
Dave Beck in KING FM’s former, Harrison Street studios.
Including all of midday host Dave Beck’s accomplishments in one Q&A introduction would take several pages (multiple awards for producing, interviews and journalism, a family history of building rockets and airplanes for Boeing, and a seat as president of the Seattle Youth Symphony board of directors, to name a few…), so instead, we’ve opted to tease the lesser-known facts about this PNW treasure.
As a skilled musician who has played principal cellist of the Bellevue and Seattle Philharmonic Orchestras, you’d be surprised to hear he’s also a basketball enthusiast and has been known to appreciate an SNL sketch or two.
Treat yourself to more shockers (face-to-face with Mick Jagger, worn-out Bach Solo Cello Suite vinyls, and more) from Dave below, and join him on 98.1 FM weekdays 10am-1pm, including Bach’s Lunch, 12-12:30pm.
KING FM: Let’s say you have a free day to spend somewhere beautiful (and, of course, you’re following all the suggested social-distancing guidelines!). Are you heading to the beach or the mountains? In the Pacific Northwest, of course, we have easy access to both.
Dave: To the beach. I love walks along Alki near my neighborhood in West Seattle. I have great memories of hiking and camping over the years at Shi Shi Beach on the ocean up near Neah Bay.
KING FM: Favorite type of food (or favorite type of take-out, these days)?
Dave: I love Thai and Vietnamese food. Bring on the peanut sauce when it comes to Thai dishes.
KING FM: It’s game night (perhaps via Zoom)! Are you hoping for a board/tabletop game, a video game, or a sporting event?
Dave: Watching NBA hoops works for me. The theft of the Sonics years ago still stings.
KING FM: Beatles or Rolling Stones? (Or Bach or Beethoven?)
Dave: Probably Beatles for the most part. Though I saw the Rolling Stones at Key Arena in 1975. Ask me about coming face-to-face with Mick Jagger sometime. And please, I’m a classical music announcer. Don’t make me choose between Bach and Beethoven.
KING FM: What music might people be surprised to learn you listen to — when you’re not at KING FM, that is?
Dave: I listen to and love a lot of jazz. Oscar Peterson, Basie Big Band, Joe Williams, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny are some favorites that come to mind.
KING FM: What classical composers, living or dead, haven’t gotten their fair dose of attention — which composers aren’t “household names” but should be?
Dave: Reena Esmail, Franz Schreker, and Carl Nielsen.
KING FM: If your classical music collection was entirely vinyl records, which of those records would be nearly worn-out from being played dozens of times? In other words, what music do you come back to, over and over again?
Dave: Dvorak Cello Concerto, Bach Solo Cello Suites, Bartok String Quartets
KING FM: What pieces of music do you turn to when you need comfort, solace, or relaxation?
Dave: “Adagietto” from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 5; Joni Mitchell recordings — Court and Spark is a particularly beautiful one; French jazz pianist Jacques Loussier and his arrangements of Bach are exquisite.
KING FM: Let’s say you’re hosting a musical dinner party or cocktail party, and you can invite three composers or performers, living or dead. Whom do you invite?
Dave: George Gershwin, Jon Batiste, and Anne-Sophie Mutter.
To learn even more about Dave Beck, check out his host bio page. You can hear Dave on KING FM on weekdays, 10am–1pm, as well as overnights Monday into Tuesday, 11pm–4am.