http://www.sceneandheard.ca/article.php?id=321
A Spirit of Radio reunion
The Edge 102�s alternative pioneers gather to cheer its tumultuous
past
By Antoine Tedesco
Discussing the very idea of radio via email with David Marsden is equal
parts history lesson, broadcasting lesson, but more importantly a lesson
in passion for what radio (and music) was, is and can be.
Marsden is the former director of operations and programming at CFNY-FM
(now known as 102.1 The Edge) from 1977 to 1989. With the help of deejay
Don Berns and Steve Macaulay, CFNY�s former sales manager, the trio
organized The Spirit Reunion 2003, where fans of the past and present
incarnations of Toronto�s coolest mainstream radio station can experience
its ground-breaking history. As Marsden put it, be satisfied ��that youth
was not wasted. The ability to pass on to the next generation what it was
about without sounding like gramps telling how he starved as a child.
It�s the acceptance that sometimes the memory is greater than the reality
and to hang on to the memory.�
For those who are not familiar with the early days of CFNY, it would be a
good idea to visit the fan Web site at SpiritofRadio.ca. The site�s
history page is an extensive look at the early days of not only the radio
station, but the early days of alternative radio as well.
From its inception in the early 1960s as CHIC-AM/FM (pronounced
�chick-fm�), a small, talk-oriented community station with an all-female
staff, broadcasting from a modest yellow bricked house in the sleepy T.O.
suburb of Brampton, CFNY has had an interesting history: In the 1970s it
was bought by two �kooky� brothers named Leslie and Harry Allen Jr. who
decided to switch formats to play album rock in the evenings on the
station�s FM counterpart. By 1977, the Allen brothers gave their FM arm a
new name: CFNY-FM. Dave Pritchard, CFNY�s first program director, gave
the station some structure and hosted specialty programs on reggae,
blues, and a syndicated Beatles show. Conflicts between Pritchard and the
Allens led to his firing, and the hiring of Marsden, then an announcer,
as program director in 1978.
Already a legend thanks to his crazy Dave Mikey persona from CKEY in
Toronto, Marsden took the reigns and started what many consider a true
radio revolution. �It didn't really feel any different than how I feel
now. The time was different. The headspace was different. Radio was
different. It was during a time when people had only one ear. That�s why
we only had AM radio.�
The radio doors where wide open when CFNY decided to take chances back in
the late 70s/early 80s.
�As for the great things in the past I would have to list the incredible
radio team working at the station in the 1977 to 1989 period. Without
sounding patronizing, I would also have to include the listeners. They
had the patience to let us find our way and to stick with the station,�
he said. �Of course CFNY was also wonderful because of the passion on
both sides of the mike. For me one of the great things we did was
introduce so much new music into the stream . . . the on air team was one
of the top teams in Canadian radio history. Not only did we love what we
did we also joined the listening family when we went home.�
David Marsden
Why a reunion? What does the past have to do with the present? Did anyone
really care?
�We decided to first put out a single email asking what the interest
level might be. One single email sent from my computer and then copied to
others through Don and Steve�s computers,� he told S&H.ca via an
email interview. �It was staggering. Within hours the replies were coming
in. Then that single email began to slip out into the e-boxes of
listeners and friends. Within a week we knew that now was the time.�
The evening of Nov. 12 will see a list of radio groundbreakers rock at
The Guvernment/Kool Haus (132 Queen�s Quay East). Canadian bands Martha
and the Muffins, Nash the Slash, Carole Pope and Kevan Staples of Rough
Trade, The Pukka Orchestra, The Spoons, and other top bands of that era
will be there. Also the likes of classic CFNY DJs �Deadly� Hedley Jones,
Don Berns, Alan Cross, Maie Pauts, Scot Turner, Earle Jive and many more.
The night will be a true blast from the past for early CFNY listeners and
a refreshing change, as well as a much needed history lesson, for the
current generation of The Edge�s listening audience.
The listeners hold the cards, Marsden said.
�When a risk taking station is found the audience can secure their own
future by supporting the new and letting the Programmers know what is
expected. Believe it. There are still broadcasters who will listen to
their listeners,� he continued. �Consider it quite obvious � the new guy
on the block has to find a way to attract audiences from the old stations
they have listened to for years. That is a large task but certainly not
impossible.�
But CFNY has definitely changed. It no longer has deejays who
individually choose which records to spin. Gone are the days of �Deadly�
Hedley and Chris Sheppard, who according to Marsden �felt intimidated and
obviously tense�, when offered radio jobs.
�Certainly the radio colleges must endure some of the blame for too many
homogenized deejays getting into the business,� Marsden said. �They teach
well but they stop one step away from the real goal. That goal is to
inspire young people to look inside and realize they each have something
special to give. All it takes is encouragement and most young and old
people will find that something special. I am afraid school at all levels
lack the ability to inspire. That is wrong.�
When asked about music, Marsden was straight to the point: �During the
past decade there has been greater fragmentation in the music world than
ever before. Even genres break down into multiple parts . . . this
fragmentation came about when the record industry, music television and
radio gave up their positions as leaders.
�As for the future, music always travels in evolutions. History will note
there is usually from eight to 12 years for the evolution to be complete.
My biggest fear is that music will not play an important role in the
entertainment elements of future lives. To protect against this happening
it will take a focus by everyone involved in the industry. Right now too
many are pointing fingers in other directions. That is an exercise in
futility. Yes, some egos will have to be lowered for this to happen.�
Although CFNY remains an alternative radio station, Marsden said The
Edge�s won�t �carry the flag into the future. It is an established
station with an audience to serve.�
Listen to Marsden Thursday and Friday nights, 7 p.m. � midnight � on ROCK
94.9
_______________________
Scott MacLean
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
ICQ: 9184011
http://www.nerosoft.com
