Larry Vance

Larry was the morning man and Program Director at WALT Radio in late 1964 and 1965. He was quite a talent. Funny as they come, and always on the edge.

Larry was instrumental in the “Beatles Express”, a train ride to Jacksonville to catch the Fab Four in their first Florida appearance. Many made that trip to the concert, and saw the the most electrifying performance, saw is the operative word, they sure as hell didn’t hear it because of all the 14 year old girls screaming their heads off.

Larry Vance came to WALT from Texas radio station KXOL. He was the sparkplug to a lineup that featured some of the very best disc jockeys Tampa Bay had ever heard.

Larry left Tampa Bay in early 1966, and has not been heard from since. Word searches fail to show the slightest trace of this wonderful performer.

Update 12/18/2002:
Bob Edwards, a native from Houston, former radio personality and PD there for over 25 years says, "I got to know quite a few radio people. I happened to see Larry Vance's listing. Larry and I shared honors as being PD of KNUZ-Houston (at different times of course). Apparently, after Larry left Florida, he came back to Texas and was hired as a DJ for KNUZ, a popular top-40 station here at the time that always competed for the #1 ratings spot with KILT. Larry worked mid-days. When KNUZ flipped to country in 1973, Larry stayed on and later worked the afternoon shift and was PD for a time. I lost track of him in around 1979 or 80 when he left KNUZ."

Update 5/1/2004:
I left KXOL Ft.Worth to join KONO, then to Dallas doing afternoon drive at first KBOX and then mid day for KLIF in Dallas I left KLIF in Dallas, Gorden's flagship station shortly after John Kennedy was killed. I moved to WALT in Tampa as Program Director/Morning man. After leaving Tampa, I moved to Tucson to work am drive for Frank Kalil, then moved to Program and work afternoon drive at Gordon McLendon's WYSL in Buffalo, New York. I also did a well received evening talk show for a while.

From Buffalo, I went to KNUZ Houston where I worked twenty years, serving as Program Director/Afternoon Drive talent. In time I became General Manager at KNUZ AM. In 1988 I left Houston to Join Harpole Broadcasting as Group Manager of Harpole's eight South Texas stations. Since then I have been doing several major turnarounds in markets like Topeka and Newburgh/Middleton New York. Today I Manage Tracy Broadcasting's six stations in Nebraska. It's been a good life. I just regret losing contact with some of my old radio friends.