About George Johns

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Born and educated in Winnipeg, Manitoba – Canada.

THE ’60s

                     

Played guitar and sang with Shayne and the Divines, the Rebel Raiders, the Phantoms, and the Jury.

The Jury’s Recordings:

Until You Do.
I Tried To Tell Her.
Back In My World.
Please Forget Her b/w Who Dat?

Broadcasting

Board Operator – CKY-FM Winnipeg.
Production Director – CKY
Music Director – CKY
Program Director – CKOM  Saskatoon
Program Director – CKSO AM/FM Sudbury

THE ’70s

                       

Program Director – CFRA Ottawa
Program Director – CFTR Toronto
Station Manager – CFTR.

Vice President of Programming for Fairbanks Broadcasting:
WIBC/WNAP Indianapolis
WVBF/WKLB Boston
WKOX Framingham
WIBG Philadelphia
WRMF/WJNO Palm Beach
KVIL FM/AM Dallas

Studied with Mike Vance, Dean of Walt Disney University

THE ’80s

                       

Became a US citizen.

Formed The Johns Company, which consulted radio stations in the US and Canada.

Merged the Johns Company with Fairwest and syndicated:
Continuous Country.
Music Of Your Life.
The Class/Classy format.

Radio Station Ownership:
KLLS San Antonio
K103 Portland
WZPL Indianapolis
WMET Chicago
KZTR Milwaukee

’90s – TODAY

                     

Radio Advisor and Talent Coach. (More than 75% of the air talent I was privileged to coach ended up in the Radio Hall of Fame.)

Write a weekly Blog entitled Radio Geo’s Media Blog while writing three books.
Guitars & Radio & Wild Wild Women.
50 Ways To Keep Your Lover.
Geo’s 1001 Life-Liners.

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS:

The Jury’s “Please Forget Her” became the #1 Canadian record in Canada.

“Who Dat?”, which was the flip side, became a cult favorite and was covered by several grunge bands. It was recently mentioned in a publication as being 50 years ahead of its time.

The Jury shared the bill with fellow Winnipeggers, The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive, and Neil Young.

The Jury opened for musical legends Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash, plus early British Invasion acts Peter & Gordon, Manfred Mann, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers The Zombies.

BROADCASTING HIGHLIGHTS

Created the first Adult Contemporary Radio Format at CFTR in Toronto in 1972 and brought it to KVIL in Dallas in 1973.

Created the nationally syndicated “Magic Ticket,” which was one of the first-ever sales/programming promotions.

Co-created “Fantasy Park,” which became nationally syndicated.

Created the “Class” format on KLLS in San Antonio, which was successful on more than 40 radio stations.

Put the “Music Of Your Life” format carried by more than a hundred AM stations up on Satellite.

Co-created and launched WKLB, Boston’s first Country Station.

Email. radiogeo@gmail.com Cell. 954 868 6759  On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio

 

 

 

7 thoughts on “About George Johns

  1. Pingback: What Radio’s Looking For – Erickson Media

  2. George, I knew you via Don Garrard (dandy) back in the late 70s/early 80s. I was married to him while he was in Indy at the buzzard through his stint with you in San Diego. I still have a note you sent him asking, “Don, you haven’t caused any trouble for a while…are you ill?”
    I only met you a handful of times, but you were just delightful to talk to and Don thought very highly of you. I spotted your blog while trying to see what Tom Cochran and buster are up to now, and thought I’d just say hello and wish you well. Take care! Dee (Garrard) McGinn

    • Dee, how nice of you to reach out to me. Don truly was a memorable character which I’m sure you’re well aware of. The thing that made me successful Dee was surrounding myself talented people like Don and handling them as best I could. They, in turn, were very loyal and I fondly remember them all.

  3. Hi George…after listening to the KVIL piece and the Great Race…hope you (or someone) protected the name and concept for later in TV history.

  4. George,
    Please give us a bio on Jim West. I always wondered what happened to him.
    He was a friend and great Pam’s jingle salesman. Like so many others in our industry they are gone but not forgotten.
    I programmed for Stoner Broadcasting and Ken Greenwood.’s ventures

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