David Hawkins, 40, an associate producer with Chicago radio station WGCI-FM, died in his sleep Saturday at a friend’s home.
Mr. Hawkins, who was known as “Disco Dave,” had been a radio personality with the urban music station for six years, said Velma Brazelton, station vice president and director of personnel.
“Dave just did so many things at the station,” Brazelton said.
He started out doing miscellaneous jobs that eventually led to the position of on-air “sidekick” on the station’s “Rap Down” program, which aired from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays, Brazelton said.
On Friday, he was named most valuable person at the station for October, officials said.
Mr. Hawkins was a native of the South Side and graduated from Lindblom Technical High School. Before he joined the station, he held a number of different jobs, said his brother, Peter.
“He was just a very happy, friendly person,” Peter Hawkins said. “He really liked his job, and radio just fit his personality because he was so outgoing.”
“Dave was someone that was excited about being a contributor to the success of the radio station, and he will surely be missed,” said WGCI program director Elroy Smith.
“On the Saturday night show, he created his own little niche. Listeners knew him for a couple of his sayings-`And you know it’ and `On support’-that you could hear him say in the background,” he said.
The cause of Mr. Hawkins’ death is undetermined, and autopsy results are pending, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Other survivors include his parents, Ruth and Carlos, and a sister, Judy Carson.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Carter Funeral Home, 2100 E. 75th St., where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday.
