Hi Doug
Just a quick note to let you know that Rhett Walker - KFXM circa 1960s - passed away in Victoria, Australia last week.
Rhett was born in New Zealand. His mother was American. His father was British. He began his radio career in Australia. He then went to the US for a number of years where he worked at various West Coast stations as an on air talent and programmer before returning to Australia in the late 1960s.
A few memories of Rhett Walker's early Australian and, later Stateside career...... (not sure where KFXM fitted into this time line ?)
Getting the ball rolling as night time DJ and sometime pop star at station 2UW in Sydney - circa late 1950/ early ' 60s
Across the Pacific to his mother's homeland.... and ....
Early days at KOL - AM in Seattle... (Rhett apparently third from the left.. hangin' out of the KOL - AM woodie wagon..)
Moving up by moving down to KRLA in Southern California (see page 11).. where he eventually replaced Casey Kasem !
Rhett doing the full celebrity DJ bit at KRLA
Rhett appears on Donovan's 1967 live album. doing the stage intros in Anaheim, CA
... And then onto KRUX in Phoenix as PD..
From there, it was just about back to Australia... in fact, back to 3DB (?) in Melbourne.... then 3AK..... and on and on he went through 6PR, 3KZ, Fox.. etc
Finally, a recap of his career (up to the mid - 1970s) as published in America's 'Billboard' music industry magazine in September, 1974
Rhett quit radio years ago and became an academic, eventually rising to the position of Professor of Business at La Trobe University in Victoria, Australia.
All the best
Bruce Corneil
5 comments:
Rhett was a keen personality D.J. in his time when he was broadcasting in the Inland Empire. As an announcer, he was witty, chatty, upbeat and most all, he spoke to listeners with that one-to-one hook which kept his fans glued to their transistor sets during his programmes.
Thanks for those comments about Rhett's presentational style.
What I forgot to mention in that timeline of his career was precisely when he was at KFXM. I've since discovered that he actually started at a station in Palmdale, CA (KUTY ?). I think he went from there to KFXM and from there up to KOL - AM in Seattle.
I remember him at KFXM.
It was Rhett Hamilton Walker, as
he would say once in a while.
Yes, his radio colleagues over here used to delight in calling him 'Rhett Hamilton Walker - The Third" !!
I was so saddened to hear Rhett's passing. We have worked together. He was a true gentleman and a very good friend. He was such a vibrant person one would never associate with death. My sincere condolences to all who knew him.
Bulend
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