Pittsburgh businessman's voice led to career in radio

When John Christian spoke, Pittsburgh could not help but listen.

"He had a wonderful voice, a wonderful deep voice, and very distinct," said his wife, Lois Christian. "Everyone knew exactly who he was when he spoke. It was very soothing."

Mr. Christian, 92, of Penn Hills, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 after a long illness.

A well-known radio show host in the 1950s and '60s for WILY and WAMO, Mr. Christian spoke with a distinct accent that led a Time magazine writer to dub him "Sir Walter Raleigh" in a 1957 article.

In 1970, Mr. Christian switched media and began a 22-year career as a newscaster, producer and talk show host for WPXI-TV. He served as a community liaison for the station, telling his bosses when the station failed to properly serve the city's black community.

"And we listened," said Mark Barash, program director at WPXI-TV, who was Mr. Christian's boss for 15 years. "John was one of those really unique people. He was inspiring. It's hard to find people like that."

Mr. Christian did not plan a career in radio and TV.

Born in Virginia and raised in Binghamton, N.Y., he decided to head to California in 1951 to seek his fortune. But he got sidetracked and instead settled in Steubenville, Ohio, where his mother lived.

He opened an appliances store there, and would often call WILY to plug his business, his wife said. During one such call, a radio executive heard his voice and decided to hire him at once. On the airwaves, Mr. Christian would soon help launch careers of then-obscure R&B artists by playing their songs on his show.

"They became huge because of John Christian, and they all knew that John Christian gave him their start, and they never forgot that," Barash said.

Lois Christian recalled artists such as George Benson and Smokey Robinson stopping in to see her husband when they visited Pittsburgh.

After retiring from TV in 1992, Mr. Christian remained active. His annual John Christian Charity Golf Classic helped raise $300,000 for local charities, his wife said.

"Everybody just loved him," she said. "He was a classy man, he really was."

In addition to his wife, Mr. Christian is survived by three children, David Christian, Yvette Brown and Sherwood Robinson, and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl Robinson.

Funeral services and burial will be private.