Don Vogel, KSTP
Wendy Vickers
Haven't seen any other postings on this, so:
Don Vogel, the "round mound of sound, "stone blind out of his mind,"
proprietor of the "Afternoon Saloon", a talk show in the 4-6 p.m. drive
time slot on KSTP-AM 1500 in St. Paul passed away Monday, June 5, at age
49 after a year long battle with cancer. Don was so bound and determined
to keep going for as long as he can that he was on the air as late as two
weeks before he died.
His show created a refuge from the pressures of the day and the
controversial issues found on typical talk shows. Don was a master
impressionist, a comic genius, and one of the best communicators I've
heard in radio. His listeners were "the Don Squad". When he spoke to
us, he created a sense of community among the listeners and took great
care to see that we were all a part of the conversation and that he was
giving his listeners a quality show. He was also a pretty good singer
with a love for karaoke and blues.
Off the air Don was every bit as warm as he appeared to be on the air. I
met him in the summer of 1993 at a live broadcast he and Tommy Mischke
did together at a St. Paul Saints season opener. I introduced myself to
Don and I would have been well content with simply a "nice to meet you"
from him. Instead, he invited me to sit with him and for about 15 minutes
before his show, he spent time talking to me about my life in Minnesota
and my interest in radio and music. We were to have many other chats on
similar occasions (as well as an adventure of my escorting him to the
bathroom at a MN State Fair live broadcast, getting lost and making it
back to the booth with minutes to spare before airtime!) and kept in
touch until his death. I know I was not the only fan he extended himself
too so personally.
Don also worked stints at WGN and WMAQ in Chicago and WISN in Milwaukee.
He was a great radio guy and a great person. He is missed.
Wendy Vickers
Radio Regulars/Local Folk newsletters
Fine Tune Promotions
PO Box 2941
St. Paul, MN 55102
vick...@maroon.tc.umn.edu vm 612-649-4829
AOL: VickiNot
Support and encourage your local musicians!