Thursday, March 28, 2024

Beloved CBC Radio host and humorist Arthur Black dies after battle with cancer

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Former CBC Radio host and award-winning humorist Arthur Black has died  at the age of 74.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 2017.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Arthur Black has passed away,” read a statment on Black’s website. “He died peacefully on February 21, surrounded by loved ones, at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island.”

“It will come as no surprise to those who have been fans of Arthur’s work that he faced it all with his own unique combination of defiance and good humour.”

“Staple” of CBC Radio for 19 years

https://twitter.com/RogersShelagh/status/966701935913873408

Black started with the CBC in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in the early 1970s.

Basic Black was a Saturday morning staple on the CBC 19 years, ending with his retirement in 2002. With over 600,000 listeners every week, it was one of the network’s most popular variety shows.

Black was also a successful writer, winning the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour three times for his books Pitch Black, Black Tie and Tales, and Black in the Saddle Again.

Black kept writing until the end, documenting his battle with the terminal illness on basicblack.homestead.com with dark humour and heartfelt reflection. It’s definitely worth a read.

mm
Alistair Ogden
Former staff writer at Victoria Buzz.

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