Tahoe's Howie Nave headed to Vegas as inductee of Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame

Lake Tahoe radio host, standup comedian and emcee of the Improv at Harveys, Howie Nave is among 62 Nevada radio and television personalities and managers who will be inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame this Saturday in Las Vegas.

Nave, who has been with KRLT FM 93.9 as host of “Howie’s Morning Rush” at Lake Tahoe for nearly 15 years, will be inducted at the Four Seasons Hotel. He joins the ranks of more than 800 broadcasters from around Nevada who make up the Hall of Fame, celebrating its 20th year.

The radio station can be heard throughout Lake Tahoe and in Carson Valley and sometimes Carson City, depending on "which way the wind is blowing that day," says Nave. Most Carson City residents who spend time at Tahoe South know Nave via the airwaves, during morning commutes, online through his High Sierra Comedy Vault podcasts and as host of The Improv at Harveys.

Fired twice, suspended multiple times and having gone through eight general managers, Nave says his biggest claim to fame at Tahoe until now is being a survivor in the business.

“So kids if you want to be in radio for a long time don't go into upper management,” said Nave with his kindly poke at the business. “I’m the longest lasting employee at this radio station and now after this award can consider myself a full fledged radio guy and comedian. Radio in the morning, comedy at night and little sleep in-between.”

Nominated by former KRLT/KOWL Station Manager Tony Driskell, Howie Nave is more than a radio host, he is Lake Tahoe’s best friend, not only as host of Howie’s Morning Rush radio show, but as a community icon, known for his countless hours of volunteer work.

Nave donates time, on and off air, to causes from Christmas Cheer to the annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, the Tahoe Arts Project, Dancing With The Tahoe Stars where Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak and his wife Janet donated to his dance. Nave has hosted countless fundraisers and went overseas to entertain troops in Iraq and Kuwait carrying with him letters from South Lake Tahoe area elementary school students.

Nave is married to Nancy Kerry, South Lake Tahoe’s City Manager. He says Nancy “keeps me focused and, for the most part, on the straight and narrow, showing me there's a reason I shouldn't be too cynical.”

While the running joke has been how many managers survived Nave or vice versa, his bosses of past and present, along with friends and colleagues say the comedian’s staying power and worthiness for Hall of Fame honors comes from wanting to make people laugh.

“Why did I nominate Howie Nave? He’s a legend in Lake Tahoe! He’s become an institution — he’s been on the air, doing mornings on KRLT 93.9 The Lake, forever. I have great respect for what he does,” said Driskell, now vice president and market manager for Wilks Radio Group Reno. “First, he’s a comedian, so he’s funny — secondly and most important I think, he’s a real working man, draggin’ himself out of bed in the dark every weekday —sometimes with tons of snow to fight through (although, not enough of the white stuff lately).

“He brings a passion to and for his show, that is amazing. He does as much preparation as anyone I’ve ever seen. Howie cares about his craft and his community — he’s always helped where it’s needed and lends his humor and heart to anyone in need.”

"What was it like working with him? A total professional dedicated to his product. His laser-focus on preparing for the next day show was what really won me over.

"At first some people might think it’s all about him but what you come to realize is it’s all about the show. I hadn’t seen him for over a year recently and stopped by the office, there he was in the prod-room, editing some bits. He tried to be nice and conversational – for a few minutes - but one eye was always on the screen – he was doing his thing – working on his show.”

Here’s what others had to say about Howie Nave:

“What sets Howie apart is he’s in the community. Everyone knows Howie. You see him at Raley’s and the gas station,” said Tim Parsons, publisher of TahoeOnstage.com. “His standup of going six nights a week for more than a decade has really allowed him to hone his skills on the radio so he’s quite comfortable and that helps him a lot.

“He is a natural for radio and not only because he has the face for radio but because he’s hilarious with his improv on the phone and on air. In such a transient town to be able to have a mainstay, staple here is great and the honor is well earned.”

Steve Harness, general manager and owner of KRLT, KOWL:

“Howie is the only one at KRLT / KOWL that has been here longer than me, and that’s because he loves what he does and he’s great at it.

“He gets guests that a major market radio station couldn’t get. He’s all about the Beatles, Foo Fighters and standup comedians but he also gets really involved in local issues with interviews and commentary.

“He has the No. 1 radio show in Tahoe and he shows up at the crack of dawn of every day (even though he’s often up late the night before hosting at the Improv) and uses the airwaves to entertain and inform. You may be too distracted while laughing to realize it, but he’s all about Tahoe. So he deserves this recognition and more!”

Curtis Fong, aka, “The Guy From Tahoe” was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012 along with local broadcasters Ed Crook and Bill Kingman. Fong has worked both on-air and off air with Nave providing daily ski reports for years. He had this to say about Howie:

“I have known Howie Nave since day one of his arrival in Lake Tahoe and managing Harveys Improv for Budd Friedman, while living in the motel where the Chateau is being built.

We had lots of fun shooting the bull while doing my ski reports each morning and became good friends. I also enjoyed taking him skiing as it was always a circus being in his presence.

Howie Nave is a great survivor in Lake Tahoe radio. He has survived multiple ownership and management changes and continues to perform is Howie's Morning Rush Show.

His comedic talents and wit continues to draw a faithful listening audience 'cause you never know what he will say, next!

Congratulations, Howie, in joining me, and others being inducted in the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame!”

Fellow comedian Kat Simmons said this about Howie:
"I have known Howie since before he changed altitudes and moved up the hill from Reno. I have referred to Howie as omnipresent and effervescent. He is everywhere you go, and always brimming with energy, even if it is the coffee. There is not a harder working man in show business, and I am thrilled to see him inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame, he so deserves this."

The Nevada Broadcasters Association’s 20th Annual Hall of Fame Gala will be streaming the entire program live on line. Log on to nevadabroadcasters.org and click on the link to watch the Gala. The program begins at 5:30 p.m.