Radio Legend Getting a Statue in Windsor
Whether you know the name Rosalie Trombley or not, her influence on Detroit radio and radio as a whole was second to none! Thankfully the city of Windsor Ontario has…
The skyline of Detroit as seen from Windsor, Ontario. The picture, taken just after the sunset has a colorful sky and the colorfully lit buildings of the Motor City reflecting on the Detroit River. Taken with a long exposure, the surface of the water is silky smooth. Photo by Mike Kline
Photo by Mike KlineWhether you know the name Rosalie Trombley or not, her influence on Detroit radio and radio as a whole was second to none! Thankfully the city of Windsor Ontario has recognized that.
Rosalie Trombley was a Canadian music director for the station CKLW, also known as "The Big 8". Rosalie was most know for her ear, she could listen to a song and know if it was a hit or not.
She is single handily responsible for breaking the careers of guys like Alice Cooper, Aerosmith and Bob Seger. Everyone knows the song Rosalie by Seger, which was written about Rosalie Trombley.
More on Rosalie:
CKLW was a Windsor based station but broadcasted to Detroit, which made Rosalie someone every rock star wanted to know and get music to.
She was first hired in 1963 to work as a part-time switchboard operator and receptionist at CKLW.
After becoming familiar with how a top 40 station worked, she accepted a position in the music library. In the fall of 1968, she was offered a full-time position as CKLW's music director.
Just a few years after she took over, CKLW became the rock station of all rock stations! If you wanted a song played you went to Rosalie.
Trombley died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on November 23, 2021, at the age of 82.
"Recording artists, both established and aspiring, visited Trombley to promote their latest single releases," Trombley's family said in a media release just after her death.
THE STATUE:
Thankfully for us, the city of Windsor has teamed up with St. Clair College to fund a 170,000 dollar statue project in honor of Rosalie.
The statue has already been worked on by sculptor Donna Mayne, who says it is about 80 percent done.
If everything is approved and goes through, the statue will be placed in a park on the riverfront right in downtown Ontario.
CLICK HERE for the full article on the statue and photos of what it will look like!
Here is what the statue may look like:
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