RCMPsite.com's Glenn Parfitt makes presentation to Norm Pringle Photo: Godfrey Stephens
by Michael Easton Puget Sound Radio dot com Monday Sept. 22/08
a couple of days ago long-time friend Dave Kissinger emailed telling me he and his band were going to be inducted into the Victoria Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this Sunday. I then realized this was the weekend long time Victoria disc-jockey Norm Pringle was also to be inducted. Sunday at the 'Strath' was a date for ME!
Located in one of Victoria's most popular Hotel's the Strathcona Hotel on Douglas Street has a number of various night clubs, one called 'Element', formerly known, or part of it was the Old Forge was where all the action was taking place. I think I finally figured about where the bowling alley used to be, something long time Victorians can relate to.
'Familiar Faces'
As I desended down-under into the tombs of Element I ran into former CFAX/KOOL owner Mel Cooper. Red Robinson, Mel Cooper, Norm Pringle & R&R HOF Bob Dalziel
Mel's memory of Norm Pringle when he was PD at CKMO now CFUN, not only had Norm hired Mel away from CJAV in Port Alberni and brought him to the big smoke of Vancouver, but called George Melford Cooper into his office before going on the air and told him to drop the George and change his name to "Mel" for on-air purposes, something Mel decided to prolong. That was in 1951.
It was great to finally meet Michael Forbes of the Ocean's "Forbes and Marshall" Michael introduced me to his uncle John, John Forbes, along with Michael's dad Larry were the 'Brothers Forbes' who rocked the Old Forge in the old days, what a delight!
The Master of Ceremonies for the event was CFAX 1070 morning man Al Ferraby with a guest appearance from Mr. Radio himself, Red Robinson.
Red had come over from Vancouver to Introduce his long time friend and fellow broadcaster Norm Pringle as the inductee for Most Influential Broadcaster 1957-1965 . Red shared with us that when Norm left his disc-jockey job at CKDA in Victoria and headed down to California with his lovely young bride Elsie, Norm didn't have any on-air work lined up, so apon arrival in Hollywood, Norm was referred by a friend Rupert Stephens to apply for a job at Western United Recorders in Hollywood. It just so happens this man's son Godfrey Stephens provided the photo's for this occasion. Thank you very much Godfrey.
carpetRed for Red September 21, 2008 Red Robinson arrives in 68 California Mustang, greeted by RCMP founder Glenn Parfitt
'Fever'
back to when Red was driving down to Hollywood in a red convertible and met up with his old pal Norm who was now working for Western United Recorders. Norm's job was the recording and sending out of material for Armed Forces Radio Stations. Although Norm wasn't on the air, he still had a keen ear for music and had recorded a song from a local telethon program by Peggy Lee, the song was called Fever. When he played it for Red, Red was so impressed he brought it back to Vancouver with him and started playing it on the air. He got a call from Capital records Canada asking where he got the record, because Canadian fans were wanting to buy after the airtime he was giving play on his show. I think someone was talking when he gave the reply to the Canadian record company, something like it was his collection, it appearred a somewhat vague reply to their question. He was then contacted by Capital Records in Hollywood and was informed Ms. Lee had not recorded the song. Red suggested perhaps Ms Lee should be taken into the studio and record the song and the rest is history, the song was a Giant Number One hit. Norm certainly knew how to pick a winner.
PSR's Michael Easton and Norm Pringle Photo taken by Godfrey Stephens
back to my friend Dave Kissinger and his band called the Regents and each of the members were to be inducted into the Victoria Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the keyboard player was none other than Rogers Calgary radio man Vince Cownden. What a pleasure to see and talk with Vince after all these years. He tells me his dad Walter Cownden, a long time Victoria Radio man, probably the only radio guy I knew who worked at all three of the original Victoria stations, CJVI, CFAX and CKDA/CFMS. Vince says dad is still going strong and is active at 89 years old.
PSR Congratulates Glenn Parfitt for his incredible efforts in bringing the Victoria Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame to fruition and for a website that marvels me with each visit try it http://www.RCMPsite.com
a message from Glenn Parfitt... Another one in the books folks as the Victoria Rock & Roll Music Hall O Fame puts another magical afternoon in the history books. A huge thanks to Red Robinson, Al Ferraby, Bob Dalziel, Barry Ensign, Art Horsman, Deb Rhymer and Brian Newcomebe for emceeing and introducing the Class Of 2008 to the Hall. Special thanks to Allen & Laurie Page for hooking Red up with the coolest ride in a 1968 Mustang California Special.
Norm Pringle, pictured along his YELLOW BRICK ROAD in Winnetka, California . This Yellow Brick Road is a proto-type of an idea Norm has entered for the Los Angeles River Project or as THE BAGHDAD MEMORIAL TRAIL in Griffith Park for the 3900 Gi's who have paid the supreme sacrifice in Iraq. Norm is the founder and innovator of the MEMORIAL GARDEN GARDEN PROJECT see: LEST WE FORGET on his web site. http://www.cybercloud.com/
Norm's history...
1923- Born Calgary, Alberta Canada Dec. 9th 1929- Went to school at age 6. No Kindergarten or College in1923 that was for the rich folk. 1941- Joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at age 17. W.W. 2 was in full swing for the British Empire (1939 -1945) First Assignment DISPATCHER at #7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson Manitoba. Survived a plane crash thus the name Crash Norm. Transferred to a secret radar station on Vancouver Island, Spring Cove. Not knowing what radar was Norm set up a movie theater and canteen for the 100 Air Force men stationed there on the rugged coast. 1945- was transferred to the #2 RCAF Wireless School in Calgary. 1945- Honorably discharged. 1945 Hitchhiked to Hollywood, CA and stayed for a month as a guest of the USO . Norm hobnobbed with Jack Warner, Mary Pickford, Walter Pigeon, Wallace Berry and Gene Hersholt. Met Betty Davis and JohnGarfiels at the Hollywood Canteen. Returned to Calgary and became a Radio Announcer (the word deejay was not in the vocabulary then) at radio station CJCJ (now CKXL): was chief announcer , program director, all night DJ and discovered Leslie Neilsen. (Story on this website). Arranged and emceed many events to help Don McKay become Mayor of Calgary. 1950 -Met Elsie Morrell (a listener) in Calgary 1950- Moved to CKMO Vancouver, now CFUN- Norm was Production Manager and DJ He Spearheaded radio-thons for local charities. 1950 Norm composed SANTA GOT STUCK IN THE CHIMNEY, proceeds for his ORPHANS AND CRIPPLED CHILDRENS FUND. Sale of Santa on the air bought a piano for a crippled children' s hospital 1952- Moved to CKDA Victoria & discovered Tommy Hunter (Canada's Country Gentleman.)
Interviewed Elvis Presley Discovered the first Elvis impersonator. Interviewed Bing Crosby and numerous other stars. Hear Elvis and story on this Norm's website: http://www.cybercloud.com Besides a radio DJ was the first Dance DJ.
1954- Married Elsie Morrell. Still happily married, 54 years in 2008 1954- Composed TRY A PRAYER for Elvis Presley Proceeds from the Evan Kemp record donated TO Norm's GOOD SAMARITAN FUND 1956- Pioneered TV at CHEK TV VICTORIA with the show THE HOUSE PARTY 1957- Norm and Elsie's son was born. Garry (named after Garry Crosby) 1958- Moved to Hollywood, CA . Joined Western United Recorders . Recorded the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley , Frank Sinatra , Jack Benny , Eddie Cantor Sophie Tucker, Ted Lewis, The Tijuana Brass, Dennis Day, Lorne Green , Sony & Cher and a mystery singer sponsored by Howard Hughes. 1959- A daughter Linda born .(named after Buddy Clark's hit song 'Linda') 1963- Moved to General Music Corporation in Hollywood as an audio supervisor. Worked for Gordon Zahler. Norm is in the book WHEELING THE DEAL by Chip Jacobs see main page of http://www.Cybercloud.com. Norm is also in the book ROCKBOUND by Red Robinson. 1977- Joined Warner Brothers Studio as an audio engineer. First movies CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN. TV series THE WALTONS, EIGHT IS ENOUGH. 1983- Retired at age 69 1983- Created website CYBERCLOUD RADIO STATION . 1990- Composed THE SILVER FOX WALTZ for the wife of President George Bush She was known as THE SILVER FOX. 2004- Changed website to CYBERCLOUD BROADCASTING to raise funds for the CYBERCLOUD MEMORIAL TREE PROJECT. 2005 Offered his composition THE BONGO MAN for musician of New Orleans after Katrina 2006 Offered TRY A PRAYER composed by Norm for victims of the SAGO MINE DISASTER 2006- Place on You Tube THE HOKIE POKIE theme song of the Virginia Tech marching after their terrible massacre 2005- Offered a special SINGALONG AMERICA PROGRAM for the victims of the London Subway bombings. 2007- Placed on You Tube RING OF FIRE by Johnny Cash to help the Red Cross and Salvation army for the Malibu fire disaster. Created the Elvis Wall at the Motion Picture and TV Hospital in Woodland Hills with the help of Graceland. Story on Cybercloud Composed two songs AMERICAN GI and TREE IN THE MEADOW all proceeds to go to MEMORIAL GARDEN FUND and rewrote lyrics for BLESS EM ALL and WHEN THIS BLOODY WAR IS OVER
LIFE BEGINS AGAIN AT 80 TO BE CONTINUED I HOPE Norm Pringle with Elsie and Tommy Hunter, Canada's Country Gentleman who Norm discovered at CKDA Victoria British Columbia back in the 1950s when Tommy was just 16. Tommy is a living Country Music legend in Canada. For more on Tommy Hunter click here. http://www.cybercloud.com/reception/tommy.html
Look who's sitting in our lobby This is Leslie Nielsen (Picture courtesy of Entertainment Magazine) Norm Discovered Les in the early 1940s when Les missed a streetcar. Les had 20 minutes to kill so he wandered in to the lobby of Radio Station CJCJ Calgary Canada and casually asked if there was an opening for a DJ. Norm auditioned him and hired Les a week later.
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