We lost a great radio guy and even better person on Tuesday as Leo Brown also known on-air as Gregg Lee, passed away suddenly on vacation here in Halifax.
To me, he was “Uncle Leo” as he was like family.
We spoke often with calls that could be for hours, laughing our butts off. He was always great for life advice too.
Our last call with Leo was July 6th, just 10 days ago, before his big trip home with Kim, the love of his life, he was excited to get back to Nova Scotia and we were planning beach days at Queensland and Bayswater to get the traditional hot dogs and fries at Sheila’s Canteen.
I grew up listening to Leo on CJCB in Sydney, he inspired me to get into radio. I remember hearing him in 1975 introduce “Fox on the Run” by Sweet on a Sunday afternoon and thought that sounded so damn cool! I was 9, Leo 19.
(Above: Leo-Gregg, Brother Jake Edwards and Jay Bedford at CJCB in 1975.)
To become close friends over the years was such a blessing.
We had similar paths, both of us were an only child to older parents. Both started at 1270 CJCB in Sydney before moving on to 96/CHNS in Halifax and then to 92/CJCH, Halifax.
(Just after Leo passed away Tuesday afternoon, Roxanne spotted this CJCH 80’s win sticker in Tantallon. Leo was checking in one more time.)
Leo/Gregg moved on to 1050 CHUM in Toronto in 1982 for his dream gig. My wife Roxanne and I got to sit in with him on-air in 1992, that was pure radio magic watching him do his craft.
Leo ruled the radio as one of the best announcers in Canada, as well as being one of the top in demand voice-over announcers. He voiced projects right up to the end.
During summer visits, he used my home voice-over studio to send his commercials back to Toronto, pretty cool moments, with a pile of laughs.
(Above: Ian’s son Drake in 1997 wearing some radio swag from “Uncle Leo”)
He was great to our boys growing up, always asking about their latest ventures and successes. “How’s Trent?” “How’s Drake?”
I loved him like a brother, he was a big brother.
Wish we could’ve had just one more beach day and “hottie dog.”
(Above: Ian’s wife Roxanne with Leo/Gregg and wife Kim.)
Like the Old Dominion song says: “Life is short, make it sweet.”
Love and hugs to Kim and family.
His heart never left the Maritimes, Leo Brown/Gregg Lee was only 68.
-Ian
(Credits: Ian Robinson photos.)
