Puget Sound Media Blog Talks About O'Day Family Involvement.

While much has been written about Pat O'Day on Seattle media blogs, very little is written about the involvement of his family in many of his ventures.  When I worked at KYYX, Pat's sons Garry and Jeff were integral in the operation of the station.  Garry as producer and Jeff with commercial production.  Pat's wife was involved with radio sales.

In a post by Steven L. Smith in the Puget Sound Media blog, there is an audio clip of an ongoing bit that Pat did with son, Garry in the mid 1960s.  Garry was 7 or so at the time and would call in as Garry Finster, a smart aleck, problem child. Pat would quiz Garry on his day and they would come up with hilarious stuff.  

Smith's article also covers Garry bringing Monkee Micky Dolenz to his Jr High School to pose and meet with students. The picture above shows Micky with Garry to his right. Also, Pat's oldest son, Jerry took another Monkee, Davy Jones to Newport High.
To see the article and listen to the craziness, click here.

O'Day Stars In Radio Documentary

A look at four iconic disc jockeys includes Seattle radio legend Pat O'Day, according to the Puget Sound Media blog.  The movie, done in documentary format, is available on Amazon Prime.
The show, which is called "I Am What I Play" also features Meg Griffin, who I listen to on Sirius/XM channel 26, as well as Dave Marsden and Charles Laquidera.

Snowy Backyard

Snow continues to pile up after what has seemed to be a pretty mild winter.  This picture was taken outside our back door this morning. It's been with us for over a week and it's getting worst.
  On an unrelated topic, thank you to Pugetsound.media blog for plugging two of the posts on this blog. Tracy Taylor's new podcast and Pat O'Day's Beatles feature.

Pat O'Day And Jimi Hendrix

I got in my car and Sirius/XM radio was on.  A Jimi Hendrix song was fading out and DJ Meg Griffin was coming on. She told the story of when Hendrix, a Seattle native died, his family couldn't afford to bring his body back to the states.  His record company, that made millions off of his music would not get involved. She mentioned that finally a Seattle DJ stepped up and paid to have Jimi Hendrix brought back to this area where he is now buried.  Griffin said "I think his name was Pat O'Day".  I had already heard that story but was really proud to have it get national attention.

The picture above of Pat and Jimi shaking hands at a Garfield High School pep assembly, in story in itself.  It has been made into a statue by Pat's son Jerry.  The picture was recently displayed in an exhibit at the State Capitol on the year 1968.

Pat O'Day Featured Speaker at 2016 Eastside Heritage Center Benefit Dinner

From the SeaTac Media blog, Pat O'Day spoke at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue for the Eastside Heritage Center.  As you would expect, he gave a rollicking speech.

The Greats Of Seattle Radio

A photo of the 2015 version of the OFC (old farts club).  A select group of Seattle radio talent (mostly from KJR) meet annually.  Thank you to Jaynie Jones for this picture.  Burl Barer is in a red shirt in the back row center.  Pat O'Day is 4th from the right in the front row. 

Radio Exec Kevin "O'Brien" Metheney Dead At 60

The Seatac Media Blog  reports the sad new of the passing of Kevin Methenyy.  Metheny used the name Kevin O'Brien when he was brought to Seattle by Pat O'Day as a teen age prodigy to work evenings at KJR.  He worked as a radio executive in Cleveland, Chicago, and other major markets, but was perhaps best known as the Program Director at WNBC who tried to reign in Howard Stern.  Metheny was loosely portrayed as a composite character  Kenny Rushton, whom Stern called Pig Vomit in on the air ridicule.  I e-mailed Metheny from an old KJR tribute site after watching the Stern movie and he sent this reply

Metheny, Kevin

Mar 28, 2003

To

• mdbarer@yahoo.com

It's a MOVIE.

Not a historical text.

Bears SOME resemblance to fact. But not too much.

(It only required 10 years or so of therapy!)

You related to my old friend Burl?

KM


Kevin Metheny,
Regional Vice President of Programming, NE Ohio,
Clear Channel Radio
Metheny was program director at KGO-KSFO at the time of his passing.

Working The Hydros At KYYX

In 1982, I had been at KYYX for almost a week, I was scheduled to work the Seafair Hydro broadcast.  Not on air, but I would assist in the studio.  Pat O'Day, the owner of the station was on the "shores of Lake Washington" announcing the race. Burl Barer, my cousin, was in the studio playing "The hits between the heats" and Pat's son, Garry and I were in the studio assisting Burl.  It was something of a "family affair".

At the time, the station sponsored  the Miss KYYX hydroplane, which was driven by Brenda Jones, the first woman to pilot a hydroplane.  It was a different era as Seafair encompassed the entire town.

KIRO TV Asks Pat O'Day To Return

KIRO-TV has found a place for Seattle radio legend Pat O'Day on it's annual Seafair race coverage.  The station earlier this year, had announce that it was parting ways with the veteran broadcaster.  When an article by Seattle Times reporter Erik Lacitas revealed the move , the city was outraged and word was that the station was run by accountants back east and had lost touch with the community..  Bouyed by Facebook and Twitter, area residents, some who normally would not have cared about the race, expressed their outrage.
According to the SeaTac Media web site. Pat will do background and history reports during the race day.  He will also do reports on KIRO FM, which is no longer associated with the TV station of the same name.  It will no doubt be a busy Sunday for O'Day.

KIRO TV Sacks Pat--KIRO FM Picks Him Up

Seattle area residents reading this morning's Seattle Times (June 21st) were shocked to read that local radio icon Pat O'Day was asked not to return to KIRO 7's Seafair Hydroplane Race broadcast.  This, of course made little sense, since Pat had done the broadcast in some form since 1967.  At that time or soon after, Hydros and the race itself ruled in the city, since major league sports have arrived in town, as well as an influx of people all over the globe, the race's grip on the city has loosened.  In other words, the target audience for the race, is the same target audience that would probably long to hear the Seattle legend.
Enter KIRO-FM, which is no longer affiliated with KIRO TV.  They announced today that Pat O'Day will host a one hour special during the weekend of the Seafair Race.  The announcement was made during the Ron And Don drive time program on 97.3 KIRO FM.

Annette Funicello Tributes

Seattle Radio Icon Pat O'Day is shown hear with Disney Star and Teen movie icon Annette Funicello who passed away a couple of days ago.  While I was a little young to get the full impact of her life and the mark that she made on her generation,  Ken Levine wrote a heartfelt blog post that captures it.
Click here.

Surgery Scheduled For O'Day

Northwest radio icon Pat O'Day is scheduled to go under the knife tommorrow to remove a benign brain tumor.   O'Day traveled by ferry to Anacortes, last Monday to be checked out after memory and motor loss.  At first it was feared that he had a malignant tumor, however tests showed it to be benign.   O'Day is said to be responding well to medications to lessen the effects and should make a full recovery.

History Of Seattle's Iconic Radio Station KJR

Seattle Radio History - 950AM (KJR) from Twisted Scholar on Vimeo.

My cousin, Burl Barer makes a couple of appearences (in pictures) in this great narrative on the history of Seattle radio station KJR. Also look for a quick snap of current KJR sports talk host Mike Gastineau. Most people will recognize Pat O'Day.

East Meets West At The Hydros

Washington is lucky to have 2 Hydroplane racing events, one on either side of the state.  In this picture, one of my radio mentors, Geoff Harvey from Tri Cities (formerly Walla Walla) poses with Seattle radio icon Pat O'Day, a couple days before this year's Tri City race.

Statue Planned To Honor Seattle Music Icons

A statue is in the works to honor Seattle musician Jimi Hendix and radio personality, music promotor Pat O'Day. According to the "Hendrix & O’Day Music Matters Monument Project 2012" the statue honors the day in 1968 when the pair apeared at Seattle's Garfield High to speak at a school assembly. The statue is being prepaired by O'Day's son, Jerry, a known local artist. I hope to have more details on the project as they become available.

Burl Barer Featured On Local Blog

Blatherwatch, a Seattle based blog that reviews local talk radio, recently began a Saturday feature highlighting old time Seattle radio personalities. Last Saturday, Burl Barer was "topic du jour", it was a well received post until a "shoot from the hip" comment from an anonomous reader suggested friction between Burl and Seattle radio king Pat O'Day. The comment was, of course, a total fabrication and both Burl and Pat apeared on the blog to deny it. Taking things a little farther, Pat made an additional post, both praising the left-leaning Blather Watch blog and extolling the career of Glen Beck, whose roots are in the Puget Sound area. That inspired another post on blatherwatch.

Seattle Radio Legends

Michael Hood of BlatherWatch, a blog that covers Seattle radio, posted this picture of KJR DJs from the mid 60s, in this picture are Larry Lujak, Jerry Kay,Dick Curtis, Jerry Kaye, Lan Roberts, Dick Curtis, Lee Perkins, and Pat O'day. In a few years, white shirts, and slick back where in most cases gave way to printed shirts and shaggy hair. KJR, a hit music station back then was the dominant station in the market.

Sportsradio Station KJR Pays Tribute To It's Roots

KJR today linked it's present with it's past by interviewing Rock DJ Pat O'Day. O'Day, interviewed by afternoon hosts Dave Grosby and Mike Gastineau, was celebrating 50 years in the broadcast industry. O'Day was on for 2 straight hours about how he broke into the business, old stories of rock legend and and talking about his love of the industry. You can hear bits and pieces here

Speaking Of Northwest Broadcast Greats...

I found this several months ago, and promised myself that I would not post it until the Hydros came here. I cheated a little, but with the torchlight parade in Downtown Seattle and the Tri Cities race Sunday, I think it's OK to put it up now.
The KIRO 7 TV crew honors Pat O'Day for his 40th consecutive Seafair broadcast.

When Radio Was King In Seattle

The title was not meant as a pun--long ago when there were fewer TV and Radio choices, KJR had a 30 something market share in the Puget Sound Region. The DJ's were well known around the community. Here is a video from 1979 with Rock and Roll Jocks Pat O'Day and the late Lan Roberts on a popular local TV talk show.