One of the most popular and prolific talking book narrators, Roy Avers, died on Friday, November 13th, at the age of 82. Known for his emotive voice, Avers started narrating textbooks as a volunteer but was quickly redirected to the American Publishing House for the Blind (APH) to narrate fiction. Avers recorded his first talking book in 1971 and went on to record over 1750 titles for the National Library Service.

Avers was the first person to be awarded the prestigious Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award from AFB in 1990. He has also been honored by the Mississippi Blind and Physically Handicapped Library Service as their patrons’ favorite narrator as well as being described as “legendary” during an event in Illinois. A celebration of life was held at the American Printing House for the Blind on November 21, 2015.

When not narrating books, Avers was a computer consultant and businessman, who studied theater arts in college and sang bass with Louisville Opera. Avers once said that the best part of his job was getting to meet the people who read the books he narrated. His obituary adds, “His proudest moments and his most fulfilled time, however, were spent in his years as a Talking Book narrator for the American Printing House for the Blind. He loved going to work; he believed in the mission he supported. With over 1750 books in the Library of Congress, he has had and will have a positive, lasting impact on the blind and physically handicapped community for whom he recorded.”

If you haven’t gotten a chance to hear Mr. Avers in action, here is a list of titles that he reported as being among his favorite books to record.

Sample of titles narrated by Roy Avers in the TBP collection

Title: DEAR AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN
Author: CALDWELL, TAYLOR
DB 22303

Title: SEA WOLF
Author: LONDON, JACK
DB 22855

Title: PRINCE OF TIDES
Author: CONROY, PAT
DB 25248

Title: GREAT SANTINI
Author: CONROY, PAT
DB 30051

Title: ADVISE AND CONSENT
Author: DRURY, ALLEN
DB 38799 (BARD only)

Title: WINDS OF WAR
Author: WOUK, HERMAN
DB 56737

Title: WAR AND REMEMBRANCE: A NOVEL
Author: WOUK, HERMAN
DB 56764

Title: CHILD 44
Author: SMITH, TOM ROB
DB 67117

Title: RAVEN AND OTHER POEMS
Author: POE, EDGAR ALLAN
DB 69751