by Mike Cleaver » Sat Jul 07, 2018 8:03 pm
JJ was definitely one of a kind.
He worked for CHUM in the decade before I did in much of the 60s.
I only got to work with him remotely in the 80s and 90s as I was the producer and co-anchor of the CHUM National Network Newscast along with Hal Anthony in Ottawa.
JJ always contributed a weekly editorial to the show.
He twice tried to hire me to work with him at CFUN but I chose to say in Toronto.
We'd have our battles over editorial but when I took over the National, I always tried to include voicers and wraps from all of our stations across the country.
He thought the second anchor for the show should be in Vancouver and I agreed, seeing I was in Toronto and Hal was in Ottawa but I never was able to sell the idea to Mr. Waters.
I loved JJ's voice, his integrity and his quick wit and we had great times when we got together at various National RTNDA Conventions.
I'm going to miss him greatly, last seeing and talking with him a few years ago at one of Red's RPM lunches.
Mike Cleaver Broadcast Services
Engineering, News, Voice work and Consulting
Vancouver, BC, Canada
54 years experience at some of Canada's Premier Broadcasting Stations