K103/Portland Morning Hosts Murdock and Erickson to Retire

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Bruce Murdock and John Erickson

iHeartMedia's KKCW-FM (K103)/Portland, OR, has announced that veteran air personalities John Erickson and Bruce Murdock are retiring as on-air hosts of the "K103 Morning Show," effective December 20. To celebrate their last day on the Portland radio airwaves, K103 will air a special live Christmas-themed broadcast from the iHeartRadio Theater in Portland on December 20 at 6-10am. The event will feature a live studio audience with special guests, including local favorites Michael Allen Harrison & Julianne Johnson, the Pacific Bell Ringers, The Beat Goes On Marching Band, local high school choirs and a special appearance from Santa Claus.

Both Murdock and Erickson have become household names in the Portland community. Murdock has hosted the "K103 Morning Show" since 2004 and Erickson has been delivering news and information to Portland radio listeners on K103 since 1985. K103 is the third station where Murdock and Erickson have partnered together on a morning show. In addition, both hosts have connected with the Portland community through charitable organizations such as Make-A-Wish Oregon, Susan G. Komen Oregon & Southwest Washington, Schoolhouse Supplies and the Rose Festival Foundation.

Throughout their time together on-air, the duo has also served as on-air hosts on several other stations in the region, including KGW-AM in Portland in the 1970s and KING in Seattle in the 1980s.

"Rarely does someone get to do what they love to do every day for an entire 45-year career," said Murdock. "We've laughed and cried as one and that's what's most special to me - a meaningful connection between me and the hometown I love. I am so blessed and so grateful to have been a part of Portland's legendary K103 with John and Janine, but now it's time to pivot and focus on my family. I want to thank iHeartMedia and our listeners for everything."

"My dream was to spend my career doing mornings on a top-tier station and raise my family in the community that I love," added Erickson. "I am beyond grateful to everyone who has made that possible, including managers and colleagues, but most of all, the listeners. Everyone at iHeartMedia has been wonderful."

"When I think of Bruce and John, I think of them as Portland's conscience," said iHeartMedia Pacific Northwest Region Region President Robert Dove. "Over the years, they have played a major role in numerous Portland community events, lending support to charitable organizations large and small and have always looked for opportunities to support Portland's civic values and bring out the best in this beautiful city of ours. I know I speak for a lot of Portlanders when I say mornings won't be the same and they truly will be missed."