For decades the dulcet tones and eclectic tunes of Lee Harvey were the soundtrack to island life in Bermuda.

The renowned deejay and radio personality had listeners running for the on switch on their radios to hear his trademark “I’m back” catchphrase, slick wit and wide-ranging record collection.

He was also known for his snappy dress sense and a tireless as well as meticulous work ethic in the studio.

Mr Harvey, a father of two, passed away at the weekend in Bermuda at the age of 71 prompting friends and colleagues to pay tribute to a popular and respected radio stalwart who was also a member of the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Friend and union colleague Molly Burgess hailed Mr Harvey as a man who “knew his community”.

“He understood music and he could draw people in,” Ms Burgess said. “He could make a show about any kind of music.

“Lee worked with some great personalities and everything he ended up doing turned to gold.

“He was not just a deejay but a real radio personality. On behalf of the BIU I would like send our condolences to his family and thank them for sharing him with us.”

Winston JR Jones, who worked with Mr Harvey for more than a decade at ZFB, told The Royal Gazette Mr Harvey was an “exceptional talent”.

“He was a complete natural at what he did,” said Mr Jones.

“He had a memory like an elephant and was extremely personable.

“He loved people and he knew how to please them with the music he put together.

“He had a love of all music and as a result the audience was a real mix.

“Lee and Cy Hall were the first real superstars of the station, and he was perhaps the greatest radio personality we as a country developed.”

Mr Harvey started his radio career at ZFB when the station was based on the North Shore and he went on to work for both ZBM as well as VSB.

He was well known for his immaculate dress sense complete with briefcase that was always finished off with a pair of plain white sneakers, while his Sunday afternoon show was a must-hear for thousands of Bermudian families who tuned in to listen to him.

Longtime friend Ira Philip described Mr Harvey as “an ambitious and industrious youth who became an integral member of the team of Montague Shepard’s ZFB radio station that revolutionised broadcasting in Bermuda”.

“He was talented and proved to be a good back-up personality to the big leaguers like Marlene Butterfield-Landy, Percy Paynter, and Michael Corbin, to mention a few,” Mr Philip said.

“Eventually he earned his own on-air placement.

“He was neat, friendly and reliable with a smooth and distinct voice which was well recognised.

“His good fortune was that as a youth, he was in residence close to the original ZFB Radio station on Mount Hill and was often in and out of the station. He was my good friend.”

Keevil “The Captain” Burgess described Mr Harvey as the “classic radio personality”.

He said: “Lee knew his music. He touched many folk, many lives and was a very, very popular man.”

Radio presenter Mike Sharpe added: “Lee ‘I’m back’ Harvey was one of the most popular radio announcers on ZFB 960.

“He followed the gospel man George Smith from 10am to 2pm and was the first Bermudian to introduce calypso to radio in those days.

“He left and always returned to ZFB down by the sea on North Shore hence his nickname “I’m back”.

Former work colleague Brian Lodge told The Royal Gazette : “He was a nice guy, easy-going and he did his thing.

“Lee was always committed to his work, he was well known and well-liked.”