It's been less than 48 hours since the death of nationally syndicated radio host David "Kidd" Kraddick, and his fans are still reeling from the news. Kraddick was best known as the host of morning radio show Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, broadcast in Dallas on KHKS 106.1 KISS-FM.
Reaction has been swift and sweeping, underscoring the ever-dominant role that social media plays in the way news spreads, beginning with the mode in which the news of his death was first discovered. At least an hour before traditional media weighed in, Kraddick's death was first revealed by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban via Twitter.
RIP Kidd Kraddick. You were an amazing man and a friend. You are already missed.
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 28, 2013As Twitter activity began to surge, someone updated Kraddick's Wikipedia page with news of his passing, a mere 30 minutes after Cuban's initial tweet. Meanwhile, the hashtags #RIPKiddKraddick and #KiddMemories quickly emerged, bringing forth a flurry of reflective tweets from listeners across the country.
And within just a few hours of his death, an "RIP KIDD Kraddick" page was created, one that currently stands with 208,000 followers, with a thousand more joining every minute.
Thanks to its electronic billboard technology, Clear Channel Communications was able to update its billboards around Dallas-Fort Worth instantly. By Sunday morning, Clear Channel billboards posted a message that simply read, "In loving memory of Kidd Kraddick."
Meanwhile, Kiss-FM has hosted basically a 24-hour memorial, with fans calling in to express their condolences; a makeshift memorial has been built outside his studio in Las Colinas.
Co-host Raspberry took to Facebook as well, posting a note July 28 that said in part, "My heart is broken. Nineteen years ago, Kidd Kraddick swept me up from the middle of nowhere and took me on as his on-air wife. It will always be the biggest honor of my life."
She and the rest of the crew from Kidd Kraddick in the Morning hosted a tribute show on Monday, July 29, eliciting a wave of emotions across the country.
I'm listening, laughing and crying right now. Radio will never be the same, ever. You will never be forgotten Kidd Kraddick #RIPKiddKraddick
— Billy The Kidd (@billyontheradio) July 29, 2013Big Al, Jenna, Kidd Kraddick, Kellie Rasberry and J-Si of Kidd Kraddick in the Morning on July 27.
Crystal Charity Ball 2024 chairman Cheryl Joyner and Richard Joyner.
Photo by Ashley Gongora