Bob Edwards, who spent decades as host of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” has died, according to the public radio network. He was 76 years old.
He said, “Bob Edwards understood the intimate and uniquely personal connection with audiences that distinguishes audio journalism from other mediums, and for decades he was a trusted voice in the lives of millions of public radio listeners.” “NPR’s staff and those across the network, along with those millions of listeners, will remember Bob Edwards with gratitude.”
Edwards died peacefully on Saturday with his family by his side, according to a statement obtained by the news network.
His wife Windsor Johnson said, “The world of broadcasting has lost a giant.” “Bob was a master of his craft and left an indelible mark on journalism.”
He further added, “He helped pave the way for the younger generation of journalists who continue to build NPR today.”
Edwards began his tenure with NPR in 1974 as a newscaster. Later that year, he joined Susan Stamberg as co-host of “All Things Considered” and helped launch “Morning Edition” in 1979.
It took time for the two of them to gain a rhythm with each other, Stamberg told NPR on Monday, calling himself “Mr.” Nice…sir. official” while she was “a New Yorker with a million ideas and a big laugh.” He recalled her humor and the impact she had on millions of Americans.
He said, “He was the Bob Edwards of Morning Edition for 24 1/2 years, and his voice was the reason we woke up.”
During his tenure with NPR, his voice was heard by more than 13 million listeners each week.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Edwards began his radio career at a small station in New Albany, Indiana. Washington DC. He served as a broadcaster in the US Army before leaving, where he became anchorman for WTOP-AM.
After leaving NPR, Edwards launched “The Bob Edwards Show” on XM Satellite Radio. According to Politico, the program ran from 2004 to 2014.
Edwards also wrote two books: “Fridays with Red: A Radio Friendship”, focusing on his interactions with veteran sportscaster Red Barber, who died in 1992, and “Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism.”
He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2004.
