Daryl Ferguson inducted into the Alberta Country Music Hall of Fame
Lindsay Goss photo
Pass local Daryl Ferguson was inducted into the Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA.)
LINDSAY GOSS
Pass Herald Reporter
On the day Pass resident Daryl Ferguson said goodbye to his 45 year career in radio, he received a retirement gift much more prestigious than the average present.
For that was the day, October 19th, 2012, that it was announced he would be inducted into the Association of Country Music in Alberta, (ACMA.)
Becoming an official inductee to the Hall of Fame on January 27th, 2013, Ferguson said that the news came as a large surprise and it is an honour to be recognized under such a prestigious category.
“It is quite an honour, especially when looking at all the people who have contributed to country music,” said Ferguson.
Rob Smith, President of Canadian record and label distributer for Royalty Records was the man who nominated Ferguson as an inductee.
“I was not expecting the induction- it came as a huge surprise,” said Ferguson.
Ferguson has made his mark in Canadian Country music primarily for working as a radio DJ for 45 years- 40 of those years working for CJPR in Crowsnest Pass.
He first kick started his career in radio at CJOC in Lethbridge in 1967, while still in high school as a part-time board operator.
The following year, Ferguson was hired full-time as an all-night on air personality and to set up remotes.
In 1969, he was made Music and Promotions Director. He also helped out in the copy, creative and traffic departments, while learning all aspects of the radio industry.
In August of 1972, Ferguson and his family moved to Crowsnest Pass from Lethbridge and he was made supervisor of the new AM radio station CPJR, the same year the radio station was put on the air.
Ferguson was later made the manager of the station, which at the time, was owned by Selkirk Holdings.
The station was bought and sold many times and during one ownership, Ferguson ran the station as manager, on air person and worked with copy, traffic, sales and engineering.
Ferguson stayed in the Pass, working for CJPR for the rest of his career, until his retirement last year in mid-October.
Ferguson said that country music is his genre of choice, and some of his favourite country artists include Garth Brookes, Allan Jackson and Ian Tyson.
“It’s hard to pick a favourite artist because there is so much talent out there,” said Ferguson.
“It’s been like that since I’ve gotten into radio.”
Ferguson still resides in Crowsnest Pass with his wife, Anita and has no plans of leaving anytime soon.
