Charlie Tuna

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Radio Host

Born Art Ferguson on April 18, 1944 in Kearney, NE

Died Feb. 19, 2016 in Tarzana, CA

Disc jockey Charlie Tuna was a presence at a variety of key radio stations in Los Angeles after working in Wichita, Oklahoma City and Boston. He was one of KHJ’s “boss jocks” in the 1960s, one of the original personalities at KROQ-FM when that station started revamping the rock radio landscape, and an on-air jock and program director at Top 40 outlet KIIS-FM. In 2008, he moved to oldies mecca K-Earth.

Tuna also worked as a television announcer and hosted the TV shows “Cinema Cinema Cinema” and “Inside Hollywood.” He was named to the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2008, and was the honorary mayor of Tarzana, the San Fernando Valley community where he lived.

Tuna died Feb. 19, 2016, after a sudden illness at his home in Tarzana. He was 71.

— Richard Cromelin for the Los Angeles Times June 8, 2010; updated Feb. 29, 2016, with news of his death

One thought about Charlie Tuna

“

Hi L.A. Times!

A friend forwarded this to me, and said I didn't look too bad for being 105 years old. Actually, the birthdate and year are both wrong. If you must know, it's April 18, 1944. If you would like a better picture, and bio info, etc., check out my website at charlietuna.com.

Feel free to use any picture you'd like, and there's even one of me the day I received the star if you'd like that, you certainly have my permission. Here's the link to the page with that photo, it's about halfway down, click on it for larger photo version. http://www.charlietuna.com/gallery/index.php?g2_itemId=75&g2_page=3

Oh, and at the time, January 10, 1990, I didn't think I deserved a Star that early in my career, but the station nominated me secretly and Johnny Grant informed me with a surprise call that I had been voted the honor, and introduced me that day, saying I "should have been there a long time ago!" In retrospect, it's still one of the most memorable days in my 50 year radio career, and I'm still going.

” — Charlie Tuna, March 11, 2010 at 8 p.m.

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