MR WEST SOUND DEAD
Radio legend Lou Grant died in a care home on Friday.
Lou, 83, is remembered as the “Voice of Ayrshire” and “absolute radio royalty”.
The dad- of- three was a Westsound presenter from launch day in 1981.
Friend John McCauley said: “He was really as far from most people’s idea of the slick DJ as you could get - folk loved him for it.”
He was about as far flung from a smooth radio presenter as you could get.
That’s why Ayrshire loved Lou Grant, who has died aged 83.
Former colleagues have been liningup to pay tribute to their hysterical friend Lou.
He was an entertainer before coming to the Westsound airwaves, even appearing at the London Palladium and touring America.
John McCauley, now breakfast king at Smooth Radio, said: “Lou indeed was The Voice of Ayrshire and I was so sad to hear of his passing.
“I remember Lou starting the way he meant to go on when, a wee bit nervous on his first show and prone to a slip of the tongue.
“He introduced himself on air as ‘ Lou West from Grant Sound.’
“That was in 1981 and he was about to make us laugh on the radio for many a year.
“He was really as far from most people’s idea of the slick DJ as you could get and folk loved him for it
“Lou was a great communicator and his love for Ayrshire and it’s people was obvious.
“He had worked all over the country and performed in America but was never happier than on the stage of The Gaiety in Ayr.”
Lou died in Mosswood Care Home, Linwood, on Friday, outliving his wife Margaret who died aged 74 in 2014. They had three children, Andrew, Lindsay and the late Ian, and grandchildren.
Mosswood has had at least three deaths from coronavirus and other residents had symptoms.
Lou’s warmth endeared him to all, and he had great rapport with regular guests on the “Mighty 290” including the Westsound gardener, butcher, antiques expert, and travel expert.
At his height he was on the morning slot, 9am till noon, with vast listener figures.
People in Glasgow were meant to be listening to their commercial licence holder Radio Clyde, many got hooked on Lou and his Ayrshire patter as the transmitter could hit the city.
The travel agent Willie Stewart said: “I had a travel programme with Lou every Thursday morning for several years.
“His laid back style at times belied that he was a top class radio presenter.
“I visited Lou for the second time about six months ago in the care home and found him in good spirits.”
He was born Louis Ritchie and attended Newtonhead Primary in Ayr and it quickly became evident that entertainment would be his game.
Lawyer Peter Lockhart broadcast for many years with Lou from Westsound’s HQ in Holmston Road.
Peter said: “Lou even appeared on the London Palladium and his contribution to Westsound was unbelievable.
“His show was a must and everyone loved Lou’s patter. He also had many a successful Panto at Ayr Gaiety and would tell some great and hilarious tales from his past.”
One joke, John McCauley remembers, was a favourite.
Man.. “Barman, has a lemon got legs?”
Barman.. “No”
Man..” Well, I’ve just squeezed yer canary into ma gin.”
On the radio Lou would always end his show with the words: “Stay warm, stay dry.”
But he also had his own jingle, which was: “I’m your morning, I’m your morning, I’m your morning man.
“Get out of bed you sleepy head and listen all you can.
“Every morning at the crack of dawn, my music’s coming through, my name is Lou, how do you do, I’m your morning man.”
The DJ Alan Shaw said Lou’s style appealed to his fan base, adding: “I worked with Lou for many years and he was a true professional, a brilliant entertainer who had such a great connection with listeners across Ayrshire.”
Lou loved Ayr’s pubs and sometimes after a wild night, Lou was a bit of a sleepy head himself.
Staff still remember when he turned up ever the professional, began the show and went outside to take the air.
He couldn’t remember the door code to get back in – and the song on the turntable kept repeating itself.
Others remember Lou building up his star guest Daniel O’Donnell so much, it seemed every woman in Ayrshire was outside.
Dianne Ross said: “There was a massive queue right down to the roundabout at the old Safeway.
“Staff at the station served up teas, coffees and soup to the hordes from the kitchen window.”
Another memorable moment was when a gunman murdered a man in Ayr and was on the loose.
He warned listeners: “Lock all your windows and doors and don’t go out.”
After his Westsound career was over he came back to the airwaves for a spell with Ayr Hospital’s Radio in 2013.
And at the age of 75, with his Ayr butcher friend Ricky Devine, they brought out an album in support of Help for Heroes.
The 24 big band tracks were the pair’s unique take on hits, including ‘ Little Ole Wine Drinker Me,’ ‘ The Gambler,’ ‘ Release Me’ and ‘ Only You.’
Perhaps those classics sum up his life rather well.
He was a wee bit nervous on his first show, prone to a slip of the tongue and introduced himself as Lou West from Grant Sound DJ John McCauley