Broadcaster Bob McAdorey died Feb. 5 in Toronto after a long illness. He was 69.

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, ON, McAdorey began his 20-year career in radio at local station CHVC. At age 24, he arrived at 1050 CHUM in Toronto as top DJ, earning an extravagant $7,200 yearly salary.

Serving in the vanguard during the golden age of ’60s rock ‘n’ roll radio, McAdorey routinely schmoozed with top acts including the Beatles, Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones. Eaton’s and Simpsons would stock only the records that appeared on McAdorey’s weekly chart – a sign of his immense influence. In the era before Cancon regs, McAdorey made a point of supporting local talent, Gordon Lightfoot being one well-known example.

McAdorey was not an easy man to manage, and after disagreements at CHUM he left for television in 1973. For 14 years he bantered with John Dawe and Mike Anscombe on Global’s News at Noon, and later hosted Entertainment Desk. Still no darling of management, McAdorey was fired in 1983 over a satirical piece about how little work got done when the boss was away from the office. Fans launched a hailstorm of complaints and he was quickly rehired.

When McAdorey left for good in 2000, he went out in trademark style, railing against the Global policy that forced him to retire at 65. But his many outside interests more than kept him busy – he played ragtime piano, owned standardbred racing horses, and was a James Joyce buff.

He was predeceased by his wife and two of his three children.