Fred Fiske — a beloved Washington D.C. radio personality who worked as a deejay, journalist and political commentator during a 64-year career that made him the longest running voice on the capital's airwaves — has died at the age of 96.
He launched his broadcasting career in 1947, working for WOL, WWDC and WAMU, and spanned 12 presidential administrations before retiring in 2011.
One of Fiske's biggest scoops was landing an exclusive interview with Elvis Presley, hours after the hip-shaking rock sensation was inducted into the Army in 1958.
In 2010, he made a splash by commenting to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, "I think I know the cause of your heart trouble. You don't have one."
He also once reportedly comforted a caller who was threatening suicide, talking to him until police reached the man.
The Brooklyn-born Fiske served as a U.S. Army Air Forces radio operator during World War II and survived a 1944 war attack when his B-24 crash-landed in France after being shot down by German fighters, according to The Washington Post.
His itch for radio began in high school when he acted in several radio dramas including "Perry Mason," "This is Your FBI" and "Theatre Guild of the Air." He later earned a master's degree from Columbia University.
Fiske said his goal was to create interest, not controversy in his broadcasts.
"I welcome controversy, but I don't try to create it fraudulently," Fiske said in an interview.
He is survived by two children, three stepchildren, a brother, a sister, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandsons.
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