Canadian-born radio consultant and programming veteran Steve Young died of a heart attack at age 55 while on vacation yesterday. Young had spent eight years at Dial Global, as Sr. Programming Consultant and before that, Director of Rock and Pop Programming. Young had also spent time programming WAXQ/New York City, KISW/Seattle and was PD at CIT-FM in his hometown Winnipeg where changed his name from Neil so as not to be confused with the other Neil Young then living in that city. He was also Operations Director at WNEW and WAXQ-F in York City at one point. Young also opened his own consulting firm, Youngradio Management, in 1995.
A statement from Dial Global read, “Radio lost a great leader today. Our company mourns Steve Young, a friend and a mentor. Steve was Dial Global’s Senior Programming Consultant. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steve’s family in Canada.”
Beau Phillips, Dial Global’s EVP/Programming adds, “In order to hire a Canadian program director in the U.S., you must first show that no American PD is as competent. But I really wanted to hire Steve Young at KISW. So, I filled out all the forms necessary to import him from Toronto. And those forms proved to be true. I’ve never met a smarter radio programmer than Steve Young.”
In the 1980′s Young worked in Toronto with Dave Charles and John Parikhal who had formed the blue-chip  Joint Communications consultancy partnership. Also on the team at one time or another was a top draw line-up that included David Oakes, Liz Janik and Jeff Vidler.
Young was a passionate lover of music, radio and hockey and yet he led a very private life when he wasn’t working long hours in his professional capacity. Over the years he made a great many friends on either side of the border. His passing will be felt by many and his presence will be surely missed at CMW where he was a familiar face over the years.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I will surely miss this man. He was a friend, an adviser, a fan of music and a very smart man who seemed so happy in life. I will miss our talks about radio, music, Canada and just about everything else. Our yearly tradition of dinner during The Conclave in Minneapolis every Summer will be a cherished memory forever. RIP Steve.
Sad today on learning of Steve Young’s passing. A dear friend and radio associate. His legacy lives on in all who experienced his wisdom and humour.
I had lunch with Steve for the first time in Anchorage Alaska 2003. He was in town consulting KWHL with Larry Snider. Since, we’ve spoken on a number of occassions and he always left with me something tangible and new about this world of radio we both loved. Thank you Steve. RIP my friend.
Wow. I just saw Steve the other day. I am deeply saddened by this. Does anyone know of services?
Please contact me:
marcocollins@hotmail.com
I can’t beleive I just heard this news….what a dear sweet man and a mentor of mine since 1991. The most generous man with his time, insights and guidance, even when programming KISW in Seattle he could always take a call if you needed him. I hope he was in his beloved Seattle, as I know that place meant so much to him…..we will miss you terrbily Steve.
Neil “Steve Young” was my Uncle. His funeral will be in Toronto on Friday December 12th at Benjamin’s Memorial at 11:00am
I just heard the news. I first met Steve at KISW in Seattle when I was interning for Cathy Faulkner. He always had a kind word to say to me and lots of advice…advice I took to heart and still, to this day hold onto. Although I’m no longer in radio (voice work, sometimes), and have my first book due in July of 2009, his advice still rings true. One of the things he told when I left KISW to head onto bigger and better things was; “Always, ALWAYS be true to yourself. Always!”
Steve…I listened then and I’m still listening. Always.
Audrey Watters Holden
Sad news, indeed. I first met Steve in Spring 1976, when we worked together at CHUM Radio Winnipeg (specifically, rocker cum AC “Stereo94 CHIQ” now CURVE) where 1050 legend Bob Laine, then station GM, had hired the both of us. I was still a teenager, it was my 3rd radio gig, but my first stint away from home in Windsor/Detroit. And Steve immediately befriended me, made my transition easier and based it on mutual respect, he would emphasize.
We spent many, many late nights together in my humble bachelor abode, listening to vinyl, live radio, airchecks, analyzing & expounding on it all. He expressed himself with great emotion on many occasions. He was a caring guy. On air, Steve always impressed me/everyone with his exceptional delivery skills, in particular, his creative bent; he could transform simple live pre-sells to include multiple character voices that sounded pre-recorded…I will be pulling out some of those airchecks this weekend to remind myself of his enormous talent and now our loss. Teary eyes, for certain…
Although in recent years we’d fallen out of regular contact, I had continued to work with Steve through most of his career moves to Montreal, Toronto, back to Wpg., NYC, Seattle, Vancouver, etc.. Not surprisingly, his next step was always upward, as he became more respected & eventually revered & sought after, for all the right reasons. Incidentally, Steve’s real name is Neil Hiltz, and was never Neil Young to my knowledge. He was a gifted communicator, thrived on knowledge, and loved to synergize with other broadcast gurus (to become one), conveying whatever the topic passionately, with expert wisdom. Ultimately, to the majority of us, Steve is a solid reminder of how “great radio” came to be regarded as such.
He will most certainly be missed.
However, his legacy lives on. ~B
Steve was one of the true good guys and a great radio professional. He was always there for his friends and always remembered his roots. He will be greatly missed.
Nice words from some great friends. Jim Johnston and I have put up a fadebook site to collect pictures, thoughts, memories, audio, video etc..
Any friends of Steve are weloome to browse (no log in required, just if you want to post something)
Thank you all. Bob Saint
In Memory of Steve – My Friend, Forever….
It’ll be a year tomorrow that Steve left us, but only 8 months since I learned of his sudden passing, and it still feels so fresh and raw. In typical Steve Young fashion, he was going to let me know about his death on his terms, and so it was. I stumbled upon an old radio friend on April 8th, exactly 4 months after Steven’s passing. When I brought up Steve’s name, my friend informed me that Steve had died. I thought he was talking about someone else, but no, it was Steve Young in Seattle. I thought I was going to die when I heard those words. Steve, you came to me in a dream in a dark jacket, and I wondered what the heck the significance of the jacket was, until I read an online comment from someone who said you were nicknamed and known as “the jacket”. When I read that, I just about fell off my chair. (I can just hear you laughing out loud in that boisterous, infectious laugh of yours). That dream and reading that comment was confirmation that you came to me. I miss you so much my dear friend….you have no idea. I miss our long phone chats, your advice, your laughter, your voice…and quirky psychological diversions. (No ant or spider will ever see the light of day now that I have 3 off spring. Now I know you’re laughing uncontrollably). I think of you often, and when I do, my heart aches and I feel this deep, profound sadness because I know I can’t just pick up the phone and call you…and it kills me. I know you’re watching over us…and I know you’re ok. I miss you so much I’d do anything to see you just one more time. Now I know why we spoke so much in the fall of ’08 and why I had this nagging feeling to tell you how much you meant to me and how grateful I was to have you in my life. I am so glad that I at least had that time with you. You know how I feel. No one will ever take your place in my heart. You were an amazing person and made the world a better place because you cared so much. Missing you, always. Rest in peace dearest friend.