Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - September 2023 Memorial Episode: Toronto Mike'd #1335

Episode Date: September 30, 2023

In this 1335th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike pays tribute to those we lost in September 2023. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Pumpkins After Dark, Ridley Funeral Home and Electronic Products Recycling Association.

are dead or never dead to us until we have forgotten them. As always, I open this episode with that quote from George Eliot, because I believe it. By remembering those who have passed, we give them life. Let's remember those we lost in September 2023. This memorial episode of Toronto Mic'd is brought to you by Ridley Funeral Home.

Pillars of the community since 1921. On September 13th, at a hospital near Toulouse, France, Roger Whitaker passed away at the age of 87. When I heard the news, I knew that name, Roger Whittaker, but I honestly had no idea how he sounded or why he was famous. I had completely missed the career of Roger Whittaker, but there was an FOTM who did not. So we connected to have a chat about Roger Whitaker. Leslie, what was your reaction when you learned Roger Whitaker has passed away at the age of 87?

I think it was probably just shock, like a lot of people who remember him. people who remember him, you know, a little bit of a punch to the gut, because he just was such a big part of my growing up years. And specifically in my family, his Christmas album in particular, it's like, that's what signals Christmas is starting, you know, like whenever, like now, as adults, we still listen to that album every Christmas. As soon as we're getting together to open our presents, that record goes on. I think I probably just have to listen to it on Spotify. We've been looking for it on vinyl because that's what it was on originally, but haven't been able to find a vinyl copy of it. So this is like a Taylor family tradition.

You 100 percent, 100 percent. Yeah. What is it called? It's called Roger Whitaker's Christmas or what? Yeah, I think it's called roger whittaker's christmas or what do you think it's just called roger whittaker's christmas album and the first song on the album is called hallelujah it's christmas uh a lot of the songs are quite religious in nature like they're not winter songs they're actual christmas songs um and just that first song is the one that signals to me okay now, now Christmas has started.

We can open presents now. Would you listen to it with me here? Sure. Okay, so I'm going to play a little bit of Roger Whitaker's Hallelujah, It's Christmas. I think this is from 1978. That's correct. Let's listen together, and I'd love to get your reactions.

So here's some Roger Whitaker. Here we go. Look down, look down and see the world. Look down and see the world rejoicing A child, a child is born today In peace and love, so raise your voices A time to learn from every child. A time to give, a time to smile. Embracing all in happiness.

A time to ask them for forgiveness. So we sing Hallelujah. And we sing Hallelujah. How are you feeling there, Leslie? Oh, I'm all tingly. It's only September and I feel like it's Christmas morning. But that voice, like he's just got this timber to his voice, this warmth in his voice that is um i think uh just really special

hearing you talk about this christmas album from roger whittaker reminds me of what it's like when i hear a song from kenny rogers greatest hits like the 1982 edition because that was the album my mom always played and then I hear these songs and it's like a time warp. It's like, wow, it's like 1982 again or whatever. And Kenny's Belting Out Lady or whatever. But yeah, you're getting like a Pavlov doggy reaction where it's Christmas for you right now. Yeah, and I mean, it's 100% my mom as well. Like this was the kind of music she listened to,

not just the Christmas one, but all of his songs were very much part of that sort of easy listening type of music that she listened to in the 70s. So it definitely reminds me of her as well. And you have siblings, of course, do they have a similar reaction to hearing Roger Whitaker? Oh, my sister's obsessed with this, especially with this Christmas album. Yeah, she was when I texted her to let her know that he had passed away. She was yeah, the same reaction as me like a punch to the gut, you know. The timing is interesting here. So as we talk, I've never met your sister. But by the time this

is heard, because it'll drop at either the very end of September or very early October. But when this drops, if everything goes according to plan, I'll have spent some time with your sister. So you can ask her about Roger Whittaker then. Are you kidding me? I'll make her cry. I'm going to play her this song. I want her to cry.

Okay. Beautiful, beautiful. So this Christmas album means a great deal to you and your family traditions. What about any other Roger Whittaker outside of the holiday season? Well, I guess probably one of his biggest hits, if you can call it that. It was a song called Durhamtown, but I don't really remember Durhamtown. I remember the French version because in Montreal, it just got a lot more airplay.

It was called Mon Pays Bleu, so my blue country. It's the same theme in the song, exactly the same song, but just different lyrics. And I wrote down the name of the person who wrote the lyrics, but I can't remember now. But a French musician wrote the French lyrics. But Roger Whittaker was multilingual. He sang in a lot of different languages. And if you go on Spotify, his top songs are all in German. Apparently he's got a cult following in Germany. This guy, I mean, I, once again,

I'm only really diving into an artist's career after they pass away, which is a terrible habit I seem to have, but I just wasn't exposed to any Roger Whitaker, but talking to people like you, Leslie, it's like, I realized that this guy's like a, a fixture who's just been,

been there kind of solid. And yeah, like he's a fixture of that era, like of the seventies, I would say that sort of easy listening 70s. So other names that may or may not mean anything to you, Nana Muscuri kind of falls into that category. She got a ton of airplay in Canada.

Engelbert Humperdinck, Zamphere, Tom Jones before he was cool. They were all people who played all that kind of music. That's the stuff my mom listened to. Roger Whitaker never got the much music slash MTV boost that Tom Jones got in the 90s. Definitely not. Would you mind? You mentioned, pardon my French, literally.

Mon pays bleu. Mon pays bleu. My nine-year-old has a fantastic french accent like uh when i hear it it's like it's hard to learn to like to pronounce a new language when you get older well that's my excuse okay so that song i won't have enough time with english right you said it you're kidding me you said it okay let me do you mind let's listen a little bit to uh this song i believe i believe this song is from 1975 does that sound about right okay this is the french translation so the english version is called durham town yeah it's all about Oshawa, of course. Yeah. And this is the version you would hear growing up in Montreal.

Yeah. Moi j'ai quitté mon pays bleu Moi j'ai quitté mon pays bleu Moi j'ai quitté mon pays bleu Et je n'ai pas su lui dire adieu Petit enfant dans mon château J'allais voir dormir la belle au bord de l'eau La belle a grandi mais mon beau château s'est envolé She grew up, but my beautiful castle was stolen. You fly, fly, fly, fly, fly. I left my blue country.

I left my blue country. I left my blue country. And I didn't say goodbye. So Leslie, while I'm taking you back to Montreal, what else do you miss about Montreal? Oh, what else do I miss about Montreal? I want to say not a lot. And the reason I say that is because um my trail went to into a bit of a downturn sort of in the like late 70s and through most of the 80s it's really really picked up now

so you would love well i know your daughter goes to school i'll be there in november you would love it i mean have you biked there have you biked in montreal nope not yet no okay so the bike infrastructure in Montreal is fantastic now compared to what we have here. So yeah, I would say that type of infrastructure is definitely something I miss. And you know what, it's it's a nice compact little city. It's easy to get around it on foot and on transit and stuff. I'm like Toronto that's so spread out. So that's what I would say. And here I was thinking you might say the Expos they're never coming back man oh they're never coming back I really yeah unless they get a minor league team or something I don't see them ever getting

the Expos back well Leslie I love chatting with you about Roger Whitaker and one of my many bad habits like I'm keeping a list because I'm actually working on all of my bad habits, but one of them is saying something stupid like 87 years, that was a good run. But what I'm learning is, I don't think that's true. Like I feel like now when somebody you cared about

who brings back these wonderful positive memories, even if they die at like 105, it's still sad. It's still shocking, right? It doesn't matter that they had a long life. it's still sad. It's still shocking, right? It doesn't matter that they had a long life. It's still over. It's still sad. Well, yeah, I mean, obviously it's sad for his family.

He retired, I think, in 2012. So he hasn't actually been doing anything musically since then. So it's not like, you know, he had a vibrant career that was cut short or anything like that. So I understand your sentiment. I always thought he was way older. When I heard, oh, he's 87, I'm like, oh my God, I thought he was 95. The only Whitaker I grew up with was Lou Whitaker with the Detroit Tigers. Okay.

Different Whitaker. So Leslie, if somebody listening wants to dive into the catalog, the works of Roger Whitaker, where do you recommend they begin? You know, any of the Greatest Hits albums. My favorite song is called I Don't Believe in If anymore. It's probably, there was a Greatest Hits around 1994 that were pretty much all his songs. And then another big greatest hits in 2002,

where he does covers of a whole bunch of other artists songs as well. So it's kind of surprising. Like he does green, green grass of home and like just, you know, some of those iconic seventies soft rock tunes. So he, he does a few of those.

So I would say, yeah, you could, you could do a deep dive into Roger Whitaker singing other people's songs. And now I know what song I'm going to play to take us home here, Leslie. I'm going to play I Don't Believe in If anymore. Thanks for the chat today. Thank you. Now if you load your rifle right And if you fix your bayonet so And if you kill that man, my friend The one we call the foe And if you do it often, lad

And if you do it right You'll be a hero overnight You'll save your country from a plight Remember God is always right If you survive to see the sight A friend, our greeting foe No, you won't believe in it anymore It's an illusion

It's an illusion No, you won't believe in it anymore If it's for children If it's for children Building daydreams If I knew then what I know now I thought I did, you know Somehow if I could have the time again I'd take the sunshine, leave the rain

If only time would trickle slow Like rain that melts the fallen snow If only, Lord, if only If only, Lord, if only Oh, I don't believe in if anymore It's an illusion It's an illusion, it's an illusion No, I don't believe in it anymore If it's for children, if it's for children Building daydreams

No, I don't believe in if anymore If's an illusion If's an illusion No, I don't believe in if anymore If is for children Believe in me if anymore If it's for children If it's for children Building their dreams Nibbling on sponge cake Watching the sun bake

All of those tourists covered with oil Strumming my six string On my front porch swing Smell those shrimp They're beginning to boil Wasting away again In margarita beer Searching for my

Lost shaker of salt Searching for my lost sugar salt Some people claim that there's a woman to blame But I know it's nobody's fault Don't know the reason I stayed here all season Nothing to show but this brand new tattoo But it's a real beauty A Mexican cutie How I got here I haven't a clue

Wasting away again in Margaritaville Searching for my lost sugar salt Some people claim that there's a warm flame Now I think Hell, it could be my fault I blew out my flip-flops My sincere condolences to all the parrot heads listening today. And I know there are many. Much like with Roger Whittaker, I was a bit young to appreciate Jimmy Buffett.

But you could not escape Margaritaville. But then again, I recorded this episode of The Simpsons to VHS and watched it about 100 times by the time I turned 20. Wasted away again in Margaritaville. Searching for my lost shaker of salt. Oh, here it is. Jimmy Buffett took his island escapism music and managed to convert it into several massive business ventures, including

a restaurant chain, hotels, casinos, liquor and retirement communities. Jimmy Buffett was a smart businessman, and he ended up passing away at the age of 76

as one of the richest musicians of all time. Here's hoping Jimmy is enjoying a cheeseburger in paradise right now. Mr. Boatman Wait Hey, hey, hey, hey Mr. Boatman Hey, Mr. Boatman Look and see Oh, yeah Is there a ladder in your back? Please, please, Mr. Boatman Must it be in the middle of town?

Oh, yeah It's not right for me For a better man There must be some word today From my boyfriend so far away Please Mr. Postman look and see Is there a letter, a letter for me? I've been standing here waiting Mr. Postman, so old, so patiently For just a card, for just a letter Say he needs me, turn it on to me

Please, Mr. Postman I'm standing up now Oh, yeah Is there a letter in your bag for me? Please, please, Mr. Postman I'm standing up now Oh, yeah Mr. Postman, I'm standing up now There was a toast episode of Toronto Mike with Cam Gordon and Stu Stone

in which we kicked out our favourite girl group jams. I stuck to the 1960s and one song I kicked out because I absolutely love it is Please Mr Postman by the 1960s. And one song I kicked out, because I absolutely love it, is Please Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes. Katherine Anderson, one of the teen voices

behind Motown's first number one hit, Please Mr. Postman, passed away on September 20th at the age of 79. Please, Mr. Postman, wait a minute, Mr. Postman. Please check and see just one more time for me. You better wait, wait, wait a minute.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. Please, Mr. Postman, wait a minute Please Mr. Postman Deliver the letter, the sooner the better Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute Please Mr. Postman It ain't no joke, I'd like to buy the world a token Teach the world to sing in perfect harmony And teach the world to snuff the fires and the lawyers

Hey, I know it's just a song, but it's spice for the recipe This isn't an attack, I know it out, but it's back It's just like any fad, it retracts before impact And just like fashion, it's a passion for the width and hip If you got the good, they'll come and buy it just to stay in the clique So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out A lot with your skill, a lot, six to eight years to arrive And if you follow the make, we have tomorrow

But if we up and shine You might as well be walking on the sun 25 years ago they spoke out and they broke out Of recession and oppression and together they talked And they folked out With guitars around a bonfire just singing and clapping Man, what the hell happened? And some were spellbound, some were hellbound

Some they fell down, some got back up And fought back against the meltdown And their kids were hippie chicks, all hypocrites Because fashion is mash, I'm the true mating of it So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out A lot with ghosts, still a lot, six to eight years to arrive And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow But if the offer's shunned, you might as well be walking on the sun

I suppose I should be playing All- Star or I'm a Believer. Those are the two big smash hits for the 90s rock band Smash Mouth. But I actually liked Walkin' on the Sun. It's likely the first Smash Mouth song you ever heard Came out in 1997 That's still two years from when All Star hit the top ten And then All Star had that special thing in music Where it had a second life

Because Shrek put it in their 2001 film And then boom All us parents are still hearing it to this day. But Walking on the Sun was a pretty good song as far as my tastes were concerned. And the lead singer on that track,

as well as All Star and I'm a Believer, was Steve Harwell. Throughout most of his life, Steve Harwell struggled with alcoholism. And sadly, on September 4th, 2023, at the young age of 56, Steve died from liver failure

at his home in Boise, Idaho. I've just closed my eyes again Climbed aboard the Dreamweaver train Try to take away my worries of today And leave tomorrow behind Ooh, dream weaver I believe you can get me through the night Ooh, dream weaver I believe we can reach the morning light Fly me high through the starry skies Maybe to an astral plane

Cross the highways of fantasy Help me to forget today's pain Oh, dream weaver I believe you can get me through the night Oh dream weaver I believe we can reach the morning light Though the dawn may be coming soon There still may be some time

Fly me away to the bright side of the moon Meet me on the other side Oh, Dreamweaver I believe you can get me through I'm pretty sure I discovered Gary Wright's Dreamweaver from Wayne's World. Damn, I love that movie. I was a very, very big fan of 1992's Wayne's World. Damn, I love that movie. I was a very, very big fan of 1992's Wayne's World. She's a babe. Swing! Dreamweaver was Gary Wright's 1976 hit. On his breakthrough album,

The Dreamweaver. Prior to the solo effort, he was in a British band called Spooky Tooth. Prior to this solo effort, he was in a British band called Spooky Tooth. And here's a fun fact for you about Gary Wright. He played keyboards on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass. I love All Things Must Pass. Gary Wright died at his home in California on August 30th, 2023. He was 80 years old. Hang on, stupid, stupid, hang on Now I'd like to recognize some important people who passed away in September, but had less name recognition than Jimmy Buffett and Smash Mouth.

But they need to be remembered. Claude Cormier passed away on September 15th at the age of 63 following a cancer diagnosis. Claude was the landscape architect who brought us such wonderful Toronto spaces as Sugar Beach, Berksy Park, and Love Park. I'm not kidding you when I tell you that the pink umbrellas of Sugar Beach, the heart-shaped pond of Love Park,

and the dog fountain at Berksy Park are three of my very favorite Toronto cycling destinations. Then there's Raymond Moriyama, the architect who gave us the Ontario Science Centre, the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, and the Bata Shoe Museum. And for both Claude Cormier and Raymond Moriyama, I'm just focusing on what I see in Toronto. Raymond died in the city of Toronto

on September 1st at the age of 93. And Stan Cleese, who was an architect of a different nature, helping to build the Canadian music industry, died in his sleep on September 22nd at the age of 91. Stan co-founded the Juno Awards with his partner, Walt Grialis, and Stan and Walt began lobbying Ottawa to legislate making Canadian content viable with CanCon regulations based on Stan's proposals. This was introduced by the CRTC in 1971 and required radio stations to play

30% Canadian musical selections during peak hours. And oh yeah, he also produced this song we're hearing right now. Hang on, so fair, so fair, hang on Here's the golden boy of fate Here's the golden man who stayed Stayed back and took the road Which is not the waterfall

Double, double, double Toil and trouble Fire, burn and cold And bubble Double, double, toilet trouble Fire, burn and cold And bubble Double, double, toilet trouble

Fire, burn and cold And bubble Something wicked this week Double, double, double, two and double, five and a quarter. Bravo! Something wicked this way comes. Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Good luck, Professor. APPLAUSE Of course. That's why we need to give you the chocolate, Harry. Potter! Potter! Is it true you fainted? I mean, you actually fainted. Shove off, Malfoy. How did he find out? Just forget it.

Our care of magical creatures teacher for many years has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubius Hagrid. Finally, on a more describing note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban. Until such a time as Sirius Black is captured, the Dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities,

a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light. Michael Gambon, one of the leading thespians of his generation, is probably best known for playing Dumbledore

in most of the Harry Potter movies. Richard Harris had the role before he passed away. And now Michael has followed suit, passing away on September 27th at the age of 82. I used to think maybe you loved me Now baby I'm sure And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door

Now every time I go for the mailbox, I gotta hold myself down Cause I just can't wait till you ride till you're coming around Now I'm walking on sunshine I'm walking on sunshine I'm walking on sunshine And don't you feel good? Alright now And don't you feel good? If this version of Walking on Sunshine by Katrina in the Waves sounds a little different to you, there's a very good reason for that. This is the original

recording that was released by Attic Records, the Canadian record label that was formed in 1974 by FOTM Al Mayer and Tom Williams. Al and Tom signed Katrina in the Waves to Attic Records in the early 80s,

and they released an album in 1983 that was only released in Canada. And this album included the original version of Walking on Sunshine, which you're listening to right now. original version of Walking on Sunshine, which you're listening to right now. In 1985, Capitol Records signed Katrina in the Waves, and they had the band re-record Walking on Sunshine. And that's likely the version you know. It was a smash, and it was everywhere. But that original version was a hit in Canada, and it's all thanks to Attic Records, and sadly, Tom passed away in September 2023. Well, I'm walking on sunshine Well, I'm walking on sunshine I'm just an aging drummer boy And in the wars I used to play

And I've called a tune To many a torture session Now they say I am a war criminal And I'm fading away Father, please hear my confession I have legalized robbery Called it belief I have run with the money I have hit like a thief

Rewritten history With my armies and my crooks inventing memories I did burn all the books and I can still hear his laugh and I can still hear his song

the man's too big the man's too big The man's too strong Well, I've tried to be me I've tried to be mine But I spat like a woman And I sucked like a child I have to live behind walls That make me alone Striven for peace

Which I never have known. And I can still hear his laughter, and I can still hear his song. The man's too big, the man's too strong. guitar solo Well, the sun rose on the courtyard And they all did hear him say You always was a Judas But I got you anyway You may have got your silver But I swear upon my life Your sister gave me diamonds

And I give them to your wife Oh, Father, please help me For I have done wrong The man's too big The man's too strong Thank you. So Jack Soni was the musician best known as the other guitarist in Dire Straits during the band's Brothers in Arms era. You can hear him playing on this song, The Man's Too Strong. Jack died on August 30, 2023 2023 at the age of 68.

I majored in history at the University of Toronto. And that's not a brag. That's just to point out that over my four years getting that honours BA, I must have read a dozen books authored by Peter C. Newman. This man interviewed and wrote about every Canadian Prime Minister, from Louis Saint Laurent to Paul Martin. Thank you, Peter, for being the source material for many a Toronto Mike penned essay in the late 90s.

I couldn't have done it without you. Peter C. Newman died from complications of Parkinson's disease and a stroke at a hospital in Belleville on September 7th, 2023. He was 94 years old. Great ball. Great play by Robinson. Look at that. Great day in the morning. four years old. makes the final out. Brooks Robinson throws him out. Baltimore is the World Champ. Brooks Robinson made 18 all-star appearances over a 23-year career spent exclusively in Baltimore playing for the Orioles. He was a member of the franchise's 1966 and 1970 World Series championship teams.

Brooks Robinson died from heart disease at home in Maryland on September 26, 2023. He was 86 years old. Thank you. I'm going to go. David McCallum was in a ton of movies you've probably seen, including The Great Escape. And he was in a bunch of TV shows, including NCIS, where he played Donald Ducky Millard. But if you remember the 1960s, where he played Donald Ducky Millard. But if you remember the 1960s, you know David McCallum best as Ilya Kiryakin,

alongside Robert Vaughn's Napoleon Solo in The Man from UNCLE. David McCallum died at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City on September 25, 2023, six days after his 90th birthday. Thank you. Remember, remember, remember, remember Remember, remember, remember, remember Remember then, then, remember, remember, remember then, then, remember then Remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, remember then, then, remember then That night we fell in love, beneath the stars above That was a lovely summer night Remember then, then, then, then, then.

Remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, remember, then, then, then, then. Summer's over, our love is over, To lose that love was such a sin. Remember then, then, then, then, then. Remember, remember, remember, remember. Our love is in the... Larry Chance was the driving creative force behind The Earls, one of New York City's doo-wop success stories. We're listening to

Remember Then, a 1962 hit for the group, peaking at number 24 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. After The Earls, Larry Chance would have a brief solo career, but would return to the Earls and would continue performing into the 1990s. Larry Chance died on September 6th at the age of 82. And I think it's only appropriate we conclude this Ridley Funeral Home Memorial episode of Toronto Mic'd with a song called Remember Then. This has been the Ridley Funeral Home Memorial Episode of Toronto Mic'd

for the month of September 2023. If you lost someone you love in September, my sincere condolences. Peace and love to all. I'm Toronto Mic'd. අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි Thank you.