The BBC said Peel died of a heart attack Monday while vacationing in Peru with his wife.
Peel's program on BBC's Radio One was hugely influential on rock and pop for more than 30 years. He became known to a global audience on BBC's World Service and was often the first to play demos by little-known bands.
He promoted reggae, hip-hop and punk on the sometimes conservative broadcaster and championed acts like Jimi Hendrix.
Peel was born John Ravenscroft near Liverpool in 1939.
He began his broadcasting career in Dallas in 1961 as host of the “Kats Karavan" rhythm-and-blues show on the old WRR AM. He joined the BBC in 1967.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press.
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