Northeast Ohio mourns the loss of one of most vibrant personalities, Bob Burford. As a cherished colleague and friend, Bob was a beloved figure at WKSU, where he contributed to the station’s growth and success during its heyday. He wore many hats during his time there, serving in roles such as public relations and on-air host, always leaving a lasting impact with his warm presence and deep passion for broadcasting.
Bob was also a co-founder of Banana Records, a testament to his love of music, which he shared with all those fortunate enough to know him. He was the first person to welcome me when I joined WKSU, and from that moment, we became lifelong friends. Our adventures together could fill volumes. We shared a love of music, baseball, and discovering new places during happy hours, often staying up late into the night listening to records and reminiscing about life.
This message is from Bob’s son, Kevin.
Today my dad passed away. He had a serious infection in his lungs and after several days in the ICU, his body just couldn’t keep going. He was in very rough shape and honestly that’s not how I’d like to remember him.
My dad was the kind of person who could make friends with someone walking down the street. He could command a room, but he also listened to what someone was saying and remembered it. Maybe that’s how he could know so many people.
He worked for Kent State University for 25 years, the vast majority as the public relations director at WKSU. I grew up listening to a lot of NPR as a result. He loved the chances he got to be on the radio which was mostly during the pledge drives.
He loved his family, especially his brother and sisters. He was lucky to have several true, lasting friendships that stayed with him through the years (you know who you are!). He loved me and was proud of me, I know that.
His greatest love, other than family and friends, was music. He loved The Beatles, Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, and literally hundreds of other bands and artists. He had a legendary collection of records and CDs, ranging from blues to Brit pop to reggae to funk. But rock and roll was always his favorite jam.
He didn’t just listen to music though, he needed to be part of the show. As Reverend Bob he led the Caravan of Love as he preached his musical gospel, while in the No Problem Band he played it super-cool on lead guitar. But his most memorable performance was the King. If you ever saw it, you know what I’m talking about. It was a leave it all on the stage performance that brought joy to everyone who saw it. And behind the scenes he helped put together several music festivals including the Beatle Fest and Kent Blues Fest. He wanted to share his love for music with everyone around him.
I’m planning a celebration of life service and I’ll send details out when those have been finalized. In the meantime, please feel free to share your memories of Bob here. And if you have them, please send pictures or videos as direct messages to this account, as I’ll be compiling some for the memorial. Thank you.
