Welcome to JJ-365 Salutes. Over 2018, we pay tribute daily to one of “The Good Ones”. Today we are shining the light on (Mike) Mookie Wilson.

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Dan Gall is a Radio Programmer I got to know a bit in the past. The people who worked for him brought him to my attention saying he had a knack of helping to lead talent to their potential. I had both Dan and Mike Mookie Wilson in our talent banks along with many others. I never did get to work with Dan but in time Mike and I worked under the same roof. I liked his sound from the first few seconds on his audition materials (something up and comers need to remember…whoever is hearing your stuff is likely not going to hear much unless of your presentation unless you hook them right off the top). We got to talking and I found Mike to be bright, quick on his feet and possessing a fun and self-deprecating demeanour. An infectious personality, kind of like 365’er Gerry Forbes Ger Forbsie. A quick smile, an easy laugh, fun and funny, and a positive attitude. He’s done well and brings it every day in his morning role in Calgary at the legendary 95.9 CHFM.

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Mookie Wilson initially got into radio because he wanted to be the play-by-play guy for the Toronto Maple Leafs. After hearing how amazing Joe Bowen & Bob Cole were, he realized a riot would ensue if he ever took one of their jobs, so he had to set his sites in a slightly different direction.

One evening, when the satellites went down knocking out all the radio station overnight services in Peterborough, Mookie was summoned by 1420 CKPT Programmer, Dan Gall, to work the graveyard shift. After driving from Burlington to Peterborough (and stopping at McDonalds both ways for 'fuel'), he was in the hole about $30, but thought he was on his way to making it big. He didn’t care where he worked in this world, as long as it was in radio.

The stop in Peterborough would last 10 months, working weekends, driving the community events cruiser, and whatever else he could do, making a whopping $6/hour. From there, a call came from the late and great Greg Hinton, to work afternoon drive and be the Promotions Director for $19,000/year in Brockville, Ontario. Greg’s first words when Mookie walked through the door were, “If you’re not out in two years, I’m gonna kick you out!” Greg knew his role in a town of 25,000 people, gave his staff enough guidance and creative freedom to make them better, then sent them off to bigger markets. It was a great recipe that all of his on-air staff devoured and lived by. In Mookie’s second year, Greg proudly upped his salary to $20,000. Greg was ecstatic and proclaimed, “They wanted to give you $300 more a year, I fought for a grand!” The pair forged a great friendship and lifetime bond. Most of the announcers made it out before they were kicked out. As small as XL 103 was (re-launched to 103.7 The River), the exposure they got being blasted on the 401 was unreal. Mookie next remembers getting a call out of the blue from Bob Harris about a job opening he had in Calgary. Sweet! The bubble soon burst, Mookie didn’t get the job, but he got to know Bob who by this time had made quite a name for himself...

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Full post from JJ here: 

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Thank you, Mookie Wilson for being one of “The Good Ones”. Feel free to like and share Mookie’s positive story. Who is the subject of tomorrow’s JJ-365 Salutes? As they say, stay tuned.

 

Jim JJ Johnston is the CEO, President and Chief Talent/Content Coach for JJIMS INC. and works with talent in many different industries.