Posted by Tom Cook on February 21, 2012 at 05:50:47:
In Reply to: Shawn Michaels passes away posted by David on February 20, 2012 at 10:03:41:
I'm totally blown away by this news.
Reider's first on-air gig was working for me on "Soft Rock 96.3" in 1999. His uncle (I believe) had a show on WIBA-AM on weekends and I would see him around from time to time. Reidar eventually came to me and expressed interest in being on the air. I put him on Saturday nights 7p-12m to get started. He was a quick study; we did airchecks every week and he improved quickly.
One "aircheck day" the receptionist called and told me one of my guys had just wrecked. It was slick winter day and Reidar was coming in for an aircheck; when he braked to turn into the CC parking lot, he hit ice and ran straight into the telephone pole next to one of the driveways. He was a little shaken up but insisted that we do an aircheck session; he'd worry about the car later.
Knowing his interest in Elvis and impersonation, the story is funny ... at Christmas we had played the Bob Rivers "A Message From the King" where he talks about gifts and giving and then starts asking for people to pass the mashed potatoes, gravy, drumsticks, etc. Reidar came to me very annoyed. When I asked what was up he said "I'm very very offended by that song." That's the only thing I remember him being humor-challenged about.
RIP, Reidar.
If anyone knows what happened - was he ill for a long time? - please post here or let me know.
Tom Cook
WLHT/Grand Rapids