On March 21, we lost a good human – Robert “Doc” Pelzel.
For over 40 years, Doc was the station supervisor for KFJC radio, and teacher for radio broadcasting at Foothill College of Los Altos (California), which owned this community station. Previously he was the station manager at KALX radio in Berkeley, another community radio station in the San Francisco region.
Three years after he took this position at KFJC, he was involved in creating an event which made a significant impact in broadcast history. Doc, who collaborated with Jeff “Stretch” Riedle and Frank “Phil Dirt’ Luft to assemble an unforgettable event known as “Maximum: LOUIE LOUIE, which was an ambitious showcase focused on sharing multiple renditions of one song – “Louie Louie”, written by Richard Berry, and made famous (or infamous) by recordings by The Kingsmen, Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Kinks, Motorhead, the Sonics, Iggy Pop & Stooges, the Sandpipers, Toots & the Maytals, the Fat Boys, and Julie London, to name a few.
(Yes, that is a long run-on sentence. Deal with it)
Anyway, that particular moment was what brought yours truly to the LOUIE universe. I embarked on a documentary project that’s been quite a ride.
With guidance from Doc, KFJC continued to be an innovative radio station that has collaborated with a lot of alliances, which included a number of international webcasts.
Doc has always been there as an excellent mentor, solid advisor and a good friend.
Back in 2020, when the world was dealing with a pandemic, Doc was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame, which was well deserved. (check out the video for that event at the 10:29 mark)
To celebrate his legacy, I’ve assembled a little video that discusses his role with that ambitious LOUIE LOUIE all those years ago.
Rest in peace, my friend.
– E.P. of LouieLouie.net
photo of Doc courtesy of Maria Maria Studios.
Eric, thank you for putting together this great snippet of history and seeing Doc again. Brought back some great memories. He was a gift and a treasure. He did so much for us at the station back in those early years. And he continued to contribute, promote, teach, mentor and be a friend to so many through the years. Headphones on, volume up. Rest in Peace Doc.
Great article and what a wonderful man Doc was.