Remembering Sonny Fox
• Legendary air personality Sonny Fox, who cracked the mic at equally legendary stations like CHUM/Toronto, KHJ/Los Angeles and WYSP/Philadelphia before going on to decades of success in Miami, and more recently, at SiriusXM, died at his home in Dunnellon, FL on Friday, August 14, reportedly of liver failure. He was 73.
Born James Warren Rowley near Grand Rapids, MI, Fox gained major market fame across the country before settling in Miami in the ’70s, becoming a beloved presence as “Sonny In The Morning” at the former WSHE, WMXJ (Majic 102.7), Y-100 and WKIS (99.9 Kiss FM). In recent years Fox was working for SiriusXM hosting the Raw Dog Comedy Channel, and he was also the signature voice of SiriusXM’s Classic Vinyl channel since its creation.
Fox met his wife, Janet Speziale Fox when they both worked at Majic 102.7, and she went on to become his producer at Kiss Country. Janet recalled those early days in this loving Facebook post that read, “Today I lost my husband and best friend, Sonny. Back in the ’90s, you passed me in the hall at Majic 102.7 every day. You told me later that you didn’t know my name. I was just ‘the brown haired girl from the Sales Department.’ Ever since then, you always called me ‘your Mousey Brown.’ You slipped away peacefully today, and I know you are now resting comfortably. I thank you for all our wonderful years together, the fun and adventures we shared, and I will miss you until I draw my last breath. You were my sunshine, my only sunshine. I love you, your Mousey Brown.”
In addition to his beloved Janet, Fox is survived by his children, James Rowley and Shannon Levy and grandchildren Rebecca, Mikayla and Blake. There is no information yet on services.
For a comprehensive retrospective of the Miami portion of Sonny’s Fox’s career, please read Howard Cohen‘s terrific piece in the Miami Herald. [Photo courtesy of Janet Speziale Fox]
