Dave "Rockin" Cochran And The Voice Of Thunder

If you were a teenager or a young adult in the late 60s or early 70s and a fan of hit music
growing up in Walla Walla Washington, you would be perfectly happy turning your radio to a scratchy fading in and out station in the Tri Cities,(KALE or KORD depending on the era). If you had a good summer or night job, you could go down to the "Record Center" or later "Hot Poop"(Walla Walla's Hippest Record Store) or "StereoBird"to buy enough records to satisfy your hunger for the hits, as night fell and the Tri Cities stations followed FCC guidelines and broadcast in low power, you could turn on KTEL. KTEL,at 1490 khtz, was one of three local AM radio stations and one of only two that were allowed to operate at night. It was also the only one to play rock and only at night. Dave "Rockin" Cochran was prime time night Disc Jockey. He was actually working in the daytime as well playing country music and what not. Dave Cochran had a voice that would boom into the radio and as such you would think that he could shout from one end of town to the other without benefit of a microphone. The station consisted of a fly and spider infested ramshackle hut under the big radio tower on the outskirts of town, but to listen to Rockin Cochran, you would have thought it was a palace on a hill as you could hear some of the greatest music ever played. His lifestyle was a topic of frequent discussion at schools. Cochran would play teen music from 8:00 until 10:00 and hard core FM style rock from 10:00 until 11:00, I would hear groups like "10 Years After" and "Quicksilver Messenger Service", it is no wonder that I was bitten by the radio bug. Dave was assisted in the hour off that he got for dinner by first Steve Lloid and then Mike Turner. At 11:00, it was time for the Star Spangled Banner and sign off. This was, afterall, Walla Walla.

Walla Walla Radio Legend Cochran Dies

Word has been received that former Walla Walla Rock DJ Dave "Rockin" Cochran has died.  Cochran worked for KTEL in the late 60s and early 70s when the station played Rock and Roll at night.  At the time, employees at KTEL were basically "day laborers", the full timers would put in an 8 hour regular shift while taping programs off the network feeds, cutting commercials, etc for a seemingly laughable wage, all in hopes of getting the big break.  For Rockin' Cochran, being on KTEL seemed to be all that mattered. To the listeners, he was bigger than life, to the management,  from what I've pretty much heard, he was a major headache.  His talent and rebellious spirit came really came across on the air.  Much of the music that I've come to love over the decades was introduced to me by listening to Rockin' Cochran. 
Cochran was let go from KTEL towards the mid 70s, he did voice over  commercials on the local cable TV channel and even a Yakima/Tri Cities station before reappearing again in the summer of 1976 as a rock DJ on KUJ, which had recently been purchased by out of town interests, it was a short lived engagement as management there grew weary of Cochran's free form ways. 
Dave Cochran may be gone, but former Walla Walla teens who wanted to be part of the scene, decades ago will never forget him.

Union-Bulletin Does Feature On Late Walla Walla DJ

Annie Chernley Eveland wrote a full page piece on Dave "Rockin" Cochran in the Walla Walla Union Bulletin, bringing back memories to Walla Wallans coming of age when he dominated the town's evening airwaves, some excerpts...
"WALLA WALLA — The sound of a prop plane roaring in for a landing at the Walla Walla Airport opened the 1970s Night Flight radio show hosted by local rock ’n’ roll DJ Dave Herbert Cochran, recalled Richard “Rich” Greenwood, who as a teenager caught his broadcasts. Cochran died Nov. 27.

Burial was Friday at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hood River, Ore.

Variously known on air as “Rockin’ Cochran,” “Dynamic Dave” and “Sebastian,” among others, the Hawaiian shirt-clad Cochran was part of area radio activity from the late 1960s into the 1970s. He died at age 62, shortly after Thanksgiving, and was found at his Walla Walla home at 11 E. Chestnut St., said Greenwood, the Walla Walla County coroner.

Despite being a bit of a loner, Cochran reached thousands over the airwaves. Some of his first audience was captive.

It started in his early teens when he built a transmitter. He lived near the Washington State Penitentiary and had a pirate radio station in his basement with a six-block range. “His broadcasts hit the pen and inmates listened to him,” Greenwood said"

The article continues to speak of his KTEL days as well as after radio life in the town he loved.  There were rememberences from family and friends as well as excerpts that I provided from this blog. 

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered 24--Walla Walla Rock DJ Dave "Rockin' Cochran" Memorialized

Death brought Dave Cochran perhaps more recognition than during his time working nights at the old radio shack at 2nd and Tietan known as KTEL.  Cochran was sort of a Clark Kent, who turned into Superman behind the mike.
He had a great voice, a great knowledge of the music and , besides, he was Rockin' Cochran.  I suggested to UB feature writer Annie Charnley  Eveland an article on Dave after hearing of his passing.  After some quick research, she wrote the incredible article that you see at the top.

Walla Walla Teen Memories--The Hi-Fi Show

Contests and rock radio go hand in hand, KTEL had a daily contest that was somewhat unusual.  The Hi-Fi Show, I remember from 1970 on.  Hosted usually by Dave "Rockin" Cochran, it started with the Coca Cola jingle (it's the real thing).  Then Cochran would introduce the show and instruct everyone that a Hi-Fi card was needed to play.  For those too young to get a driver's license or a credit card, the Hi-Fi card was a must have for the wallet.  Each card had a number, many cardholders still incredibly remember their number.  My first was 1572-B.  Cochran would tell the listeners how to get the card.  The KTEL offices "high atop the Book Nook Building". Back then, KTEL had a downtown office and studio, while the transmitter and tower were on 2nd and Tietan, the night broadcasts were at the transmitter site.  The contest was usually to name the song and the artist of a song that he played.  When someone would get a correct answer, Cochran would cut in on the record and say "No more calls please, we do have a winner"  The winner would get a six pack of Coca-Cola, but I think some people just enjoyed getting their name on the radio.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 10 More Dave "Rockin'" Cochran

Off the CD sent to me by Jeff.  You can hear more Dave Cochran by clicking here.

Coming Soon! The Lost Voice Of Walla Walla Radio Icon

Jeff Reynolds, himself a former KTEL night time DJ, has sent a CD with the voice of Walla Walla radio legend Dave "Rockin'" Cochran.  We should have Rockin' on the blog and every social media outlet known to man in the next week or so.  So put on your crash helmet and buckle your seatbelt, he may be gone, but he's not done with us yet!

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 9

  He was an absolute local legend, David Herbert Cochran.  Known throughout the Walla Walla Valley as Rockin' Cochran.  We lost Dave in December of  2012,  but we can remember the voice of thunder by clicking here.  This is a snippet from a CD he made with Jeff Reynolds, another former KTEL DJ. I hope to post more cuts from the CD soon.  Thanks to my friends at the facebook group "Our Town Walla Walla, you can click here for Dave's soundbite

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered

This shot of former Walla Walla Rock DJ, Dave "Rockin" Cochran of KTEL appeared in a recent addition of the city's paper, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. It was from a column by Sara Van Donge about radio from the past, my cousin Burl Barer was also mentioned. The Gallery was a department store in what was then (July 8, 1973), Walla Walla's brand spanking new Eastgate Mall.

 

 

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 27 KTEL's Brother John Hammond

KTEL's Brother John Hammond worked  the night shift on the radio and was a student at Wa-Hi during the day. Because he was still in High School, he had valuable insight on what worked on local radio.
Hammond is probably remembered most as the DJ who was on the air in March of 1974, urging listeners to streak outside the KTEL studio.
This cut  was done many years after Hammond left the airways.  He was doing a fun tape with fellow Walla Walla legend Dave "Rockin'" Cochran.

Seatac Media Blog Covers Area TV And Radio

To those viewers and listeners who want to get the story behind the story, the Seatacmedia blog is a great place to visit.  If you heard it on radio or watched it on TV in the Seattle-Tacoma market, you will no doubt find it there.  It may be a little out of the Seatac area, but the blog picked up my story on the late Walla Walla DJ Dave "Rockin" Cochran.  Thank you blog editor Jason Remington and company for the recognition!

So Long To 2012 Part 2

June  June was a pretty busy month, starting with the State Democratic Convention, it wasn't mentioned in the blog, but the evening before, we went to Benaroya to watch Marvin Hamlisch lead the Seattle Pops.  We did not realize that Hamlisch would pass away soon afterward.  We took a trip to Seaside Oregon with my cousin and her husband and of course, an ever growing Dasher.  The 5th District Democrats sponsored a debate between candidates for the 1st District Congressional race.

July  The entire month is encompassed by the remodel at work.  The whole family got to ride on The Big Wheel that was after birthday dinner at The Spaghetti Factory , Seattle's latest tourist attraction, on my birthday.  We hosted the Wagners while Ethan pitched in a Pony League Baseball tournament in Enumclaw. 

August  We watched Kenny Loggins in concert at the Snoqualmie Casino, Seattle TV anchor and WSU classmate Kathi Goertzen passed away.  The King, Felix Hernandez, pitched a perfect game for the Mariners.  First man on the Moon Neil Armstrong died. Also, the Seahawks signed NFL bad boy Terrell Owens in an experiment that went awry and we watched the figure 8 races at the Monroe Fair.

September For the second year in a row, we went to Walla Walla with the Wagners to visit the wineries. Dasher took second place at the Fido Fest at University Village.  The Seattle Seahawks beat Green Bay after Golden Tate made literally a last second controversial catch on Monday Night Football.

October Everything is politics as every high profile race in the state is up for grabs.  1972 Democratic Presidential candidate George McGovern died.  Bob and Robyn Scola sponsored an online debate watch party on Facebook.  The Seattle Times angers the state by offering free advertising to Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna, perhaps dooming his campaign.  We celebrated Dasher's 1st birthday.

November  Big Democratic Sweep.  Obama is reelected, Jay Inslee is elected governor, Mark Mullet becomes the first Democrat in 20 years to represent the 5th district in Olympia.  Debra appeared on New Day Northwest morning TV show to talk about The UPS Store.  Larry Hagman died, just when Dallas is resurrected.

December  Former Walla Walla rock and roll DJ Dave "Rockin" Cochran's death inspired an article in the UB.  Seattle Rock Group Heart is chosen for induction into the Rock Hall Of Fame.  The Seattle Seahawks make the play-offs  The Holidays.

Happy New Year!

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered 15

More from Walla Walla DJ Dave "Rockin" Cochran....

KTEL Lee Michaels 1971

 

A blast from the past, Lee Michaels doing the Coffee Break show on KTEL in the early 70s.  Rockin' Cochran can be heard doing a commercial at around 8 minutes.  You can also hear local favorites like Dave Dirks and Bevan Roth.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 4

Ex radio personality Hank Unck was kind enough to send airchecks (recording of shows) from when he worked at KALE (Hank Simon) and before that, KTEL (Lee Michaels).  You can click here to hear both his KALE audio which I have previously posted and his KTEL, which is special in the fact that it was done in 1971 and has features commercial spots from familiar voices as Bevan Roth, Dave Dirks, Singing Restaraunt owner Joe Denny, and Rockin' Dave Cochran (doing Pantorium Cleaners spot about 8 minutes in).   Hank also worked for KXLY radio in Spokane as well as some other radio stations.