‘Kerby Scott’ Confer was a Baltimore radio and television personality who began his career in his hometown of Williamsport, PA, along with childhood friend Paul Rodgers. Rodgers had come to Baltimore in 1963 and was instrumental in bringing Kerby to WCAO in 1964. He hosted radio programs including “The Liverpool Hour” that featured British Invasion music on weeknights at 7 PM circa 1964-65. He established the Mod Centre, a club for teenagers at Brager-Gutman’s Department Store. In the later ‘60s he hosted the “Kerby Scott Underground Hour” radio program that introduced many young musicians to groups such as Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, etc.
Kerby, along with Paul Rodgers, were very active in promoting the local music scene. As emcee Kerby was always in demand to introduce local bands at teen centers, high school hops and battle of the band contests. Scott was the emcee at the Northpoint Gardens Teen Center every Friday during the summer of 1967. In September 1967 he put on the “San Francisco Original Psychedelic Light Show” featuring six local bands at the Bel Air Armory.
Scott graced the cover of a various artists hits of the ‘60s album “22 Original Golden Galaxies” on Philadelphia based Post Records (Balt-671).
On television, Scott was a host of D.C.’s WDCA-TV channel 20 “Wing Ding” variety show where many local groups including Howard County’s Chelseas made appearances. On Baltimore TV an appearance on the Kerby Scott Show was the Holy Grail for up-and-coming teen bands. The show aired on WBAL channel 11 from 1967 through 1970. Many national and local bands made appearances – for example the Huns, Froggy & the Gremlins, Denny & the Hitchhikers, Billy Storm & the Tempests, Jades, Pallbearers, Psychedelic Propeller, Bristols, Exzemptions, Chaumonts, Tomorrow’s People, Richard Kipp, Requiem, Legend…
In the ‘00s Kerby is President of Keymarket Stations, Inc., which owns a string of radio stations across the country.
Paul Rodgers provides a brief history of how he, and friend Kerby Scott, got into radio:
In June of 1958 I came home from my FR year in college (Gettysburg) having listened to WCAO for the preceding eight months. They were among about ten US stations that were the forerunners of Top Forty Radio (“DJ’s play hit records and say funny stuff”). We had nothing like that in Williamsport, PA when I was in high school, but upon arriving back home I was told, “there’s a new radio station in town, and they’re playing ‘our’ music.”
I found the station on my car radio, and Kerby Confer (Scott) was on the air. He was a year behind me in HS and we had been friends – and done some stage shows – since eighth grade. Also, I was the bass singer in a doo-wop group when I was in HS – The Five Sharps. We stunk, but others told us we were pretty good. I can still sing a mean bass run!
I went to the station – 6PM, June 5, 1958 – went in, saw Kerb and said, “this looks like real fun.” He said, “It is, and we need an announcer. Why don’t you audition for the job?” I went to WMPT the next morning and auditioned, and was hired – .85c/hour. June 6, 1958. The first record I played on the radio was “I Wonder Why” by Dion and The Belmonts – and I’ve been wondering why ever since!
Within six months Kerb and I made a vow that we’d own a radio station together someday. By age 23 (1963) I was the Morning Man (and Emperor!!!) on the #1 station in the 12th market in the US, and I got Kerby his job there in March of ’64. From 1975 thru 1988 we owned and operated over fifty of them together, all over the eastern and southern US. What a kick it was for me to be in the ‘big city’ and experience all that it had to offer. Including getting acquainted with all of you young –n and VERY GOOD – musicians. God, how I love radio!
