‘A TRIBUTE TO MIKE WHORF’
— A SOUL ENCOUNTERED —
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In closing out the year, we pay homage to WJR broadcasting legend Mike Whorf, who passed away in November, at the age of 88.
In wake of his passing, Kevin Collard, former producer at WJR for over 16 years, created and produced a special two hour tribute to the award-winning “Kaleidoscope” program host. We found Kevin’s tribute he featured on his ‘Soul Encountered‘ podcast page (see our Blogroll link) just four days after Mike’s passing, on November 14.
Kevin Collard also worked with over 30 hosts at WJR (not to mention Mike Whorf) including: Paul W Smith, Ken Calvert, David Newman and wrapping up his career there working with Frank Beckmann in 2009. Kevin also stated he did production work for Larry Patton, John McCullough, Kevin Joyce, Mitch Albom and other luminaries affiliated with Detroit radio as well.
Earlier this month, Kevin shared his ‘A Tribute to Mike Whorf’ podcast with Motor City Radio Flashbacks. A professed “fan and follower of the site”, we are truly honored to share this beautifully produced, Mike Whorf rememberance, here, on our web page today.
Thank you, Kevin Collard
For more on the passing of this WJR broadcasting legend, go HERE
Mike Whorf was on WJR from 1964 to 2003.
Obituary for Michael Whorf
Mike Whorf, longtime radio host of the Peabody Award-winning WJR program Kaleidoscope, died in Detroit on Tuesday, November 10th. He was 88. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Whorf spent his childhood and teen years in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Whorf attended Provincetown High School and upon graduation in 1950, enlisted in the United States Air Force where he trained as a radio announcer on the Armed Forces Network.
After military service, Whorf worked on the radio in Massachusetts and in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where he met and married his wife of 49 years, Barbara Ann Brown. From the 1960s through the 90s, Whorf was part of a WJR Detroit line-up of radio personalities known throughout the Great Lakes region. Whorf’s Kaleidoscope topics ranged from politics to religion, from the arts to sports. In 1968, he was recognized with one of the world’s top media honors: the George Foster Peabody Award for his documentary on the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mike Whorf also served during the mid-1980s as program director of classical station WQRS-FM in Detroit. While with WQRS, Whorf created the program “Quest for Excellence,” a juried music competition show for aspiring young talents broadcast live before a studio audience.
In 2008 he was inducted into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
Aside from broadcasting, Whorf’s greatest joy was his life as a family man. He and his beloved wife Barbara and their son and daughters enjoyed traveling to the Eastern US for visits with many relatives. In their golden years, Mike and Barb were blessed to alternate time between overseas trips and watching their grandchildren grow.
Michael’s wife Barbara preceded him in death in 2006. He is survived by son Peter (Jennifer), daughters Sarah, Jennifer (Quinn), Suzannah (Ian) and grandchildren Daniel, Annemarie, Michael, Noelle, Jack, Sean, Nate, Noah and Olivia.
Private services have been held.
Memorials appreciated to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Pain & Palliative Care Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac, MI 48341.
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Obituary (view online) courtesy of:
Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors | Clawson, MI.
A SOUL ENCOUNTERED: A TRIBUTE TO MIKE WHORF
What is the Kaleidoscope theme song?
I wish I could get my hands on an annual piece that Mike did on the Kaleidoscope program when I was a child they listened to it and it made my parents cry I always remember that peace and wish I could share it with my family again. It was about two leaves Hannah branch that were the last two leaves of fall as winter came in and their final moments on the branch.
I too–like Dan Atkinson’s comment–would be very appreciative to know how to find the lovely autumn poem Mike Whorf would read about the last two remaining leaves on the tree. Its nostalic memory and Mike’s warm voice has stuck with me all these years, and as I look out the window today, there they are! Two lone leaves on a branch, hanging down, hanging together. Today is the day! Please share with us the poem’s name and author that we might relive Mike’s gift.