Triple J legend who helped launch countless Australian artists dies as station celebrates 50th anniversary

The music industry is mourning the death of legendary Triple J music director Arnold Frolows who helped shape the sound of the alternative music.

Radio legend Arnold Frolows, who helped shape the sound of Australian music as the long-serving music director of Triple J, has died after a brief illness at 74.

The bon vivant and passionate music man died in a Mona Vale hospice in Sydney with his partner Christine King by his side, just three days before his 75th birthday and this week’s celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Triple J.

Frolows was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer a month ago.

He began his radio career as one of the first employees of fledgling youth station Double J at its inception in 1975, building its vinyl library and becoming a familiar voice on the airwaves as a presenter and producer.

With a keen ear for a hit, Frolows left Australia in the late 1970s to further his career in the music industry in the UK, landing a job as a talent scout for Richard Branson’s Virgin Records.

But he was back at Triple J in 1981 and built a cult following with his quietly resonant voice on the Sunday program Ambience which showcased the rise of ambient electronic music.

Frolows rose to the role of music director of the station and held the position until 2003, becoming the most important man in Australian music as the halcyon era of alternative music took hold and the youth network went national, significantly bolstering its power to make new chart stars.

Frolows with Def FX singer Fiona Horne at Triple J studios.

The lover of fine food and wine was courted by label executives, often over long lunches, to add the latest track from their artists or to introduce them to new signings; Triple J airplay could make or break careers during Frolows’ reign.

The music man wasn’t a fan of the “alternative” description of the music of the 90s as acts including Powderfinger, You Am I and Silverchair crossed over into mainstream success on the charts and commercial radio airwaves.

“Are Jebediah alternative? Is Powderfinger? The Living End? Magic Dirt? I have my doubts. The idea of alternative is about being an alternative to the Establishment,” he said in 2000.

“But the problem is that most of those bands become part of that Establishment by means of their success.

“To be honest, I avoid using the word ‘alternative’ to describe any of this music. I’m really not comfortable with the term at all. We used to call it indie and before that it was underground, which was probably the most accurate term.”

Frolows with then major label boss Ed St John. Picture: NCA

He often pulled double duties at the station, acting as the producer for the station’s wildly successful breakfast duo Mikey Robins and Helen Razer through the 90s.

Frolows was the subject of a raft of criticism in the early 2000s about being too old to program a youth music station but left of his own accord to 2003, handing to reins to Richard Kingsmill.

After indulging his passion project to unearth gems from the station’s vast live music catalogue of recordings, Frolows’ career went full circle when he was charged with helping to launch the Double J digital station, originally branded as Dig Radio in 2009.

He also was instrumental in getting the ABC Jazz and Country channels going.

As news of his death swept through the music industry, dozens of people paid tribute to the radio pioneer for his mentorship and support.