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Charlie O'Brien Biographical Information
Charlie has spent over 30years in the broadcasting industry working at some of North America's leading radio stations both on-air and in programming.
It all began with a dare to try our for a DJ slot at Radio Western, the campus radio station at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. A great volunteer crew there at the campus club included future broadcasters Gary Slaight (Pres. Standard Radio), Ian Davies (CFPL,CJOM), Dave Taylor (CHUM News), Mike Colton (CBC News), Dave Jutras (CFPL) and Bill Dermody (broadcast law). Part-time work at CFPL hooked Charlie up with his first full time gig doing afternoons at CKSO Sudbury, Ontario.
After a stop in Canada's capital city of Ottawa at Baton Broadcasting's CFGO - The GO 14, Charlie moved on to the Big 8 CKLW Baton's sister station in Windsor/Detroit in 1976. Starting on the all night show Charlie jumped to mid-days where he followed Pat Holiday and did the lead-in for PM driver "Brother Bill" Gable. Heady times indeed.
In 1984 the lure of programming precipitated a move to London, Ontario to run CHR CJBK - London's All Hit Radio for a short time before a return on-air to CKLW - this time on 93.9FM. It was mid-days playing Oldies - all the great Motor City classics from the 50's, 60's and 70's.Charlie was named Music Director; later Assistant Program Director and then Program Director in 1991 programming 93.9FM CKLW. When CHUM Group purchased CKLW Charlie continued as Program Director of Oldies 93.9FM CKLW and nostalgia formatted 580 Memories CKWW.
The next stop was Toronto. 18 months as afternoon drive jock on AC formatted Z97.3FM where former Big 8 and CHUM rocker Tom Rivers was ruling the morning roost. Then a jump back to the CHUM Group - swing on 1050 CHUM Toronto. After a number staff changes Charlie took over afternoon drive on CHUM in January 1997.
For a time Charlie was pretty busy - for 18 months hosting a coast to coast request show heard across Canada on the PRN Network while also working at CHUM. He hosted the popular "Goldline Request Show" heard on stations from Vancouver, B.C. to Corner Brook, NFLD. - and everywhere in between!The day starts with the Morning Drive Show on 580 Memories CKWW in Detroit from 5am. to 10am. then it's mid-days on Oldies Radio 1050 CHUM Toronto and Oldies 990 Montreal.
In his spare time Charlie is also Program Director of 580 CKWW and the national in-store voice for Shopper's Drug Mart stores and is available for ID's, sweepers and promos for your station in realtime audio,nextday DAT or Internet mp3 format. You'll find him golfing and gardening in the summer months or struggling with the guitar and keyboard most other times.
Well let's hear it
Go to voicework.ca to catch all of Charlie's demos and the Control Room for aircheck samples. You can link to CKWW's or CHUM's web site from the Links Page and hear live streaming RealAudio while surfing the Net. Just minimize the RealAudio player and you can keep listening while surfing.
Last Revised: April 11, 2002