Norm Pringle Passes

[Victoriaradio]

The creative and innovative broadcaster who worked in Alberta and B.C. radio died on March 17. Norm in his late 80,s was still writing songs and operating his virtual radio station up to the end. He was inducted in the Victoria Radio Hall of Fame as a broadcaster. Norm was active on Facebook until a couple of weeks ago. He always said one of his achievements was "discovering" Tommy Hunter and giving him his first big break. He was my early mentor at CKDA and we have been friends all these years. Certainly a Victoria radio legend. Rest in Peace Norm!

[Victoriaradio]

About Norm:

1923- Born Calgary, Alberta Canada Dec. 9th
1929- Went to school at age 6. No Kindergarten or College in1923, that was for the rich folk.
1941- Joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at age 17. W.W. 2 was in full swing for the British Empire (1939 -1945) First Assignment DISPATCHER at #7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson Manitoba. Survived a plane crash thus the name Crash Norm. Transferred to a secret radar station on Vancouver Island, Spring Cove. Not knowing what radar was Norm set up a movie theater and canteen for the 100 Air Force men stationed there on the rugged coast.
1945- was transferred to the #2 RCAF Wireless School in Calgary.
1945- Honorably discharged.
1945- Hitchhiked to Hollywood, CA and stayed for a month as a guest of the USO . Norm hobnobbed with Jack Warner, Mary Pickford, Walter Pidgeon, Wallace Beery and Gene Hersholt. He met Betty Davis and John Garfield at the Hollywood Canteen. Returned to Calgary and became a Radio Announcer (the word deejay was not in the vocabulary then) at radio station CJCJ (now CKXL): was chief announcer , program director, all night DJ and discovered Leslie Neilsen. (Story on this website). Arranged and emceed many events to help Don McKay become Mayor of Calgary.
1950- Met Elsie Morrell (a listener) in Calgary
1950- Moved to CKMO Vancouver, now CFU. Norm was Production Manager and DJ
He Spearheaded radio-thons for local charities.
1950- Norm composed SANTA GOT STUCK IN THE CHIMNEY, proceeds for his
ORPHANS AND CRIPPLED CHILDRENS FUND. Sale of Santa on the air bought a
piano for a crippled children' s hospital
1952- Moved to CKDA Victoria & discovered Tommy Hunter (Canada's Country Gentleman). Story on this website. Interviewed Elvis Presley. Discovered the first Elvis impersonator, Jim Smith. Interviewed Bing Crosby and numerous other stars.
Hear Elvis and story on this website. Besides a radio DJ was the first Dance DJ.
1954- Married Elsie Morrell (Elsie passed away in 2009).
1954- Composed TRY A PRAYER for Elvis Presley. Proceeds from the Evan Kemp record donated to Norm's GOOD SAMARITAN FUND in Victoria, BC.
1956- Pioneered TV at CKDA TV VICTORIA with the show THE HOUSE PARTY
1957- Norm and Elsie's son Garry was born (named after Garry Crosby).
1958- Moved to Hollywood, CA . Joined Western United Recorders .
Recorded the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor
Sophie Tucker, Ted Lewis, The Tijuana Brass, Dennis Day, Lorne Green, Sony and Cher and a mystery singer sponsored by Howard Hughes.
1959- A daughter Linda born.(named after Buddy Clark's hit song 'Linda')
1963- Moved to General Music Corporation in Hollywood as an audio supervisor. Worked for Gordon Zahler. Norm is in the book WHEELING THE DEAL by Chip Jacobs see main page of Cybercloud.com. Norm is also in the book ROCKBOUND by Red Robinson.
1977- Joined Warner Brothers Studio as an audio engineer. First movies CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN. TV series THE WALTONS, EIGHT IS ENOUGH.
1983- Retired at age 69
1983- Created website CYBERCLOUD RADIO STATION.
1990- Composed THE SILVER FOX WALTZ for the wife of President George Bush. She was known as THE SILVER FOX.
2004- Changed website to CYBERCLOUD RADIO, TV, AND PODCASTING STATION to raise funds for the GI MEMORIAL TRAIL PROJECT.
2007- Placed on You Tube RING OF FIRE by Johnny Cash to help the Red Cross and Salvation army for the Malibu fire disaster.
Created the Elvis Wall at the Motion Picture and TV Hospital in Woodland Hills with the help of Graceland. Story on Cybercloud
Composed 6 songs with composer royalties donated to THE GI MEMORIAL TRAIL and other foundations.

MY DREAM AND I
MY FRIEND FROM NASHVILLE
THE LEGEND OF TURTLE MOUNTAIN
SANTA GOT STUCK IN THE CHIMNEY
THEY CALLED IT CHRISTMAS DAY
THE AMERICAN GI

[Jack Bennest]

Norm Pringle on left, the King and Norm’s wife Elsie

Elsie passed away some time ago.

The times they are a changin'

[cart_machine]

Wasserman column, June 19, 1969:

New record release on the Garland label is anti-war sung to the tune of a popular hymn, called When This Bloody War is Over. The artist is listed as Kevan Emp and The Rebel Sons of Sagittarius. The local angle is the fact that the singer is, in fact, veteran country musician Evan Kemp, longtime Trailrider, currently holding forth at the Little Lulu. The story is that while on a recent visit to L.A. Kemp looked up old pal Norm Pringle, a former Victoria radio man. Pringle had prepared the tune and he put Kemp together with some L.A. sidemen. Evan got chilly feet about the subject matter when he heard the master and asked for a name change.

cArtie.