Byrd, 68, was known by his nickname for multiple decades while on South Florida radio stations, emceeing at local charities, his lifestyle network and at his voiceover company.
He died from complications of pneumonia, according to a spokesperson at VCMG Live LLC's True Oldies Radio Station in West Palm Beaches, FL.
"He always had a smile on his face and carried himself well — he had amazing hair, his hair was never out of place; I had such hair and voice envy — like Tim Byrd is just everything I wanted to be," said Kevin Rolston of the KVJ show. Rolston worked in the office next to Byrd at WRMF for years — calling him a “radio God.”
"Tim Byrd's voice – that was always the thing — he projected; he was from that era of that big boss jock that commanded the room," Rolston said.
And off-air, Tim always dressed impeccably. He got his start in radio at age 15 in South Carolina by going to a local station and confidently asking for a job.
Byrd’s radio stops included Charlotte, North Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, Winston-Salem, North Carolina where at 21 he had the distinction of being the youngest Program Director in the state. Next was Cleveland, Ohio where he simultaneously held the number one afternoon radio show and hosted the nation’s first daily hour-long dance TV show for NBC’s WKYC-TV.
From there he went to New York City and his first stop was at WNBC where he worked with Don Imus and Howard Stern. Then on to WPIX-FM where he did both afternoon and the morning drive time show and was listed in the top 25 morning men in America according to Radio and Records.
Byrd moved to Palm Beach County about 23 years ago.
President of VCMG Live, Vic Canales. summed up their loss in this statement:
”I am deeply saddened by the passing of our Beloved ‘ByrdMan.’ Tim was the captain of our team, the Big Brother we looked up to at the “True Oldies Channel” and the voice that welcomed our listeners to our airwaves, each morning during his “Get Up and Go” Morning Show,” wrote Canales.
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