RIP Howard King, Voice of Michigan Stadium from 1972-2005
Sad news per Carl Grapentine's Facebook. Howard King passed away this morning in Traverse City at age 83. He was the Michigan Stadium PA announcer from 1972 to 2005.
Edit: Since there seems to be some confusion, Mr. King was never the Michigan Marching Band announcer. That has been Carl Grapentine since 1970, and Carl also took on the PA duties in 2006 after Howard King retired.
He was the classic voice of Michigan Stadium. RIP Howard.
Carl is carrying on the tradition very well and still managing to be the voice of the Michigan Marching Band.
RIP Carl.
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And this Santa Claus guy claims to know when we've been sleeping, and know when we're awake, and know if we've been bad or good?
Balderdash!
Bad Santa!
RIP Mr. King
I hope that Howard's family is able to take comfort in knowing that he was part of the fabric of many glorious afternoons at the Big House.
Somewhere in Slippery Rock, I hope the fans have the decency to raise a toast.
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His iconic, "Good afternoon. And welcome to the University of Michigan's football stadium," can be heard here at 6:13 in....
That was from 1997. Here is pressbox footage from the 89 Purdue game. No TV commentators but you can hear him, faintly, in the background...
Fan-friggin-tastic, WolverineHistorian. Thank you so much; you just made my day. For years I've been wanting to hear HK's iconic greeting again. I'll probably play the few seconds of 6:13 many, many times. Thanks again!
And the rest of that video ain't too shabby either!!!
I'll always remember his bass voice and the first thing he said was, "Good afternoon, and welcome to Michigan Stadium."
"Band, take the field" is the band announcer's line, not the PA announcer. Carl has done both since 2006, but he has been the band announcer since 1970.
That has been Carl since the Bo era.
There was always enough of a pause after "Good Afternoon" that the band would echo "Good Afternoon". Carl continues that tradition.
Wasn't it, "Good afternoon, and welcome to the University of Michigan Football Stadium for this,..."?
And then he followed that up with the precise numbered meeting between the schools. An indelible part of my childhood, undergrad, and alumni experiences on Saturday afternoons at Main & Stadium. RIP, Howard.
Yup, that was it. You remembered better than I did.
Gosh, that is etched in my mind forever. Grapentine does a good job, but I've missed King since the day he retired. The pause after "Good afternoon,..." always gave me chills. You knew Michigan Football was about to transpire. I'm glad Carl honors him in that way to this day. There's something about legendary public address announcers for whom I have massive respect & admiration. I welled up when Budd Lynch passed away in 2012, and by gosh if someone's not chopping onions again today.
Yes, you have the wording precisely. No, I didn't have to look it up, and I'm sure you didn't, either.
It is easier for me to remember, since that is still largely how I remember the Stadium, since I no longer live in the area. But it is etched.
My favorite was when he did the team starting lineup and coach announcements during pregame. During the 90s/2000s era, he'd always finish with an emphatic, "LLOYD. CAAARRRRRRR."
Still gives me chills thinking about it.
His was the only voice I've ever known at Michigan Stadium. I haven't been to the Carhedral since Bo's last against OSU. It's been too long...
iirc howard always called osu "ohio" during the game
brady stole it from him
I attended several OSU games he called and don't remember that at all.
this wasn't an insult, just a memory
may be wrong, it was 20 years ago
1972-2005!
What a long, distinguished career he had; from the Bo/Woody era through the 100th UM-OSU game.
An informative previous thread about Mr King can be found at http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/clip-howard-kings-announcing
I left Michigan in 2005, and while I like Grapentine and of course heard him narrate the band countless times, Howard King is the voice of the Stadium to me. I remember hearing him announce plays while walking to the Stadium just a few minutes late with my Dad, as a kid. The sound was magical. And I remember his "Good Afternoon" call in early September that signaled the start of football season, and the "Good Afternoon" call that gave you chills before a game against Ohio State.
I still say Good Afternoon in much the same way. It may have started as a conscious effort, but now it is just the way I talk.
He was terrific. I still miss hearing his addresses.
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I love Carl and all, but Howard King will always be the voice of Michigan Stadium for me.
"Good afternoon and welcome to the University of Michigan Football Stadium..."
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iconic voice. If I'm not mistaken he also did the PA announcing at Fisher Stadium for baseball occasionally.
I've always marveled at how Howard King and Carl Grapentine sounded so similar.
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Right up there with Ernie Harwell I will never forget these two voices. I can hear them right now. May Howard King rest in peace.
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to Howard King in the stadium back in the mid 70's. May he rest in peace and enjoy eternity in Michigan Valhalla with Ufer, Harmon, Kipke, Crisler, Schembechler, Yost, Friedman, et al.
This is so sad. He was the voice of the stadium during my time there. Carl for us in the band and Howard King for the rest of the game was a great combo. Will always have a nostalgic place in my heart for both of their voices.
Once again, you are a part of the largest crowd to be watching a football game live anywhere in the United States......................First time my buddy heard that he said the hair on his arms were standing on end.
Actually, that has been one of my biggest pleasures, introducing so many of my friends to at UM fan's Saturday at a home game. He was definitely a big part of it.
Former MMB member here. I love all the people who have mentioned Howard's classic "Good afternoon..." followed by the pause where the band would answer him. Loved doing that as a member of the band.
A year or so ago, there was a thread that listed all the great Michigan football traditions, large and small. I can't remember if "Good afternoon" was part of that list, but it should be.
Rest in peace, Howard. We'll all carry your voice in our memories. Go Blue.
because that is what we do down here at times. I just wanted to say, while I was thinking of it, you, sir, are a good man.
He will be missed.
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The pitch roller coaster of "Baaaaaaaaaand take the field!" will live in my memory until I am an old old man. What a voice.
And my knees hurt enough from four years of the current marching style on FieldTurf (and practice on the Elbel blacktop)...
Remember when the band didn't need a "hype video"?
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This is Carl Grapetine, MMB announcer since 1970 and current PA announcer of Michigan Stadium. He is still alive, so it shouldn't choke you up.
My favorite was "Kicking Off for Michigan Number 6 Ali .. Haji... Shiekh!!! He made it sound like he was trying to hold in a sneeze and then it all came out at once.
I attended the '81 game vs. Indiana (the first meeting back in Ann Arbor after AC's epic game-winning TD catch/run 2 years prior (haha, mostly run!). I was a kid in attendance with my family when my oldest brother was an undergrad. We were in the student section, and I remember they did something unique when AH-S was introduced and preparing to kickoff. Something besides the "Ohhhhh" and forefinger circles thing. I know they bowed to Bo. Hell, maybe they bowed AH-S too! My memory is fuzzy, but I recall being enamored with both Ali's name and the student section's reaction.
As mark4mich mentioned below, it was also fun to hear King say "Biakabutuka". I attended every game in '93 as a recent graduate, and hearing him say that name after Tim's first carry of the season caused a collective, audible guffaw from the student section. For a while after, there was still an audbile gasp. But we certainly weren't laughing anymore.
RIP.
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I do not know if others in this thread have commented on this, but the Howard King announcing style fro basketball is a kazillion times better than what we have @ Crisler right now