Reporting on the Death of ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ Musician Bob Dorough
Bob Dorough
It’s probably safe to say most people from my generation were familiar with Bob Dorough, even if they didn’t know his name. He was musical director of Schoolhouse Rock!, the animated television series that ran during the 1970s and early ’80s on Saturday mornings between cartoons on ABC. He also wrote and sang on many of the catchy three-minute songs that taught math, grammar and civics lessons, including the songs “Three Is a Magic Number” and “Conjunction Junction.”
Dorough was born in Cherry Hill, Arkansas in 1923, grew up in Texas and became part of the New York jazz scene in the 1950s. When we got word at KUAR Monday, April 23 that he had died that day in Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania at age 94, I reached out to musicologist Stephen Koch, host of the weekly Arkansongs feature that runs on public radio stations in the state. He met Dorough several times over the years in Arkansas and recorded an interview in 2006. With the interview, Stephen’s comments and clips of his music, I prepared an obituary for KUAR, which you can read here, as well as hear a five minute report I produced for the following morning.
AUDIO: Hear my report for KUAR on the death of Bob Dorough, which aired Tuesday, April 25.
I thought I knew a lot about Dorough, but learned a lot more while reporting on this. It was sad that we’d lost another musical treasure who got his start in Arkansas, but he had a great long life! I also filed a report that aired nationally on NPR’s All Things Considered.
Veteran news reporter, editor and manager spanning more than 30 years at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas and hosting a podcast of the same name.
