Remembering Ron Britain
• We’ve lost another legend — Ron Britain, best known for his successful mid-’60s run at WCFL/Chicago, died Sunday, Oct. 25 at his home in Louisville. He was 86. According to a lengthy tribute written by Chicago’s own Robert Feder, Britain’s son Mark Magel confirmed that Britain took his own life. Friends said he had been inconsolable after losing his wife and constant companion of 62 years — Helen Louise “Peach” Magel, 83, died October 19 after falling ill at home.
Over a career than spanned more than 50 years, Britain, who was known as “King B” to fans around the world, worked at 21 radio stations in 11 cities, but found his greatest success and most lasting fame in Chicago, where he first joined the former WCFL in 1965. His other Windy City stops include WIND, WLS-FM, WJMK, WTMX, WRLL and Satellite Music Network.
According to Feder’s terrific column, at the age of 10 Ron Magel began playing disc jockey at home in Louisville, with a microphone and record player in his room and a thermometer outside his window to provide accurate temperature reports. He made his first radio appearance at 14 as host of a hometown show for teens called High Varieties. After earning a fine arts degree from the University of Louisville and serving in the U.S. Army, he began his radio odyssey — and lifelong disdain for authority — in earnest. In 1960, several years ahead of the British Invasion, a program director in Cincinnati suggested he change his air name to Ron Britain. And the rest is history.
• As expected at times like this, leave it to ‘Radio’s Best Friend,” Art Vuolo to produce a wonderful video tribute to Ron Britain.
