Radio … and Me – 19

On the morning after Labour Day weekend, Montrealers woke up to learn of the abrupt demise of their venerable radio station, CKAC - 730, the oldest French station in North America. Instead of the wall-to-wall 'CKAC Sports' program, listeners were being treated to Circulation 730, a 24-hour program of … (wait for it) Traffic Reports.
Quel dommage, the manner by which it came about.
Quelle surprise? Well, not really.

Jack Layton, R.I.P.

Over the past week, Canada has witnessed an outpouring of love and admiration for Jack Layton, Member of Parliament, who died of cancer on August 22. Layton was the dynamic leader of the New Democratic Party, who had claimed 103 seats in the House of Commons, making him "Leader of the Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition."
He was the proverbial 'life of the party,' both politically and in reality: an out-going man dubbed the 'Energizer bunny,'

Radio ... and Me – 18

Song parodies have always been a staple of the world’s cultures. In medieval Anglo-Saxon culture, we know that parodies were sung by minstrels who traveled from place to place. Shakespeare even uses parodies in some of his comedies.
In our time, we can cite the works of “Weird Al” Yankovic, who has just released an excellent video send-up of Lady Gaga. He is famous, of course, for the video, “Eat It”,

Back to School?

The department stores around here have already put up their displays and set out materials for their “Back to School” campaigns.
Wait a minute . . . it’s only the third week of July!!!
Enough, already!

Radio … and Me - 17

This month marks a turning-point in my relationship with radio; 30 years ago, I bought my first stereo headset portable model.
I began my 'love affair' with radio as a toddler … listening with my Mom and Dad to music, news and serials (The Cisco Kid, Our Miss Brooks, Boston Blackie) on a big, hot, tube-driven model, which was large enough to be a piece of living room furniture. We lived 90 km from the nearest stations, which where exclusively on AM, so there was a lot of static.
But, after dark, you could listen to most of the big 50,000-watt Clear Channel stations all along the Eastern Seaboard -- in Boston, New York, even down to Miami -- and what an adventure THAT could be for a young fan!

Baseball Clinic – The Cut-off Man

Baseball can be played, watched and enjoyed on many levels, from the major leagues, Little League and by the amateur who cheers for a favourite team and can quote hundreds of statistics (and will do so, if you don't stop him!).
Among the rules (and everyone knows that baseball has plenty of rules!), -- is one you may hear at a practice session or game: "Remember to hit the Cut-Off Man."
But, wait -- if you’re knowledge of baseball is on the elementary level, you may not be aware of what a ‘Cut-off Man’ is.

Radio … and Me -16

Perhaps the most significant ‘Doo-Wop’ song on the radio in the late '50s was based on a technical feature, and it eventually came to launch a series of radio musical hits and even TV cartoons.
If I told you (Dear Reader of a certain age) that the song was written and performed in 1958, by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., and released on Liberty Records, you’d probably not remember it.
However, if I add that his stage name was 'David Seville,' and the song was
‘Witch Doctor’, then you’ll have a better idea of the craze that resulted.