'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' pushed the boundaries of network television in the '60s -- and was canceled before its contract was over.
"Life wasn't fair to you, that I know," her sister Angel wrote in a tribute.
"We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together," the country group, which now goes by The Chicks, wrote.
The Bronx native joined the Santa Monica-based public radio station in 1977 when it had five employees and the oldest transmitter west of the Mississippi.
Ladd was the inspiration for Tom Petty's "The Last DJ."
"Happy memories, rock in peace Colin," the legendary rock band wrote.
The artist was performing at a private event in Bahia when he collapsed onstage.
The singer had recently been hospitalized with encephalitis.
The 1971 hit was her first single for Stax Records.
The industrial rock band confirmed that their founding member died after suffering a stroke.
