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Local Legend Steve Cannon Passes Away

Growing up in Minneapolis (Edina, to be precise) the the 70's and early 80's, it wasn't always cool for kids my age to listen to WCCO...Boone and Erickson was mom and the step dads morning show, I was more about Hines and Bergland on WLOL, the guys who did mornings at the old U100 (forgot their names) Buck and O'Conner (especially when they had the Road Warriors on with them, hugely entertaining) and of course the great Tommy B, who I had the pleasure of working with and disconnecting more than once on the phone when he tried to do the 5:30 am call in from his car (God I hated that KQ phone system) But I have to admit, when my old Technics stereo system wasn't playing Joe Walsh, Neil Young or Queen after school, I did enjoy the Cannon Mess...his powerful voice, confortable delivery, and great content every day was incredibly entertaining. And I loved it when he was a part of the "Vi Queens" pre game shows on Sunday mornings. The man is a broadcast giant, and is now young and healthy again. Thanks for the good times Mr Cannon
 
He was damn talented at that. I just found out that his side kicks Ma Linger, Backlash LaRue and Morgan Mundane were all characters that he portrayed by himself. Very few people in the broadcast industry could pull that off for so many years without making a mistake. Even Gary Burbank of WLW in Cincinnati used to have some help with his alternate voices though Burbank did quite a few himself.

I first discovered the Cannon Mess in 1990 when I moved to your area. I worked in a printed circuit plant in Bloomington and often times I'd tune in his show when I was not listening to the Jazz station on 88.5 FM. Aside from the James St. James interviews about Hollywood (don't care to hear about the lifestyles of the rich and famous) I thought it was the best drive time show of its kind outside of Bob Steele on WTIC AM in Hartford. I moved in and out of the Twin Cities a couple of times during the 1990's but in every case when I had the chance I'd tune into Cannon.

I can see how a show like his would be considered unfashionable with some younger people. But even though I was only in my 20's I came to appreciate the abilities that this guy showed because it was so rare to hear this kind of radio after the 1970's. I suspect that if Cannon had been on the air on Hartford he would have been fairly popular with some of the younger people as well. Bob Steele, who had been on WTIC from 1936 until his passing in 2002 had that rare ability to attract listeners of all ages. I listened to him while in grade school well into my adult years and I never got bored of the show. I bet Cannon also attracted more younger people to his show than many realize. Talent knows know age limits.
 
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