Rick Beckett, R.I.P.
February 27th, 2009 at 2:30 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
Rick Beckett (on the left in the picture), co-host of the Rick and Scott Show on WOOD-AM (1300) passed away Thursday evening. The likely cause was a heart attack. I first worked with Rick on WZZR (which was WZZM-FM until about 1977 and is now WLHT) 30 years ago. We did some funny bits together back then. When he worked down south, he’d call me up in the winter to do a bit or two on the radio down there – usually along the lines of “How cold it is in Michigan?”. Wish I had a dollar everytime we brought up the mullet haircut! He’s been on WGRD and WKLQ (remember the Q-Zoo w/Darla). Here’s some video of Rick, Scott Winters, Gary Allen, and Steve Kelly for a few weeks ago. Here’s video of the 5th Anniversary luncheon at Celebration Cinema (you can see me at the head table next to Rick) I’m sure some of our blog readers can share a story about Rick. They are planning a special show on Rick this Monday from 9-12 AM on WOOD-AM.
I will miss hearing Rick on the radio every morning. He was so funny! I hope his family and close friends can find some peace and comfort. It’s so very sad. Maybe it’s not important to race to the comfort phase of this sorrowful time. Grief is natural. It’s a sad, sad day. He will definately be missed and mourned.
My Condolences
The king of all media is gone the man made me laugh growing up in west michigan.Long Live THE KING OF ALL MEDIA you will be missed R.I.P
I can still remember the times we had at Chris O’Briens apt when you worked @ Z-96. You were 25 yrs old. So many crazy memories. One I still tell today and those of you who were there @ that time will remember, Rick changing Chris’ answering machine to, “this is chris O’briens butler Bob, the funk of the throne is not home” I remember hanging out @ the alibi with Rick, Devan, Roger, Jay, Chris and Myra, Carmel and John P was spinning Those disco songs that You Rick Loved so much,(Yuk, Barf) But you kept coming back????? you were the Jerk face I Loved to Hate,and I will miss you soooooooooo much. I look forward to seeing you again someday. You owe me a T-shirt without the Rush hole burn in it. LOL R.I.P. Darlin’
I couldn’t stand Rick and Scott that’s why I listened to them every day.
i listen often. rick will be deeply missed. when i’d tune in and they weren’t on it made my heart drop. my heart goes out for scott and his friends and family.
I am still in total shock about Rick not being with us anymore. My heart is broken! Rick and Scott were my “cup of coffee” in the morning. I listened to the whole show every morning. I absolutely loved and looked forward to the banter back and forth….and all the laughs that went with that! I would say, “Here we go!” when it started. Rick certainly had a quick wit and a way with words and I am sure going to miss that. Grand Rapids lost a very caring and funny man….a legend! I sure hope that Wood Radio will help us to never forget him. I hope that Wood Radio will take very good care of Scott as well! I wish nothing but the best for Scott! We are here for you and will be waiting for your return! You are very talented and Rick would want the show to go on! RIP Rick and you will be sadly missed by many people.
I got hooked on Rick when I was in middle school, my bus driver used to have the show on and I laughed my ass off. Later I used to work at The Press and remember Rick driving up to the Press box to pick up his fresh morning paper before or after shows depending on what station he was on. I never had the guts to go up and say hi but now wish I had. To Scott, I hope you will continue the show I know it will never be the same but I love listening. God Bless
I had the opportunity to meet and interview Rick, Darla and Scott for a college paper I was working on. I will cherish the memory of sitting in on their morning show and trying hard to muffle my laughter while they were on air. They were so funny and so nice to me.
I loved listening to Rick, I followed him from KLQ to GRD and finally to WOOD 1300. Rick made radio worth listening to. I didn’t always agree with him, he could make me mad as quickly as he could make me laugh til I was in tears. Mornings will not be the same without him.
My prayers go out to his family, friends, and co workers. Hang in there Scott. I know this is a difficult time for you. Take comfort in knowing your friend received the applause he deserved. The angels danced at his arrival.
Rick to God:
“Don’t you know WHO I am?”
Sounds like Rick sure was loved. I remember him too, and I was sad all day Friday because of it. May God bless Rick’s family, and Scott as well.
I loved the “Rick & Scott Show”–listened to it every morning. No more Rick, I can’t believe it! I will miss Rick’s funny laugh, Scott playing the crickets
on the show, Rick sharing his personal life & tribulations. His love for Bandit, Rick’s heart was so big. I will keep you in my prayers Scott, along with Bandit and Rick’s family. I pray that Bandit adjusts to his new life with Debra, thank God for her. Please keep us listeners updated on Bandit.
Scott, you will be ok. Rick would want you to go on with the show.
I will miss his very much, my mornings will never be the same. Grand Rapids is changed forever!
Sorry to hear about Rick. My thoughts and prayers will be with the families of both Rick and Scott. I’ve been a listener since the GRD days and have really enjoyed the partnership (Scott doing all the leg work, and Rick acting like he did). I’ve never met either Rick or Scott but I truly feel like I know them both well. West Michigan won’t be the same without the pair of them working together. Rick, you will be greatly missed!
Wow, King RB dies and now Paul Harvey. Radio has lost 2 voices that will never be replaced! Rick and Scott always say celebrities dies in 3’s…
The man who called in about his bird dying on the heater was Janos {Pronounces Yanos} I have that clip on tape. I was listening to it earlier today.
Never could stump you Rick, no matter how hard I tried!!!
Love ya man,
SingingScott
i will miss you always rick,, rest in peace
2 broadcasting icons Gone
Heaven has received 2 of the best!!! Seeeeeeee Ya & Good day
long time listner talk to you once on wgrd told you i loved you guys and i truely do!!! I will miss you buddy and dont worry about Scott we will all be there for him. thoughts and prayers to all who loved you and thats alot. And say hi to your mom and Dad for us.love you RICK you will be missed
i cannot stop thinking about ricks’ passing. just last week i tuned in to rick and rock on the computer as i worked. i listened to them their entire career on WGRD.
you know, it is said that we will all remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the terrible news on september 11. i was in my kitchen listening to rick and scott. rick suddenly jumped in and said something like “if you don’t have a tv on, you’ll want to turn one on”.
he will be missed in the industry for sure. big condolences to scott winters and ricks’ family. RIP rick beckett. thanks for all of the laughs.
i cannot stop thinking about ricks’ passing. just last week i tuned in to rick and scott on the computer as i worked. i listened to them their entire career on WGRD.
you know, it is said that we will all remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the terrible news on september 11. i was in my kitchen listening to rick and scott. rick suddenly jumped in and said something like “if you don’t have a tv on, you’ll want to turn one on”.
he will be missed in the industry for sure. big condolences to scott winters and ricks’ family. RIP rick beckett. thanks for all of the laughs.
it seems like it was the first week of the show and rick and scott were talking about something that would not make a republican happy. the next caller was pete secchia saying that they did not know what they were talking about and did they know who he is. of what i remember rick old him whats what and he was no different than any other caller. i would like to hear that call again
So many memories have run through my head since I heard the awful news early Friday morning. Rick, Scott and I had something really special for those 8 years at KLQ, then GRD. Ricky truly was”The Star of the Show” and never let Scott and I forget it!!
I am heartbroken at Rick’s death, and my heart really aches for Scott. To not only lose a friend of almost 16 years, but lose a partner as well, is a huge burden.
It is so wonderful to see so many people express their love, admiration and respect for Rick. I hope he knows how very many people loved him and thought of him as Friend.
I loved him and will always cherish all the laughs, fights, and good times we had.
Rest in Peace Ricky. I hope to see you again some day. Save me a seat and a microphone on “God’s Morning Show”.
Darla Jaye
I happened to be on his radio show once a few years ago. He kept on telling me to speak directly into the microphone. That is what he did every day and what we should all do in life.
I would listen to the rick and scott show with my mom. She is blind and has diabetes. She would turn the radio on every morning and listen to both of you talk and argue about the topic of the day or yourselves to each other and she would laugh and say rick is rightbut scott is smart. So to Scott we send out our prayers and heartfelt sympathy on the death of your best friend and our friend Rick Beckett. He will be truly missed but not forgotten.R.I.P. RICK
I have been reading what everyone has posted these last few days since hearing about Ricks passing and still can’t believe it. I was a listener of the morning show on WGRD and also the Q Morning Zoo with Darla Jaye and Jay Allen. My fondest memory is winning the contest “Prime Rib For Prime Rock”. I had to cook a prime rib dinner for the morning show and they came and did the broadcast from my house. Jay Allen spent time between sports playing Nintendo with my 10 year old son (and getting whipped). My sisters, dad, people from work and neighbors all stopped by. What a blast. Their morning stunts will never be forgotten just like themselves. When Rick and Scott moved to Wood AM I could only listen when I had a day off but I always tried to. My mom even loved listening to their arguing — just like an old married couple. Rick, I’ll miss you!!!! And Scott, my prayers are with you.
I too remember the mornings at the Q-Zoo. I was happy to hear the news when Rick and Scott signed on at Wood radio about 6 years ago. Haven’t been able to listen much the last couple years but whenever I took a day off, I tuned into R&S. R.I.P. King Rick. West Michigan’s airwaves will not be the same without you. Wood radio has lost a family member. You will be sorely missed both on the airwaves and by your family and friends. My prayers go out to your loved ones.
I remember Rick from WZZR to Wood 1300 I loved hearing Rick & Scott I don’t know if it was Rick Jay and Darla or if it Was Rick Scott and Darla but I was working for one of our police dept. It was at fort wyoming with Q morning Zoo Darla plates were expired. I think it was Darla’s birthday and all of the zoo had to work at that night’s concerts. He called me over to talk and asked if I would do him a favor he wanted me to go give Darla a hard time about her expired plates. so he told me her name her plate numbers the kind of car she drove. I went over to Darla and asked if her name was_______ and if she drove ______ car and if her plate was _______ Darla said yes to all she said I’m sorry I didn’t have the time to get the new ones she would get them on sat. I told Darla that we could not let her drive her car home with expired plates. We would have to impound her car and she could come get her car when she got new ones it would cost her about $100.00. She got so mad I looked over at Rick and he was laughing his butt off. I did tell Darla it was a joke and Rick put me up to it. Darla didn’t laugh But Rick was a jokester. Rick you will surely be missed Our prayers go out to all who knew and loved Rick. God Bless you all
I don’t believe I have been this overwhelmed and saddened by a celebrity’s death since John Lennon
I have all these old cassettes that I recorded off the radio @ ” The New Z-96″ of Rick’s 6-10 show. It was nice to here some of them on the tribute! Thanx Bill & Scott for sharing.
I am 26 years old now and I can still remember listening to Rick and Scott when I was a little kid getting ready for school. Then in high school when I could drive myself they were my entertainment for the ride. After I graduated and started working they were still my morning friends. My dad who lives in Florida now just asked me last week what ever happened to Rick Beckett and was he still around. Today I see that he is not and that is a sad thing.
So heres to you, Rick Beckett, you are missed.
I have listened to Rick on and off over the past 20 years since I’ve lived in GR and as he and I have shifted jobs. I’ve always thought that at the other stations there was too much music and not enough talking, then WOOD radio found him and Scott, where they both could excell at what they were good at. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to listen to the King and Scott every morning since being at WOOD over the past 5 years. I have been a big fan of the Rick & Scott show since it started, I even still have the SEEE YA bumper sticker.
G.R. has lost a giant on air personality, no matter if you loved him, hated him, or loved to hate him, morning radio will never be the same.
God bless him and his family! He will be missed.
Scott, I wish you the best and I hope you can return to some type of talk show on WOOD, it would be a shame to loose both of you.
I remember back when Rick and Scott were on the GRD morning show. I would listen to them every morning as I would head into school. It was my highlight of going to school in the morning. I would bust out laughing in the car listening to them. When they left GRD, it was a sad day. I will greatly miss Rick and know that radio won’t be the same without him.
I’ve been in a funk since I heard the news, and I never met Rick or called in. I will miss the “crickets”.
About a year and a half ago Rick Beckett (on the air) called me a moron, and he was absolutely RIGHT to do so. I had called in to the Rick and Scott show to express my dismay for my feeling that Scott was not taking a speech by President Bush on energy alternatives seriously enough, and I admit to being one of those people who have suffered from Neal Dionne withdrawal symptoms since Neal left WOOD Radio in the early 2000s. However, I let my anger get the best of me on that day and I hung up abruptly on Rick and Scott, triggering Rick’s very justifiably calling me a moron, which I was surely being on that day. I am happy to report that a matter of weeks before Rick’s death I made peace with those two, sending them both a lengthy apology e-mail after I came to the conclusion that they were not nearly so bad as I was making them out to be. As a matter of fact, the very same Scott Winters who I was so angry with before chose to give my beloved President Bush a letter grade of “B” on the well listened to show the day after Bush’s farewell speech, which was the same grade that I gave our now former President as well. I called in to their show to share why I was giving Bush a “B”, and then soon thereafter I made peace with both men once and for all in my lengthy e-mail. Then about ten days before Rick’s death I was priveleged to talk with both men again on their show as they allowed me to express on the air (last President’s Day) along with many others which U.S. Presidents I thought to be the very “best of the best”. It felt great to make peace with both men, and indeed, both men have done A LOT of good for this World—I readily admit it now.
Rest in peace, Rick.—Joe from Kentwood