Soundies Honor Seattle Radio Veteran Charlie Brown

The Puget Sound Radio Broadcasting Association selected Audion Labs CEO and former radio host/program director Charlie Brown to receive the “Crystal Soundie” life achievement award for his contributions to the radio industry. The 2004 Soundie Awards, honoring the best of creative radio and those who produce it, will be held April 21 at the Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue in Seattle.
Brown’s career in radio broadcasting spans 30 years. He started doing the morning shift at Eastern Washington University’s campus station, which led to his first paying gig at KPUG(AM) in Bellingham, Wash. Shortly after that, KJRB(AM) Spokane PD Gary Taylor heard him as a character in an audition tape, and offered him the station’s 9-to-midnight shift. He soon moved to mornings, and stayed with KJRB for six years.
In 1974, Brown followed Emperor Smith in the morning position at KJR(FM) Seattle until joining KUBE(FM) as program director and on-air talent in 1981. He and his co-host/newsman Ty Flint were a popular radio team until Brown’s retirement in 1997.
In 1993, Brown founded software firm Audion Labs, which develops digital audio editing products. He can still be heard on KJR as the station’s image voice.
Tickets for the Soundie Awards are available at (253) 939-6080.