11 Facts About Arch McKirdy

Arch McKirdy was an Australian radio broadcaster, voice trainer, mentor and executive, who was best known for his evening jazz program Relax with Me, "Australia's most popular radio program" in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Arch McKirdy's parents were Archibald William McKirdy, Senior and Jessie Isabel Chadwick.

Arch McKirdy's father ran country dances and encouraged his son to play the drums and guitar.

In 1964 Arch McKirdy was persuaded by the broadcasting executive Clement Semmler to bring his jazz program from the commercial station over to the ABC.

From 1962 Arch McKirdy concurrently worked as the lead compere, under the name of "Uncle Mac", of ATN-7's children's television program, the Captain Fortune Show and in a similar role on the successor program, The Land of Make Believe.

Arch McKirdy performed a similar role at the Australian Film and Television School, where people he trained included Ian Henschke.

Arch McKirdy was variously called a "magnificent jazz compere" and "a discerning and reliably informed jazz broadcaster".

Margaret Throsby recalled that "Arch McKirdy's program was a fixture: at 10 o'clock at night everyone would start listening to Relax with Me".

Arch McKirdy was a master of the medium having the easy confidence of one who has made the time, the moment, his own and he knew his subject and somehow gave the impression of having left the ego behind.

Arch McKirdy was married twice: first, to Frances with whom he had three sons, Grant, Mark and John, and second, to Margaret with whom he had a daughter, Megan.

Arch McKirdy died on 26 August 2013 at the age of 89.