Larry Weir dies; fixture at KDHX-FM BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON POST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC 01/14/2010

Larry Weir dies; fixture at KDHX-FM
BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON
POST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC
01/14/2010

Larry Weir, a fixture at radio station KDHX-FM (88.1) who is credited with helping bring many folk music artists to perform in St. Louis, died Wednesday (Jan. 13, 2010) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Mr. Weir had been in a coma since suffering a head injury in a fall New Year's Eve at his home in St. Louis. He was 57.

Mr. Weir, who was an on-air personality and operations manager at KDHX, started there as a volunteer in 1985. In October 1987, he was among the first five people hired to full-time jobs at the station, owned by the nonprofit Double Helix Corp.

Mr. Weir also helped renovate the station's studio in south St. Louis and helped lay the foundation for the station's transmitter in Jefferson County.

Beverly Hacker, co-executive director at KDHX, said Mr. Weir had a hand in nearly every aspect of the station's operation, including production, programming, and finding funding. Mr. Weir's office was in the station's music library.

She said Mr. Weir was instrumental in getting such folk artists as Tom Russell, Ellis Paul, and Slaid Cleaves to come here over the years.

"Artists don't come to town if radio doesn't play them, and artists came to town because he played them," Hacker said. "You can go down his playlist and see artists who never would have had an audience here if it weren't for Larry. He introduced so much great music to people, and even turned other programmers onto things they might not have known."

Ed Becker, a friend of Mr. Weir's and a co-host with him on the KDHX Songwriters Showcase program on Sunday morning, said he was always impressed by the way Mr. Weir ran the program. "I loved how he could interview any musician and make it sound as if they were sitting right across the kitchen table," Becker said.

Frank Absher, St. Louis radio historian, said Mr. Weir had one of the most thankless jobs in St. Louis radio.

"He was the buffer between management and the large stable of volunteer air staffers," Absher said. "Not only did he handle it all professionally, but he also put together a weekly radio show that was unique and highly entertaining."

Absher added: "His passing leaves a void that will be difficult, if not impossible, to fill.

Funeral services are pending.

Mr. Weir is survived by his wife, Kathy Weir; his mother, Evelyn Weir; and sister, Pam Weir, all of St. Louis.

A memorial fund will be established in memory of Mr. Weir, and a tribute concert likely will be held in the spring.