Syndicated afternoon host Doug Banks passed away this morning at the age of 57.
While his cause of death has yet to be confirmed, Banks had suffered from diabetes for many years. Banks began his career at 93.1 WDRQ Detroit in the 1970s while in high school before moving on to 1580 KDAY Los Angeles, 1310 KDIA Oakland, and 1230 KLAV Las Vegas before establishing himself as a star in Chicago. Banks joined 102.7 WBMX in 1986 for mornings before moving to crosstown 107.5 WGCI the next year to do nights and then mornings. In 1994 Banks moved to afternoons and began national syndication. That show would move to mornings in 1997 and remain there until 2008. That year he moved to sister Urban AC “V103” 102.7 WVAZ for afternoons and relaunched his show in syndication first with Citadel Media and later American Urban Radio Networks.
Banks had taken some time off earlier this year due to complications from his diabetes. WVAZ has a memorial page up for Banks on their website.