Jim Chapman (media personality)

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Jim Chapman (born February 10, 1949) is a Canadian radio and TV personality, musician, journalist and author.

Personal life[edit]

Jim Chapman was born in London, Ontario, Canada on February 10, 1949.

The 1960s[edit]

Having played with several bands since 1964, Chapman dropped out of school in 1966 to pursue his teenage dreams of rock and roll stardom. In 1968, his band, "The Bluesmen Revue," signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in the U.S. that saw the release of "Spin the Bottle," a local hit. A falling out with their U.S. management company and dissatisfaction with Columbia's plans for them spelled the end of their record deal, and, dispirited by their failure to crack the big time, the band split up in early 1969.[1][2][3] In 1970, Chapman joined popular Canadian showband Leather and Lace and eventually played bass for rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins in 1972.[4][5]

The 1970s[edit]

In 1972, Chapman and partners Sandy Wilson and Brian Ferriman (later to manage country star Michelle Wright), started a musician management company and with partners Lou Saddy and Bob Leth opened Springfield Sound Studios, where folk legend Stan Rogers recorded his iconic Fogarty's Cove and Turnaround albums.[6] Todd Rundgren, John Allan Cameron, Helix, Jethro Tull, Crowbar, Matt Minglewood, Bernard Purdie, and Budgie were among many other notable acts which were recorded there.[7][8][9] Chapman also started the London area's first successful jingle production company and many of his compositions were heard on regional radio and TV for years.[10]

The 1980s and 1990s[edit]

Having toured extensively with his own band in the early 1980s, in 1986 Chapman returned home to London and built another recording studio. He started his second jingle company and quickly attracted clients like Ontario Hydro and Kraft General Foods.[5], London PUC, Ontario Seniors' Games, and ParticipAction. He also wrote and recorded the iconic "Tear 'Em Up Tigers" theme song for the London-based Detroit Tigers farm team. It gained international recognition as an anthem for the organization on its way to a US Eastern League baseball championship in 1989, in addition to getting significant local media coverage and raising thousands of dollars for charity.[5]

The Morning Show Musical Maestro[edit]

In 1988, Chapman was contracted to write novelty songs for Peter Garland's top-rated morning show on CFPL 980 Radio, reaching a large audience across Southern Ontario. As "The Morning Show Musical Maestro" from 1988 until 1991, he was the only staff songwriter at any Canadian radio station.[11] He turned out dozens of humorous and satirical songs, and produced two albums of his tunes that raised thousands of dollars for charity. Some of his songs were heard across Canada on the CBC, including "Stand Up for Canada, Eh!", recorded by the True Grit Band that at times included Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and future City of London Mayor Joe Fontana, and used as the theme for a nationwide campaign to promote Canadian unity during the 1995 Referendum.[12][13]

Media personality[edit]

In 1992, Chapman was offered a job as a talk show host at London's CJBK Radio, fulfilling a long-time dream. After a year there, and a subsequent two-year stint at CKSL, he returned to CJBK as the host of Talk of the Town, which quickly became a leading forum for public discussion in Southwestern Ontario.[16] Until he left the station in 2004, Chapman interviewed many well-known and influential newsmakers of the day, including prime ministers, provincial premiers, U.S. governors, Hollywood stars, music legends, sports celebrities, best-selling authors, and local community leaders. He was later hired as a news commentator on CFPL television and also hosted the thrice-weekly Jim Chapman Show interview show evenings on the Rogers TV Network for several years.[14][15] He was a popular columnist with The London Free Press and Business London magazine for two decades, and was the first person in London media to host his own radio and TV shows while writing regular newspaper and magazine columns as well.[16]

Near-death experience[edit]

In 1999, Chapman suffered a fatal heart attack and was left brain-dead in a local ER.[17] He was eventually resuscitated, but not before having a near-death experience.[18] Emergency surgery after a second serious heart attack just days later left him very ill and incapacitated for several months. He used the time to tell the story of what he called his "adventure" in a book, Heart and Soul,[19][20] that became a regional bestseller and generated thousands of dollars for charity. For the next few years, in addition to his media work, Chapman travelled extensively and as far afield as Seattle, Washington, and Dallas, Texas, speaking about his near-death experience and its aftermath.[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

Back on the air again[edit]

Chapman had left CJBK in June 2004 and took several months off to rest before going back on the airwaves later that year with another news program, The Jim Chapman News Hour on CHRW-FM, a 60-minute daily broadcast featuring his analysis of stories in the news. Chapman continued writing for the London Free Press and Business London Magazine.

After a serious illness in 2005, Chapman was inspired to write another book, "Come Back to Life", that was released to critical and popular approval. It related the story of the years since his near-death experience and how his life in the interim had been affected by it.CFPL (AM) radio,[28][29][30]

Chapman retired from the media in 2007 to run in the Ontario Provincial Election[36] for the Progressive Conservatives, though he departed from the party platform when it did not reflect his beliefs, as noted in the Globe and Mail newspaper.[31] Unsuccessful at the polls, he decided to retire altogether and return to private life, though he retained an interest in local politics.

He then founded Bettger Books, a publishing company that has released titles by, among others, Canadian authors Herman Goodden, Sonia Halpern, and broadcasting legend Dick Williams, as well as Chapman's own works. By 2024, nine of his books had been published, five fiction, and four non-fiction.[32]

In 2011, Chapman was back on the air with a daily news commentary program on CFPL Radio. In 2012, he released Lost and Found, a CD of his original songs that had been recorded at Springfield Sound in the mid-70s but were lost for more than 3 decades.

In 2017, he retired again and went on to publish several novels as well as researching and writing a 210,000-word book titled "Battle of the Bands / Uncle Jimmy's Excellent Adventure". It chronicles London's teen cultural and music scene in the 1960's, and his own decades-long musical career.[33][34]

In 2023 Chapman was inducted into the London Music Hall of Fame along with his fellow 1960's Bluesmen Revue band members Kenn Allison, Dave Partridge, Dave Baker, Paul Kersey, Charlie Mitchell and Rick Wadds.[35] In 2023 Jim wrote and began performing "The Jim Chapman Show" a one-man spoken word and music journey through the past several decades of popular music that includes stories about the many famouus entertainers he has met and worked with, including Ronnie Hawkins, Jimmy Clanton, Johnny Rivers, Chubby Checker, John Tesh, Freddy Cannon, Brian Hyland, Sly Stone, The Stampeders, Ocean, and many more.

In 2024 he started a successful weekly concert series, Jim Chapman Presents, that features top entertainers from across the London area.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Canoe's Page on The Bluesmen Revue". Jam.canoe.ca. November 28, 2004. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ The London Free Press April 26, 1966. Tom Rath "Dance Routines 'Something To Watch' When Sally and the Bluesmen Perform" Page 4-A
  3. ^ "February 2008 James' Brand New Blog". Blogs.canoe.ca. February 29, 2008. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Canoe's Page on Ocean". Jam.canoe.ca. November 28, 2004. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b c Scene July 15–28, 1993. Jeffrey Reed "The Only Talk in Town" Pg. 10
  6. ^ "Ocean Put Your Hand in the Hand CD Canada". Cduniverse.com. July 26, 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  7. ^ "Bob Leth's Chamber.com page". chamber.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  8. ^ "Metal Archive's page on Budgie's Impeckable". metal-archives.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  9. ^ "Helix's page on their album Breaking Loose". planethelix.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  10. ^ "The CD Universe page for Fogarty's Cove". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  11. ^ "Helix's page on their album Breaking Loose". planethelix.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  12. ^ "Parliamentary Records on Wednesday, October 4, 1995 (237)". Parl.gc.ca. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  13. ^ [The London Free Press Gallery]
  14. ^ "Jim's show on Rogers TV". Rogerstv.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  15. ^ Scene January 24, 2002. Barry Wells "Bonny Jim Chapman's Brush with death an eye-opener" Pg. 3
  16. ^ Scene November 15, 2001. Robert Pegg "Rogers and the invasion of the Radio Guys" Pg. 19
  17. ^ The London Free Press October 26, 1999.
  18. ^ Ki Mae Heussner, Scientists Study Out-of-Body Experiences, ABC News, September 30, 2008 [1]
  19. ^ The London Free Press February 5, 2000. Jim Chapman "Back from the Brink" F-1
  20. ^ The London Free Press October 13, 1999. Joe Matyas "Chapman Cracking Jokes"
  21. ^ Goderich Signal-Star July 19, 2000. Rev. Phil Gandon "Broadcaster to discuss post-death experience"
  22. ^ Goderich Signal-Star July 26, 2000. Matt Shurrie "Chapman tells congregation of post-death experience"
  23. ^ The London Free Press May 3, 2006. Free Press Staff "Heart attack inspires book"
  24. ^ REL-MAR McConnell Media Company – Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. "X-Zone's Guest List". Xzone-radio.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Donna Seebo's Guest List". Bbsradio.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  26. ^ "CHRW's Page on Jim's Show". Chrwradio.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  27. ^ "Radio Station History of CJBK". Broadcasting-history.ca. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  28. ^ "AM 980's page on Jim's show". Broadcasting-history.ca. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  29. ^ Business London January 2002. Mark Kearney "Booked In" Pg. 14–15
  30. ^ "Near Death Experience Research Foundation review of "Heart and Soul"". Nderf.org. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  31. ^ Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Progressive Conservative candidate Jim Chapman, London-Fanshawe – Wikinews n:Ontario Votes 2007: Interview with Progressive Conservative candidate Jim Chapman, London-Fanshawe
  32. ^ [The London Free Press, January 28, 2014]
  33. ^ [The London Free Press, December 29, 2013]
  34. ^ [The London Free Press, April 14, 2021]
  35. ^ "London Music Hall of Fame unveils 2023 inductees". London Free Press. May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.

External links[edit]

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