Leonard Montgomery Ross Dobbin (February 23, 1935 – July 9, 2009) was a jazz radio broadcaster and critic. A native of

Montreal, Quebec Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, Canada, Dobbin was involved with many Montreal

jazz music Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, hymns, m ...

events for decades and was active in the jazz community as a broadcaster,

radio producer A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. The job title covers several different job descriptions: *Content producers or executive producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature. The content producer might organize music cho ...

reviewer A review is an evaluation of a publication, product, service, or company or a critical take on current affairs in literature, politics or culture. In addition to a critical evaluation, the review's author may assign the work a rating to indic ...

and

photographer A photographer (the Greek φῶς (''phos''), meaning "light", and γραφή (''graphê''), meaning "drawing, writing", together meaning "drawing with light") is a person who uses a camera to make photographs. Duties and types of photograp ...

. Dobbin's jazz photographs had four showings in the years prior to his death, and can be found in many magazines and

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

covers. Dobbin also wrote

liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or cassette j-cards. Origin Liner notes are descended from the prog ...

for jazz releases. 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. 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 aired on

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

campus radio station CKUT-FM on Sundays from 11a.m.-1p.m. Dobbin also wrote about and reviewed jazz music for the ''

Montreal Mirror ''Montreal Mirror'' or just ''Mirror'' was a free English language alternative newsweekly based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada which was distributed every Thursday. It had a circulation of 70,000 and reached a quarter of a million readers per week. ...

'', the ''

Montreal Gazette ''The Gazette'', also known as the ''Montreal Gazette'', is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper which is owned by Postmedia Network. It is published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the only English-language daily newspape ...

'' and '' CODA''. Dobbin developed important relationships with major jazz artists, including baritone saxophonist

Pepper Adams Park Frederick "Pepper" Adams III (October 8, 1930 – September 10, 1986) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist and composer. He composed 42 pieces, was the leader on eighteen albums spanning 28 years, and participated in 600 sessions as a s ...

, who composed a tune titled "Dobbin" in his honor, and the vocalist

Sheila Jordan Sheila Jordan (born Sheila Jeanette Dawson; November 18, 1928) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. She has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording her own albums. Jordan pionee ...

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 with the help of

Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led Mutual aid, mutual-aid fellowship focused on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism through its spiritually inclined twelve-step program. AA's Twelve Traditions, besides emphasizing anon ...

. Dobbin 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.

Notes

External links

I Remember Len Dobbin, by Steve Holt

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dobbin, Len Canadian radio hosts 1935 births 2009 deaths Journalists from Montreal