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Radio Legend Don Imus Dies at Age 79
By: Sheila McCrea - Saturday, December 28, 2019


Don Imus, best known for his daily radio show, “Imus in the Morning,” which launched on WNBC-FM in 1971, has died at the age of 79. His show eventually moved to WFAN, and had been simulcast by MSNBC since 1996. Imus started in radio at KUTY in Palmdale, CA in 1968.
Love him or hate him, cowboy-hat-wearing radio host Don Imus, also called the I-Man, has brought his often controversial opinions to the airwaves for more than 50 years. Radio Ink said "you can see the impact he’s had on radio by the number of national, regional and local news organizations that are covering his death".

Imus retired from radio less than two years ago. He died Friday morning at a hospital in College Station, Texas. He had been in the hospital since Christmas eve. In a featured article from Radio Ink, it was stated that his wife Deirdre of 25 years and two sons were at his side when he died.

According to Radio Ink, Joel Hollander worked with Imus for 12 years at WFAN and 10 as CEO of Westwood One and CBS Radio. Hollander told Radio Ink “He was an Icon in its truest sense. Helped many people professionally and untold stories of people who needed help across the country for so many causes. It was Stern and Imus and everyone else was on another planet. Hard to find that type of talent today.”

The I-Man was often coined a "shock jock" with names in the talk radio business like Howard Stern. His rivalry with Stern was legendary to say the least. The I-Man featured a wide variety of guests, from politicians and columnists to actors, sports stars and music artists.

Imus, an often-controversial personality, was also known for his significant philanthropic work, including the Imus Ranch program for children with cancer and his work, along with his wife Deirdre, in making a public voice for autism.



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