Dick Foley — a pioneering, Grammy-nominated Seattle folk singer who performed at the Academy Awards and at the White House before his second act as a longtime KOMO host — has died. Foley passed away March 15 “after a long illness,” according to a statement from his family. He was 85.
Dick Foley, born April 18, 1937, in Seattle, was a founding member of the pioneering American folk group The Brothers Four, a Grammy-nominated musician, and later a longtime Emmy-winning television host on Seattle’s KOMO-TV.
Foley helped form the group in 1957 while attending the University of Washington as members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (the “Brothers” name came from the fraternity). The original lineup included Bob Flick, Mike Kirkland, John Paine, and Dick Foley. The quartet became one of the leading acts in the late 1950s/early 1960s folk revival, known for their clean-cut style, tight harmonies, and hits like:
“Greenfields” (a major chart success)
“The Green Leaves of Summer” (from the John Wayne film The Alamo, which received an Oscar nomination)
They signed with Columbia Records and released numerous albums. The group earned Grammy nominations, including for Best Performance by a Vocal Group and related folk categories (e.g., around their early hits and the album Greenfields).
They were often called “America’s Musical Ambassadors to the World.”
Foley sang baritone and played guitar. He left the group in 1990 (replaced by Terry Lauber) after more than three decades, though the band continued touring for decades afterward.
In the early 1980s, while still with The Brothers Four, Foley transitioned into broadcasting. He joined KOMO-TV around 1980–1981 as an on-air personality and host. He became best known as co-host of the popular local afternoon talk show Northwest Afternoon, which debuted in 1984. He co-hosted for about a dozen years (initially with Dana Middleton, later alongside Cindi Rinehart and others). The show featured interviews, local interest segments, and light entertainment, earning local Emmy Awards for Foley and the program.
He also contributed to other KOMO programs, including PM Northwest and AM Northwest, and appeared in various on-air roles (such as explaining early stereo TV broadcasts). Foley worked at KOMO for roughly 16 years total as a broadcaster before leaving in the mid-1990s (around 1995–1996, when the show underwent changes).Later LifeAfter leaving KOMO, Foley served as A/V production manager at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. He remained active as a performer, master of ceremonies, and occasional musician. In interviews (such as one from 2012), he reflected fondly on both his music and TV chapters, noting the shift from touring to a more stable local career allowed him to stay rooted in the Pacific Northwest.
