“Al was a gem of a gentleman, a special person, and the best of the best with his craft,” said Ken Thiele, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Skyview Networks. “His broadcast style made the Phoenix Suns a must-listen for generations of fans. Al will be sorely missed, and I am grateful for the friendship I had with him through the years.”
Jeanne-Marie Condo, President of Network Partnerships and Chief Revenue Officer of Skyview Networks stated, “Al McCoy was kind and genuine in every sense. It was an honor to work with him and the Phoenix Suns over the course of my career at Skyview Networks and KTAR. The respect and trust for Al across the NBA distinctively helped Skyview grow and evolve in the industry, and our gratitude is beyond measure. Al stood out as an Arizona fan-favorite and was a true treasure with his ‘Shazam!’ radio call. He was a man of integrity, treating colleagues and partners with the highest of professional standards. His warm and welcoming style made working together a distinctive experience. He will be dearly missed; his legacy will live on as we emulate his exceptional standard.”
Skyview Networks’ Vice President, News, Jeff Scott, shared additional memories of Al’s close involvement with Skyview, explaining “For several years, Al anchored a morning sportscast that was enthusiastically carried by many of our Arizona News affiliates. In all those years, I never heard him slip up or need a redo. He was flawless every single day. Over time, Ken and I developed a tradition of going to lunch with Al each year before the start of the NBA season, a tradition we continued this past year after his retirement. He had plenty of thoughts about the broadcast business and the important role that radio has always played in the lives of so many. I will miss him greatly and all that he brought to the incredible world of sports radio.”
In his 51 years as “The Voice of the Suns,” Al McCoy received multiple accolades for his legendary contributions to broadcasting, including being the first play-by-play announcer inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. Additionally, he earned the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and in 2017, became the 15th person inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor.
Al McCoy was a fundamental pillar to sports radio and Arizona broadcasting, and his legacy will be deeply remembered.
About Skyview Networks
Skyview Networks is an audio technology, syndication and network audio sales solutions company based in Scottsdale, Arizona that has been serving the broadcast space for nearly 30 years. With more than 13,900 radio affiliate relationships, its nationwide coverage reaches over half of all Americans each week. Skyview’s industry-leading services are utilized by major media companies, leading consumer brands, world-class entertainers, professional and collegiate sports organizations, and state news networks. For more information, visit skyviewnetworks.com and follow @SkyviewNetworks.
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