Obituary

Art Hoehn, first announcer at MPR, Wolfman Jack pal, 72

Published in Current, March 21, 2011
By Dru Sefton

Arthur Hoehn, who became Minnesota Public Radio’s first professional announcer in 1967 — and had already been a radio sidekick of Wolfman Jack — died March 12 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 72.

MPR founder and President Bill Kling recalled that Hoehn was often “the entire crew” for producing a live concert broadcast — “the truck driver, the equipment schlepper, the producer, the engineer and the announcer.”

Hoehn worked at MPR for 40 years, retiring in 2002. Last year, he was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He’s perhaps best known for his 12-year run as host of the nationally syndicated overnight classical show Music Through the Night, heard on more than 130 stations.

He was born Jan. 23, 1939, in Eau Claire, Wis., to Archie and Cecilia Hoehn. In 1961 he graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He began his radio career at the university’s student station, then worked in commercial classical radio. In 1966, he traveled from Minneapolis with his fellow KUXL staffers Bob Smith (a.k.a. Wolfman Jack) and Ralph Hull (Preacher Paul Anthony and the Nazz) to Baja California, to take over XERB: The Mighty 1090, a “border blaster” station. There, Hoehn played the Wolfman’s sidekick “Fat Daddy Washington.” A year later, Hoehn returned to his alma mater to join Kling in operating what became MPR’s flagship station.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; sons Alexander and Christopher; sister Rose (Ron) Chapman; nephew Jay (Megan) Chapman and other family and friends.

A memorial celebration was held March 19 in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Keystone Community Services, 2000 St. Anthony Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104.

Comments, questions, tips?

Copyright 2011 American University