Red Robinson's Legends

Can't believe it's been three years since Fred Latremouille died. One of the greats in Vancouver radio and TV and a true talent. Miss you Fred! Couldn't say it better than this item from redrobinson.com posted just after his death at 69:

"Years ago when I was Program Director at C-FUN someone asked me about Fred Latremouille. My response was “Once in a lifetime someone comes along with great talent, great looks and an all round professional who could do just about everything. But why did he have to come along in my lifetime?” It was a joke because Fred and I were friends and I could get away with it.

Carole and I returned from Palm Springs Thursday night to hundreds of emails with the news that Fred had died. It was a shock… and yet in a way it wasn’t. Fred emailed 10 days before we took off for the desert that he had bad news from his doctor. His liver was damaged and he would have to stop drinking wine or pay the ultimate price. In typical Fred fashion he concluded the email by saying, “But I love my wine!” That last sentence was scary. The habit started years ago when he suffered from various ailments related to his early cancer radiation. It eventually prevented him from playing golf as the post-radiation affected his bones. He never gave up swimming and made a habit of going every day.

When Fred was first diagnosed with cancer, he must have been in his early 20’s. My late son Jeff and I would visit him at his mother’s home in West Vancouver. Fred never forgot the visits. He really took a liking to Jeff and always asked about him.

In the early 60’s Fred and I co-hosted CBC‘s national TV show Let’s Go. It was a great opportunity for the two of us to work together, and we became friends with many on the show including Terry and Susan Jacks, Howie Vickers, Miles Ramsay and so many great and talented people.

In 1993 I decided to do morning radio again, this time on CISL. By that time AM was losing music listeners to FM. Fred was a great competitor on KISS FM and by then he was the number one radio personality in the city.

One of Fred’s closest friends was Wayne Cox, and when Wayne heard that Fred was slipping away he flew to Arizona to spend time with his ailing friend and to support Fred’s wife Cathy. Now that is a true friend and Wayne is that kind of a guy. I have never met anyone so sincere. A great guy.

Many images have appeared in my mind since the news hit me yesterday. Pictures of the C-FUN Good Guys, our time together on Let’s Go and the good times we shared in Hawaii. I will cherish his memory for the rest of my life.

I especially liked this tribute from another Vancouver radio legend, Doc Harris:

“Here was a guy with a mind so huge he did it all out of his head. The rest of us lugged in notebooks, scraps of paper, and scrawls on napkins to keep our ideas in front of us. Fred stored all his stuff in his frontal lobes. He was also the most charming man you ever met, unless you were in management and incompetent (and too thick to know you were seriously outgunned). I always enjoyed working and playing with him, because you knew whatever happened it would be entertaining. The worst thing about this: his health problems were a result of primitive medical treatment he received decades ago. Gonna miss ya, Freddie. You were always a ray of sunshine when things got dark.”

Fred Latremouille was truly… one of life’s Good Guys."

It happened sixty years ago today! On October 23, 1957 Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, Paul Anka, Buddy Knox, the Drifters, LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, and Jimmy Bowen and the Rhythm Orchids come to Vancouver's Georgia Auditorium for the Biggest Show of Stars. I was the show MC and spent time interviewing many of these rock'n'roll pioneers. Return with me to the halcyon days of rock'n'roll and let's talk to some of the biggest musical stars of the era!

I became friends with Johnny Cash in 1959 when I worked at KGW and he appeared at Portland’s Division Street Corral. After returning to Vancouver I brought him into CKWX for an on air interview. This continued for years. I can’t remember how many times I was emcee for his shows. He was always a warm man and treated everyone like we mattered.

Johnny sold more than 90 million records worldwide. You’ll remember some of his biggest hits: “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire” and “A Boy Named Sue”. Johnny died in 2003 aged 71, but his legacy lives on to this day. The Johnny Cash Heritage Festival will be held in Dyess, Arkansas (where his family settled when he was 3) this week (October 19–21).

Enjoy this 1959 backstage interview from Portland's Division Street Corral.

I became friends with Johnny Cash in 1959 when I worked at KGW and he appeared at Portland's Division Street Corral. After returning to Vancouver I brought him into CKWX for an on air interview.  This continued for years. I can't remember how many times I was emcee  for his shows. He was always a warm man and treated everyone like we mattered.

Johnny Cash sold more than 90 million records worldwide. You'll remember some of his biggest hits: "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire" and "A Boy Named Sue". Johnny died in 2003 aged 71 but his legacy lives on to this day. The Johnny Cash Heritage Festival will be held in Dyess, Arkansas (where his family settled when he was 3) this week (October 19–21). Details at http://johnnycashheritagefestival.com/

August 22, 1964... 53 years ago on this date, the Beatles appeared at Vancouver's Empire Stadium for their first Canadian concert. I was the MC and it was my job to settle the 20,000 screaming fans down so I could introduce the Beatles. In this 1989 demo for Western International Communications/CKNW you'll hear concert audio, musical snippets and my memories... including the moment John Lennon told me to "Get the **** off our stage!" Enjoy this piece of musical history!

A celebration of the life of Elvis Presley is going on in Memphis this week. I was the emcee for Elvis Week in Memphis for five years, and had the pleasure of being emcee for his Vancouver appearance in August 1957. This is the 40th anniversary of his death. Over the years I became friends with some of his friends including Joe Esposito, who sadly died earlier this year. Here is a small excerpt from my salute to Elvis 20 years ago. What special cherished memories. (Copyright 1997 Drew Marketing)

Hearing that one of my favourite performers had died shook me. I knew Glen Campbell had dementia and it would eventually take his life, but the reality of his passing hit me hard. Here is one of the most talented performers ever. He was a much in-demand session player, admired by his peers and a genuinely nice person. I did many interviews with Glen over the years and the last time was at Vancouver's PNE where he appeared with his daughter. You could see that he was struggling but he presented his show like the professional he was. I miss him greatly.

Hearing that one of my favourite performers had died shook me. I knew Glen Campbell had dementia and it would eventually take his life, but the reality of his passing hit me hard. Here is one of the most talented performers ever. He was a much in-demand session player, admired by his peers and a genuinely nice person. I did many interviews with Glen over the years and the last time was at Vancouver's PNE where he appeared with his daughter. You could see that he was struggling but he presented his show like the professional he was. I miss him greatly.

My friend and entertainment industry legend Bruce Allen has accepted my invitation to join Pat O'Day and me on the Red Rock Diner finale Sunday, August 27 from 12-4pm on 650 CISL!

Bruce and I go way back: he was an 11-year old kid in the audience when I presented Bill Haley and The Comets at Vancouver's Kerrisdale Arena in 1956! He's been a true friend over the decades, but he tells me he's had enough of me retiring!

We recorded these promos in his Vancouver office yesterday. Just for "fun" I've included a finger-snapping classic C-FUN jingle from the "Go-Go" era in 1966.

Bruce Allen, Pat O'Day and the music we love... a once-in-a lifetime event you won't want to miss. Sunday, August 27 from 12-4 pm on 650 CISL! Streaming worldwide at http://player.cisl650.com/CISLAM

I'm thrilled to announce that old friend and legendary KJR/Seattle jock Pat O'Day will be my guest on the final Red Rock Diner show Sunday, August 27 from 12-4pm on 650 CISL! Join me won't you? Pat and I had a lot of fun together over the years, and we had more fun yesterday in beautiful Friday Harbor recording these promos for the show. Bonus: a couple of those unforgettable KJR jingles so we can all sing along. Enjoy!