- courtesy AllAccess,com March 4, 2016
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October 9, 1937 – March 1, 2016
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Radio has lost another giant, as ALL ACCESS has learned that JOHN ROOK passed away earlier this week. It was just MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29th that CHARLIE TUNA passed away (NET NEWS 2/29)
On his website is posted, “It is with a heavy heart that we inform the Radio industry and friends of JOHN ROOK that he passed away two days ago on TUESDAY, MARCH 1st of natural causes and peacefully in his sleep in his home on his beloved ‘Rook Ranch’ in COEUR D’ ALENE, IDAHO. JOHN was 78 but going on 38. He had such a youthful spirit despite his health deteriorating over this past year. He hated ‘getting old’ but, maintained a positive face for family and friends. He requested no official funeral or service but, stay tuned for further details as we will provide updates in the coming days. In difficult times JOHN’s go to phrase was ‘this too shall pass…’ He will be gone but, never forgotten!”
The website sums up his incredible career, writing “In the early 1960’s following stints at KTLN/DENVER and KALL/SALT LAKE CITY, JOHN was named Director of Programming at ABC owned KQV/PITTSBURGH. It was there that he introduced via airplay and in concert, THE BEATLES, THE ROLLING STONES, TOM JONES, THE SUPREMES, NEIL DIAMOND and many others who became legendary stars of today. In 1967 he was named Director of Programming for WLS/CHICAGO, where under his leadership the station reached its highest ratings ever, rated #1 with a total audience of 3.8 million weekly. While at WLS, broadcasters nationally named him ‘Radio’s Man of the Year’ and ‘Program Director of the Year’. In the 1970’s JOHN ROOK & ASSOCIATES provided programming expertise to more than thirty radio stations nationally including WCFL/CHICAGO; Y-100/MIAMI; KRBE/HOUSTON; Z-93/ATLANTA; KTKT/TUCSON and KROY/SACRAMENTO as he was named ‘Radio Consultant of the Year’. He was also Program Director of KFI/LOS ANGELES and KABC/LOS ANGELES. In the mid 1980’s JOHN became owner of radio stations in the NORTHWEST, divesting himself of those facilities in the late 1990’s.”
– See more at: http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/151190/john-rook-dead-at-78?ref=mail_recap#sthash.Rx68NrtN.dpuf
