THUNDER BAY – Legendary radio announcer Bill Malcolm has died at 60.
Malcolm, survived by his wife Norma, spent more than 30 years on the Thunder Bay airwaves, helping shape the musical tastes of several generations of listeners, doing so with a wry sense of humour and a keen ear for the latest hit record.
“He was one of the nicest guys ever,” recalled ROCK 94, 91.5 CKPR, ENERGY 103 104 and CFNO Radio program director Brad Hilgers upon hearing the news of Malcolm’s passing.
“He had the most amazing voice. He was born for radio.”
Malcolm, who got his start in radio in southern Ontario, arrived on Hill Street in the early 1990s with the CJLB merger.
A well-known, much beloved voice already in Thunder Bay since the 1980s, Malcolm spent time behind the microphone with KIXX FM, CKPR and later Energy 103.5, for which he served as program director, along with Marathon’s CFNO.
Malcolm also oversaw the most significant change in CKPR’s now 86-year history, flipping the switch with then owner Fraser Dougall to move the station from the AM to the FM dial.
“He was instrumental in helping flip 580 CKPR to 91.5 FM,” Hilgers said. “He was the program director at the time.”
Malcolm died after a long battle with cancer.
“It’s a huge loss for the community,” Hilgers said.