Vancouver broadcaster Kerry Marshall (Holley) has died after being admitted to hospital earlier this month with Stage 4 brain cancer.
Marshall was a well-known morning co-host and news voice on CKLG-FM, CFOX-FM, JACK FM (CJAX-FM), and more recently Roundhouse Radio (CIRH-FM) in the Vancouver market after starting his career with CHUB Nanaimo in 1969.
Marshall spent nearly 28 years with CKLG-FM through its call sign change to CFOX, beginning in 1974. Serving as news director and morning show co-host, Marshall worked alongside hosts like Greg Collins, Terry David Mulligan, and Humble Howard. In 2002, he followed morning show team Larry Hennessey and Willy Percy over to Rogers’ JACK FM.
Marshall was eventually part of layoffs in 2012 with Larry & Willy’s subsequent contract dispute leading to the dissolution of the morning show.
Marshall resurfaced at Roundhouse Radio from 2015 to 2017 as senior news editor and morning news reader. Most recently, he’d been co-hosting the Prattcast podcast with sports radio veteran Dave Pratt.
Don Shafer first met Marshall at CKLG-FM in 1976 and nearly four decades later was his first choice to be the voice of morning news when he started recruiting talent for Roundhouse Radio.
“He’s always been my Walter Cronkite,” Shafer told Broadcast Dialogue. “He’s always been such a big, warm personality. He wasn’t just the news guy. Any show that he was part of he was an anchor because he was a great news person, but also such a huge, well-read personality with a sharp sense of humour. You couldn’t not engage him.”
Shafer said Marshall played an integral role in building the Roundhouse news team and was a huge part of the station’s sound.
“He made sure the delivery and execution was perfect, but when he got off script was very soulful in the way he communicated,” added Shafer.
In a Facebook post, former co-host Larry Hennessey wrote: “Mr. Information has passed on to the much better studio in the sky. I sat or stood next to Kerry Marshall for almost 30 years and marveled at his wit and general knowledge. He is the KING of morning FM radio newscasters and could tell any story in two sentences, three if it was involved or he needed to fill. He passed his skill onto many and was a mentor to all who were wise enough to inquire.”
So sad to hear of the passing of longtime radio man Kerry Marshall (real last name Holley). We worked together at CHUB in Nananimo many moons ago. He was one of my early mentors. RIP Kerry.
— David Tait 🇨🇦 (@taiterstan) August 26, 2019
My dear friend Kerry Marshall passed this morning after losing his fight with cancer.
Thank you Kerry for all the Joy you brought to us!— Dave Pratt (@DavePrattSports) August 26, 2019
Just heard the terrible news. The man with an unforgettable voice. Rest easy Kerry Marshall. 💔
— Taran Parmar (@Tarankparmar) August 26, 2019
I owe my Vancouver radio career to Kerry who gave me a news job @CFOXvan more than 28 years ago. He listened to my ‘cassette’, returned my calls, gave me tips, and hired me from Prince George. He was a great broadcaster, great teacher and one of the good guys. ❤️ https://t.co/RoJzuXWUVV
— Erin Davis (@ErinDavisVan) August 26, 2019
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