Rock Radio Scrapbook

Airchecks: 1996-present

Talent: JOE DONOVAN
Station: WHAS Louisville, Ky.
Date: October 24, 1996
Time: 12:08

"The Friend You Can Depend On"

We're talking about Joe Donovan, who from 1977 to 1997 broadcast his iconic "Rock & Roll Revival" on the all-night show on WHAS Louisville. Thanks to the powerful 50,000-watt, clear channel WHAS signal, Donovan's show was heard in 38 states and four provinces. It was a sad day for many Donovan's fellow "Nighthawks" when did his final WHAS show on August 27, 1997 and his show was replaced by talk.

Donovan fans will remember the "Odd and Obscure Hour" at 3 a.m., 60 minutes of songs from the deepest parts of his musical archive. There was also "Name It and Claim It," with a prize to the listener who could match the artist's name to a portion of a song (Joe would actually mail out the song on cassette to the winner!) But perhaps best of all was Donovan's on-air personality - laid-back, relaxed and perfect for the all-night time slot (he also did Saturday Night Revival and Friday Night Revival Shows with much the same approach.)

Subject: THE NORMAN B. TRIBUTE
Station: CING-FM Burlington, Ont.
Date: March 2, 1997
Time: 46:29

(Photo courtesy Rob Muir)

FM 108 made our dreams come true.

For the listeners, it was a chance to hear the great oldies of the '50s and '60s again - with personality deejays - at a time when nobody else in southern Ontario was doing a similar oldies format.

For the announcers, it was a chance to go on the air, be themselves AND play the music they loved and respected. Many of them consider it the highlight of their career.

And for program director Norman B., it was the opportunity of a lifetime to program an oldies station in his own image. He used the opportunity well, producing one of the finest oldies stations imaginable.

FM 108 played oldies from the fall of 1978 to September 29, 1990. For much of that time, it was the only oldies station in southern Ontario, and it still holds the distinction of being Canada's only stand-alone oldies station on FM. Many people - including yours truly - had the pleasure of doing on-air music shows there. And many of the artists themselves appeared.

FM 108 switched format in the early '90s to dance music as Dance 108. Later it became Energy 108, a legendary station in its own right. It has since moved to 95.3 on the FM dial, with a country format.

Norman B. was production manager of Energy 108 when he died of a heart attack in the early hours of January 19, 1997. Two months later this tribute - co-hosted by long-time friends Bill Nagy and Mark Panopoulos - aired on the station that Norm built.

Hear the Norman B. Tribute here.

Read about Norman B. here.

Mark Panopoulos relates some funny moments at FM 108 here.

(The Mark Panopoulos Collection)

Talent: BOB SHANNON
Station: WCBS-FM New York
Date: June 14, 1997
Time: 7:06

Up until June, 2005, rock radio fans in New York could tune in to WCBS-FM any weekday afternoon and hear one of the truly great deejays of the era. His name is Bob Shannon and he entertained folks at WCBS-FM for two decades in afternoon drive.

Shannon's personable style and frequent use of historical elements made his show a delight. However, if you live outside the WCBS-FM listening area or have not visited New York you probably never heard him on WCBS-FM. Until now.

Enjoy Bob Shannon here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: DON K. REED
Station: WCBS-FM New York
Date: November 2, 1997
Time: 8:49

For 27 years, Don K. Reed's "Doo-Wop Shop" was a Sunday night institution at WCBS-FM. It was what sent it apart from your run-of-the-mill "Good Times, Great Oldies" station. But that history ended in 2002 with the cancellation of the program. The final show was on Aug. 25, 2002.

The history of Sunday night oldies in New York radio began in 1969 with Gus Gossert's oldies show on WCBS-FM. By 1971, Gossert was at WPIX-FM where he did a Doo-Wop show there. He died in 1976.

Rock historian and broadcaster Norm N. Nite did the "Nite Train" show on WCBS-FM on Sunday nights from 1973 to 1975. It wasn't strictly doo wop, but it was oldies. Then Don K. Reed took over the Sunday night slot in June of 1975 - renamed it the "Doo-Wop Shop" - and for more than a quarter-century played the great vocal groups of the '50s and early '60s. It was a popular show that found a niche with true blue fans of oldies, but moves by WCBS-FM to cut back on '50s music finally led to its demise.

Hear Don K. Reed with the "Doo-Wop Shop" here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: PUNCH ANDREWS with MARK CHAMPAINE
Station: Mix 99.9 (CKFM) Toronto
Date: 1997 or 1998
Time: 6:22

If a man could be measured by his friends, Chris "Punch" Andrews stood very tall indeed.

South Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont., - where Andrews spent his last days - said they've never seen a patient with so many friends and family. In addition, his Chris Andrews Support Posse Facebook page was filled with hundreds of messages of support from the many people whose lives he touched. Karen Steele, program director at MIX FM, writes "Punch had a tremendous heart and passion for radio. He absolutely LOVED everything about it..."

Andrews started in broadcasting in 1982 when, at just 17, he began an eight-year run as an on-air host at Cable 10 in Aurora, Ont. He also jocked at CKAN Newmarket, Ont., from 1986 to 1992 - mostly in evenings - while studying radio and television at Ryerson University. After that, he moved to AM 640 Toronto for a short time as a producer. Andrews' next stop was from 1992 to 1994 as an evening announcer at CFCY Charlottetown. In 1994, it was on to Toronto's MIX 99.9, where his 7 p.m.-midnight show grew to be number-one in its demographic and timeslot.

Andrews went on to host the popular "Saturday Night Party" MIX on MIX FM, and also did traffic reports for CFRB, EZ-ROCK and MIX FM. In 2000, he began teaching Communications Technology at Vaughn Secondary School in Thornhill, Ont., and was PD and technical director at the school's radio station, 90.7 RAV-FM.

Andrews' multi-faceted career also included stops at three other Ontario stations: HTZ-FM in St. Catharines, Rock 95 in Barrie and Z 103 in Brampton. He was also narrator for the show "Office Temps" on Global TV.

Andrews died March 30, 2008. He was 43 and suffered from lung cancer.

Enjoy Andrews - with Mark ChamPaine* - on Mix 99.9 here.

(The Larry Maxwell Collection)

*Better known as Mark Paine, he was Mark ChamPaine at Mix 99.9 and yes, that's how he spelled it!

Talent: TOM RIVERS
Station: TALK 640 (CHOG) Toronto
Date: April 3, 1998
Time: 12:27

Tom Rivers was more than a rock jock. He was also an entertaining talk show host.

After years as a Top 40 deejay all over North America, Rivers returned to Toronto to do a morning drive talk show on Talk 640 (CHOG). The show debuted in September, 1997 and lasted nearly two years, to August, 1999. It was a real treat for the many Rivers fans who had heard him previously at CHUM and CFTR. And in the process, he got to work with yet another popular Toronto broadcaster, newsman Larry Silver.

Silver appears on this aircheck as does the contributor of this clip, Kevin Waller (he's identified as Radio Kevin here.) And there's also a funny bit on the Progressive Conservative Party, whose leader Jean Charest had just announced he was leaving that post.

Enjoy Tom Rivers on Talk 640 here.

(The Kevin Waller Collection)

Talent: JIM SANTELLA
Station: WGRF Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: April 6, 1998
Time: 6:19

"We kinda throw the format out and do pretty much as I please."

Known as the "Father of Buffalo Progressive Radio," Jim Santella has been a mainstay in Buffalo radio, TV and theatre for four decades.

The Santella legend began at WYSL-FM 103.3 in 1969. By 1970, the calls had changed to WPHD.

WYSL-WPHD had a split personality in the late '60s and early '70s. By day, it was Top 40, a simulcast of WYSL-AM. By night, it was progressive rock in the finest tradition - album cuts, themed sets and interesting rap as provided by Santella among others. By 1971, the simulcasting was gone, and WPHD became a full-time AOR station. Santella himself left by 1974 and went on to enjoy a varied career in radio, TV and theatre. He was named to the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2005.

Santella is one of those rare announcers who really connects with his audience, and has done so at stations like WEBR (jazz), 97 Rock and WUWU (AOR) and National Public Radio's WBFO.

Santella has been film and theatre editor for "Nightlife" magazine and has also done "Theatre Talk" for NPR's Morning Edition. He has also been camera man/floor manager for Buffalo's PBS station WNED-TV.

In 1998, Santella was doing a weekly late-night show called "Radiation Theatre" for WGRF (97 Rock). Fittingly enough in this aircheck, he was talking about radio.

Listen to a portion of it here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: ROGER ASHBY
Station: CHUM Toronto
Date: June 21, 1998
Time: 7:17

It was an oldies show like none other: a selection of familiar and rare oldies from the '50s, '60s and early '70s mixed in with lots of great information about the music and numerous special features. It was the "Sunday Morning Oldies Show," and beginning Nov. 20, 1980 on 1050 CHUM oldies fans were given a weekly three-hour treat. Host Roger Ashby played many of the lower- and mid-charting songs rarely heard on oldies radio. He also provided priceless trivia about the music, with tidbits of information on practically every song he played. Add to that the famous CHUM PAMs jingles and special artist profile features, and you had an unforgettable program.

The show was originally heard on CHUM-AM before moving to CHUM-FM for a few years. The "Sunday Morning Oldies Show" had returned to CHUM-AM when it signed off on June 20, 1999. It came back July 13, 2003 only to leave the airwaves for good in March, 2009 when CHUM-AM dumped oldies for a simulcast of the all-news TV station CP 24.

Hear Roger Ashby here.

(Scrapbook archives)

For more classic CHUM airchecks, visit The CHUM Archives

Talent: JONATHAN SCHWARTZ
Station: WQEW New York
Date: December 18, 1998
Time: 10:42

Sometimes you just happen to roll tape at just the right time. Such was the case on Friday, December 18, 1998 when we decided to record Jonathan Schwartz's afternoon drive show on WQEW. Little did we know at the time that this would be his final weekday show. He came back the next day for his Saturday Sinatra show but his Sunday show was cancelled and the station suddenly began 24-hour automation on Monday the 21st, six days in advance of it becoming Radio Disney late the following Sunday, the 27th.

WQEW picked up the banner of playing standards in New York in 1992. But despite its best efforts, economics won out as Disney paid the New York Times Co. $40 million in 1998 to lease WQEW for a five years and forever close "The Home of American Popular Standards."

Enjoy Schwartz's final weekday show - "vulture ads" and all - here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: JAY BROWN
Station: WJJL Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Date: April 27, 1999
Time: 4:46

He was known as J.B. and later Jay Brown (and even that wasn't his real name). But regardless of the moniker, oldies buffs in southern Ontario and western New York are lucky to have been entertained by such a true friend and fan of radio and oldies.

J.B.'s on-air career began near the beginning of Burlington, Ont.'s, FM 108 "Gold and Great" in 1979, where working usually weekend all-night shifts he gained a strong following. His bright, friendly on-air style always left you wanting more.

J.B. left FM 108 in the mid-1980s as the station began a slow move away from the oldies format, but he wasn't through with radio. J.B. landed on Saturday mornings on CJRN Niagara Falls, Ont. in 1988 and by 1998 had crossed the river to Niagara Falls, N.Y., to WJJL. After the WJJL studios burned down in December, 1999, he went from being "on the air" to "in the air" - J.B. now has his private pilot's licence. As of 2008, he was involved in stock trading and training.

The man who trained many new FM jocks - including the author of this site - is to be thanked for his contributions to this page. Thanks, J.B.

Enjoy J.B. from 1999 on WJJL here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: BRIAN MASTER
Station: CHFI Toronto
Date: September 15, 1999
Time: 6:06



From Dion and the Belmonts to Celine Dion, Brian Master has played it all in a career spanning all or parts of five different decades.

Born in Brentwood, England and raised in St. Catharines, Ont., Master began his radio career in January, 1969. His first station was CFCO Chatham, Ont., where he was production manager and also did swing shifts. In May of 1969, he moved to CHOW Welland, Ont., where he did midday op and swing shifts, and later evenings. He was Brian H. Master then - the H. was added to avoid confusion with another CHOW announcer, Don McMaster.

On his evening show at CHOW, Master played Top 40 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight weeknights. Then from midnight to 1 a.m. - a segment he called Symmetry - Master spun progressive rock (he started every Friday Symmetry show with "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly). Also on CHOW, Master played "J' T'Aime...Mon Non Plus" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg a lot, much to the consternation of local Roman Catholic Archdiocese, so he made it number-one three weeks in a row!

Master's evening numbers at CHOW were so high (a 32 share!) that CHSC's Bob Redmond hired him away to his St. Catharines station in June, 1971. Master initially did the all-night show (called "Town and Country") at CHSC and later moved into evenings.

In July, 1972, he got his biggest break yet, when CHUM-FM PD Bob Laine hired at the Toronto progressive rock station. It was there he permanently dropped the H. from his air name. At CHUM-FM, he was assistant to Benji Karsh, the music director, and Laine, who was followed in the PD position by Duff Roman. In June, 1978, Master moved to Q-107 Toronto as music director and swing announcer.

Master returned to CHUM-FM in June, 1980, initially in mornings and later in middays. He left CHUM-FM for a second time in May, 1983 for easy-listening CHFI Toronto. Master would spend the next 19 years at CHFI, first in weekends and beginning in 1987, afternoon drive. He also spun the oldies as part of CHFI's popular "Saturday Night Oldies" program.

Master left CHFI in January, 2002. He went into real estate in 2005 but has since returned to radio as the Jewel Network Program Director at Evanov Radio Group in Toronto.

*On a personal note, I'll never forget the time Brian Master came to Ryerson University in the mid-'70s to listen to the airchecks of the announcers on the campus radio station, CRFM. One of the airchecks he listened to was mine, and it gave it a nice review and good words of encouragement. It thought it was great that a broadcast professional would take time out of his busy schedule to visit us at Ryerson, and critique our airchecks in such a positive way. Thanks, Brian.

Enjoy Brian Master on CHFI in 1999 here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Subject: ENERGY 108 MONTAGE
Station: CING-FM Burlington, Ont.
Date: 1990s
Time: 3:48

(Logo courtesy Mark Panopoulos)
 

IN MEMORY OF CON CHUNG
CING-FM announcer, producer and archivist Mark Panopoulos remembers Con here
 

They say when one door closes another opens. That was the case with FM 108 and its successor, Energy 108.

After FM 108's oldies era ended in the early '90s, CING-FM switched to a format that prominently featured the top dance tunes of the day. The origins of this new format can be traced to September, 1989, when CING-FM began scheduling dance music from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. as "Rhythm Radio." Wayne Williams was the original evening host and Gary Thomas handled the all-night show.

The success of Rhythm Radio led to CING-FM adopting a full-time dance music format, called Dance 108, in September, 1991. Later it became known as Energy 108 and even later, Energy Radio.

Among those who spent time behind the Energy mike were Scot Turner, Chris Sheppard, Nicholas Picholas, Richard Correll, Bob Callahan, Billy Howard, Tony Monaco, Jay McPhail, Mike Devine and Don Berns. Other Energy voices included Pamela Blair, Kathy Wall, Tom Allen, Anwar Knight, Mary Ellen Benninger, Sam Cook, Don Steele (not The Real Don Steele), Rob Leclerc, Carter Brown, Rob Wallace, Kenny B., Larry Silver and the morning team of Stu and Colleen. And that's just to name a few; sorry if we left anyone out.

Energy Radio had a good run, but it came to an end at 6 p.m. August 9, 2002, when CING-FM switched to a country format. Here's a list of the songs in the last two hours.

Wayne Williams and Mike Devine are heard in this Energy 108 montage here.

(The Mark Panopoulos Collection)

Talent: MIKE DEVINE
Station: Energy 108 (CING-FM) Burlington, Ont.
Date: 1990s
Time: 1:02

(Logo courtesy Mark Panopoulos)

Mike Devine cleverly combines the old and the new of CING-FM in this aircheck here.

(The Mark Panopoulos Collection)

Subject: WGR SPORTS MONTAGE
Station: WGR Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: January 31, 2000
Time: 4:33

On January 31, 2000, long-time MOR-Oldies station WGR switched to a all-sports format after a decade of news and talk. On the first day of sports, WGR presented an incredible montage of great sports moments over the years.

Hear it here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: JACKSON ARMSTRONG
Station: WHTT-FM (Oldies 104) Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: June 10, 2000
Time: 20:24

Jack Armstrong in 2003

They say you can't go home again, but Jackson Armstrong proved them wrong. Returning in June, 2000 to Buffalo, N.Y.  - scne of some of his greatest radio moments in the early '70s - Armstrong wowed 'em with some classic "Big Jack" moments.

Sounding as fresh as he did at WKBW from 1971-1973, Armstrong did a full oldies show (as opposed to an interview) on the Oldies 104 (WHTT-FM) "Rock 'N' Roll Radio Reunion Weekend." Yes, he gets the station ID wrong a few times, and misidentifies a Paul Revere and the Raiders song, but for the most part it's classic Armstrong. He even takes a few interesting calls, including one from long-time Scrapbook viewer Sam Ward. All in all, it's great Top 40 radio.

Enjoy Jackson Armstrong - introduced by long-time Oldies 104 jock Brian J. Walker - on WHTT-FM here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

Talent: KING DAEVID MacKENZIE
Station: WSUW Whitewater, Wis.
Date: April 2, 2001
Time: 15:45

(Photo courtesy King Daevid MacKenzie)

King Daevid MacKenzie bills himself as UltimaJock ™ and yes, he's even trademarked it! Since the mid-'70s, he's been a familiar voice to listeners in Illinois and Wisconsin radio, under a variety of names including Dave Machen, D.W., Dave Quatro, Dave Saint-German, Mad Dog, Dave Bornhuetter, Dave Bornhuetter Machen, Dave Aachen and of course King Daevid MacKenzie.

King Daevid tells Rock Radio Scrapbook about his career...

"I started out doing voices for radio commercials when I was nine years old at WNRR in Neenah-Menasha, Wis. Not long after, I voicetracked a show for pirate operation in Oxford, England, for four years. On this side of the Atlantic, I've spent the last 28 years (since 1976) in various capacities at stations in the Chicago market (WSBC, WCFJ, WRJR, WMCW), Minneapolis-St. Paul (WRPX and KFAI), Milwaukee (WGLB-FM, WAUK, WAUX), Madison (WLHA-AM-FM) and WORT), Appleton (WYNE and WRJQ), Oshkosh (WXOL and WPKR) and Fond du Lac (KFIZ and WFON). I also spent part of 1986 as a colour commentator on the Saturday afternoon pro wrestling show on CKY-TV's provincial network out of Winnipeg. I recently left an extremely popular oldies show at WSUW Whitewater, Wis., after becoming disabled."

Hear King Daevid MacKenzie do his unique and very popular oldies show on WSUW here.

(The King Daevid MacKenzie Collection)

Talent: MARC CHAMBERS
Station: 1050chum.com Toronto
Date: May 10, 2001
Time: 5:00

It took a lot to keep Marc Chambers away from a microphone, especially a CHUM one.

When 1050 CHUM dropped oldies for sports on May 7, 2001, Chambers simply continued - on the station's now-defunct Internet-only oldies feed at 1050chum.com. After THAT ended, Chambers - who was renowned for his enthusiasm for radio - resurfaced on the airwaves at 1050 CHUM when the Toronto station returned to oldies in August, 2002. Thus, Chambers continued his long association at CHUM, the station where he spent more than half his career.

Chambers career path was set at the age of seven, when he got his first transistor radio. He was still in his teens when he started in radio for pay in 1973, at CHUB Nanaimo, B.C. The Regina native used the air names J. Marc and Marc Webber there, but began calling himself Marc Chambers when he moved to CJAV Port Alberni, B.C., in 1978. He was Marc Webber at CJVB Vancouver in 1979, then Marc James at CFUN in 1983. He started using Marc Chambers for good when he arrived at CHUM in 1986.

Chambers would spent the better part of two decades at CHUM, with a stint at CJOJ Belleville, Ont., in 1995 and another at the Oldies Network beginning in 1996. An accomplished voice professional, Chambers was also a writer, public speaker and president and CEO of The MediaTech Group Inc. He also hosted CHUM's popular oldies dances at Hollywood on the Queensway, and was the PA announcer for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Chambers died of cancer May 2, 2008 at the age of 52.

Enjoy Chambers (and plenty of classic CHUM jingles) on 1050chum.com here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

Subject: 'KB RADIO RETURNS
Station: WWKB Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: January 27, 2003
Time: 2:39

Like a long-hidden creature emerging from the depths, 'KB returned as a music station at 6 a.m. on January 27, 2003. The return of 'KB 15 years after the station abandoned live-assist oldies programming brought joy to the many who remembered 'KB the way it was. It was a like a long-lost friend had come home. And who better to kick it off but long-time morning man Danny Neaverth with Don Berns as the image voice of the relaunched 'KB.

The reception on this aircheck is poor, but 'KB doesn't get into Rock Radio Scrapbook territory very well.

Hear 'KB's relaunch here.

(Scrapbook archives)

UPDATE: 'KB switched to a talk format on February 6, 2006

Talent: JACK FINNIGAN
Station: CJAD Montreal
Date: January 30, 2005
Time: 13:03

(Logo courtesy Marc Denis)

Toronto radio listeners remember him as one of the CKEY "Good Guys" in the early '60s, back when that station played Top 40. Montreal listeners recall the charming and laid-back announcer who hosted CJAD's afternoon show for some 20 years beginning in 1972. In between, there was a stop at Montreal Top 40 giant CKGM. All in all, it was quite a career for Jack "J.P." Finnigan, who died December 2, 2006 at 65 of complications related to diabetes and a heart condition.

The tributes were plentiful and heartfelt when Finnigan passed away. CJAD personality Dave Fisher told the Montreal Gazette "He taught me that even through you're talking to thousands, you have to talk like it's one person. He was very gentle, very intimate and very funny." His wife, Diane Finnigan, from whom he had separated but never divorced and to whom he remained very close, said "He loved to make people laugh. He was a good listener and my personal encyclopedia."

That encyclopedic knowledge came in handy during Finnigan's time as host of a Sunday afternoon trivia show at CJAD, a show he hosted until 2005.

Enjoy an aircheck of that CJAD show here.

(The Dan Kowal Collection)

Thanks to Marc Denis for editing and sending this to us!

Talent: GREAT TEASERS GHOST
Station: CHTZ-FM St. Catharines, Ont.
Date: 2005
Time: 4:22

Do you believe in ghosts?

For years, Merritt House (shown above) - home of CKTB-AM and CHTZ-FM in St. Catharines, Ont.  - has supposedly been haunted.

It's a long and interesting tale. For details, we invite you to visit this link, then come back.

In 2005, the fun-loving Merritt House spirits decided to spice up the CHTZ-FM morning show.

We call this segment "Great Teasers Ghost," and you can hear it here.

(The Mark Panopoulos Collection)

Talent: KEITH "KEEFERS" HAMPSHIRE
Station: Pirate BBC Essex
Date: August 13, 2007
Time: Hour One - 28:47
           Hour Two - 26:40
           Hour Three - 27:54

Pictured is the LV18, where Pirate BBC Essex broadcast from in 2007

Forty years after they were banned, the pirates came back.

For a few glorious days in August 2007, many of the legendary jocks from 1960s British offshore - or "pirate" - radio returned to the airwaves in a ship anchored in the North Sea off Essex, England. It was called Pirate BBC Essex, and from August 9-14 listeners once again enjoyed such talents as Johnnie Walker, Dave Cash, Keith Skues, Emperor Rosko, Norman St. John, John Kerr, Gordon Cruse, Tom Edwards, Mike Ahern and Roger Day, Pete Brady.

They were joined by Ray Clark, Steve Scruton, Ian Wyatt and Tim Gillett from a similar 2004 show. Many of them were working together for the first time since the Marine Offences Act effectively ended offshore British broadcasting on August 14, 1967.

Canada was well-represented on Pirate BBC Essex by Keith Hampshire. The man nicknamed "Keefers" came to CKFH Toronto in the late '60s after a stint at Radio Caroline South in 1966 and '67. He went on to become a top recording artist - with hits like "Big Time Operator", "Daytime Nighttime" and "The First Cut is the Deepest" - and established himself as one of Canada's leading commercial voice-over specialists.

Enjoy the first hour of Hampshire's Pirate BBC Essex show here. (28:27)

Enjoy the second hour of Hampshire's Pirate BBC Essex show here. (26:40)

Enjoy the third hour of Hamphire's Pirate BBC Essex show here. (27:54)

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: CRAIG SMITH interviews JACK ARMSTRONG and DON BERNS
Source: The SOWNY Show
Date: August 27, 2007
Time: 59:26

It was one of the last interviews Jack Armstrong ever did. Fittingly, the Top 40 radio giant made that appearance on the "radio show about radio" - The SOWNY Show.

The August 27, 2007 broadcast featuring Armstrong and fellow WKBW alumnus Don Berns was a major first-season highlight of The SOWNY Show, which debuted June 11, 2007. Hosted by Craig Smith - moderator of the Southern Ontario-Western New York Radio Forum (SOWNY) - the one-hour show which from June, 2007 to December, 2008 aired live every Monday night from 7-8 p.m. ET from "Studio B," the Toronto home studio of show producer Don Andrews.

In just the first year of the show, radio folks featured on The SOWNY Show who also have airchecks on Rock Radio Scrapbook included Armstrong, Berns, Scott Carpenter, Keith Hampshire, Jeff Kaye, John Donabie, Don Daynard, David Marsden, Marc Chambers, Russ Horton and producer Doug Thompson.

Craig Smith tells Rock Radio Scrapbook more about The SOWNY Show:

"The SOWNY Show started out as an idea after Don Andrews and I did a New Year's Show in 2006. A couple of months later Don came up with an idea based on the Southern Ontario/Western New York Radio Board (SOWNY) and after a few test shows we started in June, 2007. This wonderful experience has us talking to technical people, program directors, musicians and disc jockeys, including two that are on broadcasting display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in David Marsden and Jack Armstrong. I had former WKBW and CFNY deejay Don Berns on the show and hinted that I would love to have Jack on the show if he still kept in touch with him and Don B. came through. Jack was my favourite DJ and it was a huge thrill and honour to have him on the show in one of the last interviews he ever did."

The following interview with Armstrong and Berns is truly spellbinding. In light of Armstrong's death less than seven months later, on March 23, 2008, it's also rather poignant. Either way it's great radio.

Enjoy Armstrong and Berns on The SOWNY Show here.

(The SOWNY Show Archives)

Subject: MYSTERY VOICE
Source: THE SOWNY SHOW
Date: February 11, 2008
Times: 2:23

Is this where radio is headed?

We hope not.

Don Andrews, producer of The SOWNY Show, had an interesting if rather worrisome segment on the February 18, 2008 edition of the "radio show about radio" that Craig Smith hosts every week. The fellow Don is talking to in this segment is Fred Napoli, the in-studio guest that night. As for the "woman" on this recording, well, listen.

Hear the SOWNY Show and the "mystery voice" here.

(The SOWNY Show Archives)

Talent: PUNCH ANDREWS with JIM RICHARDS
Station: CFRB Toronto
Date: March 13, 2008
Time: 36:53

Long-time MIX FM host Punch Andrews appeared on Jim Richards' CFRB talk show on March 13, 2008 to discuss his career, his life and his health. He also took calls from listeners. It was an emotional and powerful show.

Andrews died 17 days later of lung cancer. He was 43.

Hear Richards' interview with Andrews here.

(Courtesy Jim Richards/CFRB)

(Photo courtesy Patrick Bergin)

Scott Carpenter's "Saturday Night Solid Gold Rock 'N' Roll Party" displayed his skill as both a broadcaster and a producer. The show - which debuted on CHUM in January, 2007 - brought Carpenter back to the station after an absence of nearly 30 years. Voiced and produced by Carpenter from his home in Fredericksburg, Va., it was one of the major highlights of the last years of music at the Toronto station. His show - and the rest of CHUM's oldies programming - disappeared from the airwaves when the station began simulcasting the all-news cable TV station CP24 in March, 2009.

"Brad Jones (CHUM PD) and I had spoken numerous times over the years about doing a show, but we didn't know what to do. Finally ... we decided to bring back The Boogieman. But it had to be a more mature approach, a sort of grown up Boogieman I guess.
 
ISDN lines are no longer available where I live, so we had to use a telephone codec for the voice tracks. We tried a Comrex, POTS codec, and were surprised that the quality was more than sufficient. I used a  $30 mike that I'd been using as a drum overhead. My sons and I recorded the bumpers in my recording studio. We just picked some songs from the 50's 60's and 70's with recognizable hooks, and riffed on them. The requests were handled by using a Vonage virtual number in Toronto. I simply downloaded them as mp3s and played them back from here.
 
We wanted the show to sound live, so I had to adjust each track because of a 1/2 second lag. That took a lot of time. Also, I did the tracking a couple of hours before show time, so I could slide in bits that were time appropriate.
 
In the two years I did it I received dozens of e-mails from PDs and OMs across the US and Canada asking if I flew up each week to do the thing live. Very few people ever guessed it was voice tracked."

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