Pistons PA announcer and radio legend Calvert ‘made life fun’
Ken Calvert was a Detroit radio star whose career spanned more than four decades and six major stations. But to listeners across metro Detroit, he felt more like a good friend.
Calvert, 72, who lived in Oakland County, died Wednesday, according to his wife of 40 years, Ann Calvert. He had been dealing with a short-term illness, but his death was sudden and unexpected, she told the Free Press.
“I just want everyone to know how much he appreciated his fans and their support,” she said late Wednesday night, fighting back tears as she talked about her husband. They first began dating as teenagers when he was attending Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township and she was enrolled next door at Marian High School.
For as long as she can remember, her husband wanted to be in radio. “He chased the dream and made it,” she said. But success didn’t stop him from being approachable to fans or becoming known as a good guy in an industry often driven by ego and self-interest.
Nicknamed “K.C., the Casual One,” Calvert brought humor, relaxed charm and a flair for interviewing music superstars to his job. When he retired in 2013 as morning host of WCSX-FM (94.7), his producer Jim O’Brien summed him up this way: “Ken’s the man. He introduced (Bob) Seger to (Bruce) Springsteen. He was there when Journey wrote ‘Don’t Stop Believin.’ ”
Calvert also was famous for his 16 years as public address announcer for the Detroit Pistons, a role he held until 2001. During his years with the championship-winning Bad Boys, he became known for his “Joe Duuuuumars” pronunciation of the great Pistons player's name.
In 1973, Calvert came on board Detroit’s fabled rock station WWWW-FM as a deejay, moving next to WABX-FM. From 1976 to 1978, he tried the behind-the-scenes side of the business, doing regional promotions for CBS Records from Chicago. When he returned to Motor City radio in 1978, his broadcasting skills continued to grow during his stints at WRIFFM
and, later, WLLZ-FM.
“Ken had an easygoing persona that connected with rock listeners. He understood radio was theater of the mind, especially when he did a Sunday morning radio (program) in the persona of ‘Chuck Roast,’ playing early rock hits,” former Free Press editor and writer John Smyntek said via text. Smyntek covered Calvert extensively.
Calvert’s versatility was evident in the variety of roles that he tackled. Before beginning his 13-year run at WCSX-FM, Calvert moved from rock to talk and joined WJR-AM (760). And he spent some of his busy retirement doing a podcast, “The Ken Calvert Show.”
Embracing the contemporary format of podcasting, he shared some of his treasure trove of rock anecdotes and radio highlights. Episodes from 2018 to 2021 covered topics like his 1998 interview with Ray Manzarek, of the Doors, and the real story behind the Guess Who hit “American Woman.”
Ann Calvert spoke Wednesday evening about her admiration for the way her husband lived his life, professionally and personally. “I always felt good because I always felt proud of him. He never did anything that I couldn’t be proud of,” she said.
Remembering happy moments, she said, “He made life fun.”
Several generations of local radio listeners know exactly what she means.