The vibrant streets of Windsor, Ontario, are set to resonate with the sounds of music and memories as the city prepares to celebrate the life and influence of the legendary music director, Rosalie Trombley, during this year’s much-anticipated Open Streets event. A carefully curated program of events will unfold on Sunday, September 17, 2023, allowing Windsor to pay a heartfelt tribute to the woman known as “the girl with the golden ear.”
Trombley, whose remarkable journey from a switchboard operator to the music director of CKLW-AM “The Big 8” captivated audiences on both sides of the border, passed away on November 23, 2021, at the age of 82. Her storied career and her immeasurable impact on the music industry have made her a beloved figure in the world of entertainment.
Amidst the festival atmosphere of Open Streets Windsor, residents and visitors alike will gather at various locations throughout the day to honor Rosalie Trombley’s enduring legacy. The festivities will commence with the official unveiling of the Rosalie Trombley Commemorative Sculpture, a monumental tribute funded by the City of Windsor and generously supported by St. Clair College. The sculpture will be unveiled at the Corner of Riverside Drive East and McDougall Street at 10:30 am.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, who played a pivotal role in bringing the sculpture to life, expressed his excitement about honoring such an iconic figure. He said, “City Council approved funding for Donna Mayne’s commemorative sculpture of Rosalie Trombley because Rosalie is one of Windsor’s most famous and influential women. She was personally responsible for boosting the careers of several seminal musical artists.”
The sculpture, funded by the City of Windsor with generous support from St. Clair College, stands as a lasting tribute to Rosalie Trombley’s contributions to the world of music. Melissa Schultz, Program and News Director at AM800 CKLW – Bell Media, spoke about their involvement in the project, saying, “We are thrilled to partner with the City of Windsor on this project, sponsoring a portion of the interpretive panel and website, honoring the one and only Rosalie Trombley.”
Following the sculpture unveiling, the day’s activities will continue with the grand opening of the Rosalie Trombley Commemorative Exhibition at Museum Windsor’s Chimczuk Museum location. The exhibition, a labor of love curated by Chris Renaud and the team at HCA Mindbox in collaboration with the Trombley family, will have a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m.
Tim Trombley, Director of Entertainment at Caesars Windsor and a member of Rosalie Trombley’s family, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community. “We feel honored by the community coming together to celebrate her achievements,” he said. “We look forward to not only the unveiling of the sculpture but the activities planned that showcase Rosalie’s talents and the incredible era and impact of the Big 8.”
As the day continues, Windsor residents and visitors will be treated to a screening of “Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8” at the Capitol Theatre’s Kelly Theatre at 6:00 p.m. This documentary, presented in partnership with the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), offers a comprehensive look at CKLW’s influence on the music industry and the pivotal role Rosalie Trombley played in breaking artists like Alice Cooper and The Guess Who.
The Big 8’s rise from obscurity in 1967 to overwhelm Detroit’s 30 radio stations and become the third-biggest in North America before being toned down to a whimper by the stroke of a politician’s pen in 1984 (Pierre Trudeau and the CRTC’s 30 per cent Canadian content regulations) is delightfully documented in Radio Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Big 8.
Windsor native Michael McNamara combines a rock fan’s nostalgia with a historian’s thoroughness in a 72-minute tribute with a pace and soundtrack true to the Big 8 spirit. It premiered at the 2004 SXSW Film & Music Festival in Austin, Tex., and won a 2004 Gemini Award after airing on the History Channel. Extras on the DVD include in-depth interviews, a gallery of vintage photos and original soundtracks.
The evening will conclude with “The Big 8 CKLW Remembers Rosalie” at the Capitol Theatre’s Pentastar Theatre at 8:00 p.m. Special guests, including Ted Richards, Pat Holiday, Les Garland, and others, will take the stage to share stories and music that celebrate Rosalie Trombley’s impact on Windsor, Detroit, Canada, and the United States.
Burton Cummings, a Canadian music legend known for his work with The Guess Who, paid tribute to Rosalie’s influence, saying, “You know, she believed very strongly in ‘These Eyes,’ so she played it and put it into rotation. From Windsor, it spilled over into Detroit. Really, I don’t know where our career would have gone without Rosalie’s initial interest. She did a tremendous job for us by introducing ‘These Eyes’ to the world, and after that, it took off like crazy.”
Donna Jean Mayne, the artist behind the Rosalie Trombley Commemorative Sculpture, summed up the day’s events and the significance of Rosalie’s legacy. “I am honored to have played a role in memorializing the life of Rosalie Trombley, whose unparalleled gift for identifying hit songs not only introduced the world to now legendary artists but helped define a momentous cultural awakening,” she said.
As Windsor eagerly awaits the celebration scheduled for Sunday, September 17, 2023, it is clear that Rosalie Trombley’s memory will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who knew and admired her. With the statue and exhibition, the city has ensured that Rosalie Trombley’s golden ear and lasting impact on the music industry will be cherished for generations to come.
