The Fox, as it once rocked

CFOX FM99 deejays & assorted staff circa 1987 – click for larger

I don't get nearly as much time to write on my personal blog these days, choosing it to aggregate writing at CityCaucus.com and BCWineLover.com most often. However, there are those little items which have absolutely nothing to do with city politics, urbanism or drinking fine B.C. wine, so they'll find their way here.

For example, thanks to Facebook and my old colleague Martin Strong (in photo above standing in back sixth from left), whose talents made the Brother Jake Show on Rock 101 shine until late last year, I was able to get the photo above. I'm standing in back, fourth from the right and just within reach of the beloved Fox mascot for CFOX FM 99 radio. What's astounding to me is how many of these folks are still holding down radio gigs nearly a quarter century later.

Front and centre is Robin LeRose (light coloured bow tie), who has been the mid-day announcer at either CFOX or Rock101 for most of the last three decades, I think. Bob Sae (second from left) continues to work as the announcer at BC Lions games, and no longer is behind a radio mic as far as I know. Kerry Marshall, the only bearded subject here standing sixth from the left, went into semi-retirement years ago before being brought back to read news on the Larry & Willy Show on Jack FM Vancouver. I listened to Kerry when he was the morning co-host on FM99 in the late 1970s!

Poking his head up fifth from the left is Steve Dunbar, formerly the morning show host at Shore 104 FM but at the time he was doing the overnight shift. Last year Steve had me come in and read a weekly commentary piece each week last summer.

I could go on and try and remember who everyone else is, but I recall the evening it was taken. We were located at a nightclub that was built for EXPO 86 called "86 Street" down at the Plaza of Nations (currently occupied by the Edgewater Casino).

That night I mixed it up with Bryan Adams and rocker Kim Mitchell (a new solo artist and formerly front man for Max Webster). As a total rock fanboy, I had a few beers before I could get up the nerve to say hello to either of them. Mitchell was courteous but very business-like. Hanging out with a bunch of radio guys isn't probably part of the job he adored. Adams apparently came by himself, and just hung out – ever the North Vancouver kid.

My role at CFOX was very short-lived. I was an operator (a guy who spins discs and plays commercials) in a weekend job I got not long after completing my university degree at UBC. Around that time I was doing more work on film sets as a DGC production assistant, and radio didn't seem nearly as glamorous as being on film sets.

Radio is probably one of the toughest entertainment sectors to succeed in. Two bad books in a row and you're down the road if you're on-air talent. I have to tip my hat to folks like Robin, Marty, Kerry and Steve (and others in this image above) for having so much staying power, and keeping us entertained.

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Housekeeping note: I updated some RSS feed code on the weekend and as a result subscribers to my Feedburner feed will have received a bunch of old posts in their inbox Monday, which wasn't intended. Sorry for any confusion.

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