It was a gathering of Victoria’s pioneer “garage” and rock and roll bands to salute new entries into the Victoria Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame. I was  there to induct Norm Pringle, the first deejay to play Rock and Roll in Victoria. Norm had a  teen show on then new CHEK TV and invited me on in 1957 as a guest. But our greatest association came when he came to Vancouver  to meet Elvis in 1957. He was at the press conference too.

The  Victoria music scene wisely chose him to be inducted into their Hall  of Fame. Norm, who is now in his early eighties, flew up from California with his wife Elsie to be on hand for the ceremony.  Many of Victoria’s finest musical entertainers were on hand for the occasion, which included the induction of Valdy into the hall as well. Valdy, like many musicians, lives on Saltspring Island. At the event I met up with my friend Mel Cooper who owned two of Victoria’s radio stations. We watched the ceremony together. We were both impressed with the emcee work of C-FAX morning man Al  Ferraby. I worked with Al years ago at CISL. He is not only a  great deejay, he is a fine singer.

This undoubtedly will be an  annual event. But, like most great ideas, kudos must go to the man who has driven this project, Glenn Parfitt. People like Glenn make things happen through hard work, passion and dedication to a  cause. It all started with the formation of the Royal City Music Project. You can find more information by going to their website. Again congratulations to all the winners.

Not many realize Norm’s part in making Peggy Lee’s Fever a huge international hit. In 1958, while visiting Los Angeles I stopped in to see Norm, who worked at Western Recorders. His job was to listen to all the TV variety shows and tape the audio for the Armed Forces Radio Network. While I was visiting him he asked if I had seen the L.A. Telethon the night before. Peggy Lee appeared and sang two songs: Jump for Joy and Fever. I listened to the tape and asked him if I could take  a copy home to Vancouver.

I played it on the air at CKWX and the phones went crazy. Within a week, demand for it was so strong Capitol Records in Toronto called  and asked  where I got it. I did not tell them. The next call  was from Marilyn Hammond at Capitol in Los Angeles.  She said, “Where did you get that Peggy Lee song?” She told me Peggy had never recorded it.  I wouldn’t tell her where I got it. She was excited because my radio show reached Seattle and of course the Toronto folks were under pressure to make it available too.

I said “Marilyn, why not get Miss Lee into the studio and record it? Obviously it will be a hit!”

And that is the history of Fever.