Art Bell, also known as “The King of Late Night Radio,” was an American broadcaster and author. He gained fame through his radio talk show ‘Coast to Coast AM,’ which aired in the US and Canada. Bell’s passion for radio began at a young age when he obtained an amateur radio operator’s license at thirteen. He later achieved an ‘Amateur Extra Class’ license, the highest level of amateur license issued by the US Federation Communications Commission. During his time in the US Air Force as a medic in the Vietnam War, Bell operated a pirate radio station that played anti-war music. Upon returning to the US, he started his career at ‘KIDD’ as a rock music DJ and eventually transitioned into hosting radio talk shows. Bell became renowned for his discussions on various intriguing topics such as gunrunning, the occult, UFOs, and conspiracy theories on his show ‘Dreamland.’ He went on to establish the popular radio station ‘KNYE 95.1 FM’ in Pahrump, where he produced and aired ‘Coast to Coast AM.’ Despite facing personal challenges, Bell’s contributions to the radio industry left a lasting impact. In December 2015, he bid farewell to his listeners with a retirement message on ‘Facebook.’
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Arthur William Bell, III
- Died At Age: 72
- Spouse/Ex-: Airyn Ruiz Bell (2006–his death), Ramona Lee Hayes Bell (1991–2006; her death), Sachiko Toguchi Bell Pontius (1965–1968; divorced), Vickie L. Baker Bell (1981–1991; divorced)
- Father: Arthur William Bell, Jr.
- Mother: Jane Lee Gumaer Bell
- Children: Arthur William Bell, Asia Rayne Bell, Lisa Minei Bell, Vincent Pontius Bell
- Born Country: United States
- Radio Personalities
- American Men
- Died on: April 13, 2018
- Place of death: Pahrump, Nevada, U.S.
- U.S. State: North Carolina
- Education: Harvard University
Childhood & Early Life
Arthur William Bell III was born on June 17, 1945, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, US. His parents were Arthur William Bell Sr. and Jane Lee Gumaer Bell. As a child, Bell developed an interest in radio and obtained an amateur radio operator’s license at the age of thirteen. He studied engineering at the University of Maryland but dropped out to gain practical experience working at a radio studio.
Career
During the Vietnam War, Bell served as a medic in the US Air Force. He and his friend operated an illegal pirate radio station that aired anti-war music from Amarillo Air Force Base. After the war, he worked as a DJ for KSBK, the only civil English broadcasting channel in Japan at the time. He then moved to California and worked for KIDD, starting as a rock music DJ and later transitioning to conducting radio talk shows. His talk show Dreamland covered controversial topics such as UFOs, conspiracy theories, and pseudoscience.
Bell founded the radio station KNYE 95.1 FM in Pahrump, Nevada, where he produced his popular show Coast to Coast AM. The show gained popularity and was aired on over 500 stations with around 15 million listeners. Bell was known for organizing real-time question-and-answer sessions on his show and interviewing a wide range of personalities.
In October 1998, Bell temporarily retired from his show due to a threat to his family but returned after the matter was resolved. He went off air again in April 2000 when his son was sexually assaulted by his teacher. Bell returned to the show in February 2001 but did not discuss his personal life. In October 2002, he reduced his hosting duties due to medical problems and was eventually replaced by George Noory as the weekday host of Coast to Coast AM. Bell started new shows called Art Bell’s Dark Matter and Midnight in the Desert.
Due to constant threats to his family, Bell announced his final retirement from the studio in December 2015 to spend more time with his family.
Major Works
Bell’s most popular talk show was Coast to Coast AM, which he hosted from the early 1970s. He also hosted the show Midnight in the Desert, which was available online via Tuneln.
Awards & Achievements
Bell received the Snuffed Candle Award from the Committee for Sceptical Inquiry’s Council for Media Integrity in 1998. He was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2008. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Radio & Records in 2007.
Personal Life, Legacy & Death
Bell was married multiple times. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1968, and his second marriage ended in divorce in 1991. He married Ramona Lee Hayes in 1991, and they were together until her death in 2006. In 2006, he married Airyn Ruiz, and they had two children together.
Bell passed away on April 13, 2018, at his home in Pahrump, Nevada, at the age of 72.
Death
Bell began experiencing health problems at the age of 70 and suffered a serious attack of pneumonia in 2016. He passed away on April 13, 2018, at his home in Pahrump, Nevada, at the age of 72.
Trivia
Bell set a Guinness World Record by being on air for 116 hours and 15 minutes continuously on a solo show. He used the money raised from the event to relocate Vietnamese orphans to the US. He faced criticism in 1996 for reporting that Comet Hale-Bopp was being trailed by a UFO, which allegedly led to a mass suicide by the members of the Heaven’s Gate cult. Bell was a supporter of gun rights and same-sex marriage. His favorite song was “Some Velvet Morning” by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra. He co-authored several books, including The Quickening: Today’s Trends, Tomorrow’s World and The Edge: Man’s Mysterious Past & Incredible Future. While in the Philippines, he passed the Philippine Class A amateur radio operators exam and was allotted the call sign 4F1AB.