Talk Radio Mourns Legendary Talk Talent Barry Farber

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, May 7, 2020 | 3:38pm CT

Barry Farber in the 1980s

CRN Digital Talk Radio announced Thursday that show host Barry Farber has died, one day after his 90th birthday and 60th anniversary in radio. "The Barry Farber Show" aired weeknights on CRN for well over a decade and featured his one of a kind perspective on politics and the news of the day along with interviews with some of the best pundits in the business.

"It is a very sad day in radio. Barry Farber lived an incredible 90 years on this earth and he spent 60 of those years on the radio," said CRN Digital Talk Radio President Michael Horn. "Barry was an icon, a one of a kind talent and a friend. I think he is probably the longest continuous on-air talk show host in history. We will miss him at CRN Digital Talk. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Barry always said the best show in the world was watching two scorpions in a brandy glass, sorry to correct you Barry, but the best show was your show."

According to American Thinker, in 2009 Talkers magazine placed Farber at number nine on its list of the most influential talk show hosts in American history. In 2014, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. In 1960, 28 years prior to the arrival of Rush Limbaugh on national radio, Farber began broadcasting his own talk show on WINS-AM/New York. In the decades that followed, he and a small group of broadcasters brought alternative political insights to mainstream audiences on some of the biggest stations -- and later, on major radio networks -- in the country.

After several years on the air at WINS, the North Carolina native moved to 50kw powerhouse WOR-AM/New York. Farber remained at WOR until 1977, when he took a break to enter politics and mounted a strong campaign for NYC mayor in the Republican primary. Later that year, he ran unsuccessfully for the mayoral office in the general election under the Conservative Party's banner.

In all of the years since then, Farber had been a radio fixture, either locally or nationally. Last May, he turned 89 and was still hosting a live show five nights a week from his apartment on CRN Digital Talk, which had carried his program since 2009.

CRN will re-air Barry's birthday tribute Thursday at 5pm PT. For more information or to listen live, visit www.CRNTalk.com.