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Bob Kevoian

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Bob Kevoian
Born
Robert James Kevoian

(1950-12-02)December 2, 1950
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedApril 17, 2026(2026-04-17) (aged 75)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Career
ShowThe Bob & Tom Show
StationWFBQ Indianapolis, Indiana
StationsNationally Syndicated
(150 stations)
StyleComedy, satire
CountryUnited States
Websitebobkevoian.com

Robert James Kevoian (December 2, 1950 – April 17, 2026) was an American radio host of the nationally syndicated radio show The Bob & Tom Show together with his partner, Tom Griswold. The show was broadcast from WFBQ's studios in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1][2]

Education

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Kevoian was a 1973 graduate of California State University, Long Beach. With no formal training in radio, Kevoian had never set foot in a radio studio until his time at WMBN in Petoskey, Michigan, where he met future business partner Tom Griswold.[3]

Entertainment career

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After touring the U.S. for three years as sound engineer of The Young Americans, Kevoian began his radio career at WMBN in Petoskey, Michigan, in 1979.[4] In 1981, at cross-town WJML, Kevoian began his on-air partnership with Griswold.[5]

In 1983, the Bob & Tom Show went on the air on Q95 in Indianapolis. The show began national syndication in 1995.[6] It has won five Marconi Awards and released more than 60 comedy albums.[5] It has been noted for having up-and-coming comedians as guests, including Tim Allen, George Lopez, Rodney Carrington, and Brad Garrett.[7]

On television

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On November 3, 2008, WGN America began airing an hour-long Bob and Tom TV show overnight Monday through Friday featuring clips from the day's four-hour radio broadcast, until its cancellation in September 2010.[8][9]

Retirement

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On November 5, 2015, after being inducted along with Griswold into the National Radio Hall of Fame, Kevoian announced his retirement effective at the end of 2015.[10] His last live show as co-host aired on December 17, 2015. On November 17, 2016, Bob and Tom were reunited when they were inducted into the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame.[11] Kevoian made his first post-retirement appearance as a guest host on April 3, 2017, when the show was in Cincinnati for the Cincinnati Reds home opener.[12] Kevoian returned again on December 8, 2017, filling in for Tom Griswold.[13] Kevoian returned March 30, 2018,[14] and March 28, 2019,[15] for the Cincinnati Reds opening day broadcast and again on May 24, 2019, for the Indianapolis 500 Bob & Tom Show.[16] Kevoian returned once again on April 17, 2020, to the show.[17]

Personal life

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Kevoian was born in Los Angeles, California, to John Hike "Toby" Kevoian and Jean Baker. In 1985, he married Helen Lemieur, with whom he has one son. In 2005, he married Becky Martin.[18][1] Kevoian was almost always seen wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers hat as a tribute to his father, who was a longtime employee of the Dodgers, but considered himself "a big Cincinnati Reds fan."[19] Kevoian was an avid guitar player and wrote some of the lyrics and music for the show's comedic parodies. Kevoian's brother-in-law (Becky's brother) is world-renowned tuba player Rex Martin.[1][20] Kevoian's younger brother is actor Peter Kevoian.[21]

After his retirement in 2015, Kevoian spent much time with his wife touring the United States in their Airstream camper, eventually camping overnight in each of the 48 contiguous states.[1]

On June 7, 2023, Kevoian made a guest appearance on the Bob & Tom show to reveal he had been diagnosed with gastric cancer. Kevoian said the outlook was very good and he has responded to treatment well. While on the show Kevoian promoted his podcast The Bob & Cancer Show. The show included him, his wife Becky, and longtime Bob & Tom show friend Whit Grayson. The show chronicled his journey with cancer and highlighted the humorous aspects of it. During his treatment, it was stated that he experienced no hair loss, his iconic mustache was still intact, and he was and ready to celebrate its 54th birthday on June 18.[22]

Kevoian died on April 17, 2026, at the age of 75, after battling stomach cancer for three years.[23] He had been in relatively good health despite his cancer diagnosis up until the morning of his death, before suddenly declining in the afternoon.[24]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Robert J. "Bob" Kevoian". Flanner Buchanan. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Indy radio legend Bob Kevoian of 'The Bob & Tom Show' dies listening to favorite Beatles song". Archived from the original on April 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Business & Beyond with Gerry Dick: Bob Kevoian: Radio Legend on Cruise Control".
  4. ↑ Mike Kinosian (March 21, 2005). "Inside Radio : Loyal Armenian article" (PDF). Ftp.media.radcity.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Bob Kevoian". Indiana Broadcasters Association. Archived from the original on November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Bob and Tom Biography". comedycentral.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Retrieved November 4, 2006.
  7. ↑ "The Bob And Tom Show". National Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ Bachman, Katy (August 21, 2008). "WGN America to Add Bob & Tom to Lineup". AdWeek.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Radio's Bob & Tom are off their nightly TV show". Radio-Info.com. September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010.
  10. ↑ Lindquist, David. "Radio icon Bob Kevoian will retire at year's end". Indystar.com. Gannett. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Indiana Broadcasters Association to Induct Five History-Making Broadcasters into Richard M. Fairbanks Hall of Fame". Carmel, Indiana: The Indiana Broadcasters Association. September 14, 2016. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  12. ↑ Kevoian, Bob (February 13, 2017). "I'll be back on @bobandtom as guest host for Opening Day in Cincinnati #RedsBaseball". Twitter.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  13. ↑ Lindquist, David (December 7, 2017). "Bob Kevoian Helps Tom Griswold During Family Health Crisis". IndyStar.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Announce Marty Brennaman of the @Reds joins us. "Guy Who'd Rather" on deck". X.com. March 30, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Live at #OpeningDay for the @Reds with @thefoxradio925 in Cincy". X.com. March 28, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Watch Our Indy 500 Special! 90 minutes of Friday morning's show and special interviews by Tom!". X.com. May 27, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  17. ↑ "BOB IS BACK! (FOR THE DAY) B&T 2NITE 4-17-2020 youtu.be/bL2NVLNRAqvw via @YouTube". X.com. April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Kevoian Family". Bobandtom.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2015.07
  19. ↑ "Bob (from Bob and Tom) — The Exit Interview". December 3, 2015.
  20. ↑ "'Seduced' (with Tuba)". April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Peter Kevoian". IMDb.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Bob Kevoian Announces New Podcast on Cancer Diagnosis". The BOB & TOM Show. June 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  23. ↑ "'Bob & Tom Show' founder, co-host Bob Kevoian dies". WTHR. April 17, 2026. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  24. ↑ Benbow, Dana Hunsinger. "Indy radio legend Bob Kevoian of 'The Bob & Tom Show' dies listening to favorite Beatles song". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
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