KDKA’s Rob Pratte to be roasted

Some of Pratte’s best friends will take swings at the longtime KDKA-AM Pittsburgh talker next weekend, when he’s the target of a charity roast at the Hopewell Township country club. He’s been a popular radio personality for 35 years, first with WMBA-AM and WBVP-AM in Beaver County, PA, then for the last 27 years at KDKA.

“He’s still a homespun kind of guy, and you get that feeling with everything he does,” said the roast’s emcee, co-host Larry Richert. “There’ll certainly be a lot of toasting, but there is an opportunity for roasting, too, and a lot of people will want to take friendly jabs at Rob all in the name of fun and for a great charity.”

The event will raise money for the Roxsan Betters Albanese Foundation, which helps children who are terminally ill or face a life-threatening situation.

“Rob is willing to take some crossfire and cross-examination for this foundation,” said the roast’s organizer, local rocker Rick Granati, who hopes to make the event an annual fundraiser.

Pratte was a natural pick as the first roastee, said Granati, noting that ticket sales have been solid. Many people feel a gratitude to Pratte for the optimism, enthusiasm and support he’s offered them on and off the air.

Roasters can draw humor from Pratte’s work as a radio and TV pitchman for local businesses, or his ability to coordinate a loose and fast-paced weekend radio show that spans a wide range of topics, notes The Beaver County Times.

Pratte’s guests two Saturdays ago included forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht, Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Sister Patty Young from the Sisters of St. Joseph, Granati, and Hopewell High’s record-breaking running back Rushel Shell. Gardening professionals, athletes, pet experts, singers, state legislators — they all get air time with Pratte — who lists among his career highlights one-on-one interviews with Ronald Reagan and Ted Kennedy.