Bangor Radio Legend Chuck Foster Passes Away
Chuck Foster, a Bangor radio legend, passed away Tuesday.
Foster was 64 years old. He died as the result of injuries sustained in a fall at his home.
He most recently hosted the afternoon show on WBZN, a station he started in 1996 under Eclipse Broadcasting and later sold.
Born David Turek, Foster had radio is his blood. His mother was Maine’s first country music DJ. His father was a ham radio operator.
Foster's 48-year career in the radio industry included stints at WQCB, WWMJ, WWFX, WZON and WGUY in Bangor, WLOB in Portland and WABK and WRDO in Augusta.
He also was the creator of All Hit Videos, America’s longest running music video show on broadcast TV, which premiered in Maine on Friday, September 23, 1983. It aired on WVII-ABC affiliate (Bangor), WBGR (Bangor), and repeated on Adelphia Cable (Augusta/Waterville, ME), as well as in Texas. It was so popular, in fact, it expanded to Saturday nights and consistently topped the ratings there, beating Saturday Night Live in that time slot.
During his career, he interviewed several top artists such as KISS, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, REO Speedwagon and Bon Jovi. He was mentioned in Stephen King’s book, “It,” written in as a local DJ named Chuck Foster. Foster and King had been friends since King was teaching English before he became a household name.
To say Foster was well-known in his community would be an understatement. He leaves behind many fans, acquaintances and long-time friends.
"Chuck may have been a coworker, but he was a brother to all of us. We enjoyed hearing his professionalism on air and conversing with him in the halls," said Fred Miller, the operations manager at Townsquare Media, where Foster most recently worked. "He's somebody we definitely respected and he's a true radio legend. He will be sadly missed."
Foster inspired many young radio personalities, including Paul Wolfe, who started his professional radio career on Z107.3.
At his request, there will be no funeral.
Donations may be made to the Bangor Humane Society in his name, “Chuck Foster.” Send to Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mount Hope Ave, Bangor, ME 04401.