Remembering Don Swindell
• Veteran Detroit radio pro Don Swindell passed away earlier this week. We received this sad news from fellow Detroit industry veteran Michael Isabella, a longtime friend of Swindell.
“Don was one of those guys that everyone heard, but only people in the business knew. He made everything sound better and funnier, wherever he worked,” Isabella told RAMP. “An incredibly talented radio producer, Don notably worked at WWWW (W4), helped launch WDFN, wrote, sang, played all the instruments, and produced the famous ‘Stoney and Wojo’ theme song, and worked many years as lead producer at 97.1FM in Detroit while doing work for CBS national radio under the guidance of Tom Bigby.”
Isabella posted a lengthy and heartfelt tribute to Swindell on his Facebook page. One particular passage reads, “When it came to his radio gig, Don was the behind-the-scenes mastermind of sound, words, and production. He had an excellent, smooth, very natural voice and delivery. His incredible professionalism, coupled with his highly creative and super intelligent mind, made him a true force on Detroit radio for many years. He deserved more fame and more money.”
“Don was an original talent,” said Art Regner, one of Swindell’s former WDFN colleagues who now works for the Detroit Red Wings. “An accomplished musician, radio personality/production whiz/writer/impressionist — you get the picture — there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t master. A true gift to us all.” Regner’s complete tribute to Swindell is posted on his Facebook page.
As an example of just how influential Swindell was in the Detroit market, Isabella notes that, “Every single production director I know in town posted something about Don on my tribute.”
