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Dave Bookman
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Dave "Bookie" Bookman (May 30, 1960 – May 21, 2019) was a Canadian radio personality, most noted for his long career in the Toronto radio market.[1] Associated primarily with CFNY-FM (102.1 the Edge) and later with CIND-FM (Indie 88), he was known as a passionate promoter of indie music[2] and as an excellent interviewer with a gift for getting even famously "difficult" or reclusive musicians, such as David Byrne, Jeff Tweedy and Elvis Costello, to open up more than usual in interviews.[1]

Key Information

Career

[edit]

He began his radio career in the 1980s, hosting various shows on the University of Toronto's campus radio station CIUT-FM[3] and working as a sportscaster for CKAR's local broadcasts of Oshawa Generals hockey games.[4] He was also active as a musician in this era, forming the folk punk band The Bookmen with Tim Mech, and releasing the independent album Volume One: Delicatessen in 1987.[4] The band also recorded a cover of Costello's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", which appeared on a split 7-inch single with Fluid Waffle in 1988.

He joined CFNY in 1991, initially as a reporter for Live in Toronto.[5] In 1993 he launched "Dave Bookman's Nu Music Nite", a long-running Tuesday night concert series at The Horseshoe Tavern;[6] although primarily a showcase for emerging bands who were not yet big enough to secure prime weekend slots at the bar, over the course of its run it also hosted free shows by major touring acts such as Old 97's, Ash, Spoon, Son Volt, Band of Horses, Matchbox 20, Whiskeytown, Eels, Nada Surf, Linkin Park, The Strokes, Thom Yorke and Foo Fighters.[7] In 1996, he also programmed the Alternative Afternoons concert series at the CNE Bandshell.[8]

With the Bookmen having broken up by this time, he launched the new band Midi Ogres with Dave Bidini.[9] As a solo artist, he contributed a cover of Bob Snider's "Parkette" to the 1996 tribute album Poetreason: The Songs of Bob Snider; he was also the host of the live concert at which the album was recorded.[10]

Over the course of his time with CFNY, he hosted the Indie Hour, weekend shifts and daytime afternoon drive,[11] until he left the station in 2012.[12] He joined Indie 88 the following year, hosting both a weekday shift and a weekend show on which he would freely play any music he liked regardless of whether it was part of the station's regularly formatted playlist.[13]

In 2018, he won the Unsung Hero Award from the Canadian Independent Music Awards.[14]

Death

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Dave Bookman plaque outside the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto (photo © Canadian Jewish News)

In April 2019, Bookman suffered an aneurysm, and spent several weeks in intensive care until his death on May 21, 2019.[15] On the day his death was announced to the public, Indie 88 suspended regular programming to air a live tribute program that blended some of Bookman's favourite music with reminiscences from his colleagues and on-air phonecalls from listeners, friends and musicians.

On May 29, 2019, Indie 88 aired a special fundraising radiothon, "A Day to Make Music Count", to raise money in Bookman's memory for MusiCounts, the music education initiative of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.[16] The broadcast raised over CA$69,000, significantly exceeding the station's CA$50,000 goal.[16] A private memorial party for Bookman the following evening included live performances by Sloan, Blue Rodeo, Billy Talent, and Broken Social Scene,[16] hosted by his good friend and sports TV personality Dave Hodge.

In November 2019, Bookman's family and friends organized another fundraiser for MusiCounts, making his vinyl record collection available for sale in conjunction with the independent record store Rotate This.[17]

Legacy

[edit]

In July 2022, a Heritage Toronto plaque commemorating Bookman was unveiled outside the Horseshoe Tavern at 370 Queen Street West, commemorating Nu Music Nite and Bookman's support of music in Toronto.[18]

In 2024, Indie 88 and Canadian Music Week staged Left of the Dial, a Bookman tribute show which saw Canadian artists performing The Replacements songs as a benefit for the Daily Bread Food Bank.[19] Participating artists included Charlotte Cornfield, Bry Webb, NYSSA, Terra Lightfoot, Georgia Harmer, Ian Blurton, Skye Wallace, Tony Dekker and Julian Taylor.[19] A second show, Let's Get Friendship Right, was staged in 2025 to perform the music of The Tragically Hip, with participants including Dekker, Brendan Canning, Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay Goldstein, Kevin Hearn, Ben Kowalewicz, Meg Remy, Justin Rutledge, Shakura S'Aida, Talia Schlanger and Menno Versteeg.[20]

References

[edit]

Grokipedia

Dave Bookman

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from Grokipedia
Dave Bookman, known as "Bookie," was a Canadian radio personality and advocate for independent music renowned for his eclectic taste, incisive interviews, and tireless promotion of Canadian artists over three decades in Toronto radio. [1] [2] Born on May 30, 1960, he began his broadcasting career at community station CIUT-FM, where he emerged as an early supporter of acts such as Barenaked Ladies. [1] Bookman gained wider prominence at CFNY-FM (102.1 The Edge) from January 1999 to December 2012, hosting programs including The Indie Hour, contributing to live broadcasts, and eventually anchoring afternoon drive shifts. [2] He later moved to Indie88 in 2013, where he served as a midday announcer and hosted the Sunday Morning Rock Show until his death. [1] Beyond on-air work, he organized the long-running weekly "Nu Music Nite" showcase at the Horseshoe Tavern, providing a platform for emerging talent for over two decades. [2] [1] Celebrated for his encyclopedic music knowledge, authentic interviewing style, and commitment to music that transcended genres, Bookman interviewed major figures including Dave Grohl, Ray Davies, and U2, while championing bands like Sloan, Billy Talent, and Lowest of the Low. [1] In June 2018, the Canadian Independent Music Association honored him with the Unsung Hero Award for his role in bringing indie music to broader audiences. [1] He died on May 21, 2019, at age 58, leaving a lasting legacy as a tastemaker and mentor in Canada's independent music community. [1] [2]

Early life

Background and early influences

Dave Bookman was born on May 30, 1960, in Ontario, Canada.[1] He spent his early years in Ottawa, where he developed a passion for music through exposure to records played by his older brothers, Rick and Steve, who introduced him to artists including the Beach Boys, the Byrds, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan.[3] This familial influence sparked a deep and lasting connection to music that would later expand toward more alternative sounds.[3] While growing up in Ottawa, Bookman also immersed himself in rock radio broadcasts, an experience that fueled his dreams of one day working on the airwaves.[4] These formative listening habits and early musical discoveries laid the foundation for his lifelong enthusiasm for new and independent music.[4][3]

Musical activities

Bands and recordings

Dave Bookman began his musical career as a member of the folk band The Bookmen, alongside Tim Mech, releasing the independent album Volume One: Delicatessen in 1987 on Chapter Records (distributed by Oshawa's Star Records) as a vinyl-only release. [5] [6] [7] The Bookmen also recorded a cover of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", popularized by Elvis Costello, for a split 7-inch single shared with Fluid Waffle in 1988. [8] Later, Bookman formed the band Midi Ogres, featuring Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics, Stephen Stanley of Lowest of the Low, and John Deslauriers of the Doughboys, described as an electric sonic folk-pop project whose name played on the word "mediocre." [5] [9] As a solo artist, Bookman contributed a cover of Bob Snider's "Parkette" to the 1996 tribute album Poetreason: The Songs of Bob Snider, which was recorded live at a tribute concert to Bob Snider. [10] His own experiences in independent music informed his subsequent advocacy for emerging Canadian artists. [5]

Radio career

Campus and early radio work

Dave Bookman began his radio career in the 1980s at CIUT-FM, the campus radio station of the University of Toronto.[11] He co-hosted the weekday morning show "High and Outside," collaborating with Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics.[12] In 1989, he launched his own long-form interview program "Don't Look Back," which featured in-depth discussions with artists from the indie-rock scene.[12][13] During this period, Bookman concurrently worked as a record buyer at A&A Records' Bloor and Yonge location in Toronto, deepening his engagement with the local music community.[11][12] He transitioned to commercial radio in 1991 when he joined CFNY-FM.[4]

CFNY-FM (The Edge)

Dave Bookman joined CFNY-FM (102.1 The Edge) in 1991, initially working as a reporter for the Live in Toronto segment, which marked the beginning of his 21-year tenure at the influential Toronto alternative rock station. [4] [5] He hosted the Indie Hour throughout the 1990s, using the program to highlight up-and-coming independent and alternative acts during a period when Canadian indie music often received little mainstream attention. [5] Bookman progressed to weekend shifts and later anchored the afternoon drive-time rush-hour slot, consistently promoting emerging Canadian artists and contributing to their exposure on a major commercial station. [4] [5] Known as a passionate champion of indie music, Bookman earned recognition for his deep knowledge of the scene and his ability to connect listeners with lesser-known acts. [4] He was particularly noted for his exceptional interviewing skills and warm, engaging style, which made him a favorite among musicians and led to memorable on-air conversations with artists such as David Byrne, Jeff Tweedy, and Elvis Costello. [14] His role at The Edge helped establish him as a key tastemaker in Toronto's alternative music community, amplifying voices that might otherwise have struggled for airplay. [5] Bookman left the station in 2012. [5]

CIND-FM (Indie88)

Dave Bookman joined CIND-FM, branded as Indie88, in 2013 after departing CFNY-FM, contributing to the launch of the new alternative rock station in Toronto. [11] [5] He served as the midday announcer for weekday shifts and hosted additional programming, including a Sunday night show and the vinyl-focused Crackle & Pop. [1] [5] In this role, Bookman continued his longstanding advocacy for independent music, selecting and playing favorites from both emerging and established artists on his shows. [5] He thrived at Indie88, taking it upon himself to sustain his mission of promoting indie music in an environment that aligned with his passion for alternative and non-mainstream sounds. [5] His work at the station overlapped with his ongoing Nu Music Nites promotion at the Horseshoe Tavern. [1] Bookman remained an on-air presence at Indie88 until 2019. [11] [5]

Live music promotion

Nu Music Nites

Nu Music Nites was a long-running weekly concert series that Dave Bookman co-created and hosted at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto beginning in the mid-1990s. [15] [11] [16] The free Tuesday night showcase focused on emerging and independent bands, providing an accessible platform for new talent to perform live and connect with audiences in a no-cover environment. [14] This indie-centric series emphasized support for up-and-coming artists, often pairing their appearances with additional exposure through Bookman's radio broadcasts. [15] The series featured notable performances by acts such as Ash, Eels, Matchbox 20, Nada Surf, Son Volt, Spoon, The Strokes, and others, many of whom played early or significant Toronto shows at the venue. [15] The series occasionally included intimate or surprise sets from established artists, reinforcing its reputation as a key launching pad within Toronto's music scene. [14] Booking responsibilities later involved partners Jeff Cohen and Craig Laskey, who helped curate lineups starting around the mid-1990s. [15] Nu Music Nites remained a consistent weekly event at the Horseshoe Tavern, continuing until near Bookman's death in 2019 and serving as a fixture for independent music promotion over more than two decades. [16]

Awards and recognition

Death

Illness and passing

In early April 2019, Dave Bookman suffered a brain aneurysm and was hospitalized. [17] [4] The illness required extended medical care, and he remained in hospital for several weeks. [16] Bookman died peacefully on May 21, 2019, at the age of 58 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [17] [18] [9] The cause of death was confirmed as the brain aneurysm by Indie88 general manager Megan Bingley. [17] [18]

Legacy

Following his death in 2019, Dave Bookman's contributions to Canadian independent music have continued to be recognized through various tributes and memorials. In July 2022, Heritage Toronto unveiled a commemorative plaque outside the Horseshoe Tavern on Queen Street West, honoring his lifelong promotion of independent music in Canada and internationally, particularly through his co-creation and hosting of the long-running Nu Music Nite weekly concert series, which began in 1993. The unveiling event featured speeches and performances by musicians from bands including Billy Talent, July Talk, Lowest of the Low, and others, reflecting his deep influence on Toronto's music community.[11] In May 2019, shortly after his passing, Indie88 organized an all-day broadcast titled "A Day to Make Music Count" to honor his memory and raise funds for MusiCounts, a charity supporting music education in Canadian schools. The initiative, anchored by colleagues including Josie Dye, raised over $75,000 (with Indie88 matching initial donations) for the MusiCounts Band Aid Program, which provides instruments and resources to schools in need.[19] These efforts, along with ongoing memorial events, underscore Bookman's enduring legacy as a champion of emerging artists and independent music.
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