Remembering Bob Rivers
• UPDATED: We were deeply saddened to learn that legendary Radio Hall of Fame personality Bob Rivers, a beloved fixture on Seattle morning radio (KISW, KZOK and KJR-FM) for 25 years, and the purveyor of his famous Twisted Tunes parodies, passed away Tuesday morning, March 11 in New Hampshire after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 68 years old.
The news was delivered to RAMP by Rivers’ longtime agent and friend, Paul Anderson. [Watch Anderson’s lovely video tribute to his friend, directed by Bob’s son, Keith, ahead of Rivers’ 2023 Radio Hall of Fame induction]
After starting his radio career in Connecticut, Rivers exploded onto the national scene in the late ’80s while working at WIYY (98 Rock)/Baltimore, famously refusing to come off the air as long as the Orioles’ 23-game losing streak continued. That attention eventually propelled him westward to Seattle, and into radio history.
“I had the honor of being Bob’s friend for the last 44 years,” said RAMP co-founder Rob Barnett. “I was his boss when Bob & Zip were our morning show at WAAF. He loved telling the story of how I once hot-lined him on the air — not with a criticism — but with the simple statement that he was going to be one of the most successful morning radio hosts ever — and he was.” Read Rob’s beautifully heartfelt tribute to Rivers posted to Facebook.
Bob Rivers is survived by his wife, Lisa (pictured here via selfie last Thanksgiving in Hawaii); sons Andrew and Keith (wife Leanne); and granddaughters Hazel and Georgia Rivers. He is the eldest of seven siblings, including sisters Beth Doornweerd, Katherine Kenney, Mary Redman, & Patty Tedford, and brothers Michael and Richard Rivers.
A private service will be held on Friday in Claremont, NH, with a public memorial in Seattle TBA.
• Fellow Seattle radio icon BJ Shea announced via Instagram that he will be a guest on the Daly Migs Show on Audacy’s 99.9 KISW Wednesday at 7:20am to share stories and reminisce about his longtime friend and colleague.
For a more in-depth look at Bob Rivers’ lengthy radio career and the very active life he continued to lead after his cancer diagnosis, we suggest you take the time to read Aspen Anderson‘s excellent Jan. 15th Seattle Times story.
