Musicians mourn the loss of Rosalie Trombley, the influential music director of Windsor Radio, known as the Girl with the Golden Ear.
Trombley, who died Tuesday, became the music director of AM800 CKLW in 1968, when the station broadcast the 40 best songs. She has become well known on both sides of the border as a taste maker in the industry.
“Maybe God alone made more stars than Rosalie Trombley,” singer-songwriter Tony Orlando said from his home in Branson, Missouri, crediting her and many others in the career. music industry.
“To be honest with you, without her I don’t think Elton would have a career, I would have a career, Bob Seger would have a career.”
WATCH | Rosalie Trombley backed her golden ear with record store research:
CREDIT: The Rise & Fall of the Big 8 / Markham Street Films Inc .. 1:04
Randy Bachman, of Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Guess Who, said she put Windsor on the map when it comes to the music industry.
“I think Windsor was more important than Toronto at the time on radio because of Rosalie,” he said.
“She basically did Those eyes a great success.”
Bachman declared that Trombley was a “powerful and strong woman” who was ahead of “women are an equal thing”.
“She was more than equal. I mean, all the other guys who are music program directors admired her.”
“She had a heart of 50,000 watts”
Orlando said Trombley’s work with CKLW in Windsor rivals the biggest resorts in North America, and major hit-makers in New York and Chicago often follow his lead.
“Rosalie was so powerful in the record and radio industry that every radio station in the United States and Canada was waiting for her to take the first step. If they saw Rosalie making a record, forget it.” did he declare.
“CKLW in Windsor, Canada was the most powerful radio station on the planet because not only did it serve Canada, but it also served the entire route – you could hear that station in Dallas, Texas.
“It’s a 50,000-watt station, but it had a 50,000-watt core.”
“Recording artists, both established and budding, have visited Trombley to promote their latest singles,” Trombley’s family said in a press release which also noted that they are recognized for helping artists. such as The Guess Who, Gordon Lightfoot, Alice Cooper and Aerosmith the Cards.
Bachman said Trombley had a talent as a musical director to tell artists what they need to do to improve their music.
“She heard it or she didn’t”
“She seemed to have those magical ears. Either she heard it or she didn’t hear it. And if she didn’t, she was honest enough to tell you.
This is something that Orlando agreed with.
“All he cared about was giving to people and caring about people,” he said.
“And it’s a very sad day in our industry and a very sad day in your country, Canada and here in the United States, to lose such an influential, amazing and I mean amazing woman.”
Trombley won the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the Junos in 2016. She was also the inspiration behind Bob Seger’s 1970s song bearing her name.
Trombley died on Tuesday, according to a statement from her family. She was 82 years old. The cause of death has not been revealed.
LISTEN | Bob Seger immortalized Trombley with his song Rosalie:
