Vale: Ron E. Sparks
TV and radio voice over announcer Ron E. Sparks, has died.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
TV and radio voice over announcer Ron E. Sparks, has died aged 72, following a battle with cancer.
Radio Info reports he first made a name for himself in the 70s as Ron E Sparx on Sydney’s 2SM. The E didn’t stand for anything and was a suggestion apparently from his program director Rod Muir that stuck.
He enjoyed a long radio career across 2SM, 2UW, 2Day FM, Triple M, WSFM and as the voice of the Capital Radio Network station 2CA for three decades.
Sparks did voiceover work for shows like Wheel of Fortune and Hot Streak, and as a guest host on Countdown.
His official website recalls some of his remarkable stories, like being the first to play AC/DC in America, getting hung up on by David Bowie and hanging out with Muhammad Ali.
Former WSFM colleagues, Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller, led the tributes on social media.
“We are devastated to announce the heartbreaking news of the passing of former WSFM announcer Ron E Sparks,” they wrote. “Vale.”
Wendy Harmer had worked with Sparks for 10 years and posted that he was “the best”.
“Always lovely, kind, encouraging and that voice! So many memories spent listening to him.
“A legend of radio broadcasting! Vale.”
- Tagged with Countdown, Hot Streak, Wheel of Fortune
4 Responses
Thus one really hurts. I can still hear his sign off in my head, so cellular was Ron E Sparks’ voice and place in my childhood and teen years. You dun good Ron.
This has torn me up the most. I watched some old YouTube clips and noticed that he did some voiceovers for WOF back in the early 1980s and also did some voiceovers for Radio on the Brunei Air flight.
Vale Ron E Sparks.
I was composing a similar sentiment when yours came through. Some vale items hit harder than others.
Ron E Sparks was the best.
Great memories from his afternoon/drive shift on 2SM.