Legendary Morning Host Dr. Don Rose Dies

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From Radio & Records:

Legendary Morning Host Dr. Don Rose Dies

Dr. Don Rose, a Bay Area legend who first found fame as an air personality in Atlanta and Philadelphia, died in his sleep last night at his Concord, CA home. His age was not immediately known. From late 1973 until 1988, Rose ruled the morning roost at KFRC/San Francisco, remaining with the station following its August 1986 move from Top 40 to Adult Standards as "Magic 61." He then worked briefly at KKIS/San Francisco before joining crosstown KIOI for wakeups. That stint ended abruptly after Rose suffered a heart attack in the studio while on the air, forcing him into retirement.

Current KFRC PD Bob Harlow, who received the news of Rose's death this morning while on vacation in Oregon, told R&R he had just spoken with him last week. "He had called because a fan had contacted him and had a question about KFRC, and Don wanted to get the information right," Harlow said. "He was just that kind of guy." Harlow added, however, that Rose remarked that his health was not good and that he might have had walking pneumonia.

Before joining KFRC in 1973 — news that was the top story in R&R's first-ever weekly newspaper — Rose spent five years in mornings at Top 40 WFIL/Philadelphia. He also worked at Top 40 WQXI/Atlanta; an aircheck of Rose's time at the station is featured on the Crusin' 1967 album. He began his career at KOIL/Omaha in 1956 using his legal name, Donald Rosenberg. He was fired from that job. He later worked at KTSA/San Antonio and WEBC/Duluth, MN. As of May 2001, Rose had enjoyed 45 years of marriage with his wife, Kae. He had five children and nine grandchildren.

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Another article from KGO-TV website:

Bay Area Radio Personality Don Rose Dies

Mar. 30 (AP) — Dr. Don Rose, who entertained Bay Area radio listeners for nearly two decades, died Wednesday. He was 70.

Rose died in his sleep at his home in Concord, KFRC program director Bob Harlow said.

Rose arrived in the Bay Area in 1973 after working in Philadelphia and quickly became the Bay Area's No. 1 disc jockey with his wacky sound effects and jokes.

"He was very up and positive," Harlow said. "He was extremely funny. He used a lot of what we called wild tracks. It was kind of unique for the market. During his time on KFRC, he was the highest-rated morning show in the market for most of that time. He is probably the most remembered person from KFRC in its history."

Rose left the station in 1986 but Harlow said listeners still always asked about him nearly two decades later.

"I think we bridged the gap," Rose told KPIX in a recent interview. "We were the force between kids and adults, between old and new."

KFRC host Sue Hall, whose overnight show was followed by Rose, recalled the whole atmosphere changed as soon as Rose arrived each morning.

"As soon as he walked in the building the excitement in that station went through the roof," she said. "As soon as that mic was flipped on, he was magical."

Rose is survived by his wife, five children and 13 grandchildren.

"He was always a wonderful dad to all of us," his son, Jay Rosenberg told KGO-TV. "It was a lot of fun growing up with him."

[musicradio77]

There also another article from KPIX website:

Radio Personality Dr. Don Rose Dead at 70

Dr. Don Rose, the radio personality who entertained generations of listeners in the Bay Area, died in his sleep Wednesday. He was 70.

Back when bell-bottoms were hip the first time around, top 40 radio ruled the airwaves and Rose was the Bay Area's number-one DJ on KFRC-AM. Rose commanded the radio in the 1970s and 80s with his morning show, incorporating hallmark sound effects and silly jokes.

"The moment he turned on that mic -- even off the mic -- the whole place lit up," said KFRC midday host Sue Hall. "He was a goofball. He was wacky. And that was his shtick. But the heart came out."

One characteristic joke, gleaned from an old recording: "The Pacifica Police Department restroom was cleaned out by burglars. The detectives have nothing to go on."

Rose's Bay Area career started in 1972. Dr. Don was fresh from Philadelphia, but in less than a year he went from number four in the morning ratings to number one. He stayed there for a dozen years.

"They were just the corniest, stupidest jokes you ever heard," said George Zema, who worked as Dr. Don's right-hand man for 16 years, cueing up the ever-present sound effects. "If you were to read them, they wouldn't be that funny... But with the combination of the sound effects and the timing and the music, it was golden."

Dr. Don left KFRC in the late 1980s but stayed in touch with listeners. He was a family man -- an original good guy. Recently he spoke with Bill Schechner about the sale of KFRC-AM. The station will soon only be on the FM dial.

"I think we bridged the gap," Rose said about his morning show heyday. "We were the force between kids and adults, between old and new."