Veteran Programmer Don Brake Dead After Cancer Battle

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, October 25, 2022 | 4:16pm CT

Don Brake

Sad to report that veteran radio programmer Don Brake has died after a 13-month battle with cancer. The 30-year radio broadcasting veteran was diagnosed with lymphoma shortly after his appointment as Operations Manager for Cumulus Media's cluster in Savannah, GA and Program Director of Country WJCL (KIX 96) in 2021. A GoFundMe account for his medical expenses can be found here.

His wife, America Canas, wrote in a Facebook post, "We are sad to share with you that our hero, the most courageous, strong, loving, caring, funny and amazing man left this earth today early in the morning. He fought till the end, but it was time to free himself from the physical pain he endured for 13 months."

Cumulus appointed Brake as OM for its group in Savannah, GA, in June, 2021. He joined the cluster from the company's co-owned cluster in Beaumont, TX, where he was been Program Director and host of The KD Cafe midday show on Country KAYD-FM (KD 101.7).

Brake joined Cumulus in 2018 from WKKW in Morgantown, WV, where he was Music Director and midday personality. Prior to that, he was Program Director for WFRE in Frederick, MD, was Program Director for WHWK in Binghamton, NY and served as Assistant PD/MD and morning personality for WCAT in Harrisburg, PA. Brake was also Operations Manager of Verstandig Broadcasting's Hagerstown, MD/Chambersburg, PA, stations and served as Program Director of WAYZ-FM.