Remembering Chuck Blore
• Radio visionary Chuck Blore, whose remarkably inventive and cinematic mind created the seemingly three-dimensional concept known as “Color Radio” on KFWB/Los Angeles in the late ’50s, and later, enjoyed added success as the architect of some our most iconic radio commercial campaigns, has died at the age of 92.
Legendary Bay Area music industry journalist and radio historian Ben-Fong Torres wrote, “By the time Chuck Blore switched on ‘Color Radio’ in Los Angeles, on KFWB in January 1958, Top 40 had been around for several years. It was Blore, however, who gave it a polish that elevated his stations — and those that imitated them — beyond the ultimately limited confines of a teenage audience. Originally a deejay and program director under Gordon McLendon — the famed Texas broadcaster known as one of the founders of Top 40 radio — Blore sought out disc jockeys with distinctive personalities who were willing to devote extensive preparation time to their duties. He added inventive contests and promotions, along with swinging, sophisticated jingles that sold his announcers as a team of ‘Good Guys.'” Torres added, “He was one of the best visionaries L.A radio ever had.”
Longtime radio pro-turned successful television writer and playwright Ken Levine also shared his thoughts on Blore in an affectionate blog post that reads, in part, “One of my radio idols has passed away… Chuck Blore was a showman and every moment you listened to KFWB was filled with excitement, personality, and fun. Each disc jockey had a distinctive style. Elliott Field (who God bless him, is still with us), Bill Ballance, B. Mitchell Reed, Gary Owens, Wink Martindale (also still here), Don McKinnon, Jim Hawthorne, Ted Quillan, Gene Weed, Joe Yokum — these were just a few of the larger-than-life DJ’s on KFWB.
Levine continued, “As a kid I was mesmerized by the station. You never knew what was going to happen next and you didn’t want to miss a minute. The promotions were wild, the jocks were hilarious, oh… and the music was good too. The meteoric success of the station was all built on ideas. And they were Chuck Blore’s ideas. When Chuck left KFWB he started an ad agency designed to create novel campaigns meant to get your attention, sell the product, and of course — entertain. You would go up to his offices and every square inch of wall space was covered with awards. He must’ve won thousands of them. Ideas. But he was also a true gentleman. Very kind, very supportive, and one of those few people in your life who actually inspires you. Chuck had this infectious energy — he made you feel good about whatever his latest idea was, and he made you feel good about yourself.”
For more insight into the genius of Chuck Blore, and the incredible influence he had on several generations of broadcasters, we direct your attention to Charlie Van Dyke’s Facebook feed, which has been rapidly filling up with respectful comments from many of our peers. [Additional thanks to Dave Sholin]
