Radio Tributes Continue To Pour In For Bob Rivers

The tributes continue for radio legend Bob Rivers who passed away Tuesday from cancer at the age of 68.

Many recall the Twisted Tunes, his contributions to the American Comedy Network, and his 25 years in Seattle radio.

Audacy Rocker 99.9 KISW’s “The Daly Migs Show” dedicated its Wednesday morning show to Rivers. The show took calls from listeners, played River’s parody songs and talked with his friends, including BJ Shea.

Shea shared with the show and listeners that Rivers once told him, “There’s something about me where I have the inability to get depressed.”

Shea added that it was Rivers who helped him break into radio in the Seattle market.

“You know how it is, guys. If you’ve been trying to get a job, and people don’t react to you. It’s over, and so Bob was not happy, and he found out they threw my tape in the trash, so he went into the program director and basically strong-armed and said, ‘Get this guy an audition.”’

“I said, Bob, you don’t have to go out of your way. Why are you doing this? He said, ‘Look, here’s the deal. Not only am I doing this for you, but I know that in five years, you’ll have your own morning show.’ At the time I was only doing a mid-day job. He goes, ‘you’ll have your own morning show, and you’ll beat me in the ratings. I know this.’ I’m like, why did you bring me to town? He said, ‘because I can learn from you.’

Among the many things radio did in the past that you couldn’t get away with these days was Rivers’ promotion of “Nudestock.” A promotion that Rivers hosted in 1992.

“JD from Tukwila” who attended called the show and said “Nudestock” was a very “surreal experience.” Adding, “I took us a while and we finally got naked and were kind of looking around and I’m thinking this is weird. I saw this big biker guy and it was miles of buttcrack.”

Brad Cash, who also worked with Rivers, told the show, “He knew how to get the most out of the people around him. Bob was so generous with the platform of the microphone. He didn’t have to be the one with the funny joke or the big joke to close the segment.”

”He knew that Spike could do it or maybe Downtown Joe or maybe it was a listener or even someone from the hallway. If it was funny, he would put it on the air and he didn’t have to be the guy who said it.”

Paul Anderson, Rivers’ longtime agent and friend told Barrett Media, “Bob was all about relationships. His keen wit combined with his endless curiosity and high integrity, made for an infectious personality that drew people to him.”

Adding, “We were super close for over 30 years and it’s really difficult to process what life will be like without being able to call him on the phone, go hiking with him, and to simply muse about everything going on in the world with him. I am fortunate to have known him for so long, and super grateful that I got to spend a few days with him a couple weeks ago in New Hampshire and Vermont.”

Radio consultant John Lund told Barrett Media that he once asked Rivers what made his show so successful and was told:

1. Meet every listener. Have your morning show visit listeners three times a week.

2. Stage wake-up calls: this classic bit still works like a charm.

3. Create local characters to champion local causes.

4. Make a “Hot Topic” list every day.

Rivers’ wife Lisa told the Seattle Times, “I have everything that Bob’s done and that we’ve done together to be grateful for. I will miss him tremendously, but I can push play on his voice and our memories will live on.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.