Posted by Don Stevens
on July 6, 2008, 5:52 pm
217.171.129.71
I had heard a number of rumours, and my old shipmate Phil Brice alluded to the death of Keith Ashton, so I checked with the Aussie message boards.
The confirmation has arrived now to my desk, that Keith Ashton, of Radio Hauraki, Capital Radio and Voice of Peace, died on Thursday, 26th June 2008 from a massive stroke.
Keith will be missed by many in the radio world, he was a difficult bugger to work with sometimes, but, he was a true radioman, it was in his DNA. He hosted radio shows all over the world and drew large audiences, but his real forte, his flair, was in selling airspace.
He could sell pork chops to a Jewish deli, and, during his time at The Voice of Peace he often did do selling pitches that were very similar to that example.
Through his sales skill, and with Phil Brice and Ken Dickin, he made the VOP the number one station in its market, across the board.
Listenership, number one, commercials aired, number one, and revenue generated, number one, and all the revenue ended up financing Abe Nathans good causes. Millions had food and shelter during 1975,76 thanks to the huge monies generated by the overtly commercial sound of the VOP.
When Keith left the station in the Summer of 1976, the decline set in, the format was anglicized, the tunes MOR, and the Peace Ship began its gradual slide ito decline.
The revenues that Keith Ashton generated kept the Ship alive right up to 1979, when the savings finally ran out and 'drink water' commercials failed to bring back drinks advertisers.
Keith Ashton, rest in peace mate, you can relax now.
I will endeavour to locate burial service details for those readers in Australia and New Zealand who may wish to pay their respects.
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