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Greg Aust was 22 years of age when he was hired by KVI-A.M radio. In the two years prior to his arrival in Seattle, Aust had been a DJ at some of the highest profile Top-40 radio stations in the country. The young jock had talent, but media buzz helped propel him along: Billboard Magazine’s radio columnist, Claude Hall, was enamored with Aust (on-air name at the time Chuck Williams, examples of Hall’s comments are below.) Aust used other on-air names throughout his career, including Austin in Boston, Greg Austin, Steve Austin and Chuck McKay. Another early career booster was the admiration Drake-Chenault consultants had for Aust. The company advised many major market clients, and Drake was impressed. When their client stations had job openings, the firm often recommended Greg Aust as the guy to hire. In summer 1972, Aust landed at KVI — a young guy with a dynamite resume per Billboard Magazine: WNHC-AM New Haven; CKLW-AM Detroit/Windsor; *WRKO-AM Boston; WLS-AM Chicago; and KFRC-AM San Francisco. Note: Tom Kennedy was at WRKO in ’70. He says Billboard got it wrong and Aust didn’t work at WRKO. Also, prior to his WNHC gig, Aust was a jock at KEWI-AM in Topeka, KS.
1969 Photo from Obituary.
https://pugetsound.media/2018/11/09/greg-aust-the-kvi-years-and-beyond/comment-page-4/ https://pugetsound.media/2018/12/10/searching-for-chuck-mckay-a
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Larry Arlan
i have never laffed so hard as when greg would get started in tex westerns drama class...cried from laffing...turn him on and just kick back and try to catch your breath...truly on of the best characters i have ever known..sad to see him gone..havent seen him since graduation...but glad i knew him...now they laffin in heaven ( i hope ) !!
love you man...rip
John Daily
I will always remember Greg's shit-eaten' grin as he stepped out of his VW bug. He was the man when it came to laughs, on and off the air.
I remember when he asked his KCMO-AM audience the rhetorical question, "What is the most prestigous car in KC?" He answered, "A VW bug with Johnson County plates."
I was in Seattle when Greg opened the mike for the first time on KVI-AM, a giant in that market, and played "Alone Again Naturally" over and over for the duration of his shift that first day on the air. He made the papers the next morning, and the ratings race was on. Like all radio gypsy's Greg had his ups and downs, but he will always be remembered as a wunderkind.
Now he's on the air at that big station in the sky with The Wolfman Jack. R.I.P Greg.
Love ya', Brother.
Kent Johnson
I first met Greg at E.F. Swinney gradw school in 7th grade. I used to give him, a ride to Southwest for our junior and senior year. He was a laugh a minute, and always seemed to know where he waas going. Durinig his career, he was a voice of our generation, and I will miss him.
Dirk Vandever
Ostentatious Aust...as one of the two biggest shows offs in the school ( hint..i was the other one) I watched and learned the craft of delivery of a joke to an audience from Greg....."you gotta project some swagger.." and man did he ever...one of the most talented folks ive ever seen ..one who could command attention of ANYONE ...I am not surprised at all to see his success....I had ocasionally wondered what he ultimately did...Im glad it was something at which he excelled and gave such pleasure to his listeners