RIP Glenn Wheatley

Music legend Glenn Wheatley has died after contracting COVID-19. He was 74.

From his early years as bass player in the ‘60’s rock band, Masters Apprentices to becoming a music entrepreneur and manager of talent that included Little River Band and John Farnham – he was one of the first to look the part of a businessman up top, wearing a smart jacket, collar and tie above the belt with blue jeans below to denote his rock in trade.

Wheatley was also a pioneer of FM radio in Australia. And although Rod Muir is often credited with being the grandfather of FM, it is Wheatley who can claim ‘line honours’ for getting the first Australian FM station, EON in Melbourne, to air on 11^th July 1980.

In 2013 his consortium was the successful bidder for 92.7 MIX FM and 91.9 SEA FM (pictured with CD Rod Brice) on the Sunshine Coast. Mix FM breakfast presenter Caroline Hutchinson remembered her former boss in this heartfelt tribute on this morning’s show, saying he was “adored” by everyone in the radio station.

“We were all star struck, he knew everyone and told us how valued we were… Glenn, you changed all our lives and you will never be forgotten.”

In 2016 Glenn’s consortium bought 2CH for a reported $5.56 million, selling it in the midst of the pandemic for almost double what he and Oceania had paid for it four years ago.

It’s understood he had been in intensive care in a Melbourne hospital over recent weeks before his death.

Wheatley played bass guitar in the Masters Apprentices iconic radio tribute song Turn Up Your Radio.