R.I.P.: Tulsa Radio Personality Chuck Stevens

Chuck Stevens

Longtime Tulsa radio personality, Chuck Stevens died Sunday at age 52.

Stevens had been a radio mainstay in Tulsa for more than 30 years, most recently as the morning voice of KTSO 100.9 Totally Awesome ’80s. Before that he enjoyed a long run at KRAV Mix 96.5.

When Stevens wasn’t serving up hits on the air, he often could be found performing them. He was known across the Tulsa area for singing the songs of country icon Merle Haggard with his band Merle Jam.

As Tulsa’s radio community mourned Stevens’ death on Monday, his former stations addressed the loss on their Facebook pages, reports Tulsa World.

Totally Awesome ’80s, which aired much its morning show Monday paying tribute to Stevens, posted: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Chuck Stevens’ passing. Chuck has been the morning voice of Totally Awesome ’80s for almost two years, and was a familiar voice on the radio for many decades in Tulsa.”

“He was proud of his hometown of Skiatook,” the station added. “Chuck loved being an uncle and a brother and a son. He was about family and friends, through and through.”

Mix 96.5 wrote: “A very kind, funny, good guy died yesterday. Chuck Stevens. Chuck spent much of his career with Mix 96.5. During that time he made lifelong friendships with many of us at Cox Media Group. Chuck loved spending time with his family and friends. Godspeed Chuck.”

Among Tulsa radio personalities reacting to the news Monday was KVOO’s Sunny Leigh. She said she still remembers the first time 14 years ago she heard that “booming yet velvety voice” of Stevens’. She was new to Tulsa, she said, and although with a competing station, he welcomed her warmly to town.

“Chuck was a gentleman. He was a professional. He was a dear friend,” Leigh said. “He didn’t care who you were or who you worked for; he was a friend. He was one of the radio good guys.”

Stevens began his radio career in the mid-1980s with KAKC-AM in Tulsa.