Bob SUMMERRISE Jr. Jan. 26, 1925 ~ Nov. 12, 2010 ‘Brother Bob’ passed from this life on Friday Nov. 12, 2010 — Born in Chicago on Jan. 26, 1925, he moved to Seattle in the early 40′s and began a successful career as a broadcaster on numerous radio stations including; KTAC, KQDE, KAYO, KZAM & KYAC. A pioneer in the field, he was one of the first African-American on-air personalities and the first with an engineering license. He married his wife Hellyne in 1954 and they raised 3 children while operating Summerises’ World of Music record shop on Jackson St. Passionate community activists, they worked tirelessly to improve the plight of the underprivileged. Bob is survived by daughter, Marsha Miles, sons, Robert III and Gregory; grandchildren, Nikki, Celita, Dylin, Robin, Robert IV, Franceska, Jai and Toussaint; nieces, Fai Mathews, Marguerite Richard and Shawn Richard-Davis and many beloved family members and friends. Father, brother, uncle and grandpa to all, ‘Papa’ will be sorely missed by those he touched. [Seattle Times]
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Bob Summerrise used to broadcast on radio station KTAC from a studio that was atop a burger joint on 6th Avenue. Seems to me that Bob also worked for a time at KTNT Tacoma. If anyone has audio from any of Bob’s radio broadcasts and would like to share it with the world here, let me know. email: radio@seatacradio.com
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Jef Jaisun writes:
As so often happens on this series of tubes we call the Internet (can’t wait til it goes solid state!), last night I stumbled on your radio site. I worked as a student dj at the original KZAM in the early Sixties. Since apparently nobody else remembers much about those days, I recently updated the station’s Wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KZAM_%28defunct%29#KZAM_in_the_1960s
Can you help me straighten out this timeline? On your page http://www.seatacradio.com/blog/?page_id=484 you write:
1958-KBVU; KFKF moved from 1330 to 1540 in 1968. Call letters changed to KBES, 1979-KZAM, 1981-KJZZ, KLSY, 1992-KBLV
I distinctly recall rocking out to a Sonny Rollins piece on KBVU, and that had to be in 1965. I’m also pretty sure the station was already on 1540.
********According to Broadcast yearbooks, 1958-KBVU on 1540; KFKF moved from 1330 to 1540 in 1968 where KBVU had been [two seperate frequencies, two seperate stations up until that time.]. Yes, you heard Sonny Rollins on KBVU in 1965, at the time, the KFKF call letters were at 1330, KBVU was 1540. KFKF abandoned 1330 in 1968, purchasing 1540 KBVU. [Jason Remington]
Jef Jaisun continues…
Also, my records indicate that KBES-AM was renamed KZAM in 1975, when Ballinger’s group bought the AM and FM stations from Kemper Freeman. In 1979 or thereabouts it was re-christened “KZAM – Rock of the Eighties.”
Love reading your stuff. Golden Age of Radio for sure.
Best,
Jef Jaisun
KZAM ’62
KRAB ’73
& others
*************** Yes, you are correct, sir! Updates have been made — In rechecking the yearbook for 75-76, KBES-AM was renamed KZAM in 1975. [Jason Remington]
We welcome your input! This is a work in progress and we seek the best information, especially from those of you that participated in broadcasting at the stations during those years.
