Enjoy a nice long visit with Pat O’Day as he shares history, stories, and thoughts about hydroplane racing, Seattle’s rock & roll roots, and of course, KJR.
Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at “the best mix and biggest variety” of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!
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Between Pat O’Day in the Seattle-Tacoma broadcast market, and Red Robinson up in Vancouver, B.C. the term iconic almost doesn’t seem adequate to describe them. The fascinating stories that both offered as a result of their decades in radio, TV, rock music and more seem never-ending. And I know that Pat and Red were friends and no doubt had endless memories to share. Both rank as legends in our part of the continent.
Pat was of course, iconic…but his ascension to being the ultimate radio commentator for the Hydros, was manufactured by himself…He had the money and local media influence to break in to this scene…It is interesting to me, that he seldom was featured by the local TV stations…We were pretty enthralled with the hydros for several years before Pat landed in Seattle…When the races were so popular, most folks watched them via television!….people like Rod Belcher, Keith Jackson, and several others were just as identified with the hydroplanes…in short, Pat is conflating his importance to the overall Seattle hydro scene….the history he trumpets, is easily learned of on the Internet…His finest moments to me, was when he finally dried out, and became a spokesman for Schick-Shadel recovery clinic.
This was a great program! Thanks to Sam Lawson for providing the perfect audio for these blazing hot summer afternoons. Pat’s stories and the history he speaks of is such a huge part of our youth.
1150 AM- O’Day returned to the Seattle station (at least the frequency) he started with.