Month: June 2009
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Another passing: Terry Black at 60
Back in the British Invasion days a young Vancouver singer took the city by storm. His name was Terry Black and he was discovered by Buddy Clyde on CHAN-TV’s teen show Dance Party. Through some connections, Buddy was able to get the attention of Lou Adler from Dunhill Records, the same label that the Mamas…
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A month of goodbyes
It has been a trying month with the passing of sportscaster Ted Reynolds, ace announcer Al Jordan and musician/businessman Arnie Nelson. I was one of the many speakers at Arnie’s tribute. It was nice to see so many media people in attendance. Many had worked with Arnie during his career: former CKNW General Manager Bill…
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Chantal Kreviazuk visits
I was honored to be emcee for a recent appearance by Chantal Kreviazuk at the Kay Meek Theatre in West Vancouver. It was a benefit concert for the centre and for youth with ambitions in the creative arts field. Chantal is one of the warmest entertainers I have met in years. She honestly cares about…
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Friends say “goodbye” to Al Jordan
Saturday June 20 at the old Spencer mansion near Jericho Beach, a gathering of radio personalities came to pay tribute to one of the industry’s own, Al Jordan. It was a bright sunny day and friends and family were out in force. It was wonderful to see Al’s wife Donna on hand. Donna was accompanied…
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Reditorial: A Matter Of Opinion
I really enjoyed Rodger Harding‘s recent article in Broadcast Dialogue magazine: “I cannot count how often I hear the words appropriate and inappropriate. If inappropriate is interpreted as anything that might offend others, then I guess it would be safe to say that anything extreme, strongly worded, risque, contentious, ambiguous etc. would be included.” Rodger…
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Chad and Jeremy at the “Red”
It was a great night at the Red Robinson Show Theatre with a part of the famous British Invasion taking to the stage. Chad and Jeremy appeared with The Searchers and it was quite a show. It was also one of the longest in the theatre’s young history as the show didn’t end until 11pm.…
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Ventures founder Bob Bogle dies, 75
Bob Bogle – the co-founder of legendary Tacoma garage-rock band The Ventures and the architect behind the distinctive guitar sound of early hits Walk, Don’t Run and Perfidia – has died. Bogle, a resident of Vancouver, Wash., was 75 when he died on Sunday. He suffered from non-Hodgkins lymphoma and became too frail to play…
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Arnie Nelson signs off
Photo courtesy Vancouver Radio Museum and Brian Walks Just the other day I received word that Arnie Nelson had passed away. Arnie was only a kid when he worked for CKNW. He appeared on many of the old “live” radio shows of the Forties and Fifties and was well known as a steel guitar player…
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Reditorial: TV Crybabies
Lately we have been inundated with TV networks asking us to Save Local Television. But what are the facts? Only a handful of corporations own most of the media in this country. They neglect to tell you that corporate headquarters are in Toronto, or Montreal or Winnipeg. They fail to tell you how much “local”…
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Julio Iglesias at the “Red”
Julio Iglesias, honorary Colombian Consul Rosa Marshall, me. photo: Steven C. Pesant Julio Iglesias lived up to his reputation as a great Latin romantic when he appeared at the Red Robinson Show Theatre on May 30. He did not disappoint. The biggest applause came when he performed his hit, Of All The Girls I’ve Ever…