RIP Rick Chase
- Thread starter Da Yayologist
- Start date
Popular KWIN personality found dead at his home
Authorities say DJ's death is not case of foul play
By Steve Echeverria Jr.
Record Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, December 17, 2002
A boisterous and popular voice will be missing from Stockton airwaves this morning.
KWIN-FM 97.7/98.3 radio personality and disc jockey Rick Chase, whose real name was George Fryer, was found dead in his north Stockton apartment Monday morning, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office reported.
Fryer was 45.
Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Nelida Stone said a former roommate found Fryer about 7:30 a.m. Monday at his apartment in the 8400 block of Mariners Drive and called authorities.
"It doesn't appear to be a homicide. There is no trauma," Stone said.
Officials have not determined a cause of death, she said, adding that an autopsy will be conducted today.
"I believe the last time he was seen was around Friday. So people were worried," Stone said. "They decided to check on him."
Fryer hosted "The Morning Chase" show on the urban-
contemporary radio station, which transmits to Stockton and Modesto, with fellow disc jockey Amanda King from 5 to 10 a.m. It featured "Hollywood Trash," a segment with news and gossip on entertainers, and a trivia game called "Just the Fax."
"Everyone at the station is devastated and in shock," said John Christian, director of programming for Silverado Broadcasting, which owns KWIN. "The community is at a loss, too, because Rick had the ability to make you mad on Monday, cry on Tuesday and laugh on Wednesday. There's very few DJs who can do that."
Christian said the 20-year radio veteran arrived at KWIN in September from KNVQ in Reno. Before that, Fryer worked at KZZO in Sacramento and KMEL in San Francisco, Christian said.
Fryer was nothing like his loud and borderline obnoxious on-air personality, said Christian, who had known Fryer for more than 10 years.
"Rick Chase was not an evil guy. He was trying to entertain and bring awareness," he said describing the portly DJ who was often seen with his white cockatiel, Indiana Jones, on his shoulder. "His intention was not to hurt anyone, and I think a lot of people had that conception of him, and that's wrong."
Fryer was involved with charities and helped the needy, Christian said. In Reno, he was involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and sent 50 children on a weeklong camping trip, Christian said.
On KWIN's web site, www.kwin.com, Fryer is pictured with his bird. The site lists his favorite artists as Tupac Shakur and Digital Underground and says he dislikes "complainers and phony people."
"I believe God is always in control," Fryer wrote on the Web site. "I've learned to trust in God to protect and direct my life. Everything happens for a reason, and I try to learn from the ups and downs of life."
KWIN will honor Fryer from 6 to 10 a.m. today, Christian said. A public memorial is in the works for Friday and Saturday. Christian said listeners can get details on the air.
"We will rebound, and in his memory, we'll not settle for anything less than what would be a suitable replacement," Christian said. "We will search the country to find someone to fill these pretty big shoes."
Authorities say DJ's death is not case of foul play
By Steve Echeverria Jr.
Record Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, December 17, 2002
A boisterous and popular voice will be missing from Stockton airwaves this morning.
KWIN-FM 97.7/98.3 radio personality and disc jockey Rick Chase, whose real name was George Fryer, was found dead in his north Stockton apartment Monday morning, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office reported.
Fryer was 45.
Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Nelida Stone said a former roommate found Fryer about 7:30 a.m. Monday at his apartment in the 8400 block of Mariners Drive and called authorities.
"It doesn't appear to be a homicide. There is no trauma," Stone said.
Officials have not determined a cause of death, she said, adding that an autopsy will be conducted today.
"I believe the last time he was seen was around Friday. So people were worried," Stone said. "They decided to check on him."
Fryer hosted "The Morning Chase" show on the urban-
contemporary radio station, which transmits to Stockton and Modesto, with fellow disc jockey Amanda King from 5 to 10 a.m. It featured "Hollywood Trash," a segment with news and gossip on entertainers, and a trivia game called "Just the Fax."
"Everyone at the station is devastated and in shock," said John Christian, director of programming for Silverado Broadcasting, which owns KWIN. "The community is at a loss, too, because Rick had the ability to make you mad on Monday, cry on Tuesday and laugh on Wednesday. There's very few DJs who can do that."
Christian said the 20-year radio veteran arrived at KWIN in September from KNVQ in Reno. Before that, Fryer worked at KZZO in Sacramento and KMEL in San Francisco, Christian said.
Fryer was nothing like his loud and borderline obnoxious on-air personality, said Christian, who had known Fryer for more than 10 years.
"Rick Chase was not an evil guy. He was trying to entertain and bring awareness," he said describing the portly DJ who was often seen with his white cockatiel, Indiana Jones, on his shoulder. "His intention was not to hurt anyone, and I think a lot of people had that conception of him, and that's wrong."
Fryer was involved with charities and helped the needy, Christian said. In Reno, he was involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and sent 50 children on a weeklong camping trip, Christian said.
On KWIN's web site, www.kwin.com, Fryer is pictured with his bird. The site lists his favorite artists as Tupac Shakur and Digital Underground and says he dislikes "complainers and phony people."
"I believe God is always in control," Fryer wrote on the Web site. "I've learned to trust in God to protect and direct my life. Everything happens for a reason, and I try to learn from the ups and downs of life."
KWIN will honor Fryer from 6 to 10 a.m. today, Christian said. A public memorial is in the works for Friday and Saturday. Christian said listeners can get details on the air.
"We will rebound, and in his memory, we'll not settle for anything less than what would be a suitable replacement," Christian said. "We will search the country to find someone to fill these pretty big shoes."
