Former Radio England and Radio City DJ, Gary Stevens, has died

DATELINE  Florida, 18th January 2025

Former Radio England and Radio City DJ, Gary Stevens, has died.

Born on April 5, 1940, in Buffalo, New York, Gary launched his radio career in 1959 at WWOW in Conneaut, Ohio, while on break from college. His early years in radio took him to WCKR and WAME in Miami"—as well as WFUN while he was a student at the University of Miami. In 1961, he moved to WIL in St. Louis before making a name for himself at WKNR  in Detroit in 1963.

Gary joined WMCA in New York City in April 1965 as one of the station's "Good Guys", hosting a weeknight show from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

In 1966 he hosted a daily taped programme for UK offshore station Swinging Radio England, until that station closed in November of the same year. Gary's recorded programme was taken over by another UK offshore station, Radio City and continued until that station was closed in February 1967.

In September 1968, Gary retired from his role as a disc jockey and relocated to Switzerland and London, where he launched a company selling US TV programmes to broadcasters across Europe and the Middle East.

Gary returned to the United States in 1971 to manage a Phoenix-based radio station, KRIZ. In 1975, he moved to Minneapolis to oversee KDWB 63 AM and played a pivotal role in acquiring its FM counterpart at 101.3  He was promoted to President of Doubleday Broadcasting in 1977, where he remained until 1985.During his tenure at Doubleday Broadcasting, Gary managed stations across major markets, including WLLZ in Detroit, KWK in St. Louis, KPKE in Denver, WAVA in Washington D.C., as well as WAPP and WHN in New York City.

When Doubleday decided to sell its broadcasting assets in 1986, Gary moved into media investment banking as Associate Managing Director at Wertheim Schroeder & Co., Inc., where he brokered many major radio transactions. Later he started his own media investment business, becoming President and CEO of Gary Stevens & Co. He also served on several boards, including the National Association of Broadcasters, the Radio Advertising Bureau, the Electronic Media Ratings Council and several public companies, including Saga Communications, where he served as Lead Director.

Gary died on 17th February 2025, in Delray Beach, Florida, at the age of 84.

(Additional information courtesy Pirate Radio Hall of Fane)

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