Dave Kane
Encyclopedia
Dave Kane, born January 26, 1948 (age 64), is an American
radio talk show
host, comedian
, performance artist, and author
. Kane was born in Pawtucket
, Rhode Island
and currently still makes his home in the Ocean State.
Nicknamed "The Pitbull of comedy" in the 1980s during his time as a stand-up comedian, Kane is known for his passionate, sometimes confrontational style of talk radio, urging people to stand up for what they believe in and to take action in the face of injustice. One of Kane's oft-spoken phrases is the well known quote, often attributed to Irish philosopher Edmund Burke
, "All that is necessary for evil to exist is for good people to do nothing."
In addition to his strong viewpoints about current local and national issues, his radio show, dubbed "Kane and Company", also features Kane's self-deprecating style of humor liberally peppered throughout. Conflict between Kane and his callers is commonplace, with some of the more vociferous people attaining the level of "Prisoner." This is a title Kane reserves for the most antagonistic callers who consistently claim to hate his show, but who feel compelled to keep listening and/or calling back to argue.
His involvement in talk radio began in the early 1970s when he worked as a producer for WJAR radio
and filled in for the other hosts.
From that point forward, Kane has carved a successful niche in Rhode Island talk radio, spending time at various stations throughout the state, including WPRO
and WHJJ
, the two of largest and most powerful AM stations in the state. In 2009 Kane & WNRI
: Woonsocket, Rhode Island parted ways.
, at age 18, was the youngest victim of The Station nightclub fire
of 2003 in which 100 people lost their lives. In the wake of this tragedy, Kane became a strong proponent of fire safety
awareness and the enforcement of strict laws for the administration of fire safety inspections on public buildings. Kane was publicly opposed to Rhode Island
Attorney General
Patrick C. Lynch
's handling of the criminal trials of those involved in negligence leading to the fire.
occurrences revolving around the number 41, which Kane and his family contend are communications from the spirit of his son Nicholas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
host, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, performance artist, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. Kane was born in Pawtucket
Pawtucket
Pawtucket may refer to:* Pawtucket, Rhode Island* Pawtucket Falls , Lowell, Massachusetts* Pawtucket tribe* 2 ships named USS Pawtucket* Pawtucket Brewery, fictional brewery on the television series Family Guy...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and currently still makes his home in the Ocean State.
Nicknamed "The Pitbull of comedy" in the 1980s during his time as a stand-up comedian, Kane is known for his passionate, sometimes confrontational style of talk radio, urging people to stand up for what they believe in and to take action in the face of injustice. One of Kane's oft-spoken phrases is the well known quote, often attributed to Irish philosopher Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
, "All that is necessary for evil to exist is for good people to do nothing."
In addition to his strong viewpoints about current local and national issues, his radio show, dubbed "Kane and Company", also features Kane's self-deprecating style of humor liberally peppered throughout. Conflict between Kane and his callers is commonplace, with some of the more vociferous people attaining the level of "Prisoner." This is a title Kane reserves for the most antagonistic callers who consistently claim to hate his show, but who feel compelled to keep listening and/or calling back to argue.
Radio career
Dave Kane has been involved in the field of radio for over 40 years, beginning in 1962, when he was 14 years old. His first radio-related job was at Pawtucket's WPAW where he acted as an intern for radio legend Chuck Stevens (a recent inductee into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame). Kane's first paying radio job at the now defunct WKFD in North Kingstown lasted for just one day.His involvement in talk radio began in the early 1970s when he worked as a producer for WJAR radio
WHJJ
WHJJ is a radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. The station was previously assigned the call letters WJAR, adopting its current call letters in 1980 when previous owner Outlet Communications sold the station.-History:...
and filled in for the other hosts.
From that point forward, Kane has carved a successful niche in Rhode Island talk radio, spending time at various stations throughout the state, including WPRO
WPRO (AM)
WPRO is a radio station located in Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and airs a talk format. WPRO's studio and transmitter are located in East Providence, at the Salty Brine Broadcast Center, named after WPRO's longtime morning host...
and WHJJ
WHJJ
WHJJ is a radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. The station was previously assigned the call letters WJAR, adopting its current call letters in 1980 when previous owner Outlet Communications sold the station.-History:...
, the two of largest and most powerful AM stations in the state. In 2009 Kane & WNRI
WNRI
WNRI is a radio station located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The station has a news & talk radio format and has been owned by Bouchard Broadcasting Inc. since 2004...
: Woonsocket, Rhode Island parted ways.
"Father Misgivings"
Aside from being involved in talk radio, Kane's second major source of livelihood is his work as a performance artist. Kane is well-known regionally for creating the character of Father Misgivings, an Irish Catholic priest. In this one man play, which Kane describes as featuring "blessings, Blarney, belly laughs and Bingo," the character of Father Misgivings tells stories and relates his views about the idiosyncrasies of growing up and living life as a Roman Catholic. Kane performs the show many times each year, usually in the form of a dinner theater, in venues throughout New England.The Station Nightclub Fire
Kane's son, Nicholas O'NeillNicholas O'Neill
Nicholas O'Neill was the youngest of the 100 victims of The Station nightclub fire, which occurred in West Warwick, Rhode Island.. He had turned 18 in January of that year...
, at age 18, was the youngest victim of The Station nightclub fire
The Station nightclub fire
The Station nightclub fire was the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in American history, killing 100 people. The fire began at 11:07 PM EST, on Thursday, February 20, 2003, at The Station, a glam metal and rock n roll themed nightclub located at 211 Cowesett Avenue in West Warwick, Rhode Island.The...
of 2003 in which 100 people lost their lives. In the wake of this tragedy, Kane became a strong proponent of fire safety
Fire safety
Fire safety refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of a fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the...
awareness and the enforcement of strict laws for the administration of fire safety inspections on public buildings. Kane was publicly opposed to Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Patrick C. Lynch
Patrick C. Lynch
Patrick C. Lynch is Rhode Island's Attorney General. He has overseen the investigation and prosecution of the second-deadliest fire in Rhode Island history and also successfully sued former lead paint manufacturers for cleanup costs associated with their old products...
's handling of the criminal trials of those involved in negligence leading to the fire.
41 Signs of Hope
In 2006, Kane authored his first published book, 41 Signs of Hope. In the book, Kane shares anecdotes of synchronistic, and at times, seemingly supernaturalSupernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
occurrences revolving around the number 41, which Kane and his family contend are communications from the spirit of his son Nicholas.