Broadcasting from the beach
by Maureen Gulyas
Photo by Kyle Hoobin, Delta Optimist
Coaxed out of retirement, two of radio's best known personalities will host a new show from their ocean-view home in Tsawwassen.
Fred Latremouille and Cathy Baldazzi inked a "what's-not-to-love" deal with 104.9 Clear FM.
Starting this Tuesday, the team will return to the air from 5:30 to 9 a.m. weekdays.
The radio station agreed to build a studio in their South Delta home, so there will be no commuting for the couple who have split time between Tsawwassen and Maui since leaving their KISS FM morning show in 1999.
"How good is that?" asked Latremouille this week. "It's one those dream deals. When you're young, you think if only I could do it (the show from home), and play the music I like. We're looking forward to it."
Latremouille and Baldazzi have signed a multi-year deal as part of the station's move to an adult contemporary format.
That format will begin this weekend with three days of commercial free music.
"Even after six years, when you say 'Fred and Cathy' everybody knows who you're talking about," said Paul Fisher, executive vice president of Rogers Broadcasting in B.C., the company that owns the station.
Latremouille said the time off has been good, but he and Cathy have missed interacting with listeners.
"We're very excited about being back and can't wait to get started," he said.
The format will be mix of talk, music and phone calls.
"Now that Latre-mornings are back, thousands of listeners who've missed Fred and Cathy can join them again in a really casual setting as they're getting ready for their day," Fisher said.
Latremouille's career started in the 1960s. He took over as morning host at CFUN in 1984, where he eventually teamed up on air with Baldazzi. The two have been together on and off the air ever since.
published on 09/02/2006
From the Delta Optimist