The Akron Beacon Journal's Ohio.com reports Allen Saunders has died. 84-year-old Saunders, born Alvin L. Steinwedel, died Tuesday at Akron City Hospital following a brief illness

The paper reports, Saunders' "rich, deep voice was used for CNN identifications and promos when the all-news cable network was founded in 1980."

"Al had an astonishing array of talent," said David Lieberth who worked with Saunders for many years. "He could write as well as anyone in our newsroom. He had the 'voice of God' that got CNN off the ground."