Bob Clarke, Veteran Broadcaster, Is Dead At 75

Veteran broadcaster Bob Clarke has died. He passed away on Tuesday morning, January 27, 2026. He was 75 years old.

Bob, whose real name was Walter Charles Clarke hailed from the parish of St. Mary. He was a founding member of IRIE FM, Jamaica’s first all-reggae radio station in the 1990’s.

Clarke was a household name best recognized for his long-running program, “Memories,” which aired on Sundays, and celebrated nostalgic hits and the history of Jamaican music.

Industry insider and producer Courtney Cole, a close friend of Clarke, said he had last spoken to his friend on Sunday. Then the bad news came.

“On Monday, Donald Shipps called me to tell me that Bob was in a coma. Then last night, he said that the medical officials were in the process of transporting Bob to KPH (Kingston Public Hospital) but dem never get to reach,” a mournful Cole told DancehallMag.

Clarke had injured himself in a car accident years ago, and walked with a cane. Although he had left IRIE FM, after he had been unceremoniously bungled out of the station by its new management, Clarke was still active on the broadcasting circuit with a Sunday afternoon show on Mello FM.

Clarke died without recovering his considerable catalogue of vinyl records which he had accumulated over decades, but which had not been returned to him by the station’s management after he had been ousted from the station during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“IRIE FM didn’t give him back his records, he along with Clyde McKenzie, Howard, and Stewart had helped to found IRIE FM with Mr. Young, but such is life,” Cole lamented.

Clarke was highly respected for his role in promoting local artists and documenting the evolution of the Jamaican music scene.

Clyde McKenzie, co-founder of IRIE FM, grieved Clarke’s death.

“Bob was my friend. It was through that friendship that IRIE FM was forged. Bob was a very good singer and used to sing for tourists with Karl Young’s band. Karl Young was the main investor in IRIE FM and it was he who encouraged Bob Clarke to try and get a broadcast licence. Things progressed and that was the beginning of history. Bob and I spent many hours together going to different places. He was a fun guy who liked to go around playing his music and attending parties.”

Bob Clarke was not only a broadcaster but also a very good journalist who had a great command of the English language. He and McKenzie even launched a publication called the North Coast Journal.

“It is a tremendous loss. I can’t begin to explain the feeling. It just weighed on me this morning in terms of what we had done in media. It was phenomenal”, McKenzie said.

McKenzie said the past few weeks have been very hard on him losing several icons of media and entertainment including Jimmy Cliff, Alma Mock Yen, Barry G, Stephen “Cat” Coore, Sly Dunbar and now Bob Clarke.

Clarke’s contribution to Jamaican music extended beyond the airwaves. His passion for music was evident in the way he supported upcoming artists, giving them much-needed exposure. Many musicians credit him for bringing their work into the limelight, appreciating his genuine belief in their talents.

Clarke made a cameo on No Doubt’s Underneath it All song featuring Lady Saw, the group’s highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100. The song opens with a sample from Bob Clarke’s Sunday radio show on IRIE FM, and a recording of Gwen Stefani’s then-boyfriend Gavin Rossdale stating “You don’t have to forget, just remember this Sunday, alright?

The music industry has expressed deep sorrow at the loss of one of their own. Local tributes and stories of Clarke’s kindness and mentorship have begun to surface, illustrating the impact he had not just on the music industry but on countless lives. His ability to connect with people through music and storytelling created a legacy that resonates well beyond his time.

Walter Charles “Bob” Clarke, OD, was awarded the Order of Distinction for his contribution to broadcasting and the music industry by the government of Jamaica in 2018.