|
  |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Talent: MARC DENIS
Cliquez ici pour les descriptions en français. Prior to hosting weekends and weekday evenings on French-language station CKCH Hull-Ottawa from 1971 to 1973, Marc Denis begins his professional radio career in 1970 ... in the newsroom, all the while completing his studies at the University of Ottawa. Denis is one of CJRC Ottawa-Hull's Parliament Hill news and sports correspondents for the Montreal-based Radio Mutuel network, serving Quebec. Marc is introduced on this clip by network sports announcer Jacques Moreau from flagship station 1280 CJMS Montréal and reports on the evening news from the Nation's Capital about an upcoming amateur sports and leisure conference. Hear Marc Denis reporting on the Radio Mutuel network, March 26, 1971, here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent: MARC "MAIS OUI" DENIS
Following three years on the air in the Ottawa-Hull area (1970-1973, CJRC-CKCH), Marc Denis moves on to a new home in Montréal in early 1974, one on which he'll settle in for close to seven years: the Super 98 CKGM. This is the first of many year-end countdowns that Denis would come to host on the legendary Montréal Top 40 station during the '70s. Hear Marc Denis, New Year's Eve 1974, on CKGM here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent:
MARC "MAIS OUI" DENIS
It was 1977. CKGM ruled the airwaves in Montreal (3rd out of 22 stations - not bad for an English-language station in a predominately French market.) And one of the engines that made it go was Marc Denis, whose unique bilingual presentation made him a standout on the early evening shift. When you listen to this aircheck, please note that Montreal was in the midst of a rather heavy snowfall. As Marc points out it was ''Denis high in snow ... get it? De-knee-high in...hum...ah...never mind." Rock Radio Scrapbook presents Marc Denis on CKGM here. Enjoy this great article about Marc here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent: MARC "MAIS OUI"
DENIS
Live, local and lively. Such were the "Three L's" of classic Top 40 radio, and few did it better than Marc "Mais Oui" Denis, as you'll hear on this marvelous clip from 1978. Denis is in great form - definitely live in the studio,
with lots of local references and as lively as ever on CKGM, where he
entertained bilingually from 1974 to 1980. Hear Marc Denis - with Patsy Gallant - here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent: MARC "MAIS OUI" DENIS
During all of the '70s, 980 CKGM was the dominant and most popular English-language radio outlet in Montreal. One of the cities most memorable on-air personalities ever was Marc Denis, who made CKGM his home from 1974 to 1980. With his unique brand of wacky high-energy English/French Top 40 style radio, "Mais Oui" ruled the evening airwaves for many years. But by 1978 the competition was heating up. 'Bilingual imitators' on many French and English stations were now commonplace in Montreal, taking dead aim at the 'Great 98' and its popular evening show host. Between 1977 and 1979, PD Reg Johns had the mandate to keep CKGM on top and did so with innovative contests and promotions and by 'turning up the heat'. Hear 'the heat' with Marc "Mais Oui" Denis on CKGM, Aug. 16, 1978 here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent:
MARC "MAIS OUI" DENIS
It took the big "stick" of the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) to bring down a radio "schtick" that has become legend. Marc "Mais Oui" Denis established a special niche on CKGM Montreal in the late '70s and early '80s by doing his show in both official Canadian languages. The show was done primarily in English with sprinklings of French and it was incredible, some of the best Top 40 radio this country has ever heard. It brought in killer ratings, as well. Unfortunately for Denis and CKGM, it was TOO successful. In 1980, the CRTC - the ruling government body of Canadian broadcasting - ruled against mixing the languages in the Denis manner. It seems some French-language stations were losing listeners to Denis and had complained to the regulator. The bureaucrat's "gain" was the listeners loss. And on the surface it didn't make sense - isn't Canada officially bilingual? But we'll refrain from political discussion here. Hear Marc Denis on CKGM here. (The Marc Denis Collection) Talent:
MARC DENIS
Remember when Top 40 stations had million-dollar weekends, those oldies extravaganzas that started every Friday afternoon? Well in 1980, CKGM improved on that, running a "World's Longest Weekend"! What CKGM did was to feature a different major artist within the daily music mix while including the Quebec holidays of ''St-Jean Baptiste Day (a.k.a. La Fête Nationale)'' on June 24 and ''Canada Day'' on July 1. The fun began June 23, lasted nine days and was appropriately called ''The World's Longest Weekend''.
Along with the delightful Omega Medina "Sister O" reporting on Montreal traffic, enjoy Marc Denis, doing his usual signature bilingual thing (with Spanish in there too), on "The World's Longest Weekend" here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent:
MARC "MAIS OUI" DENIS
By 1983, Denis had been recruited to host a "oui-kend" oldies show at the legendary French-language 'heritage' station, CKAC. The show, called "La Fièvre du Samedi soir", featured classic '50s and '60s tunes covered in French and in some cases the French originals. On this aircheck, Montreal Canadiens great Yvan Cournoyer and quiz/teen show celebrity Pierre Lalonde tell 'one for the road.' Rock Radio Scrapbook presents Marc Denis on CKAC here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent:
MARC "MAIS OUI" DENIS
After his stint at CKGM ended in 1980, Denis moved to English language station CJFM and later to French station CKAC in 1982. He arrived at French language rocker CKOI-FM in 1983. In his three years at CKOI-FM, he did the opposite of what he used to do at CKGM, presenting the show primarily in French with sprinkings of English. Apparently the CRTC was looking the other way then. Hear Marc "Mais Oui" Denis on CKOI here. (The Marc Denis Collection)
Talent:
MARC DENIS
Guy Lafleur - Marc "Mais Oui" Denis
Marc "Mais Oui" Denis tells Rock Radio Scrapbook about what he says will always be a special day for him - February 4, 1989...
"I was freelancing television, films and commercials
full time at that point of the late 80s in Montreal. I was invited in to host
this one-shot 'Montreal's Top 96 Of All Time Countdown' which ran from 1pm to
8pm or so on a very frigid Saturday Feb 4, 1989.
In February 1989, FM 96-CJFM was only few short
weeks away from becoming Mix 96. It remained the Mix until January of 2009, now
known as Virgin 96. So, this on-air ditty from February 4, 1989 is two
incarnations ago of CJFM at 95.9 FM Enjoy Marc Denis on CJFM here. (The Marc Denis Collection) Talent: MARC ''MAIS OUI'' DENIS
One wonders if the CRTC was listening to this ''outlawed'' radio practice that day to witness what a great time was had by all? ''Nickels'' for their thoughts. Bon appétit. Hear Marc Denis on CJFM here. (The Marc Denis Collection) Talent: MARC "MAIS OUI" DENIS
During the late eighties and for most of the nineties, well-known Canadian broadcaster Marc Denis became a popular fixture on Air Canada's in-flight audio system. Millions of passengers the world over were entertained for years by his music and interview specials up in the friendly sky filled with stars. Included here, a real and rare Scrapbook treat from July-August of 1993. A ''Best Of'' edition of his show featuring the music and stories of stars such as Paul McCartney, John Sebastian, Brian Wilson, Lesley Gore, Paul Hoffert from Lighthouse, Pierre Bertrand of Beau Dommage and many others. Much like his schtick on Montreal Top 40 rocker CKGM during the Seventies, ''Mais Oui'' weaves through the clouds in both of Canada's official languages. So fasten your seatbelts, adjust your headsets and enjoy your radio Oldies...with a différence ! Hear Marc Denis here. (The Marc Denis Collection) Talent: MARC DENIS
April Wine then
April wine now
Back in 1992, Montreal-based rock veterans April Wine reunited to record some new music and to tour to enthusiastic crowds across Canada, the U.S., and Europe for the first time since their 1985 break-up. Who knew that Myles Goodwyn, Brian Greenway, Jimmy Clench and Jerry Mercer would still be touring and recording as of this Rock Radio Scrapbook presentation of 2004? Let's fly back to 1995 to enjoy this exclusive all-Canadian broadcast which ran originally on Air Canada's In-Flight audio during November and December of '95 to rave reviews from thousands of passengers far and wide. This 25th anniversary special of '95 (Retropop) was researched, produced and hosted by Canadian broadcaster and bilingual voice-talent Marc Denis, a long-time friend of the band. It contains entertaining insight and humorous anecdotes by all the members of April Wine (lifetime up to 1995) and many hilarious anecdotes by Brian, Myles, Jerry and Jim. So friends, fasten your seatbelt, kick the seat back and turn it up as Rock Radio Scrapbook presents this exclusive presentation: Marc Denis at 35,000 feet with the bar wide open, serving "The April Wine Collection, La Cuvée April Wine! Bon voyage and enjoy April Wine with Marc Denis here.
Visit Marc Denis' CKGM Montréal Super '70s Tribute Page for great Top 40 radio fun and memories at http://www.marcdenis.com/ckgm.asp. Also, check out the official April Wine site. (The Marc Denis Collection) Talent:
MARC DENIS
For Toronto radio fans, it was the hockey equivalent of Canadiens great Guy Lafleur playing for the Maple Leafs. Marc Denis was on-the-air in Toronto! In 1997, Denis arrived for what ultimately became a three-year stint at CJEZ. He hosted weekday afternoons (1-5 p.m.) and the weekend countdown show. Denis also did voice-over and corporate video work until 2002, most notably as the voice of Bell ExpressVu in English and French. Remember Marc Denis on EZRock here.
(The Marc Denis Collection) Talent:
MARC DENIS
In early 2002, Marc Denis returned to Montréal to host weekends at Montréal's top-rated Rythme FM. He set up his own in-home recording studio, and began freelance voice-over work and corporate video production in both languages for clients in the greater Montréal area. In 2003, Denis launched his personal website www.marcdenis.com. He and his web team also introduced 'Marc Denis' CKGM Super '70s Tribute Page' in homage to his alma mater, Montréal's fondly-remembered Top 40 station 980 CKGM. Enjoy Marc Denis on 105.7 Rythme FM here.
(The Marc Denis Collection) Talent:
MARC DENIS
Marc Denis, 2006 The good ol' days of Montréal hit music radio returned in September, 2005. Marc Denis joined Q 92 as a weekend host and occasional weekday pinch-hit, all the while continuing to freelance bilingual voice-over work and corporate video production for various clients in Montréal and beyond. This "Earth Day 2006" aircheck finds Denis in bilingual switch-hitting radio mode on Montréal's airwaves again, just like the "bald old" '70s. Catch the return of Marc "Mais Oui" Denis on Q 92 Montréal here.
(The Marc Denis Collection) Talent: MARC DENIS
(Photo courtesy Q 92 Montreal)
When Marc Denis debuted as host of Saturday Night Oldies at Montreal's Q 92, he did it with style and a nod to history. Denis played nothing but music from 1967 - including lots of rarely-heard local favourites from the time, in English and French - during his first-ever 'New' SNO show. Among the artists played: local "Summer of '67" faves such as the Haunted, the Rabble, les Hou-Lops and les Sultans. The two-hour SNO program concluded a massive eight-hour shift "Mais Oui" Denis did that day live from La Ronde amusement park, on the grounds of the former Expo 67. Denis and Q 92 were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Expo 67, which ran from April 27 to October 27, 1967. The fair, which marked the 100th anniversary of Canadian confederation, is considered the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century. Enjoy the very first Marc Denis SNO show here. (The Marc Denis Collection) Talent:
MARC DENIS
(Photo courtesy Donald Major)
It's Grand Prix du Canada Weekend 2008 and Monsieur Mais Oui is on the move again, revvin' up the 'Car and Driver' tunes and the fun and a live 'Saturday Night Oldies', The New SNO' parked in the heat of it all, centre-ville Montréal. 'Heat' is the operative word for it as temperatures exceed 35 degrees (Celsius) under the Q 92 broadcast tent. Enjoy a Grand Prix musical 'pit stop' Live from Drummond Plaza on the F1 Piazza with Marc Denis here. (The Donald Major Collection)
Talent: MARC DENIS
(Logo courtesy Stéphane Dubasouf) Canada's first radio station is Marc Denis' last, for now. First known as XWA in 1919, then CFCF in 1920, followed by CIQC in 1993 and lastly, as CINW moving from 600 AM to 940 AM in 1999, the venerable Montreal radio entity introduces many varied format incarnations through the decades. It finally settles for a 60s-70s-80s ‘Montreal’s Greatest Hits’ format in 2008, officially launched on July 1st, Canada Day. Marc ‘Mais Oui’ Denis is the first jock and is recruited as morning man until his departure on April 7, 2009, as part of sudden and major downsizing at the six radio stations cluster of which AM 940 is part of in the market. Economic problems prevalent in the industry at large during the recessionary year of 2009 have since drastically altered the radio landscape in Montreal, as everywhere else. With ‘Mais Oui’ though, it is a guaranteed fun ride while it lasts! Enjoy Marc Denis on AM 940, Montreal’s Greatest Hits, here. (Note: CINW 940 Montreal eventually shuts down at 7 p.m. January 29, 2010 after 90 years, 1 month and 28 days on the air with no mention made of the station's long history)
(The Donald Major Collection)
You can communicate with Marc here: maisoui@marcdenis.com |
|||||||
