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Post by Max on Jul 21, 2005 18:28:37 GMT -5
I just got home and sat down to read the paper and I am saddened to hear of the passing of Rich Upton, formerly of WIEL and WQXE in Elizabethtown. He was that PD I've mentioned in a previous posts and on my personal page, www.goatley.com/highbaugh/radio_life.html, who gave me my first dj job when I asked for a job emptying trash. He had a wonderful voice and as Hardin County Independent editor Gerald Lush remarks in his column today, "his golden voice and sharp wit made getting up in the morning a joy for those of us who were listening". I bring this up because I'm not the only former co-worker that visits this site. I know many WAKY & WKLO jocks' careers have brought them through Elizabethtown at one of the aforementioned stations. Rich's career path also led to Louisville at WAKY & WAMZ, where he worked as B.J. Koltee. Kinda strange when this hits close to home. Rest in Peace, Rich.
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Post by Max on Jul 21, 2005 20:31:57 GMT -5
The following article appeared in the July 21, 2005 edition of the Hardin County Independent and is reprinted by permission from Gerald Lush, editor.
There was a long stretch of time in my life when the first section of the newspaper I picked up was sports. And, then, I started checking out the business section first thing each morning to see how much money I had lost on my few stocks. Now, the first thing I look at is the obituaries. It’s not, as someone said, to make sure I’m not in there before I bother to start my day. It’s because I have reached the age when too many of my old friends and former acquaintances are dying.
Just last week I was shocked to learn about the death of one on my best friends when Bonnie and I first moved to Elizabethtown. Richard Upton of Franklin, Ky., died at age 59, which for another couple of months happens to be my age, too. Richard’s death didn’t make any headlines locally or in Louisville, two of the [markets where] he made a major impact during his radio career.
When I came to town in the early 1970’s Richard was the morning man on WIEL, which was THE station here. His golden voice and sharp wit made getting up in the morning a joy for those of us who were listening. Co-workers, however, had to put up with his practical jokes.
He regularly hid an alarm clock inside newsman Bill Earle’s desk, timed to go off mid-way through his morning report. You could hear Mr. Earle frantically opening drawers, looking for the ringing clock while never missing a word of his very serious news report.
One morning I flipped on the radio only to hear static coming from the speaker. Richard and I had been out very late the night before and I wondered if he would make it to work to sign on the station. As I listened to the static, the station came on the air-right in the middle of a song.
When the song finished, Richard, in an unusually raspy voice, said “I understand we have had some technical difficulties”. I smiled as I looked at my [own] rough image in the bathroom mirror.
Richard’s talents took him to Louisville’s WAMZ where he was one of its main personalities for a time, using the pseudonym B.J. Colty [after which] we lost touch, but I have thought of him often through the years and wondered how he was doing.
As my wife will tell you, I don’t put much effort into cultivating friendships and maintaining them. That’s why most of the people I see listed in the obits are ‘old friends’ and ‘former acquaintances’. But just because I haven’t kept track of them over the years doesn’t mean I won’t miss them.
Goodbye, Richard. God bless you.
After obtaining permission from Gerald, I spoke with my former boss, Bill Evans, manager of WQXE in Elizabethtown. He informed me Rich passed away this past Sunday. Neither of us knows the cause.
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Post by John Quincy on Jul 21, 2005 20:51:20 GMT -5
Here's Richard's obit from the Bowling Green Daily News.
Monday, July 11, 2005
FRANKLIN — Richard Upton, 59, of Franklin died July 9, 2005, at The Medical Center at Bowling Green.
The Lebanon native was a WFKN radio personality and announcer. He also worked in Russellville in 1966 in the same field. He was a son of the late J.T. Upton and Wilnah Pinkston Upton. He was preceded in death by a sister, Gretchen McMillien.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Crafton Funeral Home, with burial in Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife, Cindy Chaney Upton; a son, Taylor Upton of Elizabethtown; a daughter, Ellen Upton of Elizabethtown; a stepdaughter, April Chaney of Franklin; a brother, John Upton of Russellville; a sister, Judy Upton of Memphis, Tenn.; and three stepgrandsons.
We're fortunate enough to have BJ Koltee WAKY airchecks on the 79WAKY.com site.
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Post by 1240WINN on Jul 22, 2005 6:27:45 GMT -5
B.J. Koltee (Richard Upton) was actually on WINN for several years in the mid-70's, doing the 9AM to noon shift. I don't think he was ever on WAMZ. In addition to WAKY, I think he did a tour at WCII while in Louisville.
I heard his voice through my transistor radio many a summer day as I rode my bike through the neighborhood, listening to WINN.
He would frequently play Stonewall Jackson's song "B.J. the D.J." Today I'm reminded of the last line, "He'll spin the hits no more". May he rest in peace.
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Post by Max on Jul 22, 2005 10:28:26 GMT -5
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Post by Bob Moody on Jul 22, 2005 15:55:30 GMT -5
B.J. Koltee will always have a special place in my memories of WAKY. When he did mid-days at WINN, he was one of my favorite jocks and I was excited to be able to work with him at WAKY The Oldies Station. I've always maintained that one of the characteristics of a great air talent is unpredictability -- and there was no way to predict what original thoughts would come out of his mouth! B.J. was a genuinely creative and funny man. I met my wife at a record hop he hosted in Louisville -- and I wasn't there because I needed to be, as much as that I just enjoyed watching him work.
For months now, whenever I checked this web site, my habit was to go to the "DJs" page and scroll down to the "K" section to see if anyone had located B.J. -- and all this time he was just a few miles up I-65. My sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace, my friend.
Bob Moody
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Post by njtoms on Jul 23, 2005 15:40:08 GMT -5
Hi, Bob. Hope you might remember me. I met you afew times through my late great best friend-Woody Stiles. I flew into Louisville for the Bill Bailey-WAKY Tribute Party. I really was hoping you might be there. I understand your living now in Tennesee. We had a great time at the Corner Cafe. Bill, was very impressed with the turnout. Over 100 friends and relatives attended. I have an extra set of pics from that night; if you might be interested. If you have a minute; I'd love to catch-up with you. My e-mail is njtoms@yahoo.com. Woody always spoke very highly of you. Even though it's been over 25 years since his un-timely death; there isn't a week that goes by without me thinking of what a great friend he was to me. Hope you've been well Cosmic Bob. Yeah, I listened to you at CKLW. I graduated from U of D across from Windsor. Have some great BIG 8 stories for you. Hope to hear from you!
Always My Best,
Noel Thomas Chicago
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Steven Lee Cook WAKY
Guest
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Post by Steven Lee Cook WAKY on Apr 20, 2006 20:19:46 GMT -5
Bob,
As you know, B.J. was very fond of you and took great pride in being a part of your "WAKY790 The Oldies Station" Billboard Station of the Year, team. That went for all of us...Liz, Leonard, Keith and myself.
One year during the Kentucky State Fair we were the Host station for an Oldies show out in Cardinal Stadium. I recall B.J. being very excited about going onstage in front of 15 to 20,000 people and bringing on one of the Rock N' Roll acts of the evening, we all were. If memory serves correctly the line-up included The Coasters, Bo Diddlley and Bobby Vee.
You had B.J., Liz and myself emceeing the show.
The night the of the concert the weather in Louisville was perfect and we all met at WAKY to go out together in transportation you had arranged for us. I remember during the ride out the Watterson to the back gates on Crittendon, we were having one of the best times ever in anticipation of being a part of the evenings festivities along with the performers and the WAKY fans.
As our driver got the go ahead through his walkie talkie to proceed through the left field gate and into the stadium we could see for the first time that the place was packed.
B.J. starts laughing and says to Lizzie and I, " Isn't this just like Moody... every other jock in the city has to walk through the dirt to get to the stage....not Bob, he has the class to have us driven right up to the steps in a black Cadillac Limo!"
I had never seen the guy so happy!
It was one of those kind of nights you never forget.
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