After having brain surgery, Marita Hollo decided to do stuff that she always dreamed about. Like having her own radio show. Mopa Dean, then CIUT program director in 1996, told her that she had the right voice for it so she got herself a show. By All Means women's collective. She did a weekly show for 8 years before leaving to work for the CBC radio station up in Yellowknife. We also spoke about CBC Unlocked which took place 20 years ago when CIUT gave Andy Barrie and the other CBC Toronto personalities a morning slot for several weeks of their lock-out. She's Jenny Blackbird's mother (see Radio Recall no. 46 for that interview).

Who went to Faywood PS? Rick Moranis, Geddy Lee, Perry Goldberg and me (Steve Fruitman). Who began Radio Thornlea? And the Ryerson station that later became CKLN? Who got to see King Crimson (Front Row) with free tickets? How did two long haired freaks get their own radio show on CHOO? and why did they get kicked off. Lots of questions but the answers are all there in this, the latest podcast of Radio Recall.

I met Perry when I was 18 so it was a joy to have him come on as our guest on this edition of RR.

Craig Robertson is our first guest to begin our 4th season. He works at Durham Radio in southern Ontario but was also a professor of Radio Arts at Seneca College - a post that he kept until last year when the course was cancelled. So were courses at various other community colleges (a la Humber). So are there any future jobs in radio? Where's the medium going? How to survive? What advice you should be given? It was a great conversation with a veteran of over 35 years in the bizzness.

What a team!!

Big Al, Peter, Steve, Namrada and Elliott

Greg and Yarka and a couple of die-hard CIUT listeners. Greg's been helping out regularly at Fundraising time, answering phones. They've developed a true loving relationship, not just with each other but with CIUT as well. They have the radio on just about all the time. Their truck radio got jammed on CIUT - it won't play anything else! They're a delightful couple who found love under the artificial stars at Toronto's long-gone Planetarium where they both worked, she as an administrator and he as a lazerest. They live up in Alliston, Ontario

Murray, originally from North Bay, moved to Toronto in the 1970s and never looked back. He was smitten by radio when he was just a kid and as a CIUT listener, sat on our board of directors for a few years. He had a lot to say about what radio, and CIUT, means to him. A lively conversation ensued.

We began by reading Doug Thompson's web site and getting totally lost in it. Let's just say, this guy's been around! He worked at 1050 CHUM during its heyday; worked on a Beatles special that was aired by over 200 radio stations; worked closely with Ringo Starr. And that's just icing on his cake! There's a lot more so why not just listen to the show.

Tribute to John Donabie Pt 2

JOHN MICHAEL DONABIE January 13, 1947 - January 30, 2025 (78)

If you didn't listen to part one, maybe check it out first. All the things we said apply to this second installment about this most amazing Canadian radio DJs. With a career that lasted over 50 years, who else can claim that distinction. (There's probably someone out there dontcha think?)

Anyway, this edition features the rest of our interview with John's wife Ala and son James plus Brad Reid. Songs by Dylan and The Band from the basement tapes, Spoonful by 10 yrs after, Call of the Wolf by the Howlin' Wolf, and Singin' in the Rain.

John Donabie was one of the classic Canadian radio djs. His career spanned between the 1960s (Oshawa - Toronto (CKFH, CHUM-FM etc) and 2018 when he finished doing Mixed Bag right here at CIUT.

Pt 1 features Ala and James Donabie, Ken Stowar and Peter Rowe as guests. We also feature a lot of music associated with John Donabie.

That's all I gots to say. Listen and find out more.

Next week will be for Part two of the tribute with more from Ala and James (wife and son of JD) as well as Brad Reid.