Warren Cosford:  

WARREN COSFORD is one of those broadcasters who has worn the tag of radio visionary. He is, also, without any fear of contradiction, a huge fan of the medium. During a long career, he brought his enthusiasm to bear at a number of stations, from Winnipeg, through Toronto, to the Greater New York City market, as well as London, ON, and Windsor/Detroit. Everywhere he went, he left his mark. He also recognized the importance of community and for years Warren hosted a semi-regular gathering in Toronto that would mix and match young Turks with the sage elders in a dinner setting. These gatherings would find veterans in their fourth decade of radio sitting down and discussing radio with the young lions of the industry, and Warren would always ensure that, with respect to old friendships as much as possible, the young would sit with the old and the in-betweeners. It was his way of ensuring that these gatherings avoided becoming nothing more than nostalgia exercises. Such a setup always allowed experience to meld with bright new ideas, and all attending became better at their jobs because of it. Warren has touched a lot of people, helped many and provided guidance and mentoring and perhaps it is his human quality that leads radio columnist Greg Simpson to select Warren as the subject for this second FYIMusic Interview. Following, please find Warren¿s answers to our five questions: What inspired you to pursue a career in broadcasting? Radio and Music were a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. At Age 10, I was in the Good Deed Club Choir, which broadcast on CBC Radio from Eaton¿s Assembly Hall in Winnipeg for an hour every Saturday Morning. The choir had about 50 kids. There were maybe 10 boys. I was the Soprano Soloist. The show was live in front of an audience and, in addition to the choir, featured young people playing musical instruments and/or singing. Often the show would be anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes short of the hour and, because we had to ¿hit¿ The Network, I was recruited to sing as many verses of ¿The Davy Crockett Song¿ as required, accompanying myself on a ukulele and wearing a coonskin hat. Then my voice broke, but I kept ¿doing¿ radio as The Kid on many CBC Winnipeg Productions of Radio Theatre throughout my teens. Gordon Pinsent must have been my Dad at least a dozen times. It was Theatre that put me next to CJOB Program Director Cliff Gardner and that led to my first part time job in commercial radio. Your greatest mentor in your early years? I was lucky to have quite a few. Certainly Cliff Gardner, who I consider to be the ...Expand for more