(Photo: Buzz Barr, singer Vicki Carr and record promoter Ron Saul, about 1966. Thanx to Bill Taylor!)
His radio career started in Hoquiam (as did the careers of several other Seattle locals such as Steve West (KJR) and Bill Munson (KOL, KJR, KAYO).
Buzz moved-on up to Centralia’s KITI (where his on-air name was Tom Cat), then to Tacoma’s long-gone KMO, then KVI.
He left KVI in the mid-1960s for KOL, where he kick-started the station’s Top 40 format (KOLORFUL KOL) going head-to-head against market leader KJR.
His next stop was KISN (Portland) for a short time, back to KOL and then to KJR. Buzz was the program director at KING radio during the station’s ill-fated foray into Top 40 (again head-to-head against market leader KJR) in the 1970s.
After that, Barr became sales manager for KYAK-KGOT in Anchorage, then bought a station in partnership in Kenai.
He writes, “I did really well but my partner took me down to a point where I came back to Aberdeen (Grays Harbor) opened an agency, doing well until last year when I retired -- hit 72 with 52 years in broadcasting, and miss it in a big way."
What was the frequency number for KOL? I was just wondering what station has taken its place.
I remember him on KISN in Portland.
Posted by: sparky | July 24, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Buzz looks like Ed Byrnes character Vince Fontaine in Grease. Or should I say it the other way around? Funny.
I'm getting my "Old Radio" threads mixed up!
I think KOL was at the top of the dial but I don't remember where exactly. .
Posted by: joanie | July 24, 2010 at 01:00 PM
KOL broadcast on 1300 kc until 1974,when the station,under new ownership became KMPS. The format changed from rock to country and within a year or so KMPS 'COMPASS' had overtaken its only competition...longtime ratings success KAYO.KMPS would go on to enjoy great success for many decades.
Posted by: dale from albuquerque | July 24, 2010 at 01:42 PM
Buzz had a warm, unique style and on-air manner that was particularly appealing to the ladies, and he was extremely successful in the midday time slots that -- at the time -- were referred to as "housewife" day parts. He was a perfect fit as the host/MC for the KJR bridal shows.
Buzz was a demanding program director, and was regarded by some as dictatorial and hard around the edges, but he was also the consummate pro.
There would not have been a Kolorful KOL without his vision and leadership.
By any measure, he reflected the drive, standards and creative energy of the halcyon '60s in Seattle Top 40 radio.
For those of us who were your fans, both at KOL and KJR and KING --thanks Buzz, for the memories --and the mark you left on Seattle radio.
Posted by: WJE | July 24, 2010 at 10:37 PM
Blondes do have more fun... wish Buzz Barr could tell us all the details, but I suppose they'd be too X-rated even for this blog. Miss you on the air, Buzz.
Posted by: charlie potts | July 25, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Slight correction to Dale's end date for KOL. Its final day was August 31, 1975. KMPS was born the following day.
I still have some tape of KOL's final two days but unfortunately the quality is beyond lousy. A name that most will recognize, John Maynard, was there for the final days.
Posted by: David M | July 25, 2010 at 09:07 PM
does anyone have some airchecks or shows to link to of Buzz?
Posted by: Puget Sound | July 25, 2010 at 09:18 PM
Who's the guy in the red vest?
Posted by: jhjohnston | July 25, 2010 at 10:19 PM
The guy in the red vest LOOKS like J.J. Valley, a '60s-era DJ at KJR, KOL and KVI. Someone come to my aid here!
Posted by: WJE | July 25, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Yes, in the red vest is JJ Valley. I worked with him and Buzz at KOL, along with Martin Tobin in the newsroom.
Posted by: Bill Wippel | July 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM