Charles Osgood, a longtime CBS broadcaster, has died at the age of 91

CNN
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Former CBS journalist Charles Osgood, an award-winning journalist known for his work in radio and television, died Tuesday at his home in New Jersey, CBS News reported. mentioned. He was 91 years old.

Osgood was anchor of the network's revered “CBS Sunday Morning” show from 1994 to 2016, succeeding original host Charles Kuralt. For decades, he also hosted a daily news commentary series for CBS News Radio called “The Osgood File.”

Osgood said he never liked to think of television being just for ratings, but rather being involved in something people loved.

“I think the CBS Sunday Morning show has been successful because the people who watch it aren't watching it to see how much it can shock or upset them, but they're watching it to see what — you know, what's going to be great,” Osgood told CNN in a previous interview. “It's interesting and maybe… Inspiring, that's what we're trying to do.”

In his nearly 50-year tenure at CBS — 22 years on “CBS Sunday Morning” alone — Osgood cemented his legacy by continuing the tradition of oral storytelling, and his predecessor Kuralt described him as “one of the last Great radio broadcasters. Osgood's published books and poems, his talent for music and his distinctive ties evoke memories that extend beyond his days in news.

And the show was Top-rated Sunday morning news program on television when Osgood stepped down, and its growth was a marvel when many other shows shrank.

While his time on television brought him great fame, Osgood emphasized that he considers himself a radio man. His famous recording line was proof of this: “For me, I'll see you on the radio.”

“I never considered myself a TV guy who happened to be in radio. I was a radio guy who happened to do a TV show,” Osgood said.

Osgood took his love of poetry and sometimes delivered “Osgood's file” in rhymed verse. His unique style has earned him the title of CBS News' resident poet.

“I never took a radio course or a journalism course when I went to school,” Osgood once said. “At Fordham, I majored in economics, so, in a way, I learned through my job, and since I don’t know how to do it right, I do it any way I can think of.”

His creative storytelling style has earned Osgood awards, including five Emmy Awards, one for Lifetime Achievement in 2017, a George Foster Peabody Award and many more.

In addition to being an on-air guy, Osgood had another great passion: music. Osgood, who sometimes played piano on the show, owned three Steinway pianos, he told an audience on his recent CBS Sunday Morning show.

He even had a Top 40 hit in 1967, “Galant Men.” It reached number 29, one spot above “Wild Thing”.

In addition to the piano, Osgood can play the organ, banjo, and fiddle. He also found success as a composer and lyricist.

He shared the stage, both at CBS and elsewhere, with the New York Pops, the Boston Pops, and the Mormon Choir, according to CBS.

This is a developing story and will be updated.