Jim Nayder

Deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Nayder, a 36-year veteran of Chicago Public Radio, and the creator, host and producer of "The Annoying Music Show" and "Magnificent Obsession: True Stories of Recovery." He was 59.

He was found in his Rogers Park apartment Friday. Cause of death is not known.

In an interview last year on the 20th anniversary of "Magnificent Obsession," Nayder told me it was the true passion of his career. Although he held a variety of jobs at WBEZ 91.5 FM — from program director to Peabody Award-winning documentary producer — none meant more to him than his work on the weekly program that spotlighted one person's battle with alcohol or drug addiction, told in his or her own words.

A lifelong Chicagoan, Nayder was born into radio: His parents met at WLS 890 AM while performers on "The National Barn Dance," where his mother was a yodeling dancer and his father a guitar player.