TORONTO – Renowned radio exec and former music director Rosalie Trombley has been named as the recipient of the 2016 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).
The award recognizes individuals who have made a tremendous impact on the Canadian music industry.
Known as the “girl with the golden ear”, Trombley was a forerunner for women in radio between 1967 and 1993. With her keen ability to choose hit songs, she created music programming that appealed to broad audiences both in Canada and the United States.
As a music director and one of the few female executives in radio at the time, Trombley quickly became a powerful force in the industry. She began her career as a switchboard operator at the AM Top 40 powerhouse, CKLW – The BIG 8 in Windsor, ON – where her talent for discovering hit songs took her to the top. She is particularly credited for the breakthroughs of Canadian artists into the United States, including Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind", The Guess Who's "These Eyes", Paul Anka's "You're Having My Baby", Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Taking Care of Business", and Burton Cummings' "Stand Tall", amongst many others.
"I am deeply moved and humbled by this tremendous honour, as the recipient of this year's Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award”, said Trombley, in the news release. “The BIG 8 was a powerful force in broadcasting, with a signal that reached millions of listeners. I will always consider myself fortunate to have played a role in such a significant era of music and proud of the exposure CKLW afforded many, now legendary and superbly talented, Canadian artists."
Trombley will be honoured at the 2016 Juno Gala Dinner & Awards on April 2 in Calgary as part of the Juno Week festivities.
The 45th annual Juno Awards and Juno Week will take place March 28 – April 3, 2016.
