Sign-Offs

Glen Livingstone, 66, on May 6, after a short battle with cancer. Livingstone was a board operator and producer with 980 CKNW and Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) from 1972 to 1999. Many of those years were spent as one of the writers and producers behind the successful “Discumentary” program, a one-hour musical documentary featuring a particular artist or theme. Voiced by Dave McCormick and later Terry David Mulligan, the show was syndicated throughout Canada, and broadcast internationally on the Anik D satellite.

Joe Meyer, 85, on Apr. 18 at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, following complications from dementia. Born in Fairview, AB, Meyer began working as a reporter for local newspaper The Post, before embarking on a 35-year career in radio, starting at CKYL Peace River, then onward to CFCW Camrose, CKRD Red Deer, CKRC Winnipeg, and on and off at CJCA where he concluded his career in Edmonton. In 1962, Meyer left Canada for some adventure where he sailed to New Zealand, met his wife Mert and became a father. He eventually returned to Canada and settled the family in Fort Saskatchewan for 13 years before moving back to Edmonton. In addition to being a respected newsman, Meyer was also an accomplished piano, organ and guitar player.

Richard Byrne, suddenly, on Apr. 5, in Toronto. A pioneer in digital audio for radio, Byrne formed MediaComp in Kitchener in the early 90s, developing software, hardware, and digital systems including R-Sound (Music Scheduling), R-Tabs (Traffic) and OG (digital playout audio), to start. Byrne was an early visionary of the idea of putting an entire music catalogue on hard drive. His tech caught the eye of RCS out of Scarsdale, NY, which was trying to move their paperless Master Control system to digital audio, and RCS eventually acquired MediaComp. The CHUM Group was an early adapter of Bryne’s technology, in addition to stations like Montreal’s CKOI.