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'Uncle' Fred Horton passes away

ErieDJGuy

ErieDJGuy

Wanted to share news I saw online yesterday that 'Uncle' Fred Horton, who last programmed WXTA-FM here in Erie, PA succumbed yesterday to lung cancer. Never had the opportunity to meet or work with Fred, but certainly was aware of his many accomplishments in the industry. I'm sure many of you remember Fred from WBEE in Rochester.

Condolences to his family.
 
Sorry to hear about Fred's passing. He was a longtime friend. I first met him when he was a promo man for Atlantic Records back in the early 70s. Later he turned up for a time at WCMF. I remember after he lost his job at WCMF, he and Don Bombard (now Bob Shannon of CBS-FM) hatched a plan to pitch Tom Ryan, GM 0f WROC/WPXY on the idea taking 'PXY live as a Top 40 station. At the time, I visited the two of them one day at Fred's house and they played the presentation for me titled "Y-98...Why Not?" I'm not sure that they ever got together with Ryan.

Fred was a good guy with plenty of passion for radio and a pretty strong list of stations on his resume. God bless him!
 
I'm very sorry to hear this. I, too, first met Fred when he was a record guy and I was at WCMF. Last saw him at an Entercom meeting when he was at WBEE. May he rest in peace.
 
Very sad news. I first heard Fred on the air on WCMF back in the mid 70s. As I recall, he was the first jock there to do a more mainstream AOR format...the other jocks were still doing free form progressive/underground rock. After he left there, I'd see his name in the trades occasionally. Then he returned to Rochester for Mornings/O.M. at The Bee in the late 90s. A true radio guy with a wealth of music and radio knowledge. Rest well, old friend.
 
I have known Fred for over 30 years. I worked for him at WRUN/KG104 in Utica -then known as Mr. Fred and later at WBBF/WBEE. I always enjoyed working for and hanging out with Fred. If he had a faults as for as the biz is concerned, it was that his knowledge was so vast it intimidated his bosses. We and the radio business will miss him.
 
I hired Freddy as OM when I was MM at Entercom Rochester. He jumped right into doing the morning show (and moved it from second to first A25-54 against the legendary Brother Wease in two books) while also programming WBEE. Then I handed him music duties for the River, doing automated classic rock. Not only did he not complain, he took on every task with enthusiasm, aplomb and extraordinary competence. Fred was a class act in all ways; radio and, for that matter, all of society has lost a great man. May be rest in peace.
 
Don't forget there is a memorial fund to help pay Fred's medical expenses. If the Spirit moves you, it's "Elaine Horton" (for: the benefit of Frederick C. Horton III), and mail to Elaine Horton, 436 Park Avenue 2W, Syracuse, NY 13204.
 
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