Len Dobbin

Leonard Montgomery Ross Dobbin (born February 23, 1935 in Montreal; died July 9, 2009) was a jazz radio broadcaster and critic. A native of Montreal, Canada, Dobbin was involved with many Montreal jazz music events for decades and was active in the jazz community as a broadcaster, radio producer, reviewer and photographer. Dobbin's jazz photographs had four showings in the years prior to his death, and can be found in many magazines and album covers in North America, as well as his liner notes.

Dobbin's radio career began in 1962. During the 1970s, Dobbin's Sunday evening radio show "Jazz 96" was one of the premier Canadian jazz broadcasts during an era when Canada had no national jazz broadcast, with the exception of the CBC. Dobbin was responsible for bringing many Canadian jazz artists to the public, using his show as a platform for showcasing Canadian talent. Subsequently, he hosted a show called "Dobbin's Den", which was aired on CKUT-FM on Sundays from 11a.m.-1p.m. . During his career, Dobbin wrote about and reviewed jazz music for the Montreal Mirror as well as the Montreal Gazette and CODA. Over the years, Dobbin also developed important relationships with major jazz artists, including vocalist Sheila Jordan who, upon hearing of his death, was quoted as saying that he was "like a younger brother to me.... I will dedicate "The Crossing" at every performance I do to (Dobbin)...."

An almost lifelong battle with alcoholism ended in the mid 1990s when Dobbin achieved what was to become permanent sobriety through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Dobbin's health deteriorated, however, and he suffered a stroke in July 2009 while sitting in a jazz club in Montreal. He was taken by ambulance to hospital where he died that night.

Among his awards was a nomination in 2009 for "Broadcaster of the Year" at the Canadian National Jazz Awards.

External links

• I Remember Len Dobbin, by Steve Holt
• Errand Girl For Jazz
• Jazzblog.ca
• Jazz Chronicles
• Global News
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