R.I.P.: Pittsburgh Broadcaster Robert Wolfson

Top40 Pioneer and radio/tv talent Robert Wolfson, publicly known as Bob Wilson, passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2015.

Bob Wolfson

He was 81 years old, according to family.

Wolfson worked as an actor, writer, director, announcer, narrator, engineer, manager, correspondent, newscaster and news analyst. Wolfson began his career in Hollywood in the 1940s as an actor during the final years of radio dramatic shows. He also held a weekend position as the world's youngest classical music announcer.

While in California, Wolfson worked at stations KPPC, KCSM and KXRX.

While in the U-S Air Force, Wolfson  was sent to North Africa, and while stationed in Libya in 1954 Wolfson transferred to the Armed Forces Radio Station as Chief Announcer/Program Director. He was instrumental in the installation of the first television station in Africa and was the first person to be televised on the African continent when he anchored the Six P. M. News as New Director of AJG-TV.

While working at KOIL-AM in Omaha Wolfson helped create and pioneer the concept of "Top 40" pop music radio. Over a period of 12 years at KOIL, Wolfson worked as Program Director, News Director, Public Affairs Director and Creative Director in addition to being a popular on-air personality.

In 1967 Wolfson began working for ABC Radio as an on-air personality at KQV-AM in Pittsburgh. Wolfson later served as Production Manager at KQV while also using his talents as a freelance voice-over announcer. Wolfson was soon a spokesman for Alcoa, Westinghouse, United States Steel, Gulf Oil, Rubbermaid, Pittsburgh Paints and H. J. Heinz Foods, among many others.

After helping to start the KQV-affiliated FM "album rock" station WDVE-FM, Wolfson moved to Heftel Broadcasting's 13Q (WKTQ-FM) where he worked as Creative Director. In 1976, Wolfson opened shop as "Bob Wilson Productions". Over the years Wolfson recorded over 20 thousand commercials and audio-visual presentations. Wolfson's career included stints at the popular stations K98 (KHFI-FM) in Austin, Texas and KJZY in Dallas in the late 1980s and WKBR (K-Bear) in Pittsburgh in the early 1990s.

Friends and family will be invited to a private memorial celebration to be conducted later this Spring. In lieu of flowers or cards, donations in memory of "Bob Wilson" can be made to the Dan Mallinger Scholarship Fund C/O AFTRA, 625 Stanwix St. Suite 2007, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.R.I.