If you were a fan of CFTR in its early Top 40 days, you can thank George Johns. The former P.D. of 680 and countless other stations worked his magic in the medium for decades. Johns has passed away, but leaves an impressive resume of radio behind - a lot of it beginning in Canada.

"Starting in music, Johns moved to radio in the early 1970s as Program Director at several stations, including CKOM Saskatoon, CKSO Sudbury, CFRA Ottawa, and CFTR Toronto. By the late 1970s, Johns had risen to National Program Director of Fairbanks Broadcasting, overseeing WIBC and WNAP in Indianapolis, KVIL in Dallas/Ft. Worth, WVBF and WKOX in Boston, WIBG in Philadelphia, and WRMF and WJNO in Palm Beach."

Johns eventually owned several stations in the U.S. and was one of the reasons TR eventually beat its arch-rival CHUM. If you liked the old CFTR in the 70s, this is one of the guys who made it happen. 

I never really met Johns because I was working in news at the station and he was gone by the time I got there. But when I was at CFTR, they constantly mentioned his name, even long after he had left for greener pastures. He was, I'm told, a remarkable talent. 

AC Format Innovator George Johns Passes Away

George Johns Career Highlights