Pat O'Day

Pat O'Day (born 1934 as Paul W. Berg) is a Pacific Northwest broadcaster and promoter.[1] He is probably best known as the afternoon drive personality at Seattle's KJR 950 in the 1960s,[2] he would eventually become program director and general manager. He owned KYYX – FM 96.5 Radio in Seattle[3] in the mid seventies and early 80s. This frequency is now occupied by KJAQ. The current KYYX station in another city has no connection.

Starting in 1967, O'Day served as race announcer and commentator during Seafair for various radio and TV stations, most recently KIRO TV. The television station, however, announced it was parting ways with O'Day in 2013 and he would not return to broadcast the race.[4]

He is responsible for bringing the Seattle music scene to national prominence.[5]

O'Day has lived in the San Juan Islands where he sells real estate.[6]

O'Day is the author of, It Was All Just Rock 'n' Roll, by Pat O'Day and Jim Ojala, detailing his work in radio and the concert promotion company, Concerts West. (first edition published Oct 18, 2002, second edition, It Was All Just Rock-'n'-Roll II: A Return to the Center of the Radio & Concert Universe, published Dec 2003) ISBN 978-0970626486

He has three sons (Garry, Jerry, and Jeff) and one daughter (Kelsey).[7] Although a reputation for excessive drinking hurt him early in his career, he entered Schick Shadel Hospital in 1986 for treatment. Most, recently, he has been Schick Shadel's spokesman in both radio and television advertisements.[8] In 2007 Pat O'Day joined more than two dozen other radio and music industry leaders as a member of the nominating committee of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Pat O'Day & Associates' Teen Dance Club Business in Washington State

Beginning in 1956 at the Astoria, Oregon National Guard Armory, Pat's teen dance clubs (admitting only teens aged 15-20, and providing high security) started out as, "Pat O'Day Dances." The following year it moved to the Kelso, Washington, National Guard Armory, then expanded to Bremerton, Tacoma, Lynnwood, and then to Bellevue (Lake Hills Roller Rink)(p.77). Eventually teen dance clubs were also established in Olympia, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Westport, Tri-Cities, Yakima, and the north Seattle dance club "The Bummer" (p.103).

The flagship dance club was known as the Spanish Castle (located near the intersection of old Highway 99, now Pacific Highway S, and Kent-Des Moines Road, in Sea-Tac, Washington), and operated from 1959 until its closing in 1964 (p.66). Famous artists who performed there include; Jan & Dean, the Venture's, Larry Coryell & The Dynamics, Merrilee Rush, Paul Revere & The Raiders, the Kingsmen, the Beach Boys, the Sonics, the Wailers, Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Jimi Hendrix.

In 1968, the dance club business was sold to Lester Smith and Danny Kaye along with local businessman, Mack Keith (p.135).

Pat O'Day's Radio Career In Washington State

Began as afternoon drive DJ (3pm-6pm), later added responsibilities included; general manager, program director, music director and national program director. Pat's business, Pat O'Day and Associates, was KJR's biggest advertiser. [pp.103, 122], August 1968, Pat makes agonizing decision to send letter of resignation to KJR owners, Lester Smith and Danny Kaye, over compound issues involving FCC investigation (cleared) and the stress of dealing with the station's General Manager Galen Blackford. [pp.122-123]

- In 1998 a plaque featuring Pat O'Day with a photograph of him was added to the permanent disc jockey exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. [9]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2010021077_spanishcastle08m.html
  3. ↑ KYPT History
  4. ↑ Lacitis, Erik (June 20, 2013). "KIRO-TV ends Pat O'Day's long run as voice of hydros". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  5. ↑ HistoryLink Essay: O'Day, Pat (b. 1934) – Godfather of Northwest Rock?
  6. ↑ "To Acquaint You With Pat O'Day". patodayrealestate.com. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ http://www.kiswhalloffame.com/kiswhof/15/default/pat-oday.html
  9. ↑ O'Day, Pat (2003). It Was All Just Rock-'n'-Roll II: A Return to the Center of the Radio & Concert Universe. Seattle, WA: Ballard Publishing. ISBN 978-0970626486.
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