Jim Paulson
1957-1958: CFGP in Grand Prairie, Alberta; 1958-1960: CHEC in Lethbridge, Alberta; 1960-1966: CKRC in Winnipeg, Manitoba; 1966-1968: CJCA in Edmonton, Alberta; 1968-1969: CFUN in British Columbia; 1969 CHFI-FM Toronto; CKEY Toronto 1970s; freelance commercial voice CKO-FM-2 Toronto circa 1981; CKQT-FM Oshawa ON circa 1982; a.m. drive then middays then p.m. drive CING-FM Burlington ON 1983-91; air shift and host Swing It and Saturday Sinatra and remotes CHWO Toronto 1991-2007; long-time track announcer for Toronto Molson Indy and Mosport International Raceway. Died in Mississauga ON February 13, 2007 at age 67.
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Former Vancouver Jock dies in Ontario
Wrote one of Paulson's former producers:
"I think they just filled the midday slot in Heaven."
By Krissie Rutherford
Feb 14, 2007
The AM 740 radio team is in shock after the sudden death of its long-time ambassador and host Jim Paulson.
The Mississauga resident died Tuesday of heart failure. He was 67.
"It's a terrible shock," said program director Gene Stevens. "I mean, Jim, easily the most-loved person at the station, and that's not because he just died.
"He really was everyone's friend. He was a positive, upbeat, optimistic cheerleader. He was just a gentleman."
A more than 40-year veteran of radio, Paulson started his career at AM 740 back in 1991 when it was known as CHWO.
He died Tuesday doing something he loved.
On location at Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga, Paulson was preparing to do a live report. He collapsed just before he was scheduled to go on air, Stevens said.
An ambulance was on site immediately from Credit Valley Hospital, which is across the street from the mall. Paulson was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Tuesday.
"The family here really misses him," said Stevens.
"He was one of the nicest people I've ever met," added afternoon news anchor Neal Sandy. "Friendly, cheerful, upbeat, you know, just a great guy. We all loved him dearly.
"Jim was one of those guys, top of the list."
The Swing It show, which Paulson normally hosted every Thursday from 7 - 11 p.m., will instead tomorrow be a tribute to Paulson.
"It won't be the tribute that people need and will hear," said Stevens. "That will take a while to put together."
After nearly half a century in the business, Paulson's career reads like a history lesson of popular music.
"He'd been in radio in all the major markets," said Stevens. "His career and his life spanned some of the most popular times in popular music."
Paulson interviewed legends like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sophia Loren and Lou Rawls.
He was, Stevens said, "a celebrity interviewer of the first degree."
In a recent interview on AM 740, rock and roll icon Bobby Curtola credited Paulson with giving his career a major boost and called him "Mister rock and roll in Winnipeg."
But Paulson would never mention those celebrity interviews or moments unless you asked.
"He was always very humble - you'd have to pry it out of him," said Stevens. "He would never boast about the people he met and the people he interviewed."
In addition to his Thursday night Swing It show, Paulson also hosted Saturday Sinatra from 6 - 7 p.m.
His last interview, Stevens noted, "which is an irony," was with Frank Sinatra Junior, who he'd also met numerous times.
Paulson won't only be missed on the airwaves in the world of radio, though. His most recent job with AM 740 was as its ambassador.
"His role really was perfectly suited to his personality," said Stevens. "He was friendly and outgoing and very, very respectful when he went to talk to advertisers, clients or other show business people. He was just so well-loved."
In addition to 20 years as a track-side Molson Indy announcer, Paulson made his mark on the community in many other ways, including as master of ceremonies at the annual Terry Fox Runs and emcee of the Annual Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival.
As AM 740's Brian Smith wrote yesterday on the Southern Ontario / WNY Radio - TV Forum to notify the radio world of Paulson's passing: "Whether asked to (emcee) a Molson Indy or an Oakville Jazz Festival, he is totally at ease and does it with a fine sense of humour as well...No thoughts of retiring."
Members of the radio world have responded to the news of Paulson's death through the posting. He'll be remembered to many as a mentor, a lively personality, and a man with a "golden voice."
Writes Toronto-broadcaster Don Andrews: "The industry and audience has lost one of the best. There will never be a replacement for Jim Paulson."
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Torstar Network
Feb 15, 2007
A familiar and popular voice was silenced when long-time Mississauga radio host Jim Paulson died Tuesday of heart failure. He was 67.
"It's a terrible shock," said program director Gene Stevens. "I mean, Jim, easily the most-loved person at the station. He really was everyone's friend. He was a positive, upbeat, optimistic cheerleader. He was just a gentleman."
A more than 40-year veteran of radio, Paulson started his career at AM 740 back in 1991 when it was known as CHWO.
He died Tuesday doing something he loved.
On location at the Erin Mills Town Centre, Paulson was preparing to do a live report. He collapsed just before he was scheduled to go on air, Stevens said.
An ambulance was on site immediately from Credit Valley Hospital, which is across the street from the mall. Paulson was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead between 2:30-3 p.m.
"He was one of the nicest people I've ever met," said afternoon news anchor Neal Sandy. "Friendly, cheerful, upbeat, you know, just a great guy. We all loved him dearly.
"Jim was one of those guys, top of the list."
Today's edition of the Swing It show, which Paulson normally hosted every Thursday from 7-11 p.m., will instead be a tribute to Paulson.
After nearly half a century in the business, Paulson's career reads like a history lesson of popular music.
Paulson interviewed legends like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sophia Loren and Lou Rawls.
In a recent interview on AM 740, rock and roll icon Bobby Curtola credited Paulson with giving his career a major boost and called him "Mr. Rock & Roll in Winnipeg."
In addition to his Thursday night Swing It show, Paulson also hosted Saturday Sinatra from 6-7 p.m.
His last interview, Stevens noted, was with Frank Sinatra Jr.
His late wife, Kitty Meredith, was a celebrated performer known as Diamond Lil.
She died in 2001 after a long battle with cancer and Alzheimer's disease.