Originally trained as an actor, Keith’s good voice and clear enunciation led him into radio broadcasting, joining the British Broadcasting Corp. in 1935. In 1959, he created a new show, Your Hundred Best Tunes, for a 13-week run on the network’s “Light” channel (now known as BBC Radio 2). The show is still on the air, hosted the entire time by Keith.
He recently recorded his last show, scheduled for the end of the month, as well as recording a retirement farewell. “I’ve decided that the time has come to say farewell,” he recorded. “I would like to thank my listeners for joining me over the years on this musical journey.” Days later he suffered a “brief illness,” his family says, and died March 18 at age 94.