What happened to Mary Turner (DJ)?

Mary Turner of KMET in Los Angeles died after suffering a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 76 years old.

She was regarded as the most-listened-to-female voice on radio in Los Angeles in the ’70s and ’80s and was often referred to as “The Burner” and the first lady of rock radio in Los Angeles.

Turner was considered one of the most important figures at the station and was respected by many of her colleagues as well. The editor of the radio industry publication Talkers, Michael Harris once shared that Turner could command the audience at the time.

“She knew music. She knew the lifestyle. She knew the artists ad she spoke their language, which made her a very effective interview,” he said.

Born on February 4, 1947, she started her career in the media in San Francisco where she answered phones at Autumn Records before getting a job in the promotion department of a local TV station called KNEW.