Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of March 8, 2015
Edition #825

Talent: DON BERNS
Station: WKBW Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: June 6, 1974
Time: 11:08 (Upgraded 1-8-15)

The best man to describe Don Berns is Don Berns himself.

Several years ago, we came across a book in a used book store called The Program Directors Handbook by Bob Paiva. Cost: $1.00. What a bargain! On the surface it seemed like a dull technical tome, but closer inspection revealed it was anything but. Inside were several fascinating interviews with leading deejays and programmers of the time (the book was published in 1983). Among those interviewed: Terry Young, Tom Shovan and Don Berns. I obtained Mr. Paiva's permission to reprint a portion of his interview with Berns and have carried it in Rock Radio Articles for several years. For those of you who have not read it, here it is.

Rock Radio Scrapbook is proud to present Don Berns at his best, on WKBW in 1974 here.

(Scrapbook archives)

More 1974 airchecks here!

Talent: DON BERNS
Station: CKEY (KEY-590) Toronto
Date: September 23, 1989
Time: 6:18

Don Berns moved north of the border in the '80s, and was heard in Toronto on CFNY, KEY 590 (CKEY), CILQ (Q-107) and CHIN-FM. He also jocked in southern Ontario at CING-FM Burlington and CIDC Orangeville.

Berns died March 1, 2015.

Enjoy Don Berns on KEY 590 here.

(Scrapbook archives)

More 1989 airchecks here!

Subject: PETE NORDHEIMER TRIBUTE
Station: CHUM Toronto
Date: Various
Time: 3:30

(Photo courtesy Doug Thompson/The CHUM Archives)

An era ended when Pete Nordheimer passed away February 28, 2015 at the age of 93.

Nordheimer was the last original living CHUM jock, the final survivor of a group that included Phil Ladd, Harvey Dobbs, Josh King, Phil Stone and Hank Noble. Nordheimer arrived at CHUM from CJCS Stratford, Ont., in the mid-'50s and was in the lineup doing a split afternoon drive-late evening shift when CHUM introduced its full-time Top 40 format on May 27, 1957. Nordheimer lasted longer on air than any of the original CHUM jocks - he was the only first-day jock remaining on the schedule when he was replaced by Bob McAdorey in 1961. Nordheimer later did audio work for the United Church and also worked in programming for CHIN Toronto.

On this tribute, you'll hear a portion of an interview Bob Laine did with Nordheimer in 2006, and several promos featuring Nordheimer's voice. Thanks to Doug Thompson for putting it together.

Hear the Pete Nordheimer Tribute here.

Dave Johnson (l) and Pete Nordheimer. (The CHUM Archives/Doug Thompson)

Larger view here

(The CHUM Archives/Doug Thompson)

Produced by Doug Thompson

More from The CHUM Archives here!

Talent: FRED LATREMOUILLE
Station: CFUN Vancouver
Date: October 24, 1984
Time: 26:05

The laid-back yet energetic tones of Fred Latremouille were heard on Vancouver radio for half a century. The Nanaimo, B.C., native got his start in radio in 1961 doing news and hosting the morning show at CKYL Peace River, Alta. He moved to the Vancouver market the next year at CJOR after he "basically badgered Vic Waters (the station manager) until he gave me a job."

Latremouille went on to become a mainstay in Vancouver radio with stops at CFUN-CKVN, CKGL-AM, KISS-FM (CKKS-FM) and Clear-FM (CKCL-FM). At the latter two stations, he was joined on air by his co-host Cathy Balduzzi, whom he met and co-hosted with at CFUN. They married in 1986. Latremouille also made his mark in television - he hosted the teen CBC-TV music show Let's Go in the '60s, along with several other CBC-TV productions, and also was the weatherman on BCTV. He also had a stint at CFAX Vancouver. Latremouille was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2007.

"Fred was, without a doubt, the best communicator this city has ever seen," weatherman and best friend Wayne Cox told the Vancouver Sun after Latremouille's death March 5, 2015 at the age of 69 in Scottsdale, Ariz. "He was fun, creative, smart, bright. He wasn't always a saint, but he always did it Fred's way. Working with Fred and Cathy were the best times I had in radio."

Enjoy Fred Latremouille on CFUN here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

More 1984 airchecks here!