Stu Jeffries interview

Today's interview is with Disc and Video Jockey; Boom 97.3's own Stu Jeffries. In this interview, Mr. Jeffries speaks about his start as a radio personality at CJGX in Yorkton Saskatchewan, becoming the host of Good Rockin' Tonite on a lark, as well as his long history as one of Canada's finest radio personalities. I want to thank Mr. Jeffries for taking time to speak with us about his career.

This interview was recorded via Skype on June 9th 2020. This interview is the property of the JM Archive and The Spider's Lair Studios. Boom 97.3 and its logo are the property of the Stingray group (Montréal, Québec). Any work referencing this material must give written and/or oral credit to the interview and its source. This interview may not be excerpted or re-posted without expressed written or oral permission from the Spiders Lair Studios.

0:00 Introduction
0:33 On his earliest memories of Radio
4:01 On his early education
4:19 On getting hired at CJGX in Yorkton as an on air Disc Jockey
5:19 On struggling to find a persona early in his radio career
6:31 On leaving CJGX in 1981 and moving to CJME in Regina
6:53 On programming Rock Music for CJME's late night blocks
8:36 On Canadian Content Mandates
10:00 On the qualities that make for good Disc Jockey
11:32 On early Television work auditioning for and hosting The Fame Game for the CBC and how that lead to a job hosting Good Rockin' Tonite
14:02 On his opinion of Good Rockin' Tonite and music videos
16:31 On the format of Good Rockin' Tonite
18:13 On having to commute from Regina to Vancouver to do both radio and Good Rockin' Tonite and the hectic schedule that entailed
20:19 On interviewing Paul McCartney and Mark Knopfler
22:51 On co-presenting the live show: Switchback, as well as memories of some mishaps that happened during shoots
26:29 On the difficulties of working so many projects in the late 80s
27:46 On being hired at CKXY in Vancouver in 1988
29:43 On Good Rockin' Tonite ending and the final shoot
31:41 On hosting sports program: The Score
32:52 On being hired at CKLG in in Vancouver and being ill-equipped for Talk Radio format
34:07 On being recognized by viewers and viewer stories
36:09 On meeting Blaire Murdoch, being hired by him to host Love Handles and his thoughts on him
39:14 On the format of Love Handles
40:54 On Love Handles Announcer: David Kaye
42:11 On Love Handles being one of the first North American game shows to have openly homosexual couples
43:37 On being hired as a Video Disc-Jockey and host for Country Music Television Canada (CMT Canada)
44:54 On being part of the media tour for Garth Brooks Sevens album and specials on CMT Canada and being a Disc Jockey for Toronto 95.3
47:08 On being hired as a Disc Jockey in Burlington and later Hamilton before being hired at BOOM 97.3 in Toronto and what that meant
50:09 On moving away from Television, Why he believes Video Jockeys are no longer at the forefront of the medium and why Radio is his preferred method of work
52:23 On the average work day at BOOM 97.3 and on fan/listener feedback
54:26 On his proudest professional achievements
56:33 On his biggest professional regrets and the growing process of becoming a professional
57:40 On the future of radio and the positive power it brings
1:00:22 On his work with Make-a-Wish Foundation and his anti-bullying
1:02:37 Advice he has for those wishing to work in Radio
1:04:17 On those who he admires in radio