Lee Major

CJNU Announcer

I have been a radio broadcaster for over 50 years. I've gained a country-wide reputation as a jazz authority, and my career has included two Juno award nominations and an ACTRA award for Radio Program of the Year.

My broadcasting career began in 1958 with CBC's brand new radio station - CFYK in Yellowknife. During my 35 years with CBC, I hosted numerous radio music programs - jazz, pop and country - and TV programs.

I accompanied Lenny Breau to Nashville, where I wrote, interviewed and narrated a TV special on Breau for CBC TV. I wrote and co-hosted the first nationally televised Canadian Country Music Awards, traveled to jazz festivals around the world, spent two years as station manager in Fort Churchill in the early '60s, had a brief stint as a TV weatherman, and hosted a cooking and a fishing show on national CBC-TV.

After 'retirement', I spent four years as the entertaining cook, along with co-host Don Percy, on the TV cooking show 'Two Grumpy Guys in the Kitchen', seen on CTV and PBS. At age 65, I wrote and published a cookbook based on the TV show. But the radio air waves called to me again.

In recent years, I have been heard on several Winnipeg radio stations – CKVN, CJAE, CHNR, COOL-FM, CJML and now CJNU. I may well be the only broadcaster in Canada to be the first 'sign-on' voice on four radio stations at their inception – CFYK Yellowknife, CHNR, COOL-FM and, of course, CJNU. Quite amazing!

I frequently appear as an 'extra' in movie and TV productions, and I often narrate local productions. My hobbies include golf and fishing - IF I can find time to fit them in. My passion is cooking.

At age 68, I realized a life-long dream and started the business that always beckoned me in the back of my mind. I am the president of Burning Memories - using my interviewing skills and digital technology to preserve people's memories on DVD for their future generations. I am proof positive that you should never stop pursuing your dreams!

Some of the famous people I have met and interviewed include Vincent Price, Jack Palance, Gloria Vanderbilt, Lorne Greene, Anne Murray, Tina Turner, Lotta Hitchmanova, Don Messer, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Carmen McRae, Count Basie and Artie Shaw.