RIP: CCMA Hall of Famer, Bev Munro

By Larry Delaney

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Bev Munro died April 4 in Edmonton. He was 89. 

Munro died Wednesday after going into hospital about 10 days ago suffering from pneumonia, CFCW program director Jackie Rae Greening said Thursday.

Born in Boissevain, Manitoba, Munro’s career path in radio began at CKX in Brandon, before moving on to stations in Dauphin, Sudbury, Moose Jaw and Regina, eventually settling at CFCW in Camrose, Alberta, where he spent 30 years behind the microphone. As the morning host, he began the popular Mystery Artist Request Line and his famous Knee-Slapper jokes. In 1959, Munro was named Mr. DJ USA, at WSM in Nashville, an honour that no other Canadian DJ had earned at the time.

As a recording artist Munro released his first album in 1968 on Capitol Records, which included his nationally charted hit "Hello Operator".  As a songwriter, his copyrights were also recorded by R. Harlan Smith, Chris Nielsen, Hank Smith, Joyce Smith, Scotty Stevenson and Bill Hersh.

After retiring from radio, he continued to perform as a special guest of the Alberta Country Music Legends troupe. The Bev Munro Award was established by the organization, presented annually to recipients for dedication and promotion of traditional country music in Alberta. In 2002 Munro was inducted into the Broadcast Wing of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.