Tributes have been paid following the death of “radio legend” Trevor Campbell.
The popular Northern Ireland presenter, known affectionately as Big T, passed away in hospital after a short illness. He was 78.
He was a familiar voice on the airwaves with Downtown Radio for decades.
Downtown announced the news this afternoon.
The station said: “We’re incredibly saddened to announce that our friend and colleague Trevor Campbell has passed away at the age of 78.
“We will miss you greatly. Rest In Peace Big T”.
Presenter Stuart Robinson paid a further tribute to Mr Campbell via his show’s Facebook page, describing him as a “beloved friend and colleague”.
“The term legend is often thrown around but Trevor was a radio legend in every sense of the word,” he said.
“A pioneer, a trail blazer and a house hold name on radio in Northern Ireland for 50 years – no other radio personality here has or will lever come close to achieving what Trevor did during his career.
“Trevor loved and lived for the radio and radio loved him. He was still on-air on his hugely popular show just a few days ago doing what he did best.
“He was credited with bringing country music to Northern Ireland audiences in the 1970s at a time when no one here knew what it was and in 2015 we created and launched an entire radio station in his honour ‘Downtown Country’.”
Mr Campbell is survived by his partner, Vi, and his sister Norma.
He travelled the world and interviewed some of the biggest stars in country music during a career in the industry spanning almost half a century.
He interviewed and befriended some of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson.
In 2023 he picked up two top gongs at the Northern Ireland Country Music Awards.
He still broadcasting on Downtown Country, and was the only remaining member of the original Downtown Radio presenting team.
He told the Sunday Life last year: “I remember so vividly the anticipation for a couple of months before we went on air.
“It was such an exciting thing in Northern Ireland to have our own commercial radio station as all we really had was Radio 1 and Radio 2 which always seemed really remote.
“From the first day people were hearing of places and people and shops, streets, towns and cities they recognised and lived in themselves.
“Young people just take it for granted now but back then it was a really big thing.”
His death comes less than a month after a second Downtown favourite passed away.
Candy Devine passed away in her native Australia aged 85.
More to follow