I've known for some time that John Rook, the former KCDA-FM owner and pioneer radio station manager, and Spokane newscaster Charles Rowe were brothers. Above, you see a photo of John and Charles in 1939. The brothers also have a sister, Dottie, who lives with John at his Mica Flats home. Their real surname is Rook. But John embraced the name Rowe when he was encouraged by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Rock Hall of Famer Eddie Cochran to become a disc jockey. Someone said he looked Greek, like the god Rho. So, Johnny Rowe hit the airwaves in Denver and Salt Lake City. Charles embraced John's new surname when Charles left the service and entered broadcasting. Later, John reclaimed the family name when he moved from being a DJ to a program director who introduced such hall of famers, via airplay and concert, as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, the Supremes, Neil Diamond, and many others.

From John Rook's online book, "Passing Thru."

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