Posted on 03/01/2016 7:59:22 AM PST by bigbob
Radio personality and TV announcer Charlie Tuna died Feb. 19 at his home in Tarzana, Calif. He was 71. According to his website, he died in his sleep.
A fixture on Los Angeles radio starting in the late ’60s, Tuna was part of the legendary KHJ Boss Jock lineup and helped launch KROQ-AM and KIIS. He served as both program director and morning man for KIIS AM and FM.
Tuna, whose real name was Art Ferguson, was a native of Kearney, Nebraska. He was said to have worked on more stations and formats than anyone in Los Angeles radio history.
The popular DJ got his start in radio at 16, working for his hometown radio station KGFW. He took on the name Charlie Tuna from another DJ while working at legendary KOMA in Oklahoma City.
He was also heard daily on the Armed Forces Radio Network, where he had a 6,000-episode run from 1971-96.
In addition to his radio career, Tuna appeared in movies “Rollercoaster” and “Raquet” and announced for TV shows including “Scrabble,” “The Mike Douglas Show,” “Thicke of the Night” and “America’s Top 10 With Casey Kasem.” He also hosted syndicated movie show “Cinema, Cinema, Cinema” for 30 years.
The DJ’s philanthropic endeavors included raising over $2.5 million for Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles with his annual “Tunathon,” and emceeing the Revlon Run/Walk for five years. A longtime Tarzana resident, he had served as the city’s honorary mayor since 1977.
Tuna received numerous honors including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990; in 1997, he was voted one of the top 10 L.A. radio personalities of all time; and in 1999, he was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
(Excerpt) Read more at variety.com ...
A video tribute to Charlie Tuna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bIIt_0bvVc
Sorry, Charlie.
I recall listening to Charley Tuna on Armed Forces radio back in 1979 while I was stationed in the Republic of Korea.
He brought a little bit of America to the Air Waves at that time.
Never was good enough to be Star-Kist in this lifetime.
The tribute video says he did over 6,000 shows for Armed Forces Radio. A real patriot.
Here’s Charlie at KRLA in 1986, which was the near th end of live non-computerized radio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MODd-7xgKww
“Tuna, whose real name was Art Ferguson, was a native of Kearney, Nebraska. He was said to have worked on more stations and formats than anyone in Los Angeles radio history.
The popular DJ got his start in radio at 16, working for his hometown radio station KGFW. He took on the name Charlie Tuna from another DJ while working in Oklahoma”.
Stories like this are part of what makes this the great country it is. Work hard enough and you will be successful, And apparently he gave back through charity work also.
RIP Sir.
One of the greats, along with Robert W. Morgan and “The Real Don Steele”. All three crossed paths or worked alongside one another in LA.
Worked all those years and he was never canned.
Good Morgan! The sounds of my youth are leaving the stage : (
ping
RIP.
Listened to him in the early 80’s on AFN in Germany. He was very popular with the German teens who listened to AFN.
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