Cincinnati (WKRC) – One of the most popular radio personalities in Cincinnati has died.
700 WLW host Bill Cunningham announced the death of Gary Burbank on social networks on Thursday.
Burbank left the listeners laughing for more than 25 years on WLW before retiring in 2007.
Born in 1941 in Memphis Tennessee, Gary Burbank began his radio career as “Bill Williams” then “Johnny Apollo” in the stations of Louisiana in the 1960s.
But Burbank became a star overnight at “Wacky” in Louisville, Waky in 1968, and after a few years of travel across the country and even Canada, Burbank made its debut in Cincinnati in 1981. It was on the big step of WLW through Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. But that was mainly due to the incredible quantity of original comedy that he created five days a week. He described his show as “Théâtre de l’Esprit”.
Burbank’s mind seemed to be in a constant metamorphosis expressing crazy characters for its afternoon reader program, Earl Pitts of blood in its own full Uhmerikun with a hilarious crank calling Gilbert Gnarley and Howlin ‘Blind Muddy Slim and many others.
The appellants of the Burbank show turned the tables of its crew with listeners asking questions on the segments of Trivia sports or consequences.
He signed last time when he retired on December 21, 2007.
Burbank was also an accomplished musician, playing with “The Marquis” based in Memphis. He would later create the non -profit game forward in Cincinnati, playing music with artists like Sonny Moorman and Tim Goshorn and collect funds to cover medical costs for musicians who had no insurance.
Burbank has won numerous prizes, including the prestigious Marconi Awards for a great personality in the market of the year. He was enthroned at the radio renowned temple in 2012.
In an interview shortly before signing in WLW in 2007, he said that many of his personalities were based on real people. Earl Pitts was his father, who started every morning saying “Do you know what makes me sick?” Earl Pitts continued to be broadcast in unionized comments at the national level until 2021.
Burbank collaborated on his biography with the late the former TV Greg Hoard sports executives. It was a chance to thank again all those who listened over the years and his words, I “particularly want to thank you for obtaining it. I could not ask for more”.
Gary Burbank was 84 years old and died in Louisville after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Carol, his daughter Tracy, his son Shawn and some grandchildren.
