CHICAGO (AP) — Wally Phillips, the most listened-to Chicago radio host for two decades, has died. He was 82.

The longtime broadcaster, whose skillful blend of information and humor made him a pioneer of talk radio, died Thursday after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, according to WGN, where he spent 42 years.

Phillips dominated Chicago’s radio airwaves after taking over WGN’s morning show in 1965.

Mixing audience participation, public service and breaking news, his broadcast was the No. 1 morning show in Chicago from 1966 until he left to take over the afternoon program in 1986, according to WGN.

At the height of his popularity, he had an audience of nearly 1.5 million — about half the listeners in the Chicago area.