Dia De Los Muertos: Paul Harvey Is Dead. And Now You Know The Rest Of The Story.

Legendary radio personality Paul Harvey died today in his winter home in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 90. No immediate cause of death has been given for the radio veteran who began his career in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 14. He had been hosting his shows part-time for much of the past year while recovering from pneumonia and the death of his wife, Lynne “Angel” Harvey in May 2008. The Washington Post had this to say:

Mr. Harvey was the voice of the American heartland. Decades before devoted listeners tuned in to Rush Limbaugh, Howard Stern or Don Imus, an audience of some — millions at its peak –was tuned in mornings and at noon to Harvey’s trademark greeting: “Hello Americans! This is Paul Harvey. Stand by! For news!”

Perhaps the most effective radio pitchman in the history of the medium, his sponsors stayed with him for decades. Other potential sponsors lined up to buy time on the news and commentary segments or on “The Rest of the Story,” mesmerizing little tales, cleverly written, that featured a surprising O Henry-style twist to stories listeners thought they already knew.

In 2001, ABC Radio Networks awarded Harvey a 10-year, $100-million contract thanks, not only to his 22 million listeners, but to the unparalleled trust they had in him for any product he recommended.

Upon his passing, his son Paul Harvey, Jr. released this statement, “My father and mother created from thin air what one day became radio and television news. So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents and today millions have lost a friend.”