Canadian Broadcast Industry Hall of Famer John Donabie has passed away, following a long battle with cancer. He was 78.
Hailing from Oshawa, Donabie’s career started at CKLB in 1965 when he tapped one of their DJs to rent a PA system for a local R&B group he was managing. That led to his first job in radio in his hometown, before he left for the all-night shift at CKFH Toronto in the fall of 1967, and quickly went on to the late-night slot at CHUM-FM. Known for his deep love of and encyclopedic knowledge of music, as well as his original programming ideas, Donabie enjoyed a 50+-year career that included being part of the launch team at Q107 (CILQ-FM) in 1977, a 15-year run at CFRB, and stops at CKFH, CKFM-FM, JAZZ.FM.91 (CJRT-FM), and Indie88 (CIND-FM) in Toronto; CKLG-FM Vancouver; CJFM Montreal; CFGM-FM Caledon; CKYC-FM Owen Sound; and CISS-FM Ottawa.
Donabie also dabbled as a television host on CBC-TV’s Afternoon Delight in the late 1970s and was a contributor to CTV’s Canada AM. He retired from radio after six years hosting on University of Toronto campus station CIUT-FM in 2018.
His interview credits over the years included hundreds of musicians, including John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan, among countless others.
Donabie accepted the Allan Waters Broadcast Lifetime Achievement Award during Canadian Music Week in 2013. He was inducted into the Oshawa Walk of Fame this past November.
A legendary voice is silent today. Thanks John Donabie for decades of amazing radio and for always having a kind word for me. Rest In Power. pic.twitter.com/w5ca8kTddD
— Richard Crouse (@RichardCrouse) February 2, 2025
Canadian radio just lost a legend. John Donabie has passed away, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the very fabric of music broadcasting in Canada. From his early days at CHUM to his influential run at CKFH and CHUM-FM, John wasn’t just a DJ—he was a storyteller, a curator, and… pic.twitter.com/J76Vh38m96
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) February 2, 2025
