Sam Rubin 1960 - 2024

 

I met Sam Rubin once at a KTLA remote. I told him I enjoyed listening to him on his weekend show, an offering over 20+ years ago on "710 The Zone" (KMPC), he thanked me. That was about it in terms my one-and-only personal encounter with him. Yet hearing about his passing on Friday left me speechless. I was out assisting on a community project, yet I couldn't help streaming KTLA on my phone to hear more about the 30+ year morning fixture on local TV, later watching the continuous coverage well into the evening.

Carlos Amezcua, Sam Rubin, Barbara Beck, Mark Kriski

It's worth noting that Sam was both on the radio and a fan of the medium. One of his first jobs while attending University High was to answer the KHJ request lines for Bobby Ocean and MG Kelly. "I was in the room when then PD Chuck Martin put down the phone and announced, 'We have just hired this guy from Memphis named Rick Dees and we are going to pay him one hundred thousand dollars.' At that time, it might as well have been ten million dollars, it seemed like so much money."

Sam was later heard on a number of stations across the LA dial. What he offered to LARadio.com in 2015:

Around this time my TV career at KTLA was really taking off, but I knew that in so many ways radio was and is "better." It is the most intimate of mediums, and when you are good on the radio, nothing is better.

When 97.1 FM was a talk station, Howard Stern was -- of course -- the station's star. He had a habit of finishing his show well past 10 a.m. (it was supposed to end after four hours), which meant Sam, who hosted the midmorning show, never really knew when his program would begin. Recalled Sam:

The show had a two-hour slot from 10 a.m. until 12 noon, but with Howard's daily overruns sometimes the show would be 40 minutes, sometimes the show would be five minutes. That show has not been on the air for more than ten years and not a single day goes by, every single day, when someone out in the public tells me, "I loved that show, I listened every day. You are much better on the radio than you are on TV."

Lisa Foxx, Ryan Seacrest

Besides the aformentioned KLSX and KMPC programs, Sam was heard Saturday mornings on KABC,  the entertainment reports on KNX and Go Country 105 (KKGO), plus periodic appearances with Ryan Seacrest and Lisa Foxx on STAR 98.7 (KYSR) afternoons.

Former KNX morning anchor Tom Haule offered his tribute:

Sam was a wonderful force of nature in his field. He liked helping people. I recall once when he was hosting his own show and I mentioned that my daughter was a fan. He sets us up with front row seats and did a quick audience Q&A with us both. Sam was very much into family and did what he could to promote it. He was a generous human being and will be sorely missed.

A personal note. I once called into Sam's KMPC show, identifying myself as an alumni of his crosstown rival, Venice High School, Class of 1977. He was a member of the University High Class of 1978. Fortunately he didn't hang up on me, but I digress. More significant to me is I learned our birthdays are only three months apart. Yes, I was thinking he died far too young. 

It has been very humbling to see Sam's photo listed with the numbers "1960 - 2024."

When Don Barrett decided to stop posting original material at LARadio.com, Sam wrote a long tribute, concluding with the following:

It should also be pointed out, in a personal way, that Don Barrett is a gentleman of the highest order. He is one of the few – who really believes – that a rising tide raises all boats. He has been extraordinarily kind and helpful to me over the years and I know his kindness, care and concern can be seen in the words he writes and has shared with all of us who are fans of this site. LARadio.com may be going dark, but what Don Barrett has given to all of us will be appreciated long, long after this site is gone.

Many have commented on the extraordinary kindness and helpfulness Sam Rubin shared with so many. Sam, you will be appreciated long, long after your last report.

Sam leaves behind his wife Leslie and his four children, Perry, Rory, Darcy, and Colby. Services have not been announced.