Broadcasting icon Bob Laine, who spent most of his career with CHUM Radio, has died in Toronto after what his family calls a courageous battle with illness.
He was 72.
Laine began his radio career at CFRS in Simcoe, Ontario but quickly moved to CHUM Toronto, signing on as the all-night D-J in May, 1958.
He stayed there, with the signature opening, ``Good morning world, this is Bob-O. Good morning Bob-O, this is world,'' for a decade -- with one brief interruption.
``The Voice'' left CHUM in March, 1962 for a very short stint as C FGM's morning man but was back at the overnight show in May of that same year.
Laine moved to afternoons in 1968 and then into management in 1970 as program director of CHUM-FM.
He retired from the company in 2003 as a corporate vice-president after almost 46 years with the company.
Laine once said that during his time at CHUM, he did everything one can do in radio.
He was on the air, a station manager, a general manager and a radio station designer to name a few -- and said he had the best time for all those years.
During his time in management, Laine founded the CHUM radio network.
He moved on to a new project after he retired.
He and long-time producer Doug Thompson began culling CHUM's enormous archives, dating back to the station's beginning as a Top 40 station in 1957.
Laine is survived by his wife Sandi, daughters Cindy, Patti and Joey, and granddaughter Laynee.
READ: The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum/R.I.P. Bob Laine
BIO:
Bob Laine began his radio career in Simcoe Ontario, at CFRS – Canada's Farmland Radio Service. After nine months, Bob moved on to work on the all night show at CHUM in Toronto in 1958. After a decade on the night shift, Bob moved to days, where he had the opportunity to impress “the big guys” with what he knew and, in 1970, he was offered the opportunity to manage CHUM–FM. At age 32, he entered management and never looked back.
During his time in management, Bob relished being involved in the whole operation of the radio station. He founded the CHUM radio network, and became its Vice President – General Manager. When asked about his time at CHUM, Bob couldn't single out a particular important moment, but felt strongly that he had had a glorious career. He was truly touched when Thursday October 30, 2003 was named Bob Laine Day at 1050 CHUM in honour of his retirement. He thought it was wonderful and a real treat, especially since he was on air with Gord James on the morning show.
On May 26, 2007, CHUM celebrated its 50th Anniversary which happened to coincide with Doors Open Toronto. As a result, there were guided tours through the building, as well as special programming throughout the day. Bob was instrumental in the planning and implementation of the CHUM celebration, including spending six hours on air that day, as well as arranging a reunion of CHUM “veterans” the night before which was attended by a few hundred people.
Five years ago, Bob Laine and Doug Thompson began assembling the history and heritage of CHUM which would become the CHUMuseum. In his words, “Nobody knows CHUM better than I do. So much stuff that had gone missing that I approached Doug Thompson to see if we could salvage some stuff.”
Now retired, Bob is heavily involved with the CHUMuseum, and the CBMF/FMCR. Among his other interests, Bob teaches radio programming at Seneca College, conducts pre–op classes at Sunnybrook Hospital for open–heart surgery patients, and proudly reports that “Since I've retired, I've taken 10 strokes off my golf game.” http://www.cbmf-fmcr.ca/Newsletter/march2009/laine.php
Read:
Memory "Laine": An Original CHUM Disc Jockey Remembers
Rock Radio Scrapbook
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As posted on the The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum
Link: http://members2.boardhost.com/scrapbook/msg/1317649454.html
Bob Laine Celebration
Posted by Howard Christensen on October 3, 2011, 9:44 am
Last night (Sunday) at Seneca College, upwards of 150 people showed up to celebrate the late Bob Laine's life and, to some extent, still come to grips with his recent passing.
Speakers included: Roger Ashby, Brian Master, Jim Waters, Fred Sherratt, Dave Haydu, Duff Roman, Benjy Karch, Doug Thompson and, as a finale, Sandi Laine, Bob's widow.
(Regrets if I've omitted anyone.)
An inspiring evening and a wonderful goodbye to a truly GREAT broadcaster.
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FAREWELL TO BOB LAINE
Posted by JRWood
http://members2.boardhost.com/scrapbook/msg/1320284823.html
I was very moved by the speeches given at Bob Laine’s Memorial Tribute a week ago last Sunday at Seneca College. The event, organized by Bob’s longtime friend Doug Thompson, featured heart-warming speeches by Doug himself, Benjii Karsh, Duff Roman, John Donabie, Brian Thomas and others. ... READ HERE
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