Chuck "Buddy Holiday" Lay

Humble- Known from coast-to-coast by his stage name, "Buddy Holiday," Chuck Lay touched lives with his life's work in radio as the driving force and co-founder of Christian radio station KSBJ-FM in Humble, as well as a founding member of the Vocal Majority men's chorus; and through his music ministry. Mr. Lay died on Friday, September 8, 2017, after a long illness.

Born in 1930, in Center Ridge, Ark., he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948, serving four years in the Panama Canal Zone as a member of the U.S. Army Band.

In 1953, he embarked on his new career as a disk jockey. He served as program director for radio stations across the U.S., then masterminded the birth of KSBJ-FM in 1982, bringing Contemporary Christian music and a message of hope to the greater Houston and South Texas regions. He was a noted raconteur with a rich vein of stories, from introducing a young Elvis to Houston audiences, to co-writing pop hits with noted singer-songwriter Lee Hazelwood.

Chuck is survivied by his wife, Gloria; his children, Deborah Shaw, Steve Lay and April Kozak; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family will hold a private memorial, followed by a public celebration of his life and work in October, with 89.3 KSBJ. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that well wishers make a contributions to the KSBJ Educational Foundation.