HOW DID YOU GET THAT JOB
WHO ARE YOU?
Name: Larry Mellott
Birthplace: Barrie Ontario
Where do you live? Guelph Ontario
Career: Radio Broadcaster
Congratulations Larry, you are celebrating 30 years of employment at Corus Entertainment (CJOY/Magic106.1)?
30 consecutive years, from 1988-present, with an additional 8 years from 1974-82, then out west at a couple of different radio stations for 6 years. I’ve worked in radio for 48 years.
You are known in the Guelph Community as the, “Voice of the Guelph Storm”. Please tell us a little more about what your role is with the Guelph Hockey Team?
I’am the radio play by play voice of the Storm and broadcast every game they play, including 5 Memorial Cup tournaments. My first year broadcasting Guelph hockey was with the Platers in 1975.
WHAT does community mean to you?
Many radio signals are clearly heard in our city from other towns. Some of them play exactly the same music. What they can’t do is focus on the many events that happen in Guelph and make themselves available to get involved on a personal level. Community means interacting with what’s going on in your city, on air and off air!
WHAT would your listeners say about you?
I’ve listened to you since I was a kid! Honestly I’ve heard that observation as much as anything. That’s what happens when you’ve been on the air “forever” in one place.
WHAT changes have you seen within your 30 years in the industry?
I’ve gone from seeing 2 or 3 turntables in the studio to 2 or 3 computers. Interaction on social media has played a big part in how the job is handled, that didn’t exist to any great extent until the last 5 years or so.
WHERE do you find Inspiration?
Reaction from listeners when they let us know about the impact we have on them, with the entertainment, information and insight we provide.
Favorite quote / and or a favorite person?
Child-hood idol, who’s never been replaced over the years, hockey legend Gordie Howe. You can’t be a Canadian, or least not a Canadian hockey fan, without having a favorite player! I interviewed him twice and the legend was a humble, gracious man, easy to talk to and easy to respect and admire.
WHY did you choose this career, or did it choose you?
I wasn’t good enough to be a serious hockey players, but the opportunity existed to be a serious hockey play by play broadcaster.
Tell us something people usually don’t know about you?
The old line used to be “you don’t look like you sound”…I was never quite sure how to react to that!
WHAT did you want to be as a child?
If I couldn’t become a successful athlete I wanted to be involved in sports somehow, this job worked!
5 FUN FACTS ABOUT LARRY?
- My wife, 2 of our 3 children and all 3 of our grandchildren were born in Guelph
- Guelph has been my home for 38 years, far longer than any other place I’ve lived
- Former Guelph mayor and long-time CJOY new and sports director Norm Jary was my hockey play by play mentor, a great teacher and friend
- I’ve served as CJOY PD for 26 years now, longer than any one of the other 3 who served in that position over the years
- My grandfather was from Pennsylvania. We had 54 ancestors fight in the American Civil War, all for the Union, no rebels!
Contact Information: * (Where can people find your business/organization)
Emaill Address: lmellott@cjoy.com
Website: cjoy.com
Phone: 519-824-7000
Thanks Larry for sharing a little more about you. Guelph is so lucky to have you & thank you for sharing “YOUR VOICE” with the community. CJOY is celebrating 70 years in 70 days. Larry will be at the Guelph Rib fest for the 1460 CJOY wrap up event, he is broadcasting LIVE.
Talk soon,
Nancy