Beloved radio presenter Bill McGlaughlin has sadly died at the age of 82. The American broadcaster and composer – who won a Peabody Award for his work – was best known for hosting US public radio shows like Exploring Music and Saint Paul Sunday, but was also known as a famous conductor and composer for various symphony orchestras.

Over the years he had conducted for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Eugene Symphony, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the Kansas City Symphony. He later went on to host radio shows on NPR, PBS and the BBC.

Bill had two children from his first marriage, but later settled down with Grammy-nominated jazz singer Karrin Allyson in New York City.

He toured with Karrin and acted as co-producer on most of her CD releases before his death.

His partner Karrin announced the news of his death, writing on Facebook: “It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my beloved partner, Bill McGlaughlin.

“In this season of grief, I am grateful for your kindness, your prayers, and the privacy to honor a life deeply loved and forever remembered."

Tributes have flooded in for the star, with one of his former co-workers writing: “He was an immensely talented musical dynamo and one witty, wickedly naughty, charming, and charismatic dude that I felt privileged to have known and to have had the chance to work with on occasion back when we both were at Minnesota Public Radio.”

Someone else echoed: “Karrin, my heart goes out to you and Bill’s family. And his extended family: those whose lives he touched in big and countless small ways. I did not know Bill at all well, but every time we interacted or I was just around him, his gentleness and kindness and erudition and joy for music and life were evident.”

And another fan said: “Deepest sympathies, Karrin – my heart goes out to you and the family. For decades my own classical radio show immediately followed Exploring Music.”