Interested in nominating Bob Crane for the National Radio Hall of Fame but unsure of what to say? We're here to help! Below is a sample template that you can use to submit your nomination for Bob. The information below is based on extensive, corroborated research and is published in Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography. Feel free to use any of this information below in your nomination for Bob Crane.
Name of Personality:
Bob Crane
Radio Program or Name:
The Bob Crane Show
Brief Bio of Personality:
Sample Bio:
Bob Crane was born in Waterbury, CT, on July 13, 1928, and grew up in Stamford, CT. After graduating from high school in 1946, Bob joined the National Guard. He started playing drums at 10 years of age, and his love of music and drums led him to pursue a career in radio. In 1950, he gave up a steady job as a clerk at a jewelry store to pursue his dream of a radio career. His first radio job was at WLEA in Hornell, NY. In 1951, Bob returned to CT when he landed a job at WBIS in Bristol. His career skyrocketed when, after three months at WBIS, he moved to Bridgeport, CT, to work first for WLIZ and then WICC, where he held the morning time slot for his entire tenure. He was called out to Hollywood in 1956, when he started at KNX-CBS Radio, where he stayed for nine years, leaving in 1965 after he landed the role of Colonel Hogan on Hogan's Heroes. Despite his success as an actor, Bob stayed close to radio, and in the 1970s, he did part-time work at KMPC. He also guest-hosted radio programs across the country.
During his early radio career, Bob began experimenting with sound effects. From there, he graduated to voice impersonations – some famous, some not – and he soon became known as the “Man of a Thousand Voices.” All of these gimmicks, as Bob called them, were interwoven into his radio show, and most of the time, in with commercials, which was unprecedented. By the time he reached KNX, advertisers were paying top dollar for airtime during “The Bob Crane Show,” simply because he could get people to stay put, pay attention to, and actually enjoy the commercials.
Also central to Bob Crane’s radio show was his drumming. Wherever Bob went, his drums went with him, and he incorporated his musicianship into his radio program. When playing a record over the air, he could often not resist the urge to play his drums along with it. Further, Bob was an exceptional interviewer, which earned him a coveted place with many celebrities. While at KNX, Bob interviewed more than 3,000 individuals from September 13, 1956, to August 16, 1965.
On June 29, 1978, Bob was murdered in Scottsdale, AZ, while he slept. The crime has never been officially solved. The investigation revealed Bob’s alternate lifestyle, which included consensual sex and amateur pornography with numerous consensual women. Shortly before his death, however, he had admitted to a counselor that he realized he was a sexual addict and wanted to be healed. His counselor described Bob as a “tremendous talent;” someone who “just happened to be famous;” was a “wonderful, wonderful person;” “caring, sensitive, and somewhat shy;” and with “weaknesses and foibles like the rest of us.”
Submitted by:
Your Name
Industry Affiliation:
If you work in radio, please include your credentials and station. Please consider officially endorsing Bob Crane's nomination, and encourage your station to endorse his nomination as well.
Don't work in radio? Don't sweat it! Simply explain that you are a fan and have listened to Bob Crane's radio work (much of it is available on our Sound Cloud and YouTub Channels — Click the buttons above). Briefly explain what you like about Bob's radio work. As a fan, you also have a voice, and it should be and can be heard!
Email Address:
Your Email Address
Phone:
Your Phone Number
Click "Submit"
Thank you for supporting a broadcasting legend!
