Rock Radio Heaven (A)
RON ABLE
Died: February 13, 2009
Stations: CKGM, CHOM-FM Montreal, CHNR Halifax, CKVN-CFUN Vancouver, CKY Winnipeg, CFQX Selkirk, Man., CKQA (QX104 FM) Brandon, Man.
Notes: The Montreal-born Able hosted QX104's morning show for the last 12 years of his life. Died at age 57, less than a month after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
BRUCE WAYNE ALLEN
Born: January 28, 1953
Died: July 27, 1998
Stations: WDLC, WTSX Port Jervis, N.Y., WALL Middletown, N.Y., WZAD Wurtsboro, N.Y., WSUL Monticello, N.Y.
Notes: One of the leading broadcasters in the Hudson Valley section of New York State.
GREG ALLEN
Died: July, 2002
Stations: WVOR, WBEE Rochester, N.Y.
Also known as: His real name was Greg Lambiase
Notes: Died of Alzheimer's Disease at the young age of 49.
HOSS ALLEN
Born: December 3, 1922, Gallatin, Tenn.
Died: February 25, 1997, Nashville, Tenn.
Also known as: His real name was William Allen; nicknamed "The Hossman"
Stations: WIHN Gallatin, Tenn., WLAC Nashville, Tenn.
Notes: One-quarter of legendary quartet that included John R., Gene Nobles and Herman Grizzard. The last of the four to pass away. Had a show at WLAC from the 1950s right through to 1993.
PERRY ALLEN
Died: January 31, 2007, Los Angeles
Also known as: Birth name was Perry Gerstein
Stations: KNED Scottsbluff, Neb., KTLN, KTLK, KHOW Denver, Far East Network, WKBW, WEBR Buffalo, N.Y., KRLA, KHJ, KVI, KHJ-TV, KFI Los Angeles, KDEO, KFMB, KCBQ, KDSO, KVSD. KOGO San Diego
Notes: Was the original morning man when WKBW went Top 40 in 1958. Hosted a kids show on KHJ Channel 9 called Cartoonsville. Native of Scottsbluff, Neb. Died of a heart attack at the age of 75.
JACK ALIX
Died: November 15, 2006, Richmond, Va.
Stations: WPGC AM-FM, WEEL-AM, WEAM, WINX, WXTR, WDCA-TV Washington, D.C., WRVQ-FM, WLEE-FM Richmond, Va., WYRE Annapolis, Md.
Also known as: JA the DJ; birth name was John Anthony Alix
Notes: Among those chosen to emcee the Beatles first U.S. concert at the Washington Coliseum in 1964. Also had syndicated show, "Rock 'N' Roll Prairie Roots", which was at one time carried on more than 140 stations when it aired in the late '70s and early '80s. Hosted weekday dance show on WDCA-TV called "Wingding", later named "The Jack Alix Show." Managed and programmed stations in Daytona Beach, Fla., Lansing, Mich., Charleston, W.Va., Kansas City and Roanoke, Va. The native of Chicago died of pneumonia at the age of 64.
LARRY ANDERSON
Born: Junction City, Ohio
Died: November 4, 2002, Wheeling, W.Va.
Stations: WCHO Washington Court House, Ohio, WCHI Chillicothe, Ohio, WOVE Welch, W.Va., WTOF Canton, Ohio, WMPO Middleport-Pomeroy, Ohio, WTVN Columbus, Ohio, WGR Buffalo, N.Y., WDAE, WSUN Tampa, Fla., WWVA-AM/WOVK-FM Wheeling, W.Va.
Notes: WGR was named Billboard's Station of the Year during Anderson's tenure as program director and midday host. Died at age 58; he had been suffering from cancer.
CHRIS ANDREWS
Born: March 12, 1965, Newmarket, Ont.
Died: March 30, 2008, Newmarket, Ont.
Also known as: Used the air name Punch Andrews (however he was Chris Andrews at CFRB)
Stations: CKAN Newmarket, Ont., CFCY Charlottetown, CHOG (AM 640), CKFM (Mix 99.9), CFRB Toronto
Notes: Started his career as an on-air host at Cable 10 in Aurora, Ont. His 7-midnight show on Mix 99.9 grew to be number-one in its demographic and timeslot. Hosted Saturday Night Party MIX on Mix 99.9. Died of cancer.
BILL ANSON
Born: Sept. 25, 1892
Died: August, 1967
Stations: WFWB, WAIT Chicago
DEAN ANTHONY
Died: October 24, 2003
Also known as: Deano on your Radio
Stations: WMCA, WTFM New York, WWDJ Hackensack, N.J., WHLI Hempstead, N.Y., WPGC Washington
Notes: One of the legendary "Good Guys" on WMCA in the 1960s. Twice named program director of the year by Barnstable Broadcasting during his 20-plus years (1981-2003) as WHLI PD. Died of cancer at the age of 68.
JACK ARMSTRONG
Born: December 4, 1945
Died: March 23, 2008, High Point, N.C.
Also known as: Big Jack, Supermouth, Your Leader, The All-American Boy. His birth name was John Charles Larsh.
Stations: WCHL Chapel Hill, N.C., WSSB Durham, N.C., WCDJ Edenton, N.C., WDJK Atlanta, WCOG, WMQX Greensboro, N.C., WAYS Charlotte, N.C., WIXY, WKYC Cleveland, WMEX Boston, CHUM Toronto, WPOP Hartford, Conn., KTLK Denver, WKBW, WWKB Buffalo, N.Y., WJAS/WKTQ (13-Q), KDKA Pittsburgh, WHYI-FM Miami, WIFE Indianapolis, WNBC New York, KTNQ/KHTZ, KKHR Los Angeles, KFRC San Francisco, KBOS-FM Fresno, Calif.
Notes: In 1971, the Guinness Book of Records recognized him as the world's fastest talking human. Had two imaginary sidekicks - the Gorilla and the Old Timer. First on-air gig was as a 14-year-old in 1960 at WCHL Chapel Hill, N.C. Died after a fall at his home in High Point, N.C.
WES ATKINSON
Died: March 2, 2008, Hamilton, Ont.
Also known as: Birth name was A. Wesley Atkinson
Stations: CING-FM (FM 108) Burlington, Ont., CHIC Brampton, Ont., CHRE St. Catharines, Ont., CKOX Woodstock, Ont., CIDC-FM Orangeville, Ont., CFGM Richmond Hill, Ont., CKLH, CKOC Hamilton, Ont., CKYC (Country 59), CHUM Toronto.
Notes: Known for his "Country Corner" segment and annual Christmas morning show (with wife Carol) on FM 108. Operator at CHUM-AM in the 1960s. Died at the age of 59.
MARC AVERY
Born: Pennsylvania
Died: February 15, 2004, Evansville, Ind.
Also known as: His birth name was Carlton DeForest Avery
Stations: WJBK, WXYZ, WJR, WHFI, WOMC Detroit, CKLW Windsor
Notes: Also had a 15-year run as emcee of the WTVS-TV (Channel 56) auction. Was 74 when he died after a long illness.
CHUCK AZZARELLO
Died: August 22, 2009
Stations: CHLO St. Thomas, Ont., CJFM Montreal, CHUM-FM Toronto, CHEZ-FM Ottawa
Notes: General manager of CHEZ-FM from 1977 to 1999. As program director, he helped launch the station in the spring of 1977 and in 10 years it became Ottawa's number-one station. The Toronto native also hosted an afternoon show and a morning astrology program. Died of colon cancer at the age of 60.
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