Larry Kane

(KYW’s Larry Kane)

Larry Kane, well known as the dean of Philadelphia television news anchors, is a special contributor for KYW Newsradio 1060.

Kane has been one of the nation’s most respected TV journalists for more than 50 years.   He is best known for the success of “Action News” at WPVI in Philadelphia, where he helped propel the station to first place in the news ratings in 1971.

His success brought him to New York, then, after 18 months, back to Philadelphia, where he completed a unique trifecta — becoming the only newsperson ever to anchor at all three of Philadelphia’s top network TV stations.

His assignments have included the Middle East peace talks; the return of the American hostages from Iran; the devastating earthquake in Naples, Italy; the 1987 summit between Reagan and Gorbachev; and an in-depth interview in Poland with Solidarity leader Lech Walesa.

In 1985 he and his colleagues at WCAU-TV were honored with the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for their coverage of the confrontation between Philadelphia Police and the radical group MOVE .

Kane has interviewed a virtual who’s who of newsmakers, including every US president from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush.  In 1965 and 1966, Kane conducted groundbreaking radio interviews with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This Emmy award-winning newsman was honored by the Mid-Atlantic Emmy organization with their Governor’s Award in 2005, recognizing lifetime achievement.

The veteran of 21 political conventions since 1964, Kane is perhaps most well known for his insights into American politics and government.  His stories were featured in 2000 in his first book, Larry Kane’s Philadelphia (Temple Press, foreword by Dan Rather), a regional best seller.  He is also the host of the “Voice of Reason” program on the Comcast Network (9:30pm Sundays).

Kane is also considered one of the premiere American experts on the life of John Lennon.  As the only broadcast journalist to travel to every stop on the Beatles’ 1964 and 1965 tours, Kane authored Ticket to Ride in 2003 (Running Press, Penguin Paperback, foreword by Dick Clark) and Lennon Revealed (Running Press), a New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller in 2005.

Recently, he released his first novel, Death By Deadline, a cautionary mystery about the dangers of bad information and the risks of out-of-control local TV news operations.

His books have been printed in nine languages around the world, and he is under contract to write a book on the Beatles’ amazing race to greatness from 1957 through 1964.

Recognized as a leading proponent of the rights of the disabled, Kane is campaign chairman of the Delaware Valley Multiple Sclerosis Society.  He also hosts the weekly “Wednesday’s Child” feature on KYW Newsradio 1060 for the National Adoption Center, helping them to find homes for waiting children.

Along with many nonprofit endeavors, Kane serves on the board of the Jewish Exponent and Inside Magazine.  He resides in suburban Philadelphia with his wife, Donna.   They have two grown children, Michael and Alexandra, and three grandchildren.

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