Condolences: ‘Mister Ed’ Lambert
• We were stunned and deeply saddened to learn about the passing of a friend to many in our industry: veteran programmer and air personality “Mister Ed“ Lambert died Tuesday after a lengthy and very private battle with colon cancer. He and his wife April had been living in the Phoenix area.
Lambert’s most recent radio stint was a 5 1/2-year run as OM for the Bend Radio Group in Bend, OR and PD of No. 1-rated Country KSJJ until June 2012. After that he had relocated back to Texas, and then to Arizona, while doing some consulting.
Lambert’s lengthy resume includes such illustrious call letters as KHKS and KPLX/Dallas, KZZO and KWOD/Sacramento and WZEE (Z104)/Madison, to name a few. Probably his most noteworthy stop was an eventful late ’80s/early ’90s stint as MD at KDWB/Minneapolis, hired by then PD Brian Philips. “Mister Ed was outrageously fun and larger-than-life,” said Philips, now EVP, Content & Audience for Cumulus Media. “Ed was an irresistible, lovable character and soulful human being. Below his comical, self-deprecating surface, he was a true radio warrior. He loved being on the radio, and behind the scenes, he was a master practitioner of music scheduling. He would infinitely finesse music logs by hand and he sweated the segues.” Nearly a decade later, Philips and Lambert were reunited at WWWQ (Q100)/Atlanta.
Commenting on Ed’s cancer battle, Philips said, “In his struggle, Ed’s truest self emerged. He was made of raw courage; a fearless optimist who would not allow you to feel bad about his condition. His indomitable spirit remains. Ed was truly an irreplaceable person in my life, in so many of our lives. We all send sympathy to his beloved April and the Lambert family.” Details about services are pending.
Here’s a vintage photo of a KDWB/Janet Jackson meet-and-greet: Pictured, (l-r): Philips’ guest Gaye Ramstrom of WMMS/Cleveland, Mister Ed, Brian Philips, Janet Jackson, Promotions Director Paul Williams and morning co-host Lee Valsvik. [Photo courtesy of Paul Williams]
