Biography
Bob Braun achieved his greatest renown across the Midwest thanks to the extended run of his widely admired syndicated radio program, yet he also tasted brief national recognition in 1962 when his only pop single, "Till Death Do Us Part," climbed into the Top 40. Born April 20, 1929, in Ludlow, Kentucky, he launched his broadcasting career at thirteen by hosting a weekend sports program on Cincinnati’s WSAI. Joining the fledgling WCPO television station in 1949, he stayed until 1957, the year he captured first prize on the CBS network talent contest Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. That victory turned him into a sought-after talent, prompting contracts with NBC affiliate WLWT and its sister station WLW-AM, plus a recording agreement with Fraternity that yielded the minor success "Sweet Violets."
After moving to Decca in 1962, Braun enjoyed his biggest chart moment with the romantic ballad "Till Death Do Us Part," which peaked at number 26 on Billboard’s pop singles survey that autumn. Its follow-up, "Our Anniversary of Love," failed to reach the Hot 100, and although he later cut sides for United Artists and Audio Fidelity, his work as a vocalist remained secondary to his primary broadcasting roles. When longtime host Ruth Lyons stepped away from WLWT’s The 50-50 Club in 1967, Braun—already a frequent contributor and substitute host—was chosen to replace her. The resulting daily ninety-minute syndicated series, The Bob Braun Show, cultivated a devoted regional audience throughout the Midwest and welcomed high-profile visitors such as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, and Johnny Carson. Its blend of celebrity conversations, live music segments, and news updates kept the program as the area’s leading infotainment offering for most of its seventeen-year span.
In 1984 Braun relocated to California, where he appeared in commercials and took on minor film parts. A decade later he returned to Cincinnati and began co-hosting WSAI’s The Sunrise Boys with nephew "Bucks" Braun and newsman Don Herman. He stepped away from the airwaves on November 24, 1999, following a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, and passed away on January 15, 2001.
After moving to Decca in 1962, Braun enjoyed his biggest chart moment with the romantic ballad "Till Death Do Us Part," which peaked at number 26 on Billboard’s pop singles survey that autumn. Its follow-up, "Our Anniversary of Love," failed to reach the Hot 100, and although he later cut sides for United Artists and Audio Fidelity, his work as a vocalist remained secondary to his primary broadcasting roles. When longtime host Ruth Lyons stepped away from WLWT’s The 50-50 Club in 1967, Braun—already a frequent contributor and substitute host—was chosen to replace her. The resulting daily ninety-minute syndicated series, The Bob Braun Show, cultivated a devoted regional audience throughout the Midwest and welcomed high-profile visitors such as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, and Johnny Carson. Its blend of celebrity conversations, live music segments, and news updates kept the program as the area’s leading infotainment offering for most of its seventeen-year span.
In 1984 Braun relocated to California, where he appeared in commercials and took on minor film parts. A decade later he returned to Cincinnati and began co-hosting WSAI’s The Sunrise Boys with nephew "Bucks" Braun and newsman Don Herman. He stepped away from the airwaves on November 24, 1999, following a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, and passed away on January 15, 2001.
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