David Marsden, the influential Canadian broadcaster who hosted The Marsden Theatre on Oshawa’s 94.9 The Rock, has died at age 85.
Marsden died Friday, September 25, according to NYthespirit.com, the online station he co-founded. The station announced his death Monday and said it would continue broadcasting in his honour.
Oshawa program was part of a long radio career
Marsden began hosting The Marsden Theatre on CKGE-FM in Oshawa in 2003. He remained with the program for more than a decade, with his final Christmas Eve broadcast airing in 2014.
Durham Radio vice-president of programming Steve Kassay said Marsden’s impact on audiences and colleagues was immeasurable. Doug Elliott, program director at 94.9 The Rock, described his legacy and ear for alternative music as lasting influences.
Born David Michie in Toronto in 1941 and raised in Stratford, Marsden started in radio at CFCO-AM in Chatham. He later worked at CKEY in Toronto, CKGM and CHOM in Montreal, and CHUM-FM.
Helped shape Canadian alternative radio
Marsden joined Brampton’s CFNY-FM in 1977 and became program director two years later. The station’s free-form approach became closely associated with emerging and independent music. Rush’s song The Spirit of Radio was inspired by the station and its programming philosophy.
His later work included CKST in Vancouver, the Iceberg Media online radio hub and NYthespirit.com. Marsden was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and was featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Dear Mr. DJ exhibit.
Durham Radio News published the local tribute on September 28 and disclosed that it is owned by the same company as 94.9 The Rock.
