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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Customers, staff, lament Ashland Beanery closing When it comes to summer, the play's the thing Willow Wind concert is Tuesday Rally promotes anti-GMO efforts Budget committee nixes solar farm, AHS-to-SOU scholarships Education When it comes to summer, the play's the thing Willow Wind concert is Tuesday Grizzly earns prestigious UO academic scholarship The battle for the Earth Bowl Principal Zundel looks to next challenge Environment Demonstrators hope to save tree Documentary 'When Giants Fall' tells tragic story of elephant poaching Mt. 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Customers, staff, lament Ashland Beanery closing ... When it comes to summer, the play's the thing ... Proposed Oregon coast golf course yields rare deal with state ... Customers, staff, lament Ashland Beanery closing ... When it comes to summer, the play's the thing ... KSOR-FM Local radio pioneer Howard LaMere, 64, dies at Ashland home Program director for what became Jefferson Public Radio created fresh blend of music for morning show Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 1, 2015 at 6:02 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 1, 2015 at 6:02 PM » Social News Howard LaMere, one of a handful of radio pioneers who was “present at the creation” of KSOR-FM — which evolved into the sprawling Jefferson Public Radio over 45 years — died Monday in Ashland at age 64.  The wry, erudite LaMere, a storehouse of musical knowledge and a lover of many genres, became program director and created his “Ante Meridian” show, featuring an unheard-of blend of classical, jazz, rock, along with pop legends like Nat King Cole and Leonard Bernstein.  The show ran 8 to 10 in the morning and made him a sensation in the '70s and '80s among the crowd who favored listening beyond MOR (middle of the road) and Top-40 pop. Soon, the show started airing at 7 a.m., catching the drive-time and early riser demographic and spurring the station’s spread of signal through scads of translators. “It was good programming. Howard had thought up this format, which was jazz and classical,” said John Baxter, who came to the station in 1979. “The jazz included a lot of the early parts of New Age — early stuff from Wyndham Hill, Will Ackerman, and ECM music with Keith Jarrett and then classical chamber music and jazz crossover music like Claude Boling,” said Baxter, in a 2004 Daily Tidings story . “That show was a genius move, just brilliant,” said his ex-wife Linda Becker, who was also a disc jockey at KSOR at the time. “We didn't have money for records, so we did a lot of begging on the air for people to send us records. Howard looked at this eclectic mix and got the idea for the new format.”  The show was edged out to less popular times when the station joined National Public Radio and got its required feeds, she said.  Ashland musician David Pinsky said, “Howard was a dear friend. We went through the early public radio establishment together. As program director of KSOR in the '70s and '80s, his innovative, relaxed style added a special sound and feel to morning radio. His creation of Ante Meridian blended classical with jazz and light innovative rock to make the morning drive a pleasure. He was talented, kind and witty and I will miss his droll sense of humor. He was good friend, father and grandfather.”  Lifetime friend Charlie McHenry of Jacksonville said, “He was a character with a hearty laugh, great mind and a wicked sense of the absurd — a delight to be around. So many people got up to that show and the sound of his voice every day. He had an old vintage Jaguar and it just fit him perfectly.”  Tom Stamper, an Ashland musician, said, “Howard always had that sideways wry smile and, whenever I saw him, he made me feel that only he and I knew what that smile meant. I’ll miss his friendly, peaceful wit and charm, and the fact that he was real, a true good soul willing to share with all the rest.”  Monica Martin said, “I’m so sad. Howard was great. We had some great conversations at Alex’s. I’ll miss him.”  Dirk Price of the Rogue Suspects band, said, “Howard was a wonderful character. No one loved music as much as he did. It was always fun to see him at the bar at Alex's. He was quite the musicologist. He always had wonderful back stories to the music we played and he loved. He was iconic Ashland.”  “He was a genuinely kind, big-hearted, wonderful man,” said Becker. “I couldn't have picked a better man to be the father of my child. He was a creative, wonderful dad.”  His son, Ben, added, “He was warm, intelligent and caring.”  LaMere was born near Chicago in 1950, the son of Howard and Virginia LaMere. He graduated in 1978 in communications from then-Southern Oregon State College while already employed at KSOR on campus for three years.  He was an “eternal (college) student,” said Becker, and worked a range of jobs and projects, including making videos on addictions for universities with CNS Productions of Medford and as an account executive with McHenry & Associates, doing marketing and communications for computer firms. He directed Britt Music Festival concerts and worked for Rogue Gallery, Actors Workshop and Southern Oregon Public Television.  He was diagnosed in 2012 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He died peacefully and unexpectedly at home in Ashland. A memorial gathering starts at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Elks Club in Ashland. — Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jan. 1, 2015 at 6:02 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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