Don Rose
Donald Duane Rosenberg | |
---|---|
Born | July 5, 1934 San Francisco, California |
Children | Daniel Kelly John James Dave |
Don Rose (born Donald Duane Rosenberg; July 5, 1934 – March 30, 2005), also known as "Dr. Donald D. Rose" or just "Dr. Don," was an American
Early years
Rose was born Donald Duane Rosenberg in
His next job, at KTSA/San Antonio, also lasted only four weeks. Returning to Nebraska, he held an announcing position at KRNY/Kearney for about 15 months before being terminated again. His next employer, the Union Pacific Railroad, offered only manual labor — pounding spikes into the railbed — but he continued to pursue work in radio, and acquired a job at KTUL/Tulsa.
His next broadcasting position was in KWMT/Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he first complemented his jokes with cowbells and other barnyard sounds. His stay in Fort Dodge was fairly brief, but there he met his future wife, Kae, to whom he remained married for the next 45 years.
From Iowa he went on to WEBC/Duluth, Minnesota, followed by his first taste of big-market success, as morning host at WQXI/Atlanta ("Quixie In Dixie"), his fame made ever-lasting by his inclusion as the 1967 entry in the popular series of "Cruisin’" LP records. Originally hired for the nine-to-noon slot, he was shifted to morning drive shortly after his arrival, and soon became the number-one radio personality in town.
Broadcasting career
With Rose as morning anchor, KFRC was voted "Station of the Year" four times by
"I'm married to radio," he told The Chronicle (San Francisco) in 1975, "and I'm thinking about suing it for nonsupport. I would describe my show as therapy, for myself."
During the 1980s, Jane Dornacker worked with him doing traffic. One of his running gags was feeding the dog Roscoe. This would involve Rose telling about what he and his wife Kae ate for dinner the night before, and then Roscoe would eat the "leftovers."
In addition to his radio broadcasting work, he hosted cartoon shows on Field Communications television stations in Chicago (WFLD 32), Detroit (WKBD 50), Philadelphia (WKBS 48) and San Francisco (KBHK 44) for over a decade. Dr. Don Rose raised a total of over $10 million by hosting March of Dimes Superwalks for 20 years. As well, he emceed many golf tourneys, including his own, with proceeds going toward Special Olympics and special education.
Despite his cheerful persona, Rose suffered over three decades of
Rose had to alter his on-air act in 1986 when
His departure from KFRC was followed by a short stint at KKIS/Concord-Walnut Creek beginning in 1987, where his son, Jay, was chief engineer. After a failed attempt at buying the station, Dr. Don moved to mornings at San Francisco's K101 (KIOI); four months later, he suffered a heart attack while on the air. He did not return to broadcasting on a full-time basis.
Death and legacy
Rose died in his sleep on March 30, 2005, due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 70.[3][4] He was married for 45 years to his wife Kae, with whom he had five children.[5]
In 2006, Dr. Don Rose was elected to the
The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia [1] inducted Rose posthumously into their Hall of Fame in 2008.
References
- ISBN 978-1-61584-545-3. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
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- ^ "Legendary Morning Air Personality Dr. Don Rose Dies". Radio Online. March 30, 2005.
- ^ "Dr. Don Rose -- king of KFRC radio in '70s - SFGate". Hearst Communications Inc. April 1, 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
- ^ Blevins, Lee (March 31, 2005). "Disc jockey Dr. Don Rose dies at age 70". Oakland Tribune. Archived from the original on April 9, 2005. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ "610/KFRC - Dr. Don Rose". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2012. Alt URL Archived 2018-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- DrDonRose.com (Bay Area Radio Museum official tribute website)
- Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco, KFRC webpage
- Tangent Sun San Francisco Bay Area Radio History
- Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: Dr. Don Rose webpage
- Reelradio website includes several sound files with airchecks of Dr. Don Rose
- Bay Area Radio Museum includes radio history and several sound files of Dr. Don Rose
- Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia website