Rock Radio Heaven (K)

ANDY K.

Died: December 5, 2006

Stations: CKNS Simcoe, Ontario, CFRQ Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, CKOC Hamilton, CFOX, CKGM, CHOM-FM, CFCF Montreal, CHUM Toronto, CFFX Kingston, Ontario

Notes: Spent nine years of his 35 years in radio at CHUM (1989 to 1998). Did a brief coast-to-coast stint on the Pelmorex Radio Network. Was doing morning show host at CFFX (Oldies 96), when he died of complications related to pneumonia.


CASEY KASEM

Born: April 27, 1932, Detroit

Died: June 15, 2014, Gig Harbor, Wash.

Also known as: Birth name was Kemal Amen Kasem, Casey at the Mike, Krogo the Clown (at WJBK-TV)

Stations: Armed Forces Radio Korea, WDTR, WJR, WJBK, WJBK-TV, WJLB Detroit, WAMM Flint, Mich., KYA San Francisco, KEWB Oakland, KRLA, KTLA-TV Los Angeles

Notes: Co-created American Top 40 with Ron Jacobs, and hosted it from 1970 to 1988 and 1998 to 2004. From 1988 to 1998, hosted Casey's Top 40, Casey's Top 20 and Casey's Countdown. Kasem 39-year career in the radio countdown business ended in 2009 with the final broadcasts of American Top 20 and American Top 10. A popular voice-over artist, Kasem's long list of credits includes being the voice of Shaggy on Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981, and was named to National Radio Hall of Fame in 1992. Hosted American Bandstand-style show Shebang on KTLA-TV from 1965 to 1968. Signature sign-off line on his radio shows was, "Keep your feet on the ground but keep reaching for the stars." Suffered from Lewy body dementia, a degenerative disease similar to Parkinson's.


MURRAY KAUFMAN

Born: February 14, 1922, Richmond, Virginia

Died: February 21, 1982, Los Angeles

Also known as: Murray The K

Stations: WINS, WMGM, WNBC, WMCA, WOR-FM, WKTU New York, CHUM-FM Toronto, WHFS, WWDC Washington, D.C., WLIR Long Island, N.Y.

Notes: Kaufman gained fame in the '50s and '60s with his "Swingin' Soiree" show. He was so identified with the Fab Four that he became known as the "Fifth Beatle". Program director at WOR-FM during its early days as a progressive rock station. Hosted NBC's Monitor program and the syndicated show "Soundtrack of the '60s". Married six times. Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1997.


JEFFERSON KAYE

Born: December 12, 1936, Baltimore

Died: November 16, 2012, Binghamton, N.Y.

Also known as: Birth name was Martin J. Krimski; used air names Jeff Krimm and J.K. the D.J. in Providence

Stations: WRIB, WHIM Providence, Rhode Island, WBZ Boston, WKBW, WBEN, WBFO Buffalo, New York, WPVI-TV Philadelphia

Notes: Kaye became WKBW evening "Teenage Underground" host in 1966 after moving to the station from WBZ Boston, where he hosted afternoon drive from 1961 to 1965 and a Sunday night folk music show called "Hootenanny." Was 'KB program director until 1973. Replaced Clint Buehlmann in mornings at WBEN in 1977 where he stayed until moving to NFL Films in 1985. Renowned for his updated production of WKBW's War of the Worlds in 1968 and 1971, and his excellence in producing Buffalo Bills radio broadcasts. The four-time Emmy winner was named to Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002. Started in radio in late '50s in Providence, Rhode Island. Died of cancer.


JERRY KAY

Died: September 25, 2005, Seaside, Oregon

Stations: KOL, KJR, KHR-FM, KBSG, KHIT, KSPL, KYYX Seattle, WLS, WCFL Chicago, KNEW (later known as KJRB) Spokane (PD)

Also known as: Birth name was Jerry King

Notes: Billed himself as "the nice man on the radio." Part of a superb lineup that made KJR-AM a Top 40 powerhouse in the '60s. Died at age 67.


MIKE KELLY

Died: August 13, 2005, Encino, California

Stations worked at: CKLW Windsor, Ontario, CILQ (Q-107) Toronto, CFGM Richmond Hill, Ontario

Also known as: Used the air name Jack Daniels at CFGM.

Notes: Did radio and freelance work in Detroit. An accomplished singer, he did some session work in Detroit and wrote and co-wrote several songs. Worked for Clear Channel's Mediacase 24/7 for a dozen years.


ART KEVIN

Died: August 15, 2002, Las Vegas

Stations: WAVZ New Haven, Connecticut, KEZ, KFAC, KFI, KMPC Los Angeles, KVI Seattle, KRRI Las Vegas

Notes: Died of lung cancer


STU KENNEY

Died: December 7, 2002

Station: CKEY Toronto

Notes: Show was called "Wake Up Ontario." Was also an actor.


HERB KENT

Born: October 5, 1928, Chicago

Died: October 22, 2016, Chicago

Also known as: The Cool Gent, King of the Dusties, Mayor of Bronzeville

Stations: WGRY Gary, Indiana, WJOB Hammond, Indiana, WBEZ, WMAQ, WGES, WBEE, WHFC, WVON, WVAZ (V103) Chicago

Notes: Started in radio at age 16 playing classical music in 1944 at WBEZ. Credited with launching the careers of the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield and Minnie Riperton. Mentored "Soul Train" host Don Cornelius. Taught radio broadcasting at Chicago State University. Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995. Died on the same day as his final broadcast.


TOM KENT

Born: August 1954, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Died: June 24, 2024, Cleveland

Also known as: Truckin' Tom Kent

Stations: WLS Chicago, KLIF Dallas, WMJX Miami, WAVA-FM Washington, D.C., WIBG Philadelphia, WGCL, WIXY Cleveland, WBZZ Pittsburgh

Notes: Founded Tom Kent Radio Network (TKRN), which provided syndicated radio shows for over 600 stations.  The Nortn Carolina-born Kent was a record label executive with Elektra in the 1990s. Spent more than five decades in radio. Died of cancer.


TREVOR KIDD

Born: April 23, 1941

Died: May 20, 2017, Vancouver

Stations: CFRA, CFMO Ottawa

Notes: Spent 37 years in broadcasting. Known for his baritone radio voice, humour and quick wit. Died of cancer.


HAL KING

Born: May 3, 1935, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Died: July 23, 2006, Arlington, Texas

Stations: WBAP, KSCS, WRR, KJIM, KBOX, KVIL, KXOL and others in Dallas-Fort Worth, also worked at stations in Nashville, Key West, Florida., Maine and Rhode Island.

Notes: Broadcasting career spanned 55+ years, including 40+ years in Dallas-Fort Worth. Won many awards, including several Katy awards for both TV and radio and was honored by the Columbia School of Broadcasting for his writing. First person to do traffic reports on TV in the Dallas market, which aired on Channel 8; later worked for Channel 8.


FRED KLESTINE

Died: May 24, 1992, Buffalo, New York

Stations: WWOL, WBNY, WKBW, WJYE, WADV-FM, WBUF-FM Buffalo

Notes: Somewhat straightforward on air, the south Buffalo native was incredibly witty away from the mike, his friends say. Died of a stroke at age 68.


KEN KNIGHT

Died: 1973

Also known as: His birth name was Adrian Kenneth Knight

Stations: WERD Atlanta, WRHC, WPDQ Jacksonville, Florida

Notes: He was the first black in the south with his own syndicated show on CBS. He played "The Night Train" to open and close every show. The Jacksonville, Florida, street named after him in 1962 - Ken Knight Drive - still bears his name. Was program director in 1949 at WERD, the first-black owned radio station.


ROBERT W. KNIGHT

Died: July 11, 2022

Also known as: Birth name was James Wilkinson

Stations: CFOX Montreal, CFGO, The Bear (CFBR-FM), CHEZ, CHRO-TV Ottawa

Notes: Came to Ottawa in 1977 from his hometown of Montreal and never left, retiring in the mid-'2000s. Was a VJ in the early '80s at CHRO-TV. Died in a scooter accident.


RUSS KNIGHT

Born: May 3, 1932

Died: October 12, 2012, Connecticut

Also known as: Known on air as "The Weird Beard" at KLIF and KILT; his birth name was Russell Lee Moore.

Stations: KLIF Dallas, KILT Houston, WNEW New York, WXYZ Detroit, WCUE Akron, Ohio, WHK Cleveland, WELI-WAVZ New Haven, Connecticut, WICC-WDJZ Bridgeport, Connecticut

Notes: Featured on "Cruisin' 1962", where he recreates his KLIF show. Programmed "Make Believe Ballroom" with William B. Williams at WNEW-AM in New York. Inducted into Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2003.


TERRY KNIGHT

Born: April 9, 1943, Flint, Michigan,

Died: November 1, 2004, Temple, Tex.

Stations: CKLW Windsor, Ontario, WJBK Detroit, WTAC, WTRX Flint, Michigan

Also known as: His real name was Richard Knight. Known as "Jack the Bellboy" on WJBK.

Notes: Former manager and producer of the legendary rock band Grand Funk Railroad. Also had his own group in the 1960s, Terry and the Pack. According to police, Knight was murdered in a domestic dispute at his home in Temple, Tex., where he lived with his daughter and her boyfriend. The boyfriend was convicted of murder and was sentenced to life in prison.


KEN KNOX

Born: July 27, 1925, Texas

Died: August 20, 1988, Dallas

Stations: KLIF, KBOX, KTLC-KMEZ, KCNC Dallas

Also known as: Birth name was Ken McClure

Notes: Did morning drive at KLIF from 1958 to 1960. Also appeared in three movies, The Giant Gila Monster (1959), My Dog, Buddy (1960) and Beyond the Time Barrier (1960).


KIDD KRADDICK

Born: August 29, 1959, Napoleon, Ohio

Died: July 27, 2013, New Orleans

Also known as: Birth name was David Peter Cradick

Stations: WRBQ-FM Tampa, Florida, KYNO-FM Fresno, California, KAYK, KLRZ Salt Lake City, KHTZ Los Angeles, KEGL, KHKS Dallas

Notes: Grew up in Dunedin, Florida. Three-time Billboard "Air Personality of The Year." In 1992 and 1997 was AWRO "Air Personality of the Year". Won the Marconi Award for "Radio Personatity of the Year." Won the first annual WB Radio Music Award ad "Best Radio Personality in the Country in 1999. In 2001 was the "Radio and Records CHR/Pop Personality/Show of the Year. Began syndicating his KHKS "Kidd Kraddick in the Morning" show in 2001, and as of 2013 the show was syndicated to over 100 cities and worldwide on AFN (Armed Forces Radio). Also starred on DISH NATION on FOX-TV. Died of cardiac disease while attending a fund-raiser for his children's charity "Kidd's Kidds."


NANCI KRANT

Died: March 1, 2018

Station: CHUM Toronto

Notes: Worked at CHUM from 1973 to 2004 first as a traffic reporter and later as a program host . One of five females to host a show at CHUM - the others were Melanie Deveau, Stacey Thompson, Amber Payie and Jeannie Beker. Married to Tom Rivers; they co-hosted the morning show for a time in the 2000s before Tom died in 2004. Krant died of complications from pneumonia at age 65.


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