Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of May 10, 2015
Edition #833
 

Talent: PETE GRIFFIN
Station: CHUM-FM Toronto
Date: May 15, 1980
Time: 1:04:58

He was the last of the originals.

Pete Griffin, the final remaining member of CHUM-FM's first free-form lineup, left the station not long after this aircheck was recorded in the spring of 1980. It ended an era that began at midnight on July 2, 1968 when CHUM-FM ended its fine arts/classical programming and began playing progressive rock 24 hours a day.

The first CHUM-FM program hosts were an eclectic group indeed. Here's a look at the announcers who were with Canada's first full-time progressive rock station at the very beginning.

WALTER MICHAELS: Michaels, whose real name was Walter Soles, was a carryover from CHUM-FM's fine arts/classical format. Michaels/Soles was the first morning man of its CHUM-FM's rock era, which is still going strong. He moved to middays iin 1969. After leaving CHUM-FM in the early '70s, Michaels/Soles went on to become one of Canada's most sought-after voice talents.

PETE GRIFFIN: Like Walter Michaels, Griffin was at CHUM-FM during its fine-arts/classical era. When CHUM-FM went free-form, Griffin was initially in afternoons. He moved to mornings in 1969 and later teamed up with Geets Romo (David Heydu) for the Pete & Geets morning show. Griffin moved to CFNY in 1980 where he was reunited with Romo. Griffin's next stop was CFGM Richmond Hill, Ont., briefly before moving to CFMO Smiths Falls, Ont. He died in 2011 at the age of 83.

MURRAY THE K: Murray "The K" Kaufman was an established radio star in 1968, having made his mark at WMCA, WINS and WOR-FM New York. When CHUM-FM launched its "free-form" format in 1968, Kaufman was recruited to help introduce the "New Groove" to Toronto audiences. His 6-10 p.m. "Radio Free Toronto" show lasted about a month. Kaufman, who billed himself as the Fifth Beatle, went on to gigs at New York stations WNBC and WKTU plus a national stint on NBC Monitor and a hosting gig on Watermark's Soundtrack of the Sixties. He died in 1982, a week after his 60th birthday.

TIM THOMAS: When CHUM-FM launched, Thomas was the late-night host following Murray the K. Thomas did various shifts at CHUM-FM until late 1973, when he moved into the program director's chair at CHOM-FM Montreal. By the 1980s he was doing the morning show at CBC Edmonton (CBX-AM).

HUGH CURRY: Curry was music director at CHUM-FM''s launch as a free-form station. He later replaced Murray the K in the evening shift. Curry left the CHUM-FM in December 1968 to start his own media company, The Dream Machine. He took on acting roles, most notably a part as a Nashville radio executive in the Canadian-made film, The Hard Part Begins. He also interviewed such luminaries as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Steve Winwood and John Mayall for a CBC show called Through The Eyes of Tomorrow. Hugh and his wife have travelled the world extensively but spend much of their time on their plantation in Grenada.

DAVE PRITCHARD: English-born Dave Pritchard was originally Murray the K's operator when CHUM-FM went free-form. He later moved to the all-night show, which he called The Dave Pritchard Progression. Pritchard stayed at CHUM-FM until the mid-'70s when he left to become the first program director at CFNY Brampton, Ont. He died in 2005 at age 60.

Hear Pete Griffin on CHUM-FM here.

(The CHUM Archives/Doug Thompson)

More 1980 airchecks here!