Musician and former radio DJ Gerald Ken “Mr. K” Glidewell died this morning from injuries a Memorial Day motorcycle crash one mile east of Brookville, Ind.
“He missed a turn, got caught on the berm and tumbled,” says Earnie “The Fat Man” Brown, a long-time friend from WEBN-FM (102.7) who was riding with Glidewell and three other bikers Monday afternoon.
“He was a couple of bikes behind me. I just happened to look in my mirror and see him tumbling and stop. It was just a freak accident,” Brown says.
Glidewell, 48, of Hamilton, was wearing a helmet, Brown says. Glidewell was flown by medical helicopter to University Hospital, where he died at 9:48 a.m.
The crash was reported to the sheriff’s office in Franklin County, Ind., at 1:51 p.m. Monday. Glidewell’s 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle went off the right side of the roadway, struck a dirt embankment, “then went back onto the roadway, ejecting him off onto the road,” says the sheriff’s department news release.
Brown, a producer and DJ for country WUBE-FM (105.1), says Glidewell was joking with emergency responders until the medical helicopter arrived.
“He thought he had just hurt his shoulder. But doctors found he had internal injuries. They weren’t able to save him,” says Brown, of Villa Hills.
Born in Oxford, Glidewell attended Hamilton public schools and did his first broadcasting on Hamilton High School’s WHSS-FM (89.5).
For much of the past two decades, Glidewell was heard on WEBN-FM as “Mr. K,” or as “Ken Glidewell” on sister classic rock station WOFX-FM (92.5 Fox). He did noon-3 p.m. on WEBN-FM for 10 years until December, when he and three other Clear Channel on-air personalities lost their jobs in a budget cut.
Since leaving WEBN-FM, Glidewell had been producing albums in his home studio, including for country singer Dallas Moore, Brown says. Glidewell also was well known in Butler County as the bass player for Big In Iowa, a rock band. He reorganized the band five years ago after front man Bob Burns left the group.
Glidewell also worked part-time at Aces & Eights Harley-Davidson in Mason, and frequently participated in fund-raising motorcycle charity runs, Brown says.
“If there are a charity ride he could do, he’d ride it,” Brown says. “He was just a generous soul, a kind, kind man.
Brown says plans to put together a benefit for Glidewell.
No preliminary ruling on Glidewell’s death was available Tuesday afternoon because an autopsy had yet to be completed.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
source: Cincinnati Enquirer
