Rock Radio Scrapbook

Airchecks: 1988

Talent: STEVE O'BRIEN
Station: WCBS-FM New York
Date: February, 1988
Time: 16:57

Imagine ... '50s and '60s music on an oldies station. And oldies stations that actually mentioned the word oldies. It actually used to happen that way. And we have proof.

OK, we're exaggerating somewhat. But oldies stations are definitely an endangered species these days. Each year more drop from the picture, and we are left with - well - memories and airchecks.

The oldies were certainly alive and well at WCBS-FM in 1988. With a lineup that included the talents of Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Bill Brown, Bob Shannon, Cousin Brucie, Bobby Jay and Don K. Reed - plus the great music of the '50s on up - it was truly the "gold standard" of oldies radio.

In February, 1988, Steve O'Brien was filling in for vacationing mid-morning man Ron Lundy on WCBS-FM.

Enjoy O'Brien here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: JOHN RODE & FRIENDS
Station: CKEY Toronto
Date: March 15, 1988
Time: 5:19

(Chart scan courtesy Bill Dulmage)

Now here's a story with a twist or three.

In 1969, Don Daynard left the morning show at CKFH after two years of waking up audiences at 1430. His replacement was John Rode, fresh from a midday position at WRKO in Boston. In both instances, their chief Top 40 competitor in morning drive was CHUM's Jay Nelson.

From CKFH, Daynard went to CFRB in swing and weekends, before moving to CKFM in 1975 for a 12-year stint there.

As for Rode, he moved to CHUM in 1970 (where his show followed Nelson's for a while). He later went to Q-107, signing on the station in fact in 1977.

Nelson, meanwhile, left CHUM in 1980, went to CKFM in middays in 1982 (following Daynard's shift) and by 1987 was doing morning's at CKEY.

Well, Nelson left CKEY in '87, eventually heading to CJEZ. His morning shift went to Rode. But guess who was also considered for the morning show?

Daynard, of course. He wound up at CHFI-FM where he is still on weekends. Rode later did fill-in work on CHUM (on Nelson's old morning time slot, by the way.) Nelson died in 1994.

Radio, it's a small world.

To enjoy John Rode, click here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: GORD ROBSON
Station: CHED Edmonton
Date: April 5, 1988
Time: 13:20

"He loved radio, beer and women. In that order." - Rob Christie

From his teen years to an age when many think of retirement, Gord Robson was on the radio.

Born September 9, 1951 in Lethbridge, Alta., Gordon S. Robison started his jocking career right out of high school at CKXL Calgary in 1968. For the next four decades, Robson (his name is spelled Robison on some radio station charts) worked at many of Canada's leading hit music stations, including CFOX Montreal, CKGL Vancouver, CHED, CHQT, CKNG-FM and CKRA-FM Edmonton, CHAB Moose Jaw, Sask., and CFRV (The River) Lethbridge, Alta. He was a personality jock, and a good one.

Robson died March 21, 2008 at his home in Edmonton, just a week after being let go from his final gig at CHQT. Robson, who had serious health issues late in life, was 56.

Shortly after Robson's passing, fellow announcer and Rob Christie wrote this wonderful tribute to his long-time friend:

"A lifelong friend of mine passed away, unexpectedly, on Good Friday. His name was Gord Robson. If you grew up in Edmonton in the 70's and you listened to 630 CHED, as half the city did, you'll recognize his name as a member of the legendary on-air lineup in that station's Top 40 days. It was an era when radio personalities were larger than life.

Gord's 40-year career took him across Canada. I first met him at CFOX, Montreal's fabled Top 40 Station, in the early 70's. He loved radio, beer, and women. In that order. We hit it off immediately. And, we made a deal. He would teach me everything he knew about voicing commercials (he was one of the best) and I would teach him how to bridge the communication gap with French-Canadian girls. I have to admit he was a quicker study than I was. Our destinies would be intertwined from then on.

In the early days of my career, when U-Haul was on my speed dial, it was Gord Robson who helped me land a job at CKXL in his hometown of Calgary. When he left CHED on a 3-month backpacking honeymoon through Europe with his new wife Audrey, he recommended that I succeed him in the evening slot following Bob McCord. In the early 90's, it was Gord who suggested I submit a tape to the International Radio Festival of New York. Our morning crew would go on to win a Gold Medal at that competition. A true friend is someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself. In an industry where success is often greeted with envy and jealousy, Gord was that rare individual who actually delighted in his friends' accomplishments.

Our careers took different paths, but we remained in touch through the decades. I've always thought Gord was too nice a guy for this business and its cruel, cold-blooded side. Ironically, he was happiest when he was on the air, most recently at 880 COOL, Edmonton. But, with his health failing badly, even that was becoming a chore.

My wife Diane & I had Gord and mutual friend Seanna Collins over for dinner a month ago. Gord was only 56 years old, but time and battling addiction had taken their toll. He looked much older than his years. Still, we had a wonderful night, laughing at the pictures Seanna had brought over, recalling the Golden Years at 630 CHED and other famed stations which Gord had graced with his trademark smooth delivery. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of the many young broadcasters he mentored along the way, and who crack the mike and remember,“ Gord Robson taught me that...”

I can count on the fingers of one hand the genuine friends I have made in broadcasting and Gord Robson was at the top of that list. You'll always be in my heart old friend. And, for the selflessness that was a hallmark of your character, the kindness you were always quick to show, and your unwavering loyalty, a heartfelt thank you. It was an honour to call you my friend. See you in the big studio in the sky."

Thanks, Rob, for giving us permission to use that!

Enjoy Gord Robson on CHED here.

More 1988 airchecks here!

(Courtesy Ted Wendland, radiowest.ca)

Be sure to visit radiowest.ca, an excellent radio site hosted by Ted Wendland. Airchecks, jingles, photos, logos, history and forums,  radiowest.ca has it all. Rock Radio Scrapbook says thanks Ted for sharing this aircheck.

Talent: DEAN HAGOPIAN
Station: CJFM Montreal
Date: April 17, 1988
Time: 6:14

When Dean Hagopian refers to "Half Past Midnight", he could be talking about his singing career - or giving a time check.

Before his days as the legendary "Dean of Montreal" on 1470 CFOX, Hagopian was the lead singer for the "Staccatos" in 1963 and 1964. Hagopian left the group before "Half Past Midnight" was released in 1966, but it's likely he played it on his show a few times in his career. The Staccatos went on to international fame and fortune as the Five Man Electrical Band.

Hagopian was at CFOX in the late '60s and early '70s and later moved to CJFM where he did the "Solid Gold Show."

Rock Radio Scrapbook presents Dean Hagopian here.

(The John Kordis Collection)

For more Montreal airchecks, visit The Mais Oui Files

(Graphic courtesy Bill Dulmage)

Talent: CHIP DOUGLAS
Station: WGKT Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: August 15, 1988
Time: 6:23

How many have you have ever wanted to program your own radio station? Well, a couple of Buffalo oldies buffs got their chance in 1988 and while it didn't last for long, they did achieve a dream. It's a fascinating story told to me by Jim Duffey, one of the men who got it started.

Back in the mid-1980s, these two oldies buffs - the other was Tom Schere - got the idea to produce a bunch of oldies tapes for a potential oldies station at 1400kc. (a third person, the late Bud Ralabate, was also involved but not necessarily with the tapes.) Encouraged by the support of Harv Moore at sister FM station WPHD, Duffey and Schere put in countless recording sessions at the studios of another Western New York station.

After about a year of recording hundreds of oldies familiar and not, they presented their tapes to WPHD, only to be told by the engineer there they were unsuitable for broadcast! So these two very dedicated individuals constructed their own studio, then produced the tapes all over again! This time WPHD deemed them suitable for broadcast and the new station at 1400kc went on the air August 15, 1988. The call letters - WGKT - stood for Gold Karat.

The station only had one live deejay - Chip Douglas in morning drive - the rest of the music programming was from the tapes. The wide and deep selection of music was incredible. FM 108 program director Norman B. - who knew just about every song recorded in the rock era - admitted that sometimes they played songs that even he didn't recognize. Now, that's digging deep into the charts!

WGKT played the oldies until the fall of 1989, when the station changed format to heavy metal (!). But it was nice while it lasted.

Rock Radio Scrapbook remembers WGKT's first day with Chip Douglas here.

(The Jim Duffey Collection)

Talent: ROGER, RICK and MARILYN
Station: CHUM-FM Toronto
Date: September 28, 1988
Time: 8:54

Teamwork paid off at CHUM-FM.

One of the most successful morning teams in Canadian broadcasting history, Roger (Ashby), Rick (Hodge) and Marilyn (Denis) were together at the Toronto station for 22 years.

Ashby took over the CHUM-FM morning show in September, 1985 after many years as a jock at CHUM-AM. Hodge was already there; he had been a sportscaster at CHUM-FM since 1974. Denis joined the morning crew in June, 1986 having previously worked in radio in Moscow, Idaho and CJAY-FM Calgary, and in television at CFCN-TV Edmonton and TSN.

The team broke up in 2008 when Hodge left for CFRB. Darren Lamb replaced Hodge and the morning show became Roger, Darren and Marilyn.

Hear Roger, Rick and Marilyn from 1988 here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

Talent: RAY D'ARIANO
Station: WNBC New York
Date: October 6, 1988
Time: 24:09

Many people know the story of the demise of WNBC in 1988. But now - to borrow a line from Paul Harvey - here's the rest of the story ... as Ray D'Ariano tells Rock Radio Scrapbook how he became the last deejay to do a rock 'n' roll radio show on AM radio in New York:

"In the mid-'80s, I was writing for and performing comedy on the Jay Thomas Show on WKTU. Dale Parsons, PD at WNBC, asked me if I'd perform the same functions for the new Soupy Sales Show on WNBC and we struck up a deal. I became his sidekick and we were on ten to three between Imus in the morning and Howard Stern.

We did the show for a couple of years and then Howard was fired. A short time later, management decided not to renew Soupy's deal and kept me as midday host.

In 1988, after 66 years, the parent company decided to get out of the radio business. The actual final day of the station was October 7, 1988, but on the day before we all did our last full-length show. This aircheck is from that day.

Having grown up in New York, I heard every record I played that day on WABC, WINS and WMCA spun when they were current hits by Dandy Dan Daniel, Murray the K, Scott Muni, B. Mitchell Reed, Mad Daddy and all those classic jocks. All those stations had long since stopped playing music, and I found myself playing those tunes for the last time on AM radio in New York."

Enjoy Ray D'Ariano here.

(The Ray D'Ariano Collection)

Visit Ray's great web site at www.areuonsomething.com

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