Kurt Russell

By John Mehno

Jennett Meriden Russell
and Jean Russell

Nov 24, 2005
   

Kurt Russell did the overnight show on KDKA from 1962 to 1965, leaving Pittsburgh to take a job at Westinghouse's WIND in Chicago. Kurt left KDKA just a few months before Rege departed for KNX in Los Angeles.

Kurt would hand off to Rege every morning at 6 o'clock.

Pittsburgh's mills and factories were operating around the clock then, so KDKA had a large audience in the overnight hours.

Kurt kept listeners entertained with his amazing voice skills and quick wit. He enjoyed a successful career at a number of major stations throughout the United States.

Sadly, Kurt passed away on April 18, 1979 at the age of 49. His widow, Jean, was kind 
enough to share some special memories with daughter Jennett, and this is their story, 
written by Jennett:

"Rege Cordic was a great friend to both my father and mother, and still holds a special 
place in my mother's heart. When my father lay in a coma in Brookhaven Hospital, Rege sent a heartwarming taped message to my dad, recalling their days together at KDKA.

"My dad, as you probably know, was a master voice impersonator. In the tape he sent, 
Rege, who apparently had some trouble getting to work on time, expressed his 
gratitude to my dad for covering for him occasionally by doing his voice impression of 
Rege on the air. This clever ploy kept the Program Director from realizing that Rege was 
late for his shift, yet again.

"Thank you for helping to keep my father's memory alive and realizing that he and Rege 
were thick as thieves."

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