Buddy Deane 1924 - 2003

Buddy Deane was a DJ on WITH AM radio when he was offered the position to start a dance show with teenagers on WJZ TV in Baltimore, Maryland. The Buddy Deane Show aired in 1957 and ended in 1964. Many say it ended because of integration. That was the sad part of that era.

Buddy as one of the first radio disc jockeys to play rock 'n' roll, he recognized the emerging style's appeal in the 1950's and began playing the music continuously, in what was then a new radio format on WITH AM.

From 1957 to 1964 he was host of ''The Buddy Deane Show'' and eventually had a small part in Mr. Waters's 1988 movie about a show like his. HAIRSPRAY. ''The Buddy Deane Show,'' on WJZ-TV in Baltimore, featured teenagers dancing to live bands, performers and budding stars - many of which became major recording stars! It had many of the city's teenagers in thrall for two and a half hours a day, six days a week. Many performers such as Bill Haley and the Comets performed ''Rock Around the Clock'' for the first time on the show, and Mr. Deane was named the No. 1 D.J. in 1962 by Billboard magazine.

Buddy was more of a father figure to most of the teens on the show. Very intimidating and never really social with the Committee. Buddy ran a tight ship on the show with his assistant, Arlene Kozak.

Buddy was married to Helen and I have to say that I personally had never met Helen until 25 years after the show ended. A small group of the committee traveled to New Orleans with Buddy & Helen. We really got closer to Buddy after we were older.

The Committee still gets together carrying the torch, having reunions & just getting together to do what we do best!

So many of my friends today are friends from the Committee and friends that I never knew on the beginning of the Buddy Deane show but we became closer because of the reunions, the commarodity & love of dancing!