Bill Armstrong, the executive and music producer who helped bring FM radio to Australia, has died. He passed away on Friday 7 August at the age of 97.
Career spanning seven decades
His career stretched over more than seven decades, starting in post-war Melbourne across recording, broadcasting, studio technology and music preservation. In 1949 he founded his own firm Bill Armstrong Sound and throughout the 50s, he issued Australian jazz recordings via independent labels while working in radio production for the ABC.
Bill was also behind the public address system at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. He later moved into the record business and collaborated with artists including pianist and composer Graeme Bell and folk group The Seekers at W&G Records.
Armstrong Studios and FM radio licence
In 1965, he launched Armstrong Studios alongside English recording engineer Roger Savage, which became one of the most significant recording facilities in Australian music, reports the Express. He worked with stars such as Russell Morris, Daddy Cool, You're the Voice singer John Farnham, Skyhooks and Graham Kennedy and at its height, Bill Armstrong Sound was credited with recording a large portion of Australian chart music.
Bill turned his skills to radio in the late 1970s and successfully secured one of Melbourne's first commercial FM radio licences. This licence led to Australia's first commercial FM radio station, EON-FM, which started broadcasting on 92.3 FM in Melbourne on 11 July 1980. This was during a time when AM radio ruled the airwaves, and he served as managing director from the start until it was sold to the company behind Sydney's Triple M in 1986.
Tributes and legacy
Bill was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015. Despite this he remained humble and in his final interview with Australian Musician he said: "I didn't do anything on my own. I had great teams of people, which I'm grateful to."
Tributes have poured in for him and one fan wrote on Facebook: "Sadly, Bill Armstrong has died. Age 97. Where to begin. A lifelong love and commitment to recording, jazz, radio and family." "We'll see plenty of accolades and tributes. He touched so many and was a wonderfully humble, quiet achiever...Condolences to Bill's wonderful family." Another added: "Very sad news, without Bill the evolution of Australian music would look very different RIP Bill," as a third chimed in: "Very sorry to know that Bill Armstrong has died. Legendary sound recording man."
