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Scott: Country Cousin Is Irish Doodle Boy By Edward L. Blank Press TV-Radio Writer |
| Dave Scott is a nasty
Guy
In the midst of the holiday season he can conjure up memories of bygone eras and make you wish today were a random yesterday from 10 to 15 years ago. He does it without meaning to, for he's quick to offer reasons why today is at least as enjoyable. It's just his way of looking back with affection that's affecting. Known to district listeners for three decades as "Your Country Cousin", "Dirty Old Man", "Sweet Old Shanty Irishman", and "The Uptown Irish Doodle Boy", Dave is heard from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday on WEEP-Radio. Born 45 years ago - give or take a few - in Brookline, he has lived in South Hills all his life except for about a year when he moved to Cleveland. South of the City Line Formerly a resident of Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, Scott Twp, and Upper St Clair, his present home is in Bethel Park. Dave is a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School who studied for two years at Clarion State Teachers College. He was an active athlete and letter man in football. After leaving school, he took a variety of jobs, among them selling autos and sporting goods and counseling at Morganza. His first job in radio came in 1942 when he was hired by WHJB, Greensburg. "I broke in there on Sundays from sunup to sundown at the magnificent total of $5 per day," he said. "After three Sundays I felt I had enough experience and asked for a raise, which I didn't get." Dave and the station parted company. |
He was hired by KQV's
program director, Jim Hughes, shortly thereafter and began a 26-year tenure
at that station.
During his first 16 years there he was associated with nearly every type of radio program: Soap operas, talk shows, man-on-the-street interviews, sports (football, mostly), trading post shows with Jane Gibson and movie star interviews. One-Time Shot He even interviewed a lion tamer from inside a cage at the Police Circus. Of course he played music, too. "In those days we had no disc jockeys as such," he said. "We had radio announcers who played music. We (KQV) had Al Noble who played rock 'n' roll Saturday afternoons. I learned a lot from Al." When ABC converted KQV to a rock 'n' roll format in 1958, the station's market soared from sixth to first place, Dave said. He was the only record-playing air personality to stay after KQV's change. He began playing hard rock music in th 9 p.m. to midnight slot then moved to the afternoon "drive-time" slot. (Drive time is considered choice time. It's the period when traffic is heaviest and the greatest number of car radios are played.) Last year he switched to WIXY, Cleveland (not to be confused with WIXZ, McKeesport) where he worked in the news department. He suffered a heart attack in August 1968, which hospitalized him for two weeks and kept him away from work for about a month. |
Home From Ohio
Then he left WIXY to free-lance for awhile, and returned to Pittsburgh in mid-May to join WEEP with it's modern country music policy. Because Dave had handled the "Sons of Pioneers" show years before on KQV, this type of music was more than a little familiar to him. "Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash have given country music a big shot in the arm," he said. "Even 'Hee Haw' has helped." WEEP will be increasing to 50,000 watts sometime in January, he added. Dave, whose original name is Manus Scott, is married to the former Jane Cramer of Greensburg and Mt. Lebanon. They met during World War II while she was working as a freight car tracer for a railroad here. The Scotts have two sons: Gregory, 22, and Manus, 17. They were growing up at the time their dad was among the foremost names of rock 'n' roll deejays. Into Another Era Now they're growing into the age bracket which, Dave said, forms the principal audience for WEEP's country music: The 20 to 49 group. As for Dave himself, he rolls right along with radio, making minor alterations along the way, but seeming to fit in with the format - whatever it is, whenever it changes. "I haven't changed too much," he said, adding: "I've slowed down a little for the older country audience." The slowdown isn't noticeable. That must be the "Country Cousin" in him talking. |