Bobby O’Jay, legendary Memphis radio icon, has died at the age of 68, iHeart Radio confirmed on Tuesday morning. His cause of death was not known. 

Confirming his death, O’Jay’s niece, Wanda Thomas, told WREG, “We’re doing as well as can be expected. We just listened to him this morning, you know, and he sounded like the picture of health.”

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Born in Batesville, Mississippi in 1953, Bobby O’Jay got his first start in the radio business in Montgomery, Alabama. He then joined WDIA in Memphis in 1983. He worked in radio for 40 years, 38 of them in Memphis. Last year, he was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.

“Bobby O’Jay is so deserving of this honor. It makes me so proud that his 38 years of talking to the Memphis community on WDIA are finally recognized. WDIA is a station rich in history and a staple to the Black community. Congrats Bobby for all you have done for Memphis,” iHeartMedia Memphis and Tupelo Market President Kevin Klein had said at the time of his induction into the Hall of Fame.

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Several people took to social media to pay tributes to him following his death. 

“We pray for the family and mourn the passing of radio icon Bobby O’jay. This is not only a loss for us as a city in Memphis, but a loss to all of us in the black community nationally, those of us in black music and radio and those of us who saw him as a mentor. Bobby O’jay is Black Radio history and has forged many spaces that others hadn’t while creating opportunities for many of the success that we’ve seen in both radio and black music. His voice and opinions will truly be missed,” said State Rep. Antonio Parkinson said. 

“I’m very sorry to learn about the passing of Bobby O’Jay. I know for many Memphians, including my wife, the day was not complete unless they tuned in to hear what Bobby had to say. I always enjoyed being with Bobby on his show or otherwise,” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland tweeted.