Les Smith, one of original Mariners owners, dies at 93
SEATTLE (AP) - Les Smith, the Seattle-area businessman who was part of the group that brought Major League Baseball back to Seattle in 1977, has died. He was 93.
Smith's son, Alex, told The Associated Press that his father celebrated his 93rd birthday Saturday and died in his sleep Wednesday.
Smith grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from New York University. He served in the Army during World War II.
He later formed Kaye-Smith Enterprises with entertainer Danny Kaye. The company ran radio stations across the country, as well as other ventures.
Smith was part of the original Seattle Mariners ownership group with Kaye and several others.
Alex Smith told The Seattle Times that his father often recalled three very happy days: opening day in 1977, the All-Star game of 1979, and selling the team in 1981.
Smith's son, Alex, told The Associated Press that his father celebrated his 93rd birthday Saturday and died in his sleep Wednesday.
Smith grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from New York University. He served in the Army during World War II.
He later formed Kaye-Smith Enterprises with entertainer Danny Kaye. The company ran radio stations across the country, as well as other ventures.
Smith was part of the original Seattle Mariners ownership group with Kaye and several others.
Alex Smith told The Seattle Times that his father often recalled three very happy days: opening day in 1977, the All-Star game of 1979, and selling the team in 1981.
Well, not exactly. KISW began broadcasting in 1950. Kaye-Smith bought it in 1969, and it didn't morph into rock powerhouse status til the mid-'70s. Kaye-Smith already owned KJR, when it was the dominant #1 rock station in town. Later they started Kaye-Smith Studios, where Heart, BTO and other major rockers recorded, and created Concerts West, "a booking and promotion company that handled Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Eagles.." (wiki). The Mariners came way later.
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Suffice it to say, without Les Smith's incredible foresight, media acumen and devotion to the music that has become the soundtrack of our lives, living in this part of the country would have been a whole lot more mundane.
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RIP, Les.
More importantly, he started KISW.
Thank you Les for the Mariners. Baseball, and specifically the Seattle Mariners, are a team that I grew up with since I was born in 1979. They are engrained in my family, my life, and I will forever and always be a Mariners fan above and beyond ANY sport or team, regardless of whether they win or lose or where I live. They are in my blood.
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THANK YOU. Rest in peace.