PRESS RELEASE: THE ALLAN SLAIGHT STUDIO LAUNCHES AT AUSTRALIA’S EASTSIDE RADIO 89.7FM
EASTSIDE RADIO MEDIA RELEASE
JULY 24 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Allan Slaight Studio Launches at Sydney’s Eastside Radio 89.7FM
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA: Thanks to the donations of Sydney-based Marie Slaight, Eastside Radio 89.7FM new broadcast studio is being named “The Allan Slaight Studio” to honour her father’s legacy as a broadcasting legend, philanthropist, media mogul, magician and Member of the Order of Canada. 89 year-old Allan Slaight, widely considered a Canadian entrepreneurial trailblazer and rock ‘n roll radio pioneer, now has three generations of descendants living in Australia. Marie Slaight is eager to celebrate her father’s extraordinary broadcasting career, while simultaneously supporting Eastside Radio’s decades-long jazz related programming, of which she is a long-time listener.
Born in Galt, Canada in 1931, Slaight began his broadcasting career at age 17 as a news reporter and host of his own late-night jazz show ‘Spins and Needles’ at CHAB in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He moved to Edmonton, working in radio news and programming until being appointed National Sales Manager at CHED. He caught the attention of CHUM Radio in Toronto and was hired to invigorate the station’s programming. Slaight’s entrepreneurial spirit, programming and promotional savvy helped to transform the 24-hour rock ‘n roll station, into “probably the most imitated radio station in North America at the time,” said Slaight. In 1966, Slaight left the station to co-ordinate sales at Radio Caroline, the UK’s notorious pirate radio station. In 1970, he established Slaight Communications and acquired Toronto-based radio station CFGM, and then Montreal station CFOX. In 1977 Slaight Communications launched Q107, a new Toronto rock and roll radio station. Slaight purchased Standard Broadcasting Corporation in 1985. Under his stewardship, Standard Broadcasting expanded from seven radio stations to a network of over fifty Canadian radio stations. By 2003, Standard was the largest privately-owned multi-media company in Canada. He also co-founded Canada’s first NBA team, The Raptors.
Slaight has maintained a life-long interest in conjuring and magic and is the author of a number of magic titles, including The James File, the largest work ever published on magic. Slaight’s own sleight-of-hand inventions are well-documented in magic magazines such as Ibidem, Genii and Magic and his contributions to magic are recognized in the book Spins and Needles: The Magic of Allan Slaight. An inductee into the Broadcast Hall of Fame, Member of the Order of Canada, and recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for his contribution to Canadian music industry, Slaight also has a long history of philanthropic activities and is co-founder of the Slaight Family Foundation.
Located in the Eastern Suburb of Paddington in Sydney, Australia, Eastside Radio 89.7FM is honoured to have their new broadcast studio named after the legendary Canadian Broadcaster. Managing Director Tony Smythe says: ‘We look forward to a long relationship between the station, Marie Slaight and The Allan Slaight Studio and are grateful for the opportunities hislifetime contributions to media now affords the future of our community radio station, an established cultural icon.’
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Contact: [email protected]
Eastside Radio 89.79FM
249a Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
Ph: 612 9331 300
