So Long, Bob Rivers. Hope You’re Not Roasting On An Open Fire Like Those Damn Chipmunks

Radio Host, Song Parodist Bob Rivers Has Died.
Man, I was so bummed when I heard this news over the weekend.

Growing up, I had two favourite song parody guys. The first, obviously, was Weird Al (one of the first records ever given to me as a child was the “Eat It” 45), and the other was Bob Rivers.

I first came to know of him through the stations that would play his Christmas songs, in particular “Walkin’ ‘Round in Women’s Underwear”

and “The Restroom Door Said, “Gentlemen””, which right up until this day is still one of my very favourite songs in the whole wide world, no lie. I can’t listen to it without smiling. I also can’t not sing it when I’m supposed to be singing the real one, so a big you’re welcome to everyone who found themselves next to me in choirs or assemblies. I know some of you heard me, and I’m shocked that we never got in trouble for laughing.

Through trading tapes with friends, I came to find out that there was more to Bob than just Christmas. In our group, this one was a definite favourite.

You ever hear a song and it sounds like the artist is singing directly to you? 😢

One of the cool things that Bob did was put his entire library online for free in the early 2000s. I have very fond memories of sitting around the old apartment with Carin and our roommate, digging around in it for gold. And man alive, did we ever find it.

I can still hear the three of us laughing. Amazingly, nothing ended up wearing a drink.

And I can’t end things without this one, a favourite of Carin’s. It’s a winner just for the impersonation.

Like I said, hearing that he had died made me sad. And if you’re one of those who knows what the last few years have been like around here, you know that’s the last thing we need. But listening to some of these songs again? That I needed.

Rivers’ radio career began in high school with his first paid airshift at 16. Following on-air work at eight different stations in the Nutmeg State, Rivers headed to Worcester, MA rocker WAAF to co-host the “Bob and Zip” morning show. During his six years at WAAF, he began writing and producing parody and novelty songs such as “Just a Big Ego,” spoofing David Lee Roth’s hit “Just a Gigolo.” Rivers’ “Twisted Christmas” album, released in 1987, which included “Twelve Pains of Christmas” — his take on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” — went on to sell half a million and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Rivers’ recording career continued with “Twisted Tunes” while at Baltimore’s “98 Rock” WIYY, where he gained national attention for an 11-day on-air marathon during the Orioles’ 21-game losing streak to open the 1988 baseball season, remaining on WIYY until they finally won a game. The next stop was Seattle, where Rivers spent the next 25 years hosting mornings at rock stations KISW and KZOK, and classic hits KJR-FM (now KJEB).
Rivers’ career accolades include two awards as Radio & Records’ major market Rock Personality of the Year and his 2023 induction into the Radio Hall of Fame.