R.I.P.: Former WABY Albany NY Personality Chris Martin

Chris Martin

Chris Martin, the voice of Albany radio for 60 years, died Saturday at age 89.

According to the Times-Union, Martin was born Christ Hermedes in Bradford, Pa., raised in Astoria, Queens, and studied journalism at Long Island University. In a 2016 interview with the Times Union, Martin recalled starting his career in radio in 1953 at WLOG in Logan, W. Va. He grew weary of people mispronouncing his last name, he said, so he changed Hermedes to Martin.

On WABY, he hosted shows like "Radio Archives," "Moon Radio" and "Make Believe Ballroom." Martin interviewed a slew of celebrities, including Carol Channing, Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney and Red Skelton. Of Greek ancestry, he was a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, which honored him on his 50th anniversary in radio as "a golden heart with a golden voice."

His baritone continue over the airwaves until he was 86 when he forced to retire from WABY when he slipped and fell on his way to the station.