Late American broadcaster Larry King was probably one of the most prolific in his field, with a career that spanned six decades.

King passed on January 23rd in Mount Cedars Sinai hospital, Los Angeles.

 

It’s estimated that King, a 25-year veteran of CNN, conducted an estimated 50,000 on-air interviews during his career. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.

 

Since his demise lots of people around the world including Nigerian celebrities have mourned his death, extolling his several admirable qualities as a broadcaster

 

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu wrote;

“Best interviewing advice I ever heard came from Larry King; ‘I always try to ask my questions in just one sentence. It’s never about me’.”

That’s a tweet from me in 2014. Captured who he was. It was always about the interviewee for him and that’s who I keep striving to be. He was my one and only role model on television.

 

For Bolanle Olukanni, Larry King was her first and biggest inspiration

“My first introduction to interviewing was watching Larry King Live with my dad.” she wrote. “Even as a young woman, I was enthralled by his ability to get honest and reflective answers from his interviewees. His interview style was second to none, combined with his ability to be gracious and to connect with people from across all walks of life. He inspired me to become a talk show host. There will never be another Larry King. He will surely be missed.”

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Stephanie Busari, Nigerian reporter with CNN wrote;

“Larry King was the king of interviewers. And a great interview is essential for any journalist. He was simply one of the world’s greatest interviewers. He taught me a lot about mastering your craft. 

I learned from him not to show off with the questions, we are not the experts as journalists, we are there to elicit information from those in the know, and Larry did that with great aplomb. He was a great listener and that’s is one of the hallmarks of a great interviewer. Listen to learn, not to respond. That way the conversation flows and your interviewee lets their guard down and you get quality information. It’s a cliche, but they really don’t make ’em like him anymore. Rest in peace Larry King, you were a legend.”

 

Larry King started off his career as a local Florida journalist and radio interviewer in the 1950s and 1960s. He shot to limelight in 1978 as host of The Larry King Show, an all-night nationwide call-in radio program heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System from 1985 to 2010.

 

He also interviewed several musicians in his career, some who ordinarily would not grant interviews. King’s professionalism and astuteness made him a favourite of many musicians.

 

From Diana Ross to The Beatles, check out some of the most iconic interviews the screen king had in his career.

Tina Turner (1997)

Beyonce (2009)

Madonna (1999)

Prince (1999)

The Beatles’ Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr (2007)

Snoop Dogg

Lady Gaga (2010)

Mac Miller (2015)

 

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