it seems the new owners of Crave 95/CISL are less than impressed with the performance of there newly acquired radio stations on the west coast.
Just got word Astral's current GM Gary Russell will take the fall for a less than stellar performance and head into an early retirement.

I spent several years working with the man known as Gary Russell, and he was a fair, honest, good man, to the people he worked with and who worked for him.  I hope he carries on in the biz, because we need guys like him.  If he retires, I wish him nothing but the best.  He's helped a lot of people with their radio careers.  But I think he has a lot more to contribute to the right situation, and I hope it comes about.

Hey Gord...

I'm one of the many people who crossed paths with Gary Russell during his Z95 stint  here in Vancouver and have to say that I found him to be pretty much the complete opposite of the man you describe.  That said, 2 radio truisms come to mind:

1)  Anyone who's been in the business as long as Russell will have a long lineup of people willing to both praise and vilify them

and

2)  anyone who's been in the business as long as Russell can always find a new gig/position/title if they want it.  This industry has a notoriously short memory.

And while I won't exactly wish Mr. Russell well, I will extend that handshake to you ....we worked in Edmonton during the same phase in the 80s for awhile   Hope you're doing well!

OK, Simon Says....fair enough.  I am just defending my old friend.  It was great working with him when I did, and he's OK in my mind, and I just want to put a good word in for him on his retirement.  Any of us that can get thru a career in this biz without any criticism would have to be a saint.  Good Luck GAR.

Gar helped me out a great deal when I first came to CITI FM and he was PD of CKY.  As far as I'm concerned you can count me in the good column as far as Gary Russell is concerned.  We shared many lunches together at the old Tipsy Bull in Polo Park! I even remember some of them. All the best to you Gar whatever you choose to do.

I too had a 'GOOD" Gary experience when I was at CJAY 92 in Calgary.

He was very helpful when I worked with him there.

And was a great guy to deal with.

When Gord Robson AND Steve Young show up,  you know its a good thread!  And since Marty Forbes is hovering out there somewhere...here's my bit:

Best wishes Gary.  I hope you break 70.  And, you did make a difference in this business.

Merry Christmas to all of you.  And take a look around..the people you know today are the ones you're going to be working with, or blogging with, 25 years from now, if you make it.

I suppose it should be pointed out that there are, in fact, two Gary Russells. And this is not a "two-face" reference.

The Gary Russell I know is in Prince George at Cariboo Central (now Vista) radio. Has been for close to 3 decades. When I tell people I work with Gary Russell, they always assume I mean the guy from Standard. I'll bet both men have probably lost and gained credibility from each others' reputations and word-of-mouth.

Hovering Matthew?  I feel so dirty.     Some of us have worked for not just 'good' radio stations - but GREAT radio stations - virtually our entire careers...for Gary it's around 40 some years - at legendary radio stations - CKY - CKLG in the 'heyday' of the LG/CFUN era - moving on to 'building' great radio stations like CJAY in Calgary to name just a few...and when you do what we do 24/7/365 in striving to build 'great' radio stations not everybody makes the cut and the hardest part of what PD's and 'GM's do is to let people go, thus bitter comments from those people who DON'T make the cut are understandable...but simply by seeing the people that use their real names on these boards as opposed to those hiding behind monikers with their comments and criticsm - I can assure you the praise for Gary is coming from life long highly respeted radio veterans who's names you see here.  The greatest gift 'any' boss can give is by teaching and helping others...there's a long long list of broadcasters in many markets across Canada who have learned much from Mr. Russell.  I wish him all the best and I've enjoyed every moment working across the street from him in Vancouver in the early 1980's to working in the same company with him for the last 16 'great' years in Standard Radio.  

Gary was definately the smartest GM I had ever worked for. Others in Standard/Astral are downright dumb. This guy was top notch. Always gave great advice and direction. I hope that he'll surface again, as he's far too young to not be somehow involved. There are a ton of factors that come into play in making a radio station a success. Some GM's have PD's that are better at doing crossword puzzles than steering the ship. Sometimes they are inherited, sometimes not.

Nobody "hovers" with more class than you do Mr. Forbes.  And it's great to see Bruce Barker, Matthew McBride and Gord Robson show up here too.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

I have heard Astral plans to fine tune 30 stations within the next 12 months all former Standard stations. I heard certain am stations are planned to become some sort of sports and talk combo. any ideas what may happen to Crave?

I was lucky to work with Gary at CJAY. He was my GM for just about a year and he was nothing but helpful.
Good luck.

I've heard that Eric Samuels has had some responsibilities taken away from him, specifically the VP of Programming for the chain.   Any truth?

Gaqry Russell was always a great to me, and a real treat to work with. He was always imaginative, excited about making great radio, valued the opinions of those around him, and was pretty fair, too. I hope he stays with the business, as the industry needs more like him!

I too have had the pleasure to work with Gary Russell.I worked at Z 95.3FM for several years.He was my GM.I learned a great deal from him.He is patient,kind,hard working and a man with integrity! Gary has done so much for our industry.Maybe now after all these years he might want to enjoy time with his wife and children.

Gary, what ever you do...enjoy..I wish you all the best.



Jennifer

Thoughts on what will happen to Buzz Bishop now that Gary is gone?  It's no secret that G's the one who's been keeping him safe these past few years.

I first met Gary Russell one snowy evening at the front door of CKOM in 1969.  The snow and cold had just about stopped me and my MGB in our tracks enroute from Omaha to Edmonton.  The fact that I was even on THAT road in THAT car in THAT time of year speaks to my incredible yankee ignorance about Canada.  I learned a few things over the ensuing five years.

The first important thing I learned was what a wonderful person is Gary Russell.  I was invited in from the cold, and warmly greeted with great interest about my recent gig with KOIL.  In fact, he insisted on calling George Johns at home to tell him about this skinny guy from the land of Todd Storz, Gary Owens, Don Steele, Lyle Dean, Mike McCormack and Bob Benson, and to my surprise George came right over to the station.  We listened to airchecks and I told him I was on my way to hopefully interview with Keith James, and see a Nebraska pal at UA Edmonton.  I liked these two guys immediately, and we spent hours there in George's office trading stories.   Within weeks I was rooming with Gary and working for George.  

Ken Sebastian Singer and his Electric Banana, Buffalo Gil (Doc) Harris and Saskatoon's greatest identity crisis, the etherial Keith Elshaw and the Alfie moniker which we unrighteously hung on him, and Gary Bell in his first gig - before he was Spaceman - were the cast of characters... it was a radio riot!  We shared a hippyhouse with Kenny Shields and the band.  It's a wonder we ever got to work on time, or with our faculties somewhat intact.  

Later Gar and Gil and I followed George to Sudbury.  Much later when I was done with George's WNAP, Gar invited me to CKY to be a glorified production director.  I hired Joey Gregorash to the creative department, and it was a very neat experience.  I too enjoyed Dubonnet lunches with Gar at Polo Park.  In fact we lived just a few houses from each other on Campbell Street.

Anyone here who tries to saddle Gary Russell with the responsibility for the vagaries of the corporate broadcaster's mind - doesn't know Gar fer Adam, and even less about the radio wars.  Good luck Gary!  (By the way, 'retirement' from the rat race DOES put some distance between you and the rats.)
    

    

so what if he's a nice guy?

he's the one ultimately responsible for the ongoing 95.3 dismal rating.

he shoulda been gone long ago and most of his staff.  Standard prob held on to him more than they shoulda cuz they wanted the new owners to payout the big good bye package

good to hear that some real changes are on the way.  can't wait.....

He was also responsible for putting CJAY in Calgary on the map, and brought it to never before seen success.

Hey karmaboy, you sound like you 'can't wait' to hang the 'ultimate responsibility' on Gary Russell for some reason.  He's gone and you still have something to prove.  What's your real beef?  Too many 'nice guys' in radio?  Didn't get hired?  Did get fired?

The subject of this thread is a man.  It is not this radio station.  

Maybe you'd like to enlighten us all with your incredible knowledge of the details about what went wrong with this format, or the last one, or the one before that.  If so, you can start a topic about it eh?    

Anybody in this business who's made it past the allnight show would know that GM's 'delegate and administrate' all the personnel and operation details.  They're usually only a small part of deciding the 'creative' issues.  Those areas are most often jealously guarded by home office VP's and consultants as their exclusive province.  Of course the peter principle would predict that the corporate topdogs are some salesguys who worked on the air one weekend at college, where they got their Masters of Entertainment degrees.

To answer your myopic rhetoric about 'SO WHAT if he's a nice guy?'   I can only repeat the points made by a dozen folks on this thread.

So what if he's a smart man?
So what if he's an experienced broadcaster?
So what if he worked with the best in the business?
So what if he's led many stations over 4 decades to high ratings?
So what if his talents as a broadcaster have made millions for owners and employees?
So what if his friends include many accomplished professionals?
So what if he always treats his employees like respected human beings?

So what if you 'can't wait' to impress the new guys by trashing the old guys?
So what if you get the weekend gig?
So what if YOU ARE NOT A NICE GUY?

After reading your comments, it's a safe bet that you couldn't carry Russell's jockstrap, when it comes to broadcasting.  I know for certain that you couldn't, when it comes to being a person!  

I trust you understand that I mean no more disrespect than YOU do.

Here's one more 'pearl before the swine.'
"Nothing you can know that isn't known.  Nothing you can see that isn't shown.  It's easy."

p.s.  That you Bobby Steele - once from CFRA?  'Gary Wood' here.

No, we don't share the CFRA days. Hell, I don't know where that is. But we do share the same respect for Gary obviously. You nailed it. Gary lets those around him do the job that he hired them for. A man is only as good as his "tools." He's a hell of a guy and a great GM.

Right On Woody.....you put all the words in mouth I wish I could have said earlier.  GAR is a winner and always will be.
Thanks....Gord R.

Wow - Gord Forbes and Matthew McBride together in one place. I guess since Dr. Forbes and "Beaver" are contributing they have drawn me in as well. Gar taught me the basics of top 40 radio and radio in general. Even if it meant driving to Seattle to pick up Bay City Roller records or meeting flights from LAX with Elton Jon tunes. I was so fortunate to be at 1006 Richards with Gar and Roy, Doc, Shafe, Ross Davies, Gord, Terry Reid but the leader of the band was Gar. Who can not forget the strike of '75 and the leadership role he displayed. I have the up most respect for Gary and think in someway he has helped me with my career in the United States. Good on you Gar and hope to see you in White Rock the next time I'm out that way.