Jack Armstrong Dead

[whatsthefrequency]

Sad news.  He was found dead in his home yesterday.  From his myspace page:


Extremely saddening news... I hoped I never had to write... Our extremely amazing Dad and your friend Jack Armstrong aka John C. Larsh passed away yesterday March 22, 2008 at his home in North Carolina. I wish there was a better way to get the word out but this seems to be the fastest means of communication that he favored. If you knew him at all, you would know that he wouldn't want you to be sad for a moment. He would want you to remember all the good times, what he gave to radio and to the world. He would also want you to help fight to bring back the personality in radio if at all possible. He loved being a DJ almost as much as he loved being a father and that says A LOT. He put his blood, sweat and tears into both and never gave up what he believed in. He was honest, brave and could tell a joke like no other!! He was the best at everything he did and I know that he touched each and every one of us. I dont know how he would sign off this letter, maybe it would be "Yoooooouuuuurrr LLLlleeeadaaa!" or just straight up "Jack it up" either which way he would have done it better than anyone. Please remember him in all that you do, pass on kindness, be true to yourself and to those you love. If you have any questions, please email me at JackArmstrong08@gmail.com Very sad, devon larsh fischer ....Jack's middle daughter who loves him greatly - he was an exceptional person

.Jack was a radio annuncer (DJ) for over 47 years!

[carlosswicegood]

such terrible news to wake up to this morning.
he was an exceptional on-air personality.
 
-my condolences to the family

[opanth]

My condolences to his family. Jacks been a friend for over 25 years...a long time....He was a prolific talent....an asset to every radio station he worked for.....he truly was "your leeeeeeeeeeee-der".

[redneckriviera]

Just a few weeks ago I had watched/listened to Jack's great WIXY-1260 reunion shift on YouTube from a few years back--those who may not have heard him should check it out. It will give you a glimpse. No one (as in NO ONE) was ever as fast and funny: the best Top 40 jock ever to hit the airvwaves, anytime... anywhere.

In the early seventies, we'd ride aimlessly around rural Pennsylvania listening to 1520/WKBW boom in from the north just to have the privilege of hearing Jackson Armstrong. He'd have us laughing out loud and gasping for breath at his speed & skill. For thousands of young jocks of that era, he set the standard.

In recent years, Jack participated in the effort to resurrect KB as an Oldies station. And though they were never able to recreate the excitement that made 'KBW so special 35-to-40 years ago, Jack was still a riot.

A wonderful talent. He will be missed by millions.

[Ed Salamon]

I hired Jack to do mornings at 10-Q about the same time I hired Mike McVay as PD. In fact, I think they both arrived in LA the same weekend. At the time I was Acting GM of 10-Q as well as National PD for Storer Radio.

Jack and I had both worked in Pittsburgh at the same time, he at 13-Q and I at KDKA/WEEP. I really wanted Jack to do his 13-Q act, including his gorilla voice, but he though that was passé. Every morning there was a guy at my exit ramp who sold bananas. I would buy a bunch on my way to work and when Jack cracked the mike, I would lob them at him over the control board. Pretty soon I annoyed Jack into doing the gorilla character on 10-Q.

Jack Armstrong was one of the most cooperative talents that I ever worked with. 10-Q’s rival was heritage Top 40 KHJ. When 10-Q finally beat KHJ, they let their morning man Charlie Tuna go. Charlie called me and said he would like to join 10-Q. Storer had announced the sale of the station, and I could only pay any new hires scale - a fraction of what Charlie had been making at KHJ. Charlie said he would come for scale, but only if he could do mornings. I approached Jack in the middle of 10-Q’s victory celebration and told him the story, and Jack very graciously agreed to relinquish his morning slot to get Charlie on our team.

Jack was one of the personalities who made a difference wherever he worked.

Ed Salamon

[RoddyFreeman]

I'm really shocked and saddened.

I first heard Jack Armstrong when he was on WKYC in Cleveland around 1967.  I picked it up on a vacation to upstate NY.  Because his former station, WIXY, had trademarked the Jack Armstrong name, he was calling himself Big Jack on WKYC.  He sounded truly amazing and made an impression on me.

Next I heard him on WKBW from my home in Baltimore at night.  What a personality!

I'd heard later airchecks of him for years, but started hearing him again in more recent years when driving through Greensboro on my way from Atlanta to visit family in Virginia.  I once emailed him and received a response.

Not that they ever made them quite like John Larsh, but no one on the air today comes within a mile of his combination of talent, energy and uniqueness.

[JimA]

I recall in high school, John at WCOG Greensboro.  And on BIG WAYS in the early 60s.  And then the big time.    A great talent - a great loss

[Matt Smith]

Can anyone confirm this story?  I've been searching all morning...no news reports, no obituary, no indication other than the MySpace entry that he has, in fact, passed away.

Later....
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV

[Kris Abrams]

As his PD at WMQX/Greensboro - I loved having his on my radio station. As his friend for the last 10+ years since - I love Jack like a brother.

We had highs. We had lows. Every relationship is life does. My relationship with Jack changed not only the way I look at the business but the way I look at life.

God rest his soul. He was one of the good ones.

Kris Abrams

[Surfside]

I am very sad to hear this.  I became Jack's PD at WMQX after Kris and had the honor of working with him for 2 years after. He was a passionate man who loved radio and always gave the audience a morning show that was well beyond expectations.  It was totally my pleasure to work with hm and will always remember him as a true professional.  He will be missed.  What a legacy from a man who changed this business forever.  We all can only dream of making such an impact.

Dave Solomon
Mix Radio Network