Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of January 22, 2012
Weekly issue #665

Talent: NORMAN B. (BLAKELY)
Station: CHOW Welland, Ont.
Date: March, 1975 (final show)
Time: 17:23

"Do what you dig. Dig what you do. That's what life's all about."

Norman B. didn't like the way radio was going, so he quit.

In March, 1975 - unhappy that he could no longer "do his own thing" on the air - the veteran broadcaster turned his back on the medium he loved after 10 years in the business. His retirement didn't last long - he was back on the air four years later at CING-FM (FM 108) Burlington, Ont. - where he was allowed to "do his own thing" - but no one could doubt the sincerity of the man's passion for radio and music.

Norman Blakeley got his start in radio in 1964 while attending what is now known as Ryerson University. He created "The Jazz Scene" at Ryerson station CJRT-FM, a show that continued for three decades after Norman's departure with host Ted O'Reilly. In the summers of 1964 and 1965, Norman had his first radio gig outside of CJRT at CFOS Owen Sound, Ont. From there Norman had a string of radio jobs that included CJSP Weyburn, Sask., CJME Regina and Ontario stations CJWA Wawa, CJIC Sault Ste. Marie, CKFH Toronto, CKBB Barrie and CHOW Welland. It appeared the career of the gravel-voiced jock was over when he left CHOW in 1975, but you can't keep an old radio guy down and in 1979 he popped up on FM 108.

Norman spent the rest of his radio career at FM 108. He had several on-air roles there - including the morning show in the early '80s and many feature programs - but he's probably best remembered for his decade as program director at FM 108, Canada's first FM oldies station. Among his many acts there was to give yours truly an air shift in 1985, for which your webmaster will always be grateful. Full details of Norman's career can be found here.

We had this aircheck of Norman B's final CHOW show for years, but held off using it because of the muddy audio quality. We've made efforts to improve it, and we hope it's OK now. It's a really poignant farewell, and one of our favourite airchecks.

Enjoy Norman B's final CHOW show here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

More goodbye airchecks here!

Talent: NORMAN B. (BLAKELY) and CLINT TRUEMAN
Station: CING-FM Burlington, Ont.
Date: January, 1981
Time: 11:50

Few had the ability - or knowledge - to put together music-themed shows quite the way Norman B. did.

In this edition of Profiles, Norman "goes ape" and listeners get a musical education.

Also heard on this rare sample of early '80s FM 108 is long-time CING-FM jock Clint Trueman. In addition, you'll hear commercials by Wes Atkinson and Rockin' Robin plus the beginning of a newscast by Sara Christensen.

Hear Norman B. and Clint Trueman on FM 108 here.

(The Gary Heighington Collection)

More FM 108 airchecks here!

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