Maine Broadcasting Legend Chuck Foster, 64, Passes

Chuck Foster (Townsquare Media)

CHUCK FOSTER, who worked in radio and television in MAINE for nearly 50 years, passed away after a lengthy hospitalization at EASTERN MAINE MEDICAL CENTER, at 64, according to the BANGOR DAILY NEWS. . 

The cause was complications from injuries due to a fall suffered at his BANGOR home earlier in the summer.

Longtime ZONE RADIO BANGOR GM and WKIT morning show co-host BOBBY RUSSELL praised FOSTER's voice for his longevity. “He had major-market talent. He always kept up on whatever was popular in music, and he sounded great on-air presenting it.”

ZONE RADIO owner, author STEPHEN KING, was a friend of FOSTER’s for more than 40 years, starting when KING taught English at the UNIVERISTY OF MAINE. paid tribute to the on-air personality by mentioning him in “It,” as a local DJ..

“He had the perfect DJ voice -- mellow and cheerful,” KING said. “When he played dances, he always brought the fun. He’s a loss to the community of BANGOR and to the tighter circle that is the broadcasting community in eastern MAINE.”

Born DAVID TURKE, FOSTER grew up in the AUGUSTA, ME, area. His mother was a Country music singer and later a Country music radio DJ, and his father was a ham radio enthusiast. FOSTER got his first job in radio in the early '70s at WABK, then a Top 40 station. He later moved on to what was then the BANGOR-based Top 40 WGUY, where he was a newsreader and DJ for 13 years.

In the '80s, FOSTER hosted “All Hit Videos,” a music-video TV show that ran for more than a decade throughout MAINE, and was later syndicated around the country.

In 1996, FOSTER started WBZN, now known as Z107.3, it was purchased in 1998 by CUMULUS MEDIA, which then sold it in 2012 to current owners TOWNSQUARE MEDIA. FOSTER most recently hosted the afternoon broadcast on Z107.3.

Said TOWNSQUARE MEDIA OM FRED MILLER: “CHUCK may have been a co-worker, but he was a brother to all of us. We enjoyed hearing his professionalism on air and conversing with him in the halls. He’s somebody we definitely respected and he’s a true radio legend. He will be sadly missed.”

FOSTER also served as a DJ for chem-free dances and receptions for teens at high schools and YMCAs. He for a time ran a chem-free club called JAMMERZ in downtown BANGOR in the 1980s.

FOSTER was also an animal lover who took in many dogs and cats over the years.  He was also an unofficial foster father to a number of troubled young people over the years, helping them to get their lives on track.

Those who wish to pay tribute to FOSTER are encouraged to donate in his name to the BANGOR HUMANE SOCIETY..

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