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HIGH POINT — Jack Armstrong, a legendary DJ honored by Guinness World Records and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died Saturday at his home in High Point. He was 62.

Armstrong, born John C. Larsh, was a larger-than-life radio personality best known to Triad residents from his days at WMQX (93.1 FM) from 1997 to 2003, when the station was Oldies 93. But his rock DJ pedigree goes much deeper, spanning 47 years as a DJ that included emceeing gigs by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and receiving a number of gold records for hit songs he helped to break.

Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire of the "Brad and Britt in the Morning" show on WZTK (101.1 FM) said the industry has lost a giant who helped to define the rock 'n' roll era.

"He really exemplified that high-energy, frenetic style of '60s radio," Whitmire said. "He could go 90 miles an hour with his mouth and his brain, and he knew everything about rock music. If an alien came from outer space and you wanted to show them what a rock 'n' roll DJ looked like, you would bring them to Jack Armstrong."

Krantz said he remembered listening to Armstrong on WIXY (1260 AM) in Cleveland as a boy.

"I was 10 years old, and he just made a huge impression on me," Krantz said. "He seemed like the biggest star in the world to me then. The way some people feel when they hear the name 'Johnny Carson,' that's how important Jack Armstrong was. He was just right up there with Wolfman Jack and all those great original jocks in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

One of Armstrong's daughters, Devon Larsh Fischer, announced his death through a post on his MySpace page, where he communicated with fans and told stories of the glory days of rock radio.

"He loved being a DJ almost as much as he loved being a father, and that says a lot," Fischer wrote. "He put his blood, sweat and tears into both and never gave up what he believed in."

Look for more on this story in Thursday's News & Record.

Contact Joe Killian at 883-4422, Ext. 228, or joe.killian@news-record.com