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| David Jones (1947-2025) |
David Jones, the longtime morning show host whose warm baritone and witty banter made him a household name across Rhode Island airwaves for over four decades, died on December 2, 2025, at his home in Florida, his family confirmed Tuesday; he was 78.
The news, first shared by Lite 105 (WWLI-FM) on social media, prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, colleagues, and stations where Jones built his legendary career, including WICE, WPRO, WSNE, and WWLI, where he co-hosted the award-winning "Jones & Heather in the Morning" for seven years until his retirement in 2022.
No cause of death was immediately disclosed, but Jones had relocated to Florida in recent years to be closer to family, battling health challenges that kept him off the air.
Jones's death marks the end of an era for Rhode Island broadcasting, where he was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2011 for his enduring impact; his career began in the late 1960s with "The Davey Jones Locker" on WICE-AM, a quirky music and talk program that captured the counterculture vibe, before evolving into mainstream morning radio staples.
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| David Jones |
He later teamed with Joan Edwardsen on WSNE (Country 93.3) for the "Jones & Joan" show from 1995 to 2012—the longest-running non-married male-female duo in U.S. radio history at a single station—earning "Best of Rhode Island" honors multiple times for their blend of humor, local flavor, and community engagement.
Transitioning to Lite 105 in 2012, Jones paired with Heather Gersten for another hit morning drive, again voted Rhode Island's best for four straight years, featuring segments like school closings, traffic updates, and celebrity chats that endeared him to generations of commuters.
Tributes flooded social media Tuesday, with Lite 105 posting, "We all send our sincere condolences to David's family in Florida," and former co-host Gersten calling him "the voice that started my mornings for years—irreplaceable." A public memorial is being planned for early 2026 in Providence, with details forthcoming via the Hall of Fame; Jones leaves behind his wife, two children, and a legacy etched in Rhode Island's airwaves, where his sign-off—"Keep it country, keep it light"—will echo on.