Rocky Rhodes: Unplugged
• Morning radio listeners in Northeast Pennsylvania will soon have to come to grips with “life after Rocky,” as Rocky Rhodes, a beloved fixture in the region for more than four decades, the last 35 years on Audacy Top 40 WKRZ (98.5 KRZ)/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, announced on Monday that his last day on the air will be Thursday, May 1.
Rhodes, accompanied by his equally emotional co-host of 15 years, Lissa Krahnke, broke his news on-air, stating, “I hate to use the ‘R’ word. I’m not retiring… I’m just unplugging. After 45 years on the air, 35 of them here in NEPA on ‘KRZ I have decided to unplug.” Rhodes explained that he and his wife (and former co-host) Sue want to do more traveling, as he said, “Working the way I have for the past 45 years, I never really had a chance to take more than week off.”
Rhodes also echoed the familiar sentiment of many longtime morning personalities, noting that he will not miss that alarm going off at 3:00am. Listen to Rhodes announcement posted HERE.
On Tuesday, RAMP caught up with Rhodes, who told us, “3am wakeup calls have been a part of my life since 1980 — Parkersburg, WV, Charleston, SC, Augusta, ME, Fort Collins, CO, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Orlando and back to Wilkes-Barre. It’s been quite a ride! I am grateful to close out my radio career on my terms and say goodbye to our listeners this week. What’s next? Lots of travel. Biking. Kayaking. And my other passion: growing hot peppers and making hot sauce!”
Lissa’s already heightened emotions were further on display in this post-show Instagram post: “Yes, it’s true. If you missed our announcement on the air, my cohost’s last day is Thursday. To say I’m devastated is an understatement. Rocky is the best friend, most talented, kindest, funniest, smartest soul ever. Please show him all the love in his comments/DMs. Also, forgive me if I cry when you ask me about this in public because I definitely will… not seeing him every day is really gonna mess with me… @rocky985 I love you!”
Going forward, Rocky invites his many radio friends to stay in touch via rrhodes98@yahoo.com.
