The legendary WCCO radio host died of cancer at age 81.
By NEAL JUSTIN , Star Tribune
Steve Cannon, one of the most unforgettable voices in the history of Twin Cities radio and for years the highest-rated afternoon drive host in the country, died late Monday after a short, fierce battle with cancer.
Cannon's booming baritone voice steered WCCO's drive-time show, "The Cannon Mess," for 26 years -- a national record -- aided only by sportscaster Morgan Mundane, sexpot Ma Linger and the effeminate Backlash LaRue, all voiced by Cannon himself.
Those characters were so beloved that Cannon became the only inductee in the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame with two plaques: one for himself and one for his make-believe trio.
Cannon died just after 10 p.m. Monday at his home near Minneapolis' Lake of the Isles, surrounded by family members. He was 81.
In the 1970s and '80s, when WCCO dominated the airwaves, Cannon held court as the gruffest, most gregarious of the "Good Neighbors," making his voice as recognizable to many Midwesterners as everyone's cantankerous but lovable uncle who never skips the cocktail hour.
"It's awfully tough comparing the 125 people in our hall of fame, but in terms of sheer talent, does anyone stand out above Cannon?" said Steve Raymer, managing director of the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting in St. Louis Park, which honored the legend in 2002.
Cannon actually attended that ceremony, which was somewhat of a surprise since he was well-known for his insistence on privacy. Dark Star, who has worked at WCCO for decades, recalled the time Cannon was temporarily run out of his intimate studio because of fire damage and was forced to broadcast from the main studio. He refused to go on the air unless staffers covered the windows with newspapers so no one could see him slip in and out of his characters. Dark Star also remembered that the station had prepared a big party for his final show in early October 1997, but Cannon sabotaged the celebration by signing off one day early and slipping out the door.
Selasa, 07 April 2009
BLIND PILOT LANDS SUPPORT SLOT FOR UPCOMING THE DECEMBERISTS TOUR BAND IN THE MIDDLE OF FIRST-EVER U.S. TOUR
The Portland, Oregon based indie-folk-pop outfit Blind Pilot, touring as a six-piece with Israel Nebeker (vocals, guitar), Ryan Dobrowski (drums), Luke Ydstie (upright bass, backing vocals), Kati Claborn (banjo, dulcimer, backing vocals), Ian Krist (vibraphones), and Dave Jorgensen (keyboards, trumpet), have just landed the support slot for the upcoming The Decemberists tour.
Starting out as a duo, and recording their debut album, 3 Rounds and a Sound with the help of friends (some of who have since joined the band), Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski, friends since college, have traveled many a mile to get to where they are today.
In 2007 and once again in 2008 (in 2008 Kati Claborn and Luke Ydstie joined them), Israel and Ryan embarked on a West Coast bike tour. This wasn't a tour where they road bikes, and had a van hauling the equipment. They hauled everything on their bikes. No gas. One hundred percent leg-powered.
With big signs on the back of their bike trailers that read "BLIND" and "PILOT," a lot of concerned motorists screamed about the "PILOT" leaving the "BLIND" guy behind. Playing little towns that don't often get shows by "touring bands," they were able to share their brand of music with people who weren't particularly familiar with indie pop, or indie anything. But they found that heartfelt lyrics and beautiful music appeal to just about everyone. In fact, they completely sold out of their EPs.
They returned to Portland anxious to complete their first full-length album. The long road to this album has paid off in spades. Blind Pilot sounds something like a wistful mix of The Shins with a bit of Iron & Wine folksiness. But these comparisons don't give a full representation of the unbelievable beauty of this album. As Willamette Week's Casey Jarman proclaimed, "Front man Israel Nebeker sounds like a less theatric version of James Mercer: every bit as sincere and captivating, with vocal control and style to spare. And this band has songs coming out of its ears: deep, clever guitar-driven tunes fleshed out with soaring horn arrangements. Listening to and thinking about these songs has kept me awake at night lately."
www.jambase.com
Starting out as a duo, and recording their debut album, 3 Rounds and a Sound with the help of friends (some of who have since joined the band), Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski, friends since college, have traveled many a mile to get to where they are today.
In 2007 and once again in 2008 (in 2008 Kati Claborn and Luke Ydstie joined them), Israel and Ryan embarked on a West Coast bike tour. This wasn't a tour where they road bikes, and had a van hauling the equipment. They hauled everything on their bikes. No gas. One hundred percent leg-powered.
With big signs on the back of their bike trailers that read "BLIND" and "PILOT," a lot of concerned motorists screamed about the "PILOT" leaving the "BLIND" guy behind. Playing little towns that don't often get shows by "touring bands," they were able to share their brand of music with people who weren't particularly familiar with indie pop, or indie anything. But they found that heartfelt lyrics and beautiful music appeal to just about everyone. In fact, they completely sold out of their EPs.
They returned to Portland anxious to complete their first full-length album. The long road to this album has paid off in spades. Blind Pilot sounds something like a wistful mix of The Shins with a bit of Iron & Wine folksiness. But these comparisons don't give a full representation of the unbelievable beauty of this album. As Willamette Week's Casey Jarman proclaimed, "Front man Israel Nebeker sounds like a less theatric version of James Mercer: every bit as sincere and captivating, with vocal control and style to spare. And this band has songs coming out of its ears: deep, clever guitar-driven tunes fleshed out with soaring horn arrangements. Listening to and thinking about these songs has kept me awake at night lately."
www.jambase.com
School scores perfect SAT score
Published Date: 07 April 2009
A St Helens primary school achieved 100 per cent scores in last year's controversial SATS tests.
League tables published this week show that the borough's test results were well above the national average, with record numbers of local 11-year-olds achieving the grade.The main goal in the Key Stage Two exams is to get as many pupils to achieve a Level Four pass as possible. And of the St Helens class of 2008, one school, Eccleston Lane Ends Primary in Albany Avenue, Eccleston, managed a perfect score.
Headteacher Carol Gowan said: "Eccleston Lane Ends has a long standing excellent reputation built on a strong partnership between pupils, parents, governors and the community.
"We are very proud of our school and achieving such outstanding results is only part of the story for our school. We believe in excellence and enjoyment and our pupils really do enjoy and achieve."
Another school school, Bleak Hill primary, in Hamilton Road, Windle, posted near perfect results, with 99 per cent of pupils achieving level four passes in English and maths.
Overall, 84 per cent of St Helens schools gained Level Four English compared with 81 per cent nationally. Some 82 per cent locally passed with 79 per cent nationally; and 91 per cent made the science grade while the national average is 73.
The combined English and maths score is 77 per cent - up four per cent.
Councillor Shirley Evans, executive member for Children and Young People's Services, said: "This is the result of a lot of hard work by teachers and pupils with the support of governors and parents. We are seeing a year on year improvement across the board which is excellent news as we all strive to improve the attainment and aspirations of our young people."
www.sthelensreporter.co.uk
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