David Marsden - Hall Of Famer

Yes, it was a grand time yesterday as we gathered for the Canadian Music Awards at the Royal York. Part of the award ceremony was the induction of my first Program Director into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. David Marsden was there in all his wonderful glory to accept an award that was probably long over due. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland several years ago. I've written a few things about Marsden over the years so I won't go on about what a great guy he is, and how much fun it was to work under him at the "Spirit" oh so many years ago. What I will do is tell you how enjoyable it was yesterday to see him on the stage and listen to his heart warming speech while sitting amongst some of my favourite people on earth. Most radio wanks look back upon their careers with warm and fuzzy memories, even the bad times somehow become good so many years later. It's not unique. But I can honestly say what we had going at CFNY through the 80's was very unique and Marsden was the architect. There were really no boundaries when it came to creativity and taking chances and the result was some fantastic radio. I remember back in the 80's talking to other sportscasters from CHUM and CFTR and CKEY and realizing how fortunate I was to be working under Marsden. Most of the other guys at the other stations were handcuffed and controlled. I wasn't, far from it. Those other stations may have had higher profiles and bigger ratings, but I know for a fact they weren't having as much fun as we were. It was a family at CFNY and what brought us together was not only the David and Goliath thing, it was being parked out in Brampton and all living within minutes of each other. We not only worked together, we played together, we grew together and the memories are endless. Marsden, Don Berns, Earl Jive, Darren Wasylyk, Earl Veale, Leslie Cross, Alan Cross, Geets Romo, Steve McAuley, Mary Curtis, Maureen Bulley, Liz Janik and Ivar Hamilton. They were all in the same room yesterday and it felt good. And to top it all off, Humble Howard was the MC for the afternoon and not only did he do a great job, it all seemed so fitting. We were there to celebrate the Marsden era but Humble represented the following era, the 90's era, and it was just as much fun. We need another re-union.