blog once I find it. Two pros at the top of their game.

Duke brought the Ajo Reperatory Company to the next level. He was muti-layered as well, and could bring his talents to the stage, the airwaves or the street corner.
Some of his best moments were his bizzare exploits on the streets of downtown Phoenix, and of course, in the middle of the damn night.
 
Sam,

You are not kidding! ;)

The guy was better than Adrian Cronour - (the character effectively played by Robin Williams in "Good Morning Vietnam"

Remember the ship never flew by it's self, it took people to run it.

The Beave
 
(in my modest and humble opinion)

Pattiwacki,

The crew at KFYI during that window in time really was a great bunch of talented people,
What I wouldn't give to be back in the valley doing what I was taught to do best with a few of them.

Wait a min... I just sent out almost 75 Resumes for positions at Infinity (CBS) Nationally
Just maybe I'll be back in Phoenix yet. ???
 
I miss Duke. I did nights at Power 92 in the late 80's (as Kidd Kelly) and hung out with Duke during his show. We shared the same birthday (May 2nd).

I remember the guy who would call up with different characters like the Disco Terrorist, and more. It was so much fun.

On night, I brought in the game Risk, where Duke, myself, Phil Steiner, Gary Starkoff would play against each other on the air. When it came time for the 'fifth player' to make a move, it would be whomever was on the phone at the time. LOL.

I also remember the night a bunch of us went to see him perform the lead in the play, Talk Radio. He was great.

I will miss Duke.

To quote Duke...."Ummmmm Bye"

-Maverick
LIVE 1055
Ventura/Santa Barbara
 
I mentioned in an earlier post of having the pleasure of calling into his show at KFYI.

One Friday evening, I pulled into a Seven/Eleven (40th St and McDowell Rd), to buy some beer.
I already had some under the belt.
I noticed a stretch limo parked just outside of the front entrance.
By itself, not a big deal.
But a MAJOR babe stepped out in a very sexy dress.
Again, not a big deal.

For some lost reason, while listening to Duke on the car radio, I decided I would call it in when I got home.
As trivial the call was, Duke gave me about 2 1/2-3 minutes to chat about it.
He seemed very sincere and enthusiastic about the call.

I went to the trouble of taping it too.
Seven second delay can be a friend.
When the station picks up on the phone, one better hit record.

I'll see if I still have the tape.
I'll post it to YouTube to share.

If I don't have it, I'll let you know.
 
Desertskies,

If I remember correctly Forrest Spencer had us tape something to the effect of just about every other show... I think. Not just Duke's but also the weekend daytime slots. There was a precious few of them that I was able to put in my own tape in and archive an hour or so.

I have torn into my tape library and I found only one show of open phones with Duke.

I don't know about the rest of the people on this board, but I would welcome it.

The Beave
 
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