A legend and visionary in the music business, radio personality Charlie Tuna is probably the most recognizable voice to have every graced both the radio airwaves in Southern California and Armed Forces Radio. In his over his 40+ years on the air, he has worked for more stations and formats than anyone in the history of radio. He has managed to raise nearly 2 and half million dollars for Children’s Hospital in L.A. with his annual “Tunathon” in past years and has done over 6,000 shows for Armed Forces Radio.

It was his childhood hero in his hometown of Kearney, Nebraska, the late, great radio announcer Jack Lewis, who inspired him to follow in his footsteps and get into the music game. He began his career in radio at age 5; and worked later at age 16 in his hometown’s radio station KGFW. He later went on to work in Wichita, Kansas, had a brief stint in Oklahoma City, and later went on to Boston in early 1967. His charisma and unmistakable voice got him noticed and in 1967 he landed a gig at 93 KHJ “Boss Radio” in L.A. Later he moved on to station KBIG 104.3 where he was the top-rated and much-loved morning show host of the show “Charlie Tuna in the Morning”. After a format change there, Charlie went to work for the well known L.A. oldies station, “K-EARTH 101,” where he can be heard on the weekend. Charlie Tuna is an amazing L.A. DJ and the music’s pretty good too. If you live in Southern California or wherever you live tune in! It will bring back some wonderful memories.

Tuna received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame January 10, 1990. He was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, August 19, 1999. Later in 2008, was inducted by long time friend Larry Lujack, into The National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago, USA.

He sometimes sidelined as the TV announcer for various shows including; the “Mike Douglas Show”, Time Machine, Scrabble, Scattergories, The $25,000 Pyramid, The Quiz Kids Challenge, and The New Battlestars. He was also featured in the Universal film “Rollercoaster” and the independent film “Racquet”.

There is a very good reason that Mr. Charlie Tuna should be inducted and it is that Mr. Bo Diddley, (the late), thinks he should. Actually he puts Charlie Tuna right up there with Alan Freed and they (Diddley & Freed) both belong to the RRHOF CLUB! Mr. Diddley's exact interview stating the case for induction of Charlie Tuna into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is spelled out by clicking on the following link:

http://www.charlietuna.com/clips/index.php?start_from=80&ucat=&archive=&subactio n=&id

Or from Charlie's website, http://www.charlietuna.com/
view it under TUNA CLIPS, Favorite moments from 40 years of Charlie Tuna Shows in Los Angeles, on the bottom of the page(11), last entry titled:
From (1992) Charlie's visit with the late music legend & friend Bo Diddley
Posted by Charlie on 06/02/2008 @ 11:15am

To quote Bo Diddley in that interview…”I want to thank Alan Freed, Charlie Tuna, you guys is the ones that launched us by playing our music”… and Charlie’s reply …”It’s the roots of Rock 'n’ Roll, that’s what it’s all about."

It's an amazing interview!