Don Imus, American radio host
John Donald Imus Jr. (July 23, 1940 – December 27, 2019), also known simply as Imus, was an American radio personality, television show host, recording artist, and author. His radio show Imus in the Morning was aired on various stations and digital platforms nationwide until 2018.
In 1968 he began his first radio job, at KUTY, in Palmdale, California. Three years later, he landed the morning broadcast position at WNBC, in New York City. Imus was fired from WNBC in 1977, then rehired, in 1979, remaining at the station until it left the air in 1988, at which time his show moved to WFAN, which took over WNBC's former frequency of 660 kHz. Following Howard Stern's success with national syndication, Imus in the Morning adopted the same model in 1993.
Throughout his later career, Imus was labeled a "shock jock". He was fired by CBS Radio in April 2007 after describing the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos".
In January 2018, Cumulus Media, in the middle of a bankruptcy process, told Imus they were going to stop paying him. Imus' final show aired on March 29, 2018. He died the following year of complications from lung disease.
1940Jul, 23
Don Imus
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Events on 1940
- 17May
Brussels
World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium. - 12Jun
Erwin Rommel
World War II: Thirteen thousand British and French troops surrender to Major General Erwin Rommel at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. - 5Jul
Vichy France
World War II: The United Kingdom and the Vichy France government break off diplomatic relations. - 10Jul
Vichy France
World War II: The Vichy government is established in France. - 11Jul
Vichy France
World War II: Vichy France regime is formally established. Philippe Pétain becomes Prime Minister of France.