Roger Barkley

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Roger Barkley (b. September 11, 1936 Odebolt, Iowa, USA; d.December 21, 1997, Duarte, California) was a Los Angeles radio personality best remembered for his work with Al Lohman as part of The Lohman and Barkley Show on KFI.

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[edit] Career

Barkley left his Iowa hometown at age 17 to pursue a career in broadcasting. He began as a page boy at WCCO in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while attending the American Institute of the Air in Minnesota. After that, he held positions as announcer and program director at stations in Mankato, Minnesota (KYSM); Fairmont, Minnesota (KSUM) and Salt Lake City, Utah (KALL). After serving in the U.S. Army, he went on to work in Dallas, Texas (KBOX) and Denver, Colorado (KIMN). He moved to Los Angeles and worked at KLAC (1961-67), KFWB (1967-68), KFI (1968-86), KJOI (1986-89) and KABC (1990-96).

[edit] Lohman and Barkley (1961-1986)

Roger became the program director at KLAC, and hired Al Lohman for the morning show.[1] When station KLAC was sold to Metromedia in 1961, the new owners began a search for a two-man morning team. Roger was quoted as saying, "We figured we were all going to be fired so Al and I thought perhaps we should do the morning show as a team. this way we could buy some time to look for another job." He would team with Lohman for the next twenty-five years. The pair also hosted two short-lived, Emmy Award-winning network television shows, made frequent appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and Hollywood Squares[2] and numerous personal appearances at Los Angeles' famed Cocoanut Grove nightclub. In 1987, they appeared as themselves in the film Amazon Women on the Moon. Their work in both radio and television also earned them a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Barkley suddenly and inexplicably left the duo in May 1986,[3] and within two weeks was named the morning radio personality at KJOI. He never again spoke with Lohman.

[edit] KABC - The Ken and Barkley Company

In 1990, Roger became co-host of The Ken and Barkley Company on KABC alongside Ken Minyard.[4] Like the Lohman and Barkley show, this show was consistently rated number one in local morning drive.

[edit] Philanthropy

A tireless philanthropist, Barkley served as master of ceremonies nearly 200 times each year for various causes, donating his proceeds to charity each time. The Roger Barkley Community Foundation continues to donate money to hospitals, youth groups, scholarships and medical research. As an entrepreneur, Barkley and business partner Jim Campbell opened "The Barkley," a chain of upscale restaurants.

[edit] Death

Roger Barkley died at age 61 of pancreatic cancer on December 21, 1997 at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California.[5]

[edit] Discography

  • Light Of My Life Volume One - The Breath of Dr. Duncan & Doc In The Box (LP and Cassette)
  • Light Of My Life Volume Two - The Arrest Of Dr. Duncan & Mouse In The Hole (LP and Cassette)

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Radio Comedy Team Finds Right Formula", Los Angeles Times, 1967-11-05. 
  2. ^ "Radio's Roger Barkley Dies Following Illness; Media: The popular broadcaster was diagnosed with cancer a month ago. He is also remembered for his charitable work.", Los Angeles Times, 1997-12-23. 
  3. ^ "Barkley confirms he ended the partnership", Los Angeles Times, 1986-05-14. 
  4. ^ "It's Still EGBOK on KABC-AM Morning Show Radio: When Bob Arthur departed `The Ken and Bob Company' last year, Ken Minyard asked Roger Barkley to replace him, and `everything's going to be OK.'", Los Angeles Times, 1991-09-30. 
  5. ^ "Digest: Talk radio's Roger Barkley dies at 61", Long Beach Press-Telegram, 1997-12-23. 

[edit] External links

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