PRESS RELEASE
August 13, 2008 CONTACT: Keith Nelson, 6th District Commissioner
St. Louis County Courthouse
Virginia, MN 218-749-7108
For Immediate Release:
Invitation to Attend the Bobby Aro Memorial Highway Celebration
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Location: Intersection of Highways 37 and 7
Time: 10:00 a.m.
The St. Louis County Board has designated County State Aid Highway No. 7 from State Trunk Highway No. 53 in Twig, MN to State Trunk Highway No. 169 in Mt. Iron, MN as the “Bobby Aro Memorial Highway”. In honor of the designation, the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners invites the public to attend a celebration remembering the life and contributions of Bobby Aro on Saturday morning, August 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. The event will be held at the intersection of Highways 37 and 7 in St. Louis County.
Bobby Aro was born and raised in Zim, Minnesota. After completing schooling at the Radio Institute of Chicago, Bobby became music director and announcer at KHUZ, in Berger, Texas. After a year as a popular disc jockey and singer in the Texas Panhandle, Bobby moved to Chicago, where he appeared in area clubs, and on coast-to-coast radio and television programs. After a few years, he returned to northern Minnesota and became associated with the Arrowhead Network Stations. He stayed with them for nine years, becoming program director for the combined operations of WHLB, Virginia, and WMFG, Hibbing.
Mr. Aro then established a recording company, Aro Records. With his band, the Ranch-Aros, he produced several hit songs including “Highway No. 7” and “I'm not Finnish, but my English teacher was.” Mr. Aro wrote and recorded “Highway No. 7” in 1957, and it soon became a “million seller”. During this time, his records and albums became consistent sellers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
In 1959, Bobby joined WEVE in Eveleth and starred in the Bobby Aro Show on Saturdays. He continued to entertain residents of Northern Minnesota with his radio show and live performances throughout the 1960s and ‘70s. Bobby Aro passed away on January 19, 1996.
County Board Chair, Mike Forsman, Public Works and Transportation Chair, Commissioner Steve Raukar, and Finance & Budget Chair, Commissioner Keith Nelson invite all family, friends, and fans of Bobby Aro to join them in this special dedication to the memory of an Iron Range music legend.
# # #