Obituary
1950s-1960s Detroit TV Kids Host Johnny Ginger Passes
WXYZ-TV reported on July 9 that Galen Grindle, the Toledo-born entertainer who became a Detroit television legend under the stage name Johnny Ginger, died on July 5.
Read MoreRadio Roger Signs Off: R.I.P. Roger Hoppe II
The MAB is sad to report the passing of longtime Michigan broadcaster Roger Hoppe II. Hoppe passed away at age 57 early this past Monday morning (7/6) from prostate cancer. Hoppe had owned stations in Bear Lake and Beulah, Michigan as well as well as stations in Craig and Limon, Colorado. Radio’s Best Friend, Art Vuolo, Jr. shares his memories of his friend.
Read MoreFormer Northern Michigan Broadcaster Rick Stone Passes at 78
He owned and operated eight radio stations over the course of his 40-years radio career. His interest in broadcasting began with his favorite college summer job at WSPD radio in Toledo. He also did engineering for the U of M student radio and TV stations. In 1977, Rick formed Stone Broadcasting Co. and purchased his first radio station, WOXY in Oxford, Ohio.
Read MoreDetroit Sports Broadcasting Icon Pat Caputo Dies at 67
Longtime Detroit sports radio host and columnist Pat Caputo passed away Thursday (5/7) after a battle with cancer at the age of 67. In a post on social media, Caputo’s family said he died following a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer revealed earlier this year.
Read MoreLongtime WXYZ-TV News Videographer/Editor Wanda Doerner Passes
Wanda Doerner, a former WXYZ-TV (Detroit) News Videographer/Editor who worked at the station for more than four decades and was beloved by her colleagues in the news industry, passed away April 18 at 71.
Read MoreRemembering Bob Kevoian: 1950-2026
Bob Kevoian of the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Show died last Friday (4/17) at the age of 75 in Indianapolis. Bob & Tom’s roots go back to Northern Michigan, where the two met in an upscale “watering hole” called The Bar Harbor in Harbor Springs, MI. They were already in radio, working at two different Petoskey stations, when media sales rep Lucy Nalley (now retired and living in Grand Haven), suggested putting them together on 100,000 watt WJML-FM.
Read MoreFormer WEMU News/Program Director Clark Smith Dies at 74
The MAB learned late last week that former WEMU-FM (Ypsilanti) News and Program Director Clark Smith passed away April 7 at the age of 74. Originally hired as News Director in May of 1983, Smith was named Program Director in 2007 and filled both positions until David Fair was named News Director in August of 2012.
Read MoreLongtime Northern Michigan Broadcaster Vic McCarty Passes Away
Longtime Northern Michigan radio and television personality Vic McCarty has passed away. He died April 6 at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City. He had been battling stage 4 metastatic cancer.
Read MoreLongtime WOOD-TV Weatherman Buck Matthews Dies at 97
Buck Matthews, who for years was a household name in West Michigan as a WOOD TV (Grand Rapids) weatherman and show host passed away this past Monday (3/30). He was 97.Matthews joined WOOD-TV in 1961 and remained on air for more than two decades.
Read MoreFormer U.P. Radio Host Bruce Nelson Passes
Following his years in the Air Force, he worked at multiple radio stations in Kentucky. Nelson returned to Michigan in 1972 and was a well-known radio personality for WDBC, WBDN and WCHT/WGLQ, retiring in 1993.
Read More