Friday, July 22, 2011

RIP: Radio's Allison Harte Passes

Allison Harte, who entertained West Michigan for more than two decades as one of the best rock radio personalities of her generation, died Thursday. She was 58.

Her husband, Roger Dykstra, told WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids she was taken off life support after consulting with the medical team. He found his wife - her real name was Prudence Dykstra - at the bottom of their swimming pool at their home in Cannon Township on Tuesday evening.

Harte burst onto the West Michigan radio scene in 1980, anchoring the night shift as one of the Air Aces for WLAV-FM. She helped propel LAV-FM to ratings dominance for much of the decade and developed a loyal following who would repeat her monthly catch phrases.

She also worked at WKLQ and finished her radio career at the Fox 101.3. She left radio in 2007.

"Allison was like a sister to me. She would often call me her big brother," said longtime friend and co-worker Aris Hampers in a statement to WOOD-TV.

"She was a consummate professional, had extreme passion for her on-air radio work, and yet a loving, strong-willed person off-air. She truly was a 'rock star' on the radio, and a kind wife and mother when she wasn't working. I will miss her distinctive laugh and the immense kindness she always showed towards me. To her family I can only offer strength in these difficult times. I will truly miss her. She was a special and dear friend."

Dave Logan, who in 1980 was the program director at LAV-FM, hired her away from WABX in Detroit.

"She had an infectious energy on-air and loved sharing that with her listeners each night on her show," he said in a statement. "You felt like she was your friend who came over loaded up with your favorite music and played you all the good stuff. She fell in love with West Michigan and listeners loved her back."

Read More.

Also Read:

MLive.com: Radio colleagues remember Allison Harte as a pioneer for women, an inspiration, a 'sweet person'

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