(February 6, 2010)
Written by Ken Mills
Paul Westby, heard on Twin Cities stations WLOL-FM and KSTP-FM in the 1980s and 1990s died Saturday at his home in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the early 2000s.
Paul was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He graduated from Burnsville High School in 1970 and Augustana College in 1976.
He began his radio career in the early 1970s at KISD-AM, then a popular Top 40 station in Sioux Falls. He moved on host a nightly progressive rock program called “Transition” on KELO-FM.
Paul was part of an enthusiastic group of young announcers who started KLYX-FM (“X-93”), a renegade AOR station that shook up Sioux Falls in 1979 and 1980. After X-93 was sold (and later became KKRC), Paul worked several years at KELO-AM during a high point of that station’s ratings history.
He also was in the retail music business, co-owning Rolling Thunder Records & Tapes in Sioux Falls and Vermillion, South Dakota, during the 1970s.
Paul moved to Minneapolis in the late 1980s to join the staff of WLOL-FM, owned by Emmis Broadcasting. When Emmis sold WLOL-FM in the mid 1990s, he went to work for KSTP-FM.
He was an active member of the Democratic Party and worked on campaigns for George McGovern, Tom Daschle and others. Paul was an intern for Senator James Abourezk when he studied for a semester at American University in Washington, DC in 1974.
Paul had many friends and enjoyed collecting sacred Native American pipes. He treasured his visits to the Black Hills and loved to tell stories of native visions and victories.
Paul is survived by his father and mother, Orv and Helen; his brothers David, Steve and Nathan; and, his sister Ranghild. Arrangements are pending.
Written by Ken Mills
Paul Westby, heard on Twin Cities stations WLOL-FM and KSTP-FM in the 1980s and 1990s died Saturday at his home in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the early 2000s.
Paul was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He graduated from Burnsville High School in 1970 and Augustana College in 1976.
He began his radio career in the early 1970s at KISD-AM, then a popular Top 40 station in Sioux Falls. He moved on host a nightly progressive rock program called “Transition” on KELO-FM.
Paul was part of an enthusiastic group of young announcers who started KLYX-FM (“X-93”), a renegade AOR station that shook up Sioux Falls in 1979 and 1980. After X-93 was sold (and later became KKRC), Paul worked several years at KELO-AM during a high point of that station’s ratings history.
He also was in the retail music business, co-owning Rolling Thunder Records & Tapes in Sioux Falls and Vermillion, South Dakota, during the 1970s.
Paul moved to Minneapolis in the late 1980s to join the staff of WLOL-FM, owned by Emmis Broadcasting. When Emmis sold WLOL-FM in the mid 1990s, he went to work for KSTP-FM.
He was an active member of the Democratic Party and worked on campaigns for George McGovern, Tom Daschle and others. Paul was an intern for Senator James Abourezk when he studied for a semester at American University in Washington, DC in 1974.
Paul had many friends and enjoyed collecting sacred Native American pipes. He treasured his visits to the Black Hills and loved to tell stories of native visions and victories.
Paul is survived by his father and mother, Orv and Helen; his brothers David, Steve and Nathan; and, his sister Ranghild. Arrangements are pending.