James Valentine: A Beloved Radio Host's Legacy

0:00It's April 22nd. This is Sydney News Today, driven by AI. James Valentine, the beloved ABC radio host and sax player, has passed away at 64, just three months after hanging up his mic on Sydney's. Afternoons show after 25 years. He'd been battling esophageal cancer, first sharing the news live on air last year, full of hope mixed with fear before surgery. He started at ABC in 1987, hosting a kids' TV afternoon show, then switched to radio in 1999, with a quick stint on. Breakfast radio in 2022 and 2023. New tumors hit last June, leading to his retirement. Listeners and colleagues are mourning a true original, known for his rants, petty crime segments, and chats that lit up the airways with wit and warmth. His family said he went peacefully at home through voluntary assisted dying, staying true to himself, calm, funny, till the end. Friends like Richard Glover called him the guy who lifted Sydney's mood daily for decades,

1:03making everyday life shine. ABC's boss praised his humanity, while broadcasters like Wendy Harmer and Jonathan Green hailed his sharpness and listening skills. Beyond radio, Valentine jammed with bands like the models on their number one hits, toward the world, and hosted ABC Jazz's upbeat. He leaves his wife Joanne, kids Ruby, and Roy Memorial details coming soon, a legacy that keeps playing on.