Alan Almond, the golden-voiced, night-time host of Pillow Talk on WNIC-FM from the 1970s to the 1990s, was found dead Tuesday at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 68.
The Detroit Free Press reports that the Beverly Police believe that Almond may have died of a heart attack.
His signature deep voice was well-known on local radio. But he was seldom photographed, adding to his mystique,
Fred Jacobs, a radio consultant, wrote earlier this year on his blog:
So what was Pillow Talk? It was a five-hour show at night that became a signature part of WNIC, and helped make the station unique. Alan himself came up with the idea for the show, talked then-programmer Paul Christy into giving it a shot. But besides the unique music that Almond chose and his amazing voice and ability to connect with his mostly-female audience, there was a very “special sauce” to the show – Alan became “The Mystery Man.” He was never seen or marketed. He became an enigma, a fantasy, and a legend as the market wondered who he was, what he looked like, and what he was about.
WNIC posted this on its website Tuesday:
All of us at WNIC are sad to learn of the passing of long-time WNIC night host, the legendary Alan Almond.
Alan was a popular host of the program “Pillow Talk” on WNIC for more than 25 years. Alan’s show featured love songs, but it was his incredibly unique voice and delivery that set him apart from all others. The show was heard in several markets, syndicated across the country. One of the most popular radio programs on WNIC during his tenure, “Pillow Talk” was unlike any other radio program before, during and since Alan’s time on the air.
WNIC on air talent and Assistant Program Director, Theresa Lucas, shared a few memories of Alan…
“Alan was passionate and a perfectionist about everything he did in life and on the radio. Even though he was a man who never wanted to be in the spotlight, he unquestionably touched the lives of thousands of people. Alan was one of my radio mentors but most of all a dear and loyal friend I spoke with nearly every day for the past 15 years. He was a mentor for me in my life outside of the industry too. When I was troubled, he would lift me up and point out all the blessings around me. He was there for me always – much like the way he was for our WNIC listeners every night, even though he may have never met them face-to-face. Quite simply, he cared and I’ll miss him very deeply.”
So now we pay tribute to our friend, a man who graced the airwaves for years on WNIC. Those that knew Alan know that he would want us to remember him by his voice, not his picture. Alan was rarely photographed.
