Another Friendly Voice Gone Silent

Damn, it's happened again- another favorite local DJ of mine passed away this year- Caroline Corley, who spun records at my local commercial radio station of choice, passed away while I was on my European vacation. Her memorial, which I was unable to attend, took place tonight. Caroline was a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive so to speak, riding along on the commute home. She had a great sense of humor, which shines through this self-deprecating bit of her station biography:


“After being fired from every (yes, EVERY) rock station in Denver she came to New York to collect legendary station call letters like Pam Anderson collects rock star boyfriends — WLIR (just before their tragic demise), WYNY when they were country (just before their tragic demise), and WCBS-FM (just AFTER their tragic demise!)”


A friend and co-worker of mine corresponded with Caroline on a regular basis, and used to be perpetually steamed that the nature of our work made the station's Coffee with Caroline promotion unfeasible for us to host. I believe my friend was at tonight's memorial- if she was, I imagine she left a lot of other attendees with tear-soaked shoulders, being one of those wonderful people who wears every emotion openly.

Caroline Corley's catchphrase, delivered every day without fail, was "It's a beautiful day in NY's Backyard." I remember driving home from work in a downpour and hearing her deliver that line in her typical cheerful fashion, and thinking, "She's right, it is a beautiful day... it's the only one I've got." To a large extent, optimism and kindness are contagious, and Caroline Corley was certainly a carrier. Her cheerful, funny, friendly voice is sorely missed.

For a small sample of her distinctive voice and irreverent style, here is the late Ms Corley doing a movie recap:





The morning commute won't be the same.