Doug Banks, 57, who was better known as the radio's legend, has died suddenly on April 11, Monday.
The popular radio host died from complications with diabetes. He had a large following in Chicago and was considered as the man whose four-decade career shaped the evolution of the radio entertainment in the country.
Born in Philadephia and brought up in Detroit, Banks, whose real name was Calvin Douglas Banks, used to broadcast on his high school's radio station before being discovered by local station WQRQ. Though he enrolled at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to study law, he ditched college at 18 when he was offered a show in Los Angeles.
Banks went on to host several radio shows at stations in L.A., San Francisco, Las Vegas and Detroit. He later shot to fame when he signed with ABC Radio network to do a nationally syndicated show. Along with sidekick DeDe McGuire, his show became one of the top-rated syndicated urban programs in the country.
While Banks relocated to Dallas in 1994 to start a run in syndication in a deal worth millions, he remained on the air in Chicago. In 2008, he launched a new afternoon show on V103 that rose to immense popularity owing to signature Adult Conversations and Dear Doug letters from listeners.
In 2010, Banks moved his show to American Urban Radio Networks and renamed it as "The Doug Banks Show," USA Today reported. He took a hiatus from his show over the 2014 winter, returning in February this year sounding optimistic for the future.
"I never made career choices based on money," Washington Post quoted the actor from last year's interview.
Banks still ruled Chicago's afternoon hours, but could not beat the disease that ultimately killed him. He reportedly lost a toe and was even on dialysis since last few months. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Banks is being mourned by his colleagues and celebrities alike as they took to social media to express their grief. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also released a statement on Banks' passing saying that "Doug's infectious personality, coupled with his passion and perspective on the air brought joy to countless Chicagoans." Watch Bank in action in the video below: