One of the Amazing KSER DJ's - Steve Ward

Steve Ward's dad started his radio career with a job that paid $1...a year.

Saturdays on KSER are appointment listening for many people. And for some, there's nothing better than the Big Bandstand, every Saturday at 9 a.m.  Sure, Steve plays the great hits from the big band era...as he always says, "Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, the Dorseys and all the rest!" But he also sounds like a great 'big-band' DJ from New York or LA.

Glenn Miller & Autograph - Steve Ward, insert

Steve's voice and style match the great music he plays. He came by it naturally. Steve's father was a major star in radio and TV, both on the air and behind the scenes. He was a star in LA, San Francisco, and...if you've been around a while...you may remember him on radio in Everett.

Bill Ward grew up in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood where, with a buddy, he built his own little neighborhood mini-radio station. KOL gave him his first real job, writing copy, for that annual sum of one-dollar. But he quickly moved on to bigger things, including being a morning personality in the 1940's on KJR and KOMO.

When WWII started, Bill Ward enlisted in the Alaska Communications Service and helped crack enemy codes. When the war ended he moved to San Francisco and took a radio job with KFRC and ended up working with a young, up and coming singer named Merv Griffin. After his stint with Merv, Bill Ward moved to another legendary station, KCBS.

Bill Ward

For eight years, Bill Ward hosted "Party at the Palace" from San Francisco's Palace Hotel, complete with a live audience, a studio orchestra and big-name guests. In 1958 he moved the show to Los Angeles radio station KNX. It was another big production with guests like Sammy Davis, Jr., Julie London and Lionel Hampton.

In 1962 Bill took his talents back to San Francisco to be a writer on a 1960's TV blockbuster, the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show. He also built a radio station (this time a real one) in the Sacramento Valley and opened a popular record store.

Then, in the early 70's, he moved the family back to the Northwest and became half of the popular Walters & Ward show on Everett's old KWYZ-AM.

After retiring from the daily grind of radio, Bill produced more than 100 hours of Swing Era music programming.  Bill passed away in 1996 but his art lives on. In two ways.

First, Steve digitized his fathers programming and it's still being used by the low-power FM of the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention (formerly the Museum of Radio & Electricity) in Bellingham.

And every Saturday morning, you can hear the same passion and star-power on KSER when Steve Ward cracks the mic at 9 a.m. and launches the Big Bandstand.

While his father's passion led him to take a radio gig for $1 a year, Steve's passion has him doing the Big Bandstand for $0.  Like all the great KSER DJ's, Steve is a volunteer...one of many on the air and behind the scenes that keep the station running and provide a valuable community service to the Northwest. But even with volunteers, there are considerable costs involved in operating KSER. That's where we thank listeners like you for your financial help.  If you'd like to support great shows like the Big Bandstand; Frettin' Fingers; Passport; Da Coconut Wireless; Sound Living and Amy Goodman, you can contribute here.

And check out the Big Bandstand with Steve Ward, Saturday morning on KSER 90.7 FM next time you're in the mood to hear how it used to be...when guys like Bill Ward ruled the airwaves!