R.I.P.: 'The Bearman' Longtime WZZO Lehigh Valley Morning Host

Longtime Lehigh Valley radio personality Kevin “The Bearman" Schutts, a mainstay of WZZO’s morning programming with partner Keith Moyer, has died, according to The Morning Call citing a post on the station’s Facebook page today.

He was 64.

“With great sadness, we must inform you of The Bearman’s sudden and unexpected passing,” says the post, which did not disclose a cause of death.

“He was a wonderful family man and great partner with his friend and teammate Keith. There will be opportunities to share your favorite memories in the coming days. At this difficult time, we ask that your thoughts are with Bearman’s family and friends,” the post said.

Schutts and Moyer built their show around goofy, often crude humor and stunts. In a 1994 Morning Call story about their 1,000th show — aired from the State Theatre in Easton — Schutts offered a cheerfully self-deprecating assessment of the team’s appeal: “God, the biggest joke on our show is us — and we know it.”

The post about Schutts’ death drew more than 1,000 comments and thousands of shares within an hour.

“Tomorrow morning and hereafter on WZZO will never be the same without your voice,” said a typical comment.

Schutts lived a nomadic broadcast life. He began as a part-time disc jockey in Allentown in 1972 when the station’s call letters were WGPA.

He became a full-time DJ in 1977 before moving to a station in his native Buffalo, N.Y., in 1980. After two years there, he moved to several different markets before returning to Allentown in 1988 and pairing with Moyer.

That lasted for two years before Schutts decamped to Buffalo again. But in 1992, he returned to WZZO and reunited with Moyer.