A platinum voice silenced

Alan Courtney Magnus, who claimed the title of Jamaica’s ‘Good Morning Man’ in 1972 and enjoyed a long and successful reign as the king of breakfast radio for more than 40 years, died on Saturday morning at age 80.

Throughout his four decades ruling the roost, Magnus earned the love and loyalty of thousands of Jamaicans, who tuned in daily for a royal fare of incisive humour, razor-sharp wit, and intelligent banter.

That he was able to hold pride of place on the morning airwaves from the time when there were only two AM stations in Jamaica to the era of multiple broadcast networks – plus the Internet and countless cable radio channels – is a testament to his longevity as a charismatic host.

Between the hours of 5 and 9 am on weekdays, on Radio Jamaica (RJR), with his cheerful disposition and even temperament, Magnus informed, entertained and educated with an effortlessness that thoroughly engaged his faithful audience, and at the same time, belied the amount of work he put into making his show the standard by which morning radio was judged.

The man who became known as the Mad Nut, owing to his often outrageous behaviour, credited his staying power and his ability to remain current in an age with so many competing distractions, and one in which seniority is often associated with obsolescence, to his love for his vocation, and his unpretentiousness.

Like Old Father Time, he not only kept rolling on, but he also was the grandfather clock by which his listeners kept a tally of the passing minutes of their morning routine, between the tunes featured in ‘Million Selling Selection’, ‘Music in the Love Spot’ and ‘Calypso Corner’.

It was hardly any wonder that Magnus became identified with time slots that literally struck a note with people.

LOVE OF MUSIC

His love of music started when he was a child, and while attending Franklin Town Elementary School, he was a participant in ‘Lanaman’s Children’s Hour’, a variety show that was ironically recorded at the RJR studios.

Later, at Kingston College, he paired up with a classmate to form The Videos duo, performing at night clubs and stage shows.

Magnus took his music career a step further as part of a group called The Mighty Vikings, with whom he made several appearances on the celebrated Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, which served to showcase the talent of a bevy of Jamaican artistes over the years. Magnus played the rhythm guitar for the group that provided entertainment at the hot spots in Kingston, and which was discovered by a colleague of Chris Blackwell’s, who introduced them to the man who launched the careers of Millie Small and Bob Marley.

The Vikings later signed a contract with Island Records, Blackwell’s record label, but Magnus opted out to attend university in England on a scholarship from the Government. He completed three years of a four-year electrical engineering course before returning home to work in that field at the Jamaica Telephone Company. Magnus stayed at the telecommunications firm for close to six years before moving on to RJR, in April 1971, to work in a similar capacity.

It was during his first year there that music beckoned to him again, and under the name Teddy Magnus, he recorded a reggae version of Cliff Richards’ Flying Machine that reached number one on RJR’s singles chart, as well as that of its rival radio station, the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).

Magnus started his career as an announcer/disc jockey working with the popular Marie Garth on weekday afternoons on ‘Best by Request’, and then taking on the weekend listenership with ‘Country Jamboree’ on Saturdays and ‘Variety Showcase’ on Sundays. He also worked on ‘Top of the Pops’, ‘The Night Hawk Show’, and later, the self-titled, ‘The Alan Magnus Show’.

Magnus was able to adapt to whatever style the show he was working on required; he also proved popular outside the studio, as a master of ceremonies for events, and in outside broadcasts. It was, however, in ‘The Good Morning Man Show’ that he truly found his groove.

Magnus later teamed up with Dorraine Samuels on ‘Good Morning Jamaica’ during the second half of his show, with both turning what had started as an open-mike accident that captured the friendly repartee between them, into one of the most listened to segments on radio. The duo worked together for 26 years, from 1981 to 2007, before Samuels was replaced by Paula-Anne Porter-Jones on the renamed ‘Jamaican Morning’.

ROAD TO RETIREMENT

Magnus was born on December 15, 1943, to Gerry and Joyce Magnus, accountant and teacher, respectively. He was married twice, the second time being to Karlene Tingling, and was the father of four: David and Kelly from his first marriage, and Anna-Kay and Richard-Alan from his second.

A recipient of the Order of Distinction in 1993 for his service to broadcasting, Magnus felt that the escalation in the number of radio stations over time had resulted in falling standards in that field.

Years into his retirement, Magnus told The Gleaner that he was still amazed at how successful he was on radio.

“The weekend after I got married to Kerry, we took a minibus from Montego Bay to Runaway Bay. Seated in front of us were two ladies, who, for the entire journey, had only one topic of conversation: Alan Magnus’ wedding to the ‘coolie girl’ from Westmoreland. Kerry and I were hard put to keep a straight face and not burst out laughing. They had absolutely nothing right in their discussion, except that I did actually get married to a lady of East Indian heritage from Westmoreland,” he recalled in the 2021 interview while “enjoying retirement” and as he kept isolated during the pandemic.

His advice to the next generation of announcers was simple: “Do your own thing; create your own brand. I would not have been successful or stayed on air for 46 years without my deep and abiding love for country music. That love, and the ability to expose the Jamaican public to country music, was one of the spurs to my waking up before dawn every morning and heading down to RJR to be part of the fabric of the lives of countless Jamaican listeners.”

‘He was a stalwart of radio’

As news of Alan Magnus’ death spread on Saturday, tributes flowed for the man known as ‘Mr Radio’.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he was deeply saddened, noting that Magnus had “a voice that resonated through the hearts of Jamaicans for decades.

“As a child, his voice woke me up in the mornings, accompanying me on the journey to school,” Holness added.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding said Magnus’ “legacy in the industry is one that will be remembered with immense respect and admiration”.

“His ability to connect with people through the airwaves was truly remarkable, creating a sense of companionship for those who tuned in,” he added.

Winston Ridgard, who was programme director at RJR during Magnus’ tenure, described the veteran broadcaster as one of the best announcers with whom he has worked.

“He made such a great contribution to radio as a morning man. He had a flair with his audience which helped to keep him on top of the ratings heap for many many years,” said Ridgard.

He described Magnus as a great communicator, a great family man, and one of the best ever to grace the airwaves of Jamaican radio.

“His death is a great loss,” he said.

Don Topping, who worked with Magnus as a fellow announcer and later as his programme director, said that he was a natural talent, recalling that Magnus occupied the top revenue-earning slot on Jamaican radio for many years.

“It was a very rewarding experience to work with Alan over the years. His was a conversation style that connected with the audience,” he said, recalling that he was well-loved by the audience as evidenced whenever he did outside broadcasts.

“His contribution to radio was major. He was a stalwart of radio,” said Topping.

Marie Garth, who helped to train Magnus when he first ventured into broadcasting, said that she was in shock at the news of his passing.

“Alan was a natural, a bright man who had a great sense of humour and someone who was not afraid to speak his mind,” she told The Sunday Gleaner. “I am so in a daze.”

LEFT A HUGE VOID

Gary Allen, group service executive at the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, said that he along with many colleagues enjoyed an excellent relationship with Magnus.

“I spoke with him a few weeks ago and the discussions centred on many issues having to do with radio and how radio could be improved,” said Allen.

He said that Magnus’ death leaves a huge void.

“I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I won’t hear that voice again,” said Allen.

Fellow announcer Winston Barnes, who also attended Kingston College while Magnus was a student there, recalled that a little-known fact was that Magnus was excellent at mathematics.

Barnes also recalled that while many fellow broadcasters came up through the drama and other cultural festivals, Magnus was a natural who did not go that route.

“He lasted as long as he did in the business because of his style of conversing with the members of his audience,” he said, noting that those entering broadcasting now have lost someone whose experiences they could have drawn upon.

Several other officials and former colleagues joined hundreds of Jamaicans in reflecting on Magnus’ legacy on social media on Saturday.

In a statement, the RJRGLEANER Communications Group expressed sadness at Magnus’ passing and expressed sympathies to his family and close friends.

editorial@gleanerjm.com