Rock Radio Heaven (E-F)
DONALD E. EARLY
Died: November 21, 1997, Las Vegas
Stations: KZAP, KROY, KLAP, KSAC Sacramento, Calif.
Notes: Both owned and programmed stations. Died of a heart attack, aged 60. After Don Steele's death in August, 1997 he commented: "we know that eventually all the giants will fall."
NORM EDWARDS
Died: August, 1991
Stations: CKRD Red Deer, Alta., CKXL, CJAY, CHQR Calgary
Notes: Had an amazing 30 share in mornings at CKXL in the mid-70s. Died of cancer.
ALLEN FARRELL
Died: March 7, 2007, Parry Sound, Ont.
Stations: CFRN Edmonton, CHUM Toronto
Notes: After a short stop as a copywriter at CFRN, Farrell became Promotion Director at CHUM throughout the late '50s and '60s and played a big part in that station's success. After CHUM, he co-founded Creative Sight and Sound, a pioneer in the multimedia industry. His book "The CHUM Story" was published in 2001. Performed as a comedian, dancer and actor.
JERRY FARRELL
Born: June 19, 1930, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Died: September 15, 1977, Lewiston, N.Y.
Also known as: Birth name was Jeremiah D. Farrell
Stations: WJJL Niagara Falls, N.Y., WKBW, WGR Buffalo
Notes: Worked primarily weekends at 'KB and 'GR while working as public relations director for New York State's Power Authority Power Vista. Died of a heart attack.
THE FAMOUS COACHMAN
Died: December 24, 2000, Detroit
Also known as: His real name was Aaron Benjamin Coachman
Stations: WDET, WGPR Detroit.
Stations: Did "Blues After Hours" from 1976 to 1997 at WDET Detroit. Won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Detroit Blues Society. Owned record store "Coachman's Records".
STEVE FEINSTEIN
Born: August 23, 1956
Died: September 30, 1996
Stations: KLOS Los Angeles, WIOQ, WYSP Philadelphia, KKSF San Francisco
Notes: Was AOR editor at R&R Magazine between 1983 and 1987. Jumped to his death from the 30th floor of hotel.
BERT FERGUSON
Born: November 12, 1915
Died: December 25, 1997
Nickname: Full name was Elbert Ferguson
Stations: WDIA Memphis
Notes: Called the "Branch Rickey" of radio, Ferguson helped break radio's colour barrier in the deep south with the hiring at WDIA of radio legend Nat D. Williams. Co-founded and owned WDIA, the first African-American targeted station.
JACK "J.P." FINNIGAN
Died: December 2, 2006
Nickname: Known as J.P. Finnigan as well as Jack Finnigan on air
Stations: CKEY Toronto, CKGM, CJAD Montreal
Notes: One of the CKEY "Good Guys" in the early '60s. Later went to Montreal Top 40 giant CKGM. Hosted the afternoon show on easy-listening CJAD for some 20 years beginning in 1972. Later hosted a Sunday afternoon quiz show on the same station. Died at the age of 65 of complications related to diabetes and a heart condition. His only child Jennifer is a multiple Emmy award winning actress for her work on the TV show "The Bold and the Beautiful."
JOHN FOLEY
Also known as: Melvin
Stations: WKKO Cocoa, Fla., WAYS Charlotte, N.C.
Notes: As PD, introduced Drake format at WKKO in 1967.
ALAN FREDERICKS
Died: July 31, 2005
Stations: WGBB, WHOM, WADO, WCBS-FM New York
Notes: His popular "Night Train" show in the '50s and '60s highlighted the great rhythm and blues vocal groups of the doo-wop era. Later, he filled on for Don K. Reed on the "Doo Wop Shop" on WCBS-FM and was a regular on that station's radio reunions. A fan of classical music, jazz and musical theatre, Fredericks was also a well-known travel writer. Died at the age of 70.
ALAN FREED
Born: December 15, 1921, Windber, Pa.
Died: January 20, 1965, Palm Springs, Calif.
Nickname: Full name is Albert James Freed
Stations: WKST New Castle, Pa., WKBN Youngstown, Ohio, WAKR Akron, Ohio, WJW, WXEL-TV Cleveland, WINS, WABC New York, KDAY Santa Monica, Calif., KNOB Los Angeles, WQAM Miami
Notes: This charter member of the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame started as a classical announcer before becoming one of rock 'n' roll's greatest ambassadors. Played his first rock 'n roll record at WJW July 11, 1951. His career went into decline with the payola scandal, but his place in history remained secure. All of those who have worked in or enjoyed rock 'n' roll radio should thank him. Died in Palm Springs, Calif., officially of uremia - some say of a broken heart. On March 21, 2002, his ashes were moved to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
TOM FULTON
Died: December 9, 2002, Oakville, Ont.
Nickname: The Big Kahuna
Stations: CJCA Edmonton, CKFH, CJRT-FM, CING-FM, CJCL (returned to the former CKFH), CFRB, CHWO (AM 740) Toronto
Notes: Died of an apparent heart attack shortly after finishing his morning show at AM 740. He was 58. Native of British Columbia.
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