Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of February 28, 2010
Weekly issue #570

Talent: RONALD J. MOREY
Station: CKOC Hamilton, Ont.
Date: March 1, 1972
Time: 9:47 (Upgraded 10-19-08)

(Chart scan courtesy Mark Ogden)

One of North America's great voice talents, Ronald J. Morey was also a superb jock.

Long-time CKOC program director Nevin Grant tells us more...

"Ron was a terrific announcer at CKOC (an incredible set of "pipes"). He worked at CKOC in the early 70's ... doing the mid-day shift while voicing tons of national commercials in Toronto. Before CKOC Ron had worked for CKCK Regina (our sister station at the time) ..and for Moffatt Broadcasting at CKLG Vancouver. Ron eventually moved to Toronto as his voicing skills were in constant demand. He also did some freelance radio while in Toronto. Eventually Ron moved to the USA and was a major voice on radio and TV commercials. He purchased several radio stations and has been a top-notch success story.  Ron was such a great gentleman. Several times a year he'd drop by CKOC and voice some positioning liners for us. He was the positioning voice of CKOC for a great number of years ... yes, that was Ronald J. on "From Hamilton - Ontario's Music Leader - CKOC !!!!"

Morey also jocked at CJOB Winnipeg in the '60s and freelanced at CHUM in the '70s.

(Picture courtesy Gord Lansdell/vancouverbroadcasters.com)

Mark Ogden tells us even more...

"In 1987, Morey (operating as The Morey Organization) purchased Long Island’s WLIR-FM (reportedly for less than $1m, using personal savings). Ron (together with his sons) then operated ‘LIR (with new call letters WDRE-FM) and an associated network of other similarly-formatted/simulcasting stations in several states (called the Underground Network) until they sold their radio assets to Hispanic broadcaster Univision in 2004.

WLIR/WDRE was famous for decades, including under Morey ownership, as the primary modern-rock station in the New York City area, and achieved national prominence in that regard."

Enjoy Ronald J. Morey on CKOC here.

(The Lino Tristan Collection)
 

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