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Tributes from friends,
admirers and associates
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Art Roberts passed away at 10:30 pm on March 6, 2002
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TRIBUTES to
Art |
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Art Roberts was responsible
for my career in broadcasting which started in radio in late 60s.Art
selected me as a guest teen disc jockey, I will
never forget the day I
walked into WLS above London House and met Art. I was awe struck at
meeting one of my favorite on-air personalities and being allowed in the
inner sanctum of the WLS studios. I told Art that I wanted to go into
broadcasting. And while everybody else in the world tried to dissuade
me, Art gave me some real encouragement.
A short time after I called WLS and Art took my call and he informed me that I got the highest rating of any guest DJ and Art said to me go to and
finish school and he will
help me get your first radio job and he did.
We stayed in touch with me for many years and had me to his house many times and we enjoyed many stories. Eventually my career moved on. Had it not been for Art Roberts my radio life would have been drastically different. He was the only adult to encourage me along with Dick Biondi , to go after my dreams. I know Art touched alot of people during his career. But, I wanted to share how much he meant to me. I will never forget him, and my god bless him. Radio will never be the same without art. Let's help keep this alive, in Remembrance of Art Roberts. Happy "Hootie Saffatiker Day", this June 22. Write Hootie Saffatiker on something. A memo, a letter! IF your actively on the air tell everyone "Happy Hootie Saffatiker Day"! I will be doing so. In remembrance of Art, a man who did many many things in his lifetime! On June 22, my wife and I will be celebrating 32 years together. 32 VERY HAPPY YEARS. Art knew our Wedding Anniversary date. In 1985, On the WLS REUNION program, Art asked me to write "Hootie Saffatiker" on Roberta's forehead, and send it to him, In Jest. I told him "Well, that will go over like a ton of bricks" Kidding. mgmark3@frontiernet.net Now, with Art gone, we both wish we would have done it, Just for fun. For those of you who may NOT remember, On his Show, Art talked about this little fellow Hootie Saffatiker. Hootie Saffatiker is a fellow who never did anything in his entire life. Art figured there was a day for almost everything else, that we also needed a "Hootie Saffatiker Day". How he picked June 22, I do not know. I never asked him. Art received thousands of pictures from all over the nation, With "Hootie Saffatiker" written on bridges, water towers, damns, roads, blank billboards, letters, notes, almost anything imaginable! Ah, the Power and Personality, of WLS Radio! Happy Memories. Best Wishes to All Rob Hummel I was very saddened when I heard of Art Robert's death. I spent many of my formative teen-aged years listening to him. When he had the 9:00 to 12:00 shift at WLS I would put my transitor radio under my pillow and listen to his show until I fell asleep. His was literally the last voice I heard at night.
Coming from a small town in
downstate Illinois, WLS was one of my only links to the events and
happenings in the "big city". Listening to WLS is something
I cherish to this day.
I feel honored to have had the
chance to hear his voice and the world is a lesser place without him.
The thanks for the great moments in my youth.
Urbana, IL
I haven't examined all of the tributes to Art but I might be the only one originally from Montreal Quebec. I was a regular teenage listener back in the early 60's over the airwaves on many a cold wintry night. Such a pleasure and a delight to listen to his shows on WLS and WCFL which came in crystal clear once the sun had set. His voice was so clear as if he was sitting in the same room although he was some 800 miles away. "Hey Baby they're playing our song on the Art Roberts Show". A job well done,
Art |
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It was my great pleasure and
honor to work with Art Roberts for all the time he was at WLS. He was a
gentleman beyond words and always spoke well of everyone. He was an
inspiration, not only to his fellow employees, but to all those who tuned in.
DJ's come and DJ's go but there was only one Art Roberts. I feel certain he is
right now advising some inspiring talent inside the pearly gates......if
heaven is far enough away, he may even be listening to some of his old shows
that are just arriving! I had the good fortune of being one of Arts'
engineers and prerecorded his Sunday shows. I also happened to reside in the
town where Art stabled his horse and often met him along the bridle path on a
Sunday afternoon......he loved to ride his horse. I also had a job that often
necessitated my dealing with youthful folks, and quite often I found them
listening to Art Roberts and the show that we had previously recorded
together. I would sometimes ask them what they thought of Art but I never let
them know who I was. Their comments were always very favorable. What was
this mystery job? I worked as a police sergeant for the Park District. Radio
was my labor of love, and I spent 44 years at WLS but I also enjoyed law
enforcement. God bless you Art and until we meet again, excelsior! Dale Shimp WLS engineer retired |
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Personally, one of the legacies
of Art Roberts will be that he will always remind me of the days when
talented people really mattered and personalities were the reason many
people tuned in. Art Roberts was the bricks; all the rest was
the mortar.
Art became a legend, but remained
a gentleman. After all his major market success, he must
have had an ego, however it was hidden somewhere under all that
class.
After learning of Art's
passing, I'll now have to dig out the few revered air checks I
have of him during his brief stint at WOKY in Milwaukee in the 80's.
To listen as a young fan in the 60's, and then work with him later in
life, was a distinct honor.
I'll bet heaven's radio station
has a GREAT signal, but I wonder what it's like to finally
have a true "voice-of-God" competing with the real
thing!
Augusta, WI
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I was lucky enough to be a
Guest Teen DJ with Art at WLS in May, 1964. He had just started working on the
air at nights about three weeks earlier, after Dick Biondi was fired. I was almost 14 and thought it was a lifetime highlight being on the air with him. Tim McCartney Bemidji, Minnesota |
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It was in late December, just before New Year's that I flew to Reno along with my mother, Nyda Fogarty. We made our way through Carson City, and finally to Minden, NV to the home of Art Roberts. There was both excitement and apprehension about the visit to my old "roomie" Art Roberts. We had been in phone contact throughout the last year or so since his stroke and I knew he was now confined to a wheel chair. We pulled into a new subdivision and to very nice looking home with a ramp going up to the front door. Art's wife Bobbi and three sheltie dogs greeted us and we were welcomed into a large living room. Bobbi said Art would be out shortly as he was on his computer. I played ball with the dogs and learned of all their awards as show dogs. Within a few minutes out rolled "A Work of ART" My man! It was difficult to hug a man in a wheel chair but I did a good job.. The first thing I noticed was he had moderately long hair which he had neatly tucked under a Diamondback Ball cap. Yes, our World Champion Diamondbacks from Phoenix. We talked about the great 7 game thriller. It was obvious Art's mind, his voice and sense of humor were all just fine. Soon Bobbi went down the road and picked up lunches for all of us and Art and I poured the wine and talked radio from WLS in the 60's, to Milwaukee and WKQK l01 NBC Chicago, where Art and I were roommates and I was Acct. Executive with WKQX. We used to drive around at night in Chicago in his l978 Pontiac Bonneville. He was a big fan of Bonneville's. Art was showing me the famous restaurants and bars and hangouts of such notables as Mayor Cermak, Al Capone and others. WKQK was very successful at this time with bringing back on a full time basis Joel Sebastian in the morning and Art Roberts in the afternoon. Art talked of owning Texas radio, country radio, working country radio in San Francisco. Yes, he was into country music too. I was so glad I saw him and got to reminisce of old times as little did I know that I would be one of the last old radio friends to see him alive and as he used to say whenever he'd sign off of WLS or WKQX BYE BYE SO LONG, this has been a "Work of ART"
Glendale, AZ
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Some of my best memories of
growing up was riding around with art roberts on the radio, wls 890. i
remember getting the word out about WLS at night in the 60's. i grew up just
north of memphis, tennessee, i wanted to get into radio but also wanted to be
a cop, both of which i wished for and they came true, i went to work with the
tennessee highway patrol as a radio dispatcher, not a dj, maybe a first cousin
to that...... still on the radio today, close to retirement. in art's book
"thinkin' out loud", i sent him the story that appears on page 117,
i was honored that mr roberts included that in his book. art, if i ever write
a book, you will be in, listed under as a friend and a mentor. you will be
missed. Bill Dunn Tennessee Highway Patrol - Memphis District |
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He
had a profound and intensely positive impact on my career as I listened to
him EVERY night throughout the 60's, even pre-nights when I'd sneak a
radio to school and listen when he did midday. He had this great
balance of folksiness and slightly avant garde hipness that was miles ahead
of most DJs at the time. His show was peppered with features from
Guest Teen DJ to Peter Fugitive (a pre Chickenman spy knockoff) to The Top
Three requests at ten and the list goes on....Combined with those "only
in Chicago" Anita Kerr and PAMS jingle mix, his show was a
theater of the mind masterpiece. Along with Ernie Banks and
Mayor Daley, Art defined the magic of Chicago in the 60's and will be
long remembered, appreciated and loved by the Industry people he
inspired and worked with as well as the millions of Americans who he
blew away with years of truly amazing radio. Lee Abrams CPO, XM Satellite Radio |
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Going back and
listening to tapes of Art's shows this past week has given me a new
appreciation of the way he just "talked", he didn't
"announce." His natural style and easy-going, warm and
friendly carefree sound belied his talents as a wonderfully creative writer,
who was always prepared to offer listeners something to think about, laugh at,
or something just plain interesting. His resonant voice was God given,
but his understanding of radio as a personal medium where you talk to millions
of people one at a time, was something Art figured out at a young age and
never forgot. Because he spent so much of his career working in the middle of the day at WLS during prime visiting hours, Art was often the face and human embodiment of that radio station. They couldn't have had a better representative. As evidenced by the countless testimonials on his web site from around the country, Art always took time to run out to the "viewing room" and shake a hand, smile or exchange greetings with fans. And then he'd return to his favorite post--behind the microphone, standing up, suit and tie back in the early years, and more often than not-with a wink he'd send a hello out to you over the air. I was one of the many back in the early 60's who saw him that way. Called him up. Took a picture of him. Still have my "Excelsior Club" card. I heard him----first in the afternoon, then at night, later in the morning. Not many have written about his days in morning drive, but I recall he re-invented himself by then...took on the cause of environmentalism and related to his new more mature audience. When I was doing the afternoon drive show at WLS (and I'll say "show" here to honor Art, who truly did a "show" not just a shift) in the 70's, I invited Art to come in one afternoon during a "special" I was doing to mark the radio station's 15th anniversary of rock. I brought him on as "the guest teen disc-jockey" and clearly remember feeling uncomfortable and a bit sad fter we were done with the broadcast. At the time Art was struggling a bit career-wise and he was talking to me about the possibility of returning to WLS ! to use his talents and possibly become the music-director. (remember when stations had those) It seemed all wrong to me that, here I was having grown up listening to this great talent who was helping me by guesting on my show, and he was now looking to me for a bit of assistance. Our business, like our society, tends to discard those who because of their vast and lengthy experience, can contribute the most. I remember after Rob Feder printed an item in the Chicago Sun-Times about Art's first stroke I sent him a get-well wish. Later when I read about his book I sent him a check to order a copy. I got the book, and my check back a few weeks later..along with a note that said "Thanks but I have a rule--never charge a friend. I only ask that you tell me what you think of the book. By the way, I remember coming across your nice note during my illness. I had meant to thank you but lost your address, then wonderfully your order for the book came my way, so now I finally get a chance to say thank you. Keep in touch" In recent years I discovered his web site. I'm glad after much procrastinating I finally read the book and messaged Art with my feedback. As I told him then, it was coming in handy as an advice manual on many aspects of the business all the time now--besides being an entertaining and informative read. Even as I write these words now I think of the advice Art had about what to do when you just couldn't get started with a written project. "Just sit down and start doing it", he said. "The words will eventually come to you and start flowing." That's what just happened to me, and so I apologize for the length here. The effect his death has had on me has surprised me. I guess it's because in the last year we had communicated about a Chicago 60's rock documentary I did for WTTW-TV. And so I was beginning to think of Art as another experienced veteran who I listened to as a kid and was still active now and more of a collegue---an acutal person--- than some icon. When he left us I went to his web site...read all the messages, questions and answers that had been posted before he died, and listened again to some of his airchecks. Going through all the comments from his old friends and listeners gave me a whole new appreciation of what a special man he was. A mentor to so many. And guess what? He went back to being an icon..one of my own. He was so effortless (or seemingly so) in the way he connected with us on the radio that his greatness and impact have sneaked up on me just the way his shows did. A couple of days ago I was driving on the expressway heading into downtown Chicago, looking at the great skyline of the city Art loved so much on a glorious March afternoon. Maybe it was the sight of one of the old skyscrapers still gleaming in the shadows of 360 North Michigan Avenue---I'm not sure, but something made me think of the way I used to feel when I was downtown as a kid, after visiting WLS and more often than not seeing Art Roberts at work on the air. I can't explain the sensation, but it was like "butterflies" in my stomach. Warm ones. Like the first sweet smell of spring, or your first "crush." Art Roberts somehow figured in all that. I'm glad so many of us told him so when he was still with us. Bob Sirott |
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For nearly 20 years I worked as an
engineer at WLS. I didn't get there 'til after he left, but Art Roberts
was one of the people that made me want to work at WLS. Art was one of
those who played a significant part in making it a place that I still like to
talk about and he played a significant part in keeping me from having to
explain to even "non-radio" people just what a "WLS" is.
Most have already at least heard of it. We must remember Art Roberts and we
must think about what Art Roberts was to us, his radio family. For
myself, I have always wanted more from radio than I can go down to the store
to buy. Art showed us that radio can be more than a juke box. I'm
very sorry that we lost one of the minority who knows that, but we must
remember Art Roberts as an example of what can still be. The guy (or woman) on
the radio can truly be a family member who will live in our hearts forever and
Art Roberts was high on a short list of those "works of Art". Martin Soehrman Portland, Oregon |
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Thoughts
from Rob Hummel I really don't think, that Art, Ron, and Clark, ever fully realized just how many listeners they really had, and how much good they did, not just in Chicago, but all over the USA. They had the most exposure, due to the nighttime & early morning propagation, so they were heard nationwide. They were an inspiration, to be the best you could be, at whatever you wanted to be! Just the way they did their shows, the promos, the little gimmicks, i.e. Bruce Loverly, BedTime Stories, Winkie the Weather Bunny, Clarks Wife "Cobra"... The Chrome Dome Clark Weber, Ring Worm Ron Riley Pumpkin carving Look-alike contest....... The top three most requested songs, WLS The "Beatles" Station... The practical jokes... Listening to WLS in those days made you feel like you had a place you could go, to refresh your mind, to relax, to forget about any troubles or tragic news events. It was a different time, a different place, and we can only remember when the world was a "simpler" place to live. As a wise man once said, "You can never go home again", "All things must Pass", and for every time there is a season, for every season there is a time. They made a person feel like you were part of their broadcasts. Their style was one of a friendly visit, at a coffee shop, or a general store.... They made you feel like a part of WLS, and Chicago. They inspired goodness, and the world is better because of them. To call them legends, Yes, they were..... Art would always ask, how many people do you think your "talking" to when you turn on that Microphone? The answer would almost always be "millions upon millions"... But Art would answer, "No, you're only talking to one person." That reply would astonish the young announcer... as this was a 50 Kilowatt Clear Channel radio station. How could this possibly be?? Then Art would explain in his own way, you’re talking to one person, The one person reading a book in the living room, the one person playing with their model railroad, the one person driving in their car... the housewife doing her chores.... Yes, Art really did "Visit" with each person, but he "Visited" with millions all at one time. Art was quite clever in the way he looked at things. I really do not think the fellows really know how much of an impact they made, some 40 years ago, and I don't think they ever will. A thought I tried to convince Art of many, many times. Now, like the blind man in the bleachers, I now know Art can see what a difference he really did make.
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Art Roberts, Silent Mentor In Milwaukee, WLS was the station to learn about new hits, up and coming rock and roll stars, and at the same time be entertained by the best radio personalities in the world. As I listened to Art Roberts I made a lifetime decision. Somehow, somewhere, if I could only be half as good as Art Roberts I would enter the field of broadcasting. That dream came true. As the years passed, Art taught me to listen to radio. His style, his delivery, his voice were all perfect. I never dreamed that someday I would meet my silent mentor. Many years later I had the honor of not only meeting him, but working with him. When I first met Art it was at KBUC San Antonio. Art was the Station Manager, Program Director and Afternoon Host. His presence enhanced the atmosphere and brought warmth to the radio station each and every day. His suggestions, his demeanor, even his jestures helped us learn from the master. Only a few people can say they worked with a legend. Only a handful can say that a legend became a friend. Art, I miss the friendship, advice, the dinners with our wives, the times we looked for a radio station to buy together, the stories you told, the playlist goes on. Thank you Art for all the tips, suggestions, and guidance you gave me. Thank you for the wisdom and your positive attitude towards life. Thank you for being part of my life. Your work of Art has penetrated my soul. You have touched so many so close and so far...you will never be forgotten.
Tulsa,Ok.
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Art did something I never
expected, but then again, that's Art. Around 1971, Art replaced Clark
Weber as morning personality on WCFL, Chicago. I was a big Clark Weber
fan...having listened to Clark on WLS and CFL. I wrote a letter (I was
in 6th grade and had gotten a Royal typewriter for Christmas!) to WCFL's GM
Lew Witz saying I missed Clark in the morning (he had moved over to WMAQ). Not
only did I get a reply from Lew, but a few days letter I got a personal letter
from Art saying "he would do what he could to keep me entertained in the
morning"...a total class act. Eventually I grew to enjoy Art...we all
enjoyed his contests in the morning...maybe some of of you remember "The
Great Dressing Game". I met Art years later at WKQX in Chicago and told
him about the letter and we enjoyed reminiscing about it. I remember the
letter like it was yesterday; I only wish I had kept it. People like Art are
why I made the decision to go into the business. He will be missed. John Patrick PD, WOOD-FM Grand Rapids, MI |
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When I started interviewing the
WLS personalities for my book, I had a lot of help from Bob Hale, who put me
in touch with one of the guys who put me in touch with another...these guys,
though spread across the country, stayed close. In my initial taping with Art
Roberts, I found him a little distant - I mean, after all, here's another guy
dredging up the old days and how many times have I answered these questions? I
was wrong - in fact, a day or so later Art called ME back and had a few more
things he wanted to add and to make sure I was clear about. He was terrific.
In putting the finishing touches on the book, I had other chances to contact
Art and always found him amiable, generous and thoughtful. And he was elated
when the book came out. Years later, out of the blue, I got a call from Art,
who was working on his own book at the time and wanted my advice about a
publisher. Art Roberts wanted MY advice??!! I put him in touch with a couple
of places and he ended up using one of them, and I am so proud to have been
able to review it for the "cover" of his web page. In the foreword
of my book, I wrote: "In signing off his program, Art Roberts would
always say 'Excelsior!' While it's true excelsior is the worthless material
(wood shavings, etc.) used for packing boxes, tt is also the Latin word that
serves as the motto for New York State. Excelsior, in that case, means 'ever
upward.' "I like to think that's exactly how Roberts intended it to be -
lifting ever upward the spirits of his youthful audience, and lifting ever
upward the prominence of one of the greatest radio stations of its era - WLS."
God bless my friend. Stew Salowitz Author, "Chicago's Personality Radio" |
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This
is a sad moment. Hearing of the passing of a colleague is always a jolt. It
comes so close to the words spoken in many churches on Ash Wednesday;
"Remember, from dust you came; top dust you will return." As one who
claims a faith, I have always felt that God erred in allowing death to have
the impact it does. Or, for just allowing death, period. Of course at
these moments, filled with sadness, we try to fill the void with memories.
And of Art Roberts, we all have so many, many memories. I cannot recall one
instance when Art was NOT smiling, pleasant or joking. Uptight did not seem to
be in his make-up. Now, that was his greatest gift...a gift given to him, and
a gift he shared with all of us. Kindness and humor. WOW, what a great one-two
combination. Too bad we can't all have that said about us. |
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Published March 11, 2002 in
the Lerner Newspapers-Chicago CHICAGO ED by ED SCHWARTZ Radio legend Art Roberts ended every program by saying "This has been a work of Art". And so it was. The radio icon for millions of teens growing during the 60's and 70's has died. He was 70 and living in Reno Nevada. News of his passing buzzed thru America's network of radio friends and broadcasters over the weekend. It hit me extremely hard. Art Roberts had been a friend, teacher, mentor and inspiration. He was one of the reasons that I and dozens of other young men and women pursued the microphone and career of radio. WLS AM 890 program director Gene Taylor hired me in 1965 as a production assistant. A polite was to say "Gopher". The main part of my 4 to midnight duty was to assist Art Roberts the host from nine to midnight. He was a patient boss, thoughtful man, respected professional. For almost two years I was part of the "mind theatre" that was the Art Roberts Show on WLS. From his nightly bedtime stories to his weekly "guest teen" disc jockeys, I was there to answer the phone, open the door, carry his tapes, greet his guests, learn from a master. WLS and its 50,000 watt AM radio signal boomed out across much of America, particularly at night, and the popular format of "rock and roll" music hosted by truly legendary radio stars such as Art, Clark Weber, Ron Riley, Don Phillips, Bernie Allen, Gene Taylor and others became "airborne" friends to literally millions of devoted listeners. The hugely successful radio giant WLS helped give birth to an industry that spread across the country with the speed of sound. Here in Chicago other stations like WJJD 1160 AM and WCFL AM 1000 also produced devoted fans and D.J's with household familiarity. Ron Britain, Jim Stagg, Jerry G. Bishop and Barney Pip among them. Art Roberts and his contemporaries made radio a daily or nightly experience for millions all told. The bond was solid. Art Roberts was born in New York and his resume' read like that of many radio performers. His career included a number of moves as he worked his way to larger broadcast markets. He worked in Texas, Ohio, California, Wisconsin and other locations. Chicago was his favorite. Southeastern Louisiana University is where Art chose to go to school, and also met his future wife Bobbi. Between thousands of hours of radio and hundreds of personal appearances Art and Bobbi raised 5 children. It is sometimes hard to view Art as a parent of five when radio allowed him to be the "big brother" to multitudes of listeners. His on air delivery was a magnetically warm and comforting sound. His bedtime stories were often the last words heard by Chicago area kids as they fell asleep with a bedside radio playing quietly in their rooms. Watching Art "on the air" was intoxicating. He never sat down. He bobbed and weaved to the blaring music while playing drums on the tabletop using pens and pencils as substitute drumsticks. Everytime he thought of something valuable, he wrote it down before it could escape. As he stood before the WLS microphone it was almost as if he could look right thru it and see his legions in their homes, bedrooms, basements, wherever. Having worked for and watched Art Roberts it is easy for me to say that few of the current crop of radio poseurs could carry his briefcase let alone match his accomplishments. He was the real deal. He was a radio star. I don't know when Art got to be 70. I can't picture it. I can't even imagine it. He wasn't a silly man. He wasn't immature. He just knew how to talk to kids. He liked kids, and they liked him. He was their 50,000 watt pal. He visited them every night. My service to Art coincided with my entering classes at Chicago's Columbia College. It was on a student bulletin board at the media arts college that I learned of the job opportunity at WLS. I had visited the station once as a delivery boy for a downtown clothing store. The package was addressed to Dex Card the afternoon jock. He waved me into his studio and slapped a couple of bucks into my hand as my eyes popped out at where I was actually standing. This was the radio station of my youth, and here I was. I knew I would be back. The Art Roberts I will always remember is the very perceptive man with the generous heart. He was my quiet hero. He looked at me and automatically knew something was wrong. I couldn't concentrate on work and he was the first to know. I explained that my girlfriend had departed for college in southern Florida, and I was sad and lonely. Art suggested I visit. I had neither the money nor vacation time, so it was out of the question. The next day Art Roberts gave my love life an injection of vitamin "A" for Art. He obtained a vacation from the station for me and added a handful of cash. Enough to buy airline tickets to and from, and a few bucks to spend while there. The deal was a repayment plan of $5.00 a week. We shook hands and I was off to see my love. Art Roberts passing was a loss for broadcasting to be sure. But the significance of the moment was a reminder to me of how a sensitive man with a desire to mentor can grow and nurture others. I feel a bit like a plant or flower, and Art was my gardener. He cultivated and watered and my career eventually blossomed. Art Roberts, we'll truly miss you, and all your works of "Art". Excelsior. (Interesting footnote) Mr. Roberts ended each broadcast by saying, "This Has Been A Work Of Art, Excelsior"! Research shows that the word excelsior means "Still Higher", and is the motto of New York. Chicago Ed Schwartz |
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Read all the tributes to and
about Art Roberts. I didn't know him as well as the many who wrote. Art made
me feel like we were long time friends.
You see I grew up listening to him when he was at WKBW in Buffalo, New York. Art Roberts before leaving to join up with Dick Biondi at WLS, slid down the street to a small 250 watter called WBNY AM. At 1400 on the dial, Art played rock and roll along with Lucky Pierre, Dick Carr, Mark Edwards and among others, Kasey Casem. Casey and Art worked about three months at the station. Casey got fired, and Art left for WLS. Art left behind in Buffalo some things to remember him by. I have attached his record labels called ARP.....Art Roberts Productions. He had only two singles, but as it was common to do, back then, he started with record # 13. And no, there were no other previous singles. Just # 13 and # 14. Also while in Ohio, he recorded for Imperial records. "Terrible Ivan" and "Give Her The Ax Max" were novelty tunes. ARP Records released two singles by a local Buffalo band. On the "First Sign Of Love" Art does a narrative over it. Also Barbara Voorhies wrote and co-wrote two of the sides. Barbara is Arts wife. During his tenure at KB Art was voted "King Of The DJ's" one year. So he must have been doing something right! I had the privelege to bother him until he agreed to do a phone in to WHTT FM in Buffalo. They were having their Rock And Roll Re-unions, and after the first one, Art was on the call in list, for each one that followed. And he always had stories to tell. Done to soon! Later. Bob
Skurzewski |
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I was privileged to work with Art
for a short time at WLS, and much more honored to be a friend over the years
since. He and Bobbi were great together. And they sure loved their real
kids and their "canine kids," too. Hal Widsten General Manager KWED AM 1580 |
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It's been days since Art's
passing and I have yet to put how I feel about him into words. I remember
telling Art once that I found it hard to write on demand. He said you just
have to force yourself and eventually it becomes easier. Who was I to argue
with his success at that, so I tried. And so I'll try now. Like everyone else, I was fascinated with Art's show on WLS-- listening to "Peter Fugitive" with the radio under my pillow, trying to be a "Guest Teen Disk Jockey", calling the studio number (and actually getting through-- it must have been during a news break) and using the expression "whopper waffles" even though I had no idea what it meant. These are cliches, I know, but they became cliches because so many of us did them. Unlike everyone else, I got to work with and know the man behind those cliches. I first met Art when I joined WKQX 22 years ago and we quickly forged a bond that will last two lifetimes. He was my instructor, my mentor and my very good friend. I was proud to write and produce his Sunday oldies show and help with his other features. Despite my initial reservations, I found it to be easy to write for Art. If I could hear him say the words in my head, I knew it was right. It was impossible to even imagine Art saying something badly written. Over the years, we stayed in touch and he was always there to counsel my career moves. Last year, my employer folded in the dot.com implosion and Art was the first to call and commiserate. He sounded as he always did. It was easy to forget that he'd suffered a stroke two years earlier and easy to imagine that he would go on forever. He never let on the seriousness of his disability. That, of course, made his second stroke and subsequent death so much harder to accept. I hope there's a restaurant in Heaven, because I still owe him lunch. My other debt to Art can
never be repaid. Art and I once produced an Elvis tribute and in it I wrote,
"How do you say goodbye to a legend? You simply remember the man."
The words ring true in this instance as well. For the man truly was "a
work of Art." |
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An absolute gentleman and a
true friend of 30 years. I mourn his passing and celebrate his
life. Paul Kirby WCFL 1972 -74 |
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Our Mentor: Art Roberts by Jimmy Rabbitt Webster's defines mentor as: 1. (noun) a wise and trusted counselor or teacher 2. (cap) (in the Odyssey) a loyal advisor of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Telemachus 3. verb...to act as a mentor. I don't know who this Odysseus is, or his sidekick Telemachus, "the unicorn," or what station they worked for, but for hundreds of disc jockeys like me around the world it should read: "Art Roberts. Our loyal advisor entrusted with our radio education!" It all started for me back in early 60's when two culturally deprived boys named "Fast" Eddy Payne and Randy "Big R" Robbins were draggin' the streets of Tyler Texas in their hot rod Fords listening to a 50,000 watt wonderland in the night called WLS. We were d.j. s on different top 40 stations and had been good friends since long before we became competitors in the "Rose City" radio wars. We were as different as night and day, him from the south, me from the north, he loved R&B and Jazz, while I loved Country and Rock and Roll. Different yes, but somehow we both managed to fall in love with the same young, beautiful, blonde, Texas heartbreaker, yes she broke both of ours and married another d.j.! We both bought brand new Ford Galaxy 500XLs complete with the 406 super engine that would eat Chevy 409s for snacks, his was white and mine was red. We both entered and won trophies at twist contests held around the east Texas area in conjunction with the many "twistploytation" films that were popular at the time. I think he won the most, but I know I won the biggest, it was held at the Tyler Theater between showings of "Don't Knock The Twist" with Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp and Joey Dee and The Starlighters! We both had long rock and roll D.A. haircuts, and dressed like we lived on Beal Street in Memphis which really made us stand out in that small Texas town. We both played and recorded with rock and roll bands, and had local hits during the 60's. His band was called "The Sensors", mine "The Golden Hawks". But somehow we knew we could never be rock and roll stars, so we became d.j.s! And we both loved to listen and dream about the "big time" jocks we heard on all those "big market" radio outlets that boomed into Tyler after sundown every night. There was KLIF from Dallas with
Russ Knight "the weird beard", Chuck 'Baby' Dunaway "The Round
Mound of Sound", Ken Dowe and "Granny" Emma, Rex
Miller and Charlie and Harrigan. Then there was WNOE from New Orleans
with Long John Silver "The Blue beard" and other fast talking hip
New Orleans announcers. But most of all we both loved WLS. We got
a real kick out of Dick Biondi and all the wild and crazy things he got away
with on the air, we loved Clark Webber's "East of Midnight"
show, we both wished we had Ron Riley's voice (still do), and we both
wanted to grow up and move to Chicago someday and work with our hero...Art
Roberts! We knew that Art had worked in Tyler once upon a time just like us -- He was at KTBB, we were at KGKB and KDOK. We also knew that he had become a "radio star" and moved on up to KLIF, and was now the "King" of Chicago on WLS! Art had ... (click here to continue reading) |
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We Were
So Young Then … We were so young then. We came from little towns like Evansville, Tyler, Cheyenne and Natchez -- and bigger towns like Albuquerque, Salt Lake, Philadelphia and LA. We were armed with our cockiness, courage and what we swore was charisma. Our Third Class Radiotelephone Operator’s permits were our battle shields and our microphones were our battle sabers. We thought we could take on the world – and in our own ways, we did. We patented the word and practiced being cool two decades before it was cool to say cool and be cool again. We wore long hair and beads, bellbottoms and bandanas, leather armbands and beards while pondering the nutritional value of whole grain natural foods. We marched on Washington to protest a war, blew our minds in San Francisco and went to hootenannies in Greenwich Village. We surfed and danced to the Beach Boys and Beatles, Stones, Turtles, Jefferson Airplane, Vanilla Fudge and Cream. We wore Hai Karate after-shave and Heaven Sent perfume and we were suddenly everything we wanted to be. We went by radio names like James Bond and Beethoven, Shotgun and Superjock. We were the Beatles Generation Jocks. Art Roberts was one of our heroes. Art passed away on March 6, 2002 at 10:30 PM. 35 years ago, at about that time of the night, he would have been halfway through his nine till midnight radio show on WLS. So, it seems somehow proper and poetic that he left us at that time of the evening. For, if you were a Beatles Generation Jock, you always thought of and listened to Art Roberts at that time of the night ... (click to continue reading) Larry Shannon |
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Like so many radio people
today, I also listened to Art on WLS when I was a teenager. When Art
was hired as the PD at KLUV in 1987, I was like a kid in a candy
store. To have worked with a legend is something I'm still very
proud of. Rest in peace, my friend.
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When I was just a teenage
disk jockey in the early 60s, and still attending High School in Rapid City,
South Dakota, I listened to Art Roberts when the 50,000 watts of WLS would
come booming in during the evening hours in our small town. With pencil and paper in hand, I would write down many of his intros, lines, artist information, phrases, one-liners and whatever else I thought I could (and did) adapt to use on my upcoming daily afternoon radio shows in my little market. I still have that spiral notebook that contains some of his material that I copied down during those times. Then as just a young twenty-something in the late 60s, after attending college while also doing afternoon radio in Denver, Colorado, I was fortunate enough to be asked to join the legendary air staff of one of the greatest radio stations of all time, Chicago's WLS, "The Big 89." It was so amazing to me to then be working WITH the guy, who some years before, had unknowingly taught me so much during an early part of my developing radio career! Over much of that time, from South Dakota through Colorado and into Chicago, Art impacted me, inspired me, and taught me. He truly was "A Work of Art." Chuck Buell |
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The legendary WLS personality, Art
Roberts passed away a couple of days ago... and like many families, this radio
station is composed of people through different eras that genuinely care about
each other... and blessed with an extended family that includes all of you. In
broadcasting, there are few that could match wits with Art Roberts and few as
prolific. When most people would be content to retire and rest on the much
deserved laurels of the past he was too busy to think of such things. His
domain was the present and the present demanded of him the constant attention
he gave others and the drive for himself that he had to keep current and
viable. He did that. He did it with the same enthusiasm he always had. It can
be said that the measure of a person is the lessons they leave with others.
Lessons that keep teaching long after the class is dismissed. Art Roberts left
us with a lot of lessons and a lot to think about. I'm really gonna miss Art.
To paraphrase the name he used on his creations in the 60's, his life was
"A Work Of Art." Jeff Davis |
My name is Chuck Collins. I learned of Art's passing from a friend on the internet. Art Roberts was responsible for my career in broadcasting which started in radio in late 1965. I was about to turn 16 when Art selected me as a guest teen disc jockey in the last weeks of December 1965. I will never forget the day I walked into WLS and met Art. I was awe struck at meeting my favorite on-air personality and allowed in the inner sanctum of the WLS studios. I told Art that I wanted to go into broadcasting. And while everybody else in the world tried to dissuade me, Art gave me some real encouragement. Within a month I landed a job at WEEF AM & FM in Highland Park. I called WLS and Art took my call. And he stayed in touch with me for the first few months. By 1967 (at the age of 17) I had my own air shift from 7-11PM where I played album cuts from rock and roll albums of the time. Eventually my career moved to my own talk show on Channel 26--(short lived) followed by three years hosting THE UNDERGROUND NEWS on channel 44 (1969-73). The show was syndicated to four other cities. My next job was as a reporter/producer with WTTW. Eventually, I produced programs for PBS. Next stop was NBC news in Chicago, followed by NBC NETWORK NEWS as a reporter/producer. In all, I won seven Emmys, two Peabodys and dozens of other national awards. These days I am an author living peacefully in Scottsdale, Arizona. Had it not been for Art Roberts--my life would have been drastically different. He was the only adult to encourage me to go after my dreams. I know Art has touched thousands of lives during his career. But, I wanted to share how much he meant to my life. I have to boys---both of whom dreamed of being musicians. I learned from Art how important it was to let young people go after their dreams. Both of my sons are signed to a major label now and have a real career in music. Art is in my prayers. I will never forget him. Chuck Collins |
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I remember Art Roberts when he was
on from Midnight to Five. Dick Biondi was on from 9 to
midnight... until Biondi got fired. I enjoyed Biondi and how he talked
about his early days working in Longview, Texas at KLTI radio which became
KLUE where I got my start when in high school. Wayne Sorge |
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Since yesterday I have received a number of
e-mails from people who were Art Roberts fans. In an era where radio is losing
the personal touch we all loved, we know that those in Rock 'n Roll now have
another great addition to the air staff. He's probably already lining up an
interview with John Lennon and George Harrison. Jeff Roteman www.MusicRadioWLS.musicpage.com |
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Dear family and friends of Art
Roberts:
Art was a welcome companion
every night on WLS. His enthusiasm for radio was certainly a factor that
encouraged me to go into broadcasting. When my Starbeat's "What's
Happening" was heard over WLS I could only think of the honor it was
to be on those airwaves that Art helped make so famous. Art's voice will
continue to echo out through the cosmos from those years at 50,000 watt
WLS.
To family and friends I want
to express my deepest sympathy. Only time can soothe the pain of such a
great loss, but fond memories can never be lost only cherished.
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Dear Radio Compatriots: My e. mail box has been filled with messages of sadness regarding the passing of Art Roberts. Clark Weber called from Florida to express sadness at the news. I also chatted today with Larry Miglore who was Art's right hand at WLS. Ron Riley has also checked in with his vivid memories. I worked every night with Art for almost two years at the very beginning of my career in the mid 60's. We had fun. He taught me much. He loved every minute of it. His show close was always the same..."This Has Been A Work Of Art". and so it was......... Ed Schwartz Chicago |
I miss you already! John Rook |
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For six wonderful years, the best years of my radio career, I got to follow Art Roberts on WLS "Good ’ol channel 89," on the East of Midnight show. I never failed to marvel at the easy, affable manner in which he conducted his shows. One could not be in a bad mood after catching the last hour of Art’s show. He was a good "set up" guy. I’d come in; he’d have a couple of jokes for me. I’d hit him with a couple of good ones and, what can I say, the mood was catching. This past summer my wife Doris and I got to visit Art and Bobbie at their home in Minden Nevada. We saw them for a couple of days. Had a couple of good dinners at Art’s favorite restaurants. It was good seeing them again. In spite of his paralysis, Art was always upbeat and full of good cheer throughout our entire visit. They showed us around the area in their new wheel chair lift van. Bobbie drove, Art was Co-Pilot. What a Co-Pilot! Bobbie knows what I mean. We had a great time. A lot of laughs. I think that is how I want to remember Art. That great infectious laugh. We’ll miss him. He truly was a "Work of Art." |
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His love for music and dedication to
creating a great and entertaining show was only surpassed by his affection
for his listeners, co-workers and colleagues. He treated
them all with respect, never talking down to them, always interested in what
they had to say. In addition, it was clear that his family was always
number one, followed closely, I suspect, by his horse!
I had the pleasure of meeting
Art in person about 2 years ago. Art and his family were back in Chicago
for a wedding and I had invited him to visit Windy 100 and to lunch. I
figured that he would be very busy and politely decline, but to my surprise
Art was more than happy to stop by. When he arrived, he was an
absolute delight. He had lots of questions about our stations and the
technology we used. We talked about the current state of radio and he was
happy to chat with some of the staff. Afterwards we had lunch and
swapped some great stories. I was thrilled to spend the afternoon with a
radio legend. He wouldn't even let me pay the restaurant check!
After a cab ride back to
the train station, Art was on his way and I was left with a good feeling.
As time passed, we continued to
chat. Then the news that Art suffered a stroke, but he came through
strong with the support of family and friends. And even though his
physical body didn't move the way it used to, Art's mind was as sharp as
ever! I always enjoyed trading stories and pleasantries with him via
email. And his website was always a treat to read as Art offered advice,
support and his special brand of wit.
Unfortunately Art suffered
another stroke this past February and it was obvious that his family was
very concerned. One of his daughters wrote that she wished that the news was
good, but....
I always told Art how I looked
forward to his return to Chicago for another chance to pay for lunch.
I sure hope he knows how much I
appreciated his kindness, concern and friendship.
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I wish I could have met Mr.
Roberts personally .... but his great personality and personal goodness live
on in a couple of my radio mentors, notably Dick Biondi. God bless, Mr.
Roberts .... sleep well. Kathy Cline, WBBM AM 780 Chicago |
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I, too, worked with
Art at KLUV in the 80's. I remember well when he came to work at
KLUV. Everyone was talking about his legendary years at WLS and how
great it would be to have him at KLUV. Honestly, the name didn't
ring a bell to me for some reason. Then on his first day, he asked
me to help him record a promo. I was in charge of them at the time
and so I sat down, set up the reel, put on my headphones, turned on
his mike, and he started reading the promo copy.....when i heard his
voice, i looked up at him and smiled, he stopped and said
"what??", and I said, "ohhhh, now i know who the hell you
are!!! i used to listen to your voice on a transistor under my
pillow when i was a kid!!!" He smiled and said,
"take two" and the magic of his voice flowed perfectly in
one take.
I can also remember asking
him if he had any old WLS airchecks I could make a dub of for my
collection. Art frowned and
said "you know, i never really kept any of that stuff"....I
couldn't believe it, this legendary jock had NO airchecks at all. I
ended up bringing in a couple i had from his time at WLS and he was so
appreciative. He literally had none before that, and mind you, that
was in the late 80's!!
Art was a terrific
guy, and like Ken Carter said, he understood personality radio and the
need for allowing creative freedom to make it happen. And
beyond all of radio, Art was a super friend.
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For the seven short, enjoyable years in the 1960s that I was WLS, my show and Art's followed each other. Through those years we were constantly in touch - he was my colleague, my "friendly competitor", now and then my adversary, but always my friend.
We got together several times
after that for industry and WLS anniversary functions and later
every week by email. We always had a great deal of fun talking
about people and events that took place during the WLS "glory days
of Rock & Roll." And what stories we swapped.
After his initial stroke in 1999
I went to Nevada to visit him - and despite it all - wheel chair - limited
use of his right side - somehow there was the same old Art - articulating,
and as always, creating a new thought or idea a minute - writing a book
- tending his website. One morning while I was visiting, his
"wonder-wife" Bobbie reminded him to take his pills. I said
"thanks for the reminder", as I forgot to take my blood pressure
pill. So there we were, Art and Ron sitting in his kitchen
taking our respective pills. Art shot out - "Hey Ron, did you
ever think when were up there at Sox park introducing the Beatles, that 35
years later we'd be here in the high desert of Nevada taking our medications
together." He had a joke for everything! That night they
took me to dinner at a great local French restaurant, and the next day
I pushed his chair out onto the porch into the mountain sunshine and
said goodbye as I headed back East.
Radio has lost another
legend who has contributed a great deal of himself to broadcasting and
encouraged those aspiring to get into the business.
It's rare in our industry that
you retain and value a friendship for over 35 years. I have lost a
friend.
God take care of you, Art.
Ron Riley |
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On the passing of
Art Roberts ... I was lucky enough to be a fan first, and then get to know and interview Art. One of the really great people is gone. We'll miss you, Art! Jay Marvin WLS radio I was deeply saddened to hear of the
passing of Art Roberts. He was a giant in radio and he was a giant as a
human being. I had the opportunity to work with Art when he was programming
KLUV in Dallas. The greatest thing about working for Art was that he gave you
the freedom that so few PD's are willing to do. He made sure you knew
what the station was trying to do and then had the wisdom and good judgment to
allow you to do it. I first became an Art Roberts fan when he was jocking at
WLS. I was on the road a lot during those years and always tuned in
since you could hear the station all over the country. I was in awe of
his talent and after I got to know him I was more in awe of him as a man. He
will be sorely missed by all of us that knew him and the industry is a better
place because of him. For me, Art Roberts was
WLS in the 60's ... "WLS The Big 89" (read
essay)
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