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Rick Beckett
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Rick was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1954 and, shortly thereafter, moved to Grand Rapids. His radio career, begun part-time in 1970 at WZZM-FM, was a result of his involvement in a Junior Achievement program called HERO. After graduation in 1972, he moved to WLAV-FM.
In early 1973, he moved to Central Florida after landing his first full-time gig at Cypress Gardens’ WGTO. He moved back to the Grand Rapids area in 1976, and remained there the remainder of his career, except for a three-year period from 1984 to 1987 when he returned to Polk County to work at Winter Haven’s WYXY.
His career eventually evolved from rock jock to talk show host after he and fellow broadcaster Scott Winters joined Grand Rapids’ NewsRadio WOOD-AM in 2004. Already known in the market from their earlier work with WKLQ-FM’s “Q Morning Zoo” and WGRD-FM, the two hosted “The Rick and Scott Show” – a rating winner for the station in its mid-morning time slot. In 2007, they won the Michigan Association of Broadcasters award for “Midday Show Broadcast Team of the Year” in 2007.
In February 2009, Rick died of a fatal heart attack at the age of 54.
Station History
1984 - 1987 Other Polk County Stations (On Air Personality)
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