Toronto, Ontario (July, 2013) – Ross Porter, President & CEO of JAZZ.FM91 was named a Member of the Order of Canada on June 28, 2013 by His Excellency, the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston. The Board of Directors and staff extend congratulations to Mr. Porter on receipt of the highest recognition for a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Ross is acknowledged as one of North America’s preeminent broadcasters and his commitment to excellence in his field and the global arts community, positioned him as a recipient for this honour in Canada.
Bernard Webber, Chairman, JAZZ.FM91 said: “To salute Ross Porter is to salute excellence. His leadership qualities speak volumes, and his talents and dedication are multi-faceted. To excel in one field of endeavour is granted to many, but to excel in many, as Ross does, is granted only to a select few. JAZZ.FM91, as a limited budget charity, reaches around the world with our signal and influence. I am honoured on behalf of the Board of Directors and our listeners everywhere, to congratulate Ross on this prestigious honour."
“I am deeply grateful to be receiving this award. I have been very fortunate to have work I love to do,” said Porter. “I would not be where I am today without the unwavering support of my coworkers, family, friends and the musicians who play this incredible music. I share this award with all of them."
Before assuming the senior executive role at JAZZ.FM91 in 2004, Ross Porter was widely known for a distinguished career as a broadcaster with the CBC. Porter was integral to the careers of many of Canada’s most successful performers, including Diana Krall, Molly Johnson, Crash Test Dummies, Jane Bunnett, and Holly Cole. Throughout his early career, he amassed an impressive list of commendations as a producer of radio documentaries on music icons including Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Chet Baker, and working on acclaimed television documentaries on the lives of legends Oscar Peterson, Joni Mitchell, Moe Koffman, Quincy Jones, George Harrison, Brian Wilson, and Diana Krall.
As an executive for Canwest from 2002 to 2004, Porter developed, launched, and spearheaded programming for Canada’s national music channel COOLTV, also managing day-to-day operations at Canwest’s 24- hour jazz station, COOL-FM. His lengthy list of background credentials also includes stints as a respected print journalist, serving as a music columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press and as a reviewer for The National Post. He has also written about music for the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen, and the Ottawa Journal. In 2006, McLelland and Stewart published Ross Porter’s first book, “The Essential Jazz Recordings: 101 CDs".
Since assuming his current position as President and CEO of JAZZ.FM91, Porter has repositioned the station as an important force on the broadcast landscape, regionally, nationally and internationally. He is responsible for delivering the highest ratings in the station’s history. High-impact community outreach initiatives he has spearheaded are extensive and include the creation of the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band, the Jazz 4 Kids music series, the Jazzology radio show (an accredited part of the curriculum at four post-secondary institutions) the JAZZ.FM91 Thinkers Series, Jazz Lives, JAZZ.FM91 Sound of Jazz Concert Series, JAZZ.FM91 Cabaret Series, the JAZZ.FM91 World Music Festival and the on-line teaching resource – the Canadian Jazz Archive.
JAZZ.FM91 is called “One of the most vibrant and versatile jazz stations on the planet” by Jazz Times. More than just a radio station, the JAZZ.FM91 enterprise is Canada’s only 24/7 jazz broadcaster and registered not-for-profit charitable arts organization dedicated to enriching the cultural, educational and community experience of their audience. JAZZ.FM91 can be heard live on the air at 91.1FM, streamed online at jazz.fm, or listened to on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, with the free JAZZ.FM91 App.
Bernard Webber, Chairman, JAZZ.FM91 said: “To salute Ross Porter is to salute excellence. His leadership qualities speak volumes, and his talents and dedication are multi-faceted. To excel in one field of endeavour is granted to many, but to excel in many, as Ross does, is granted only to a select few. JAZZ.FM91, as a limited budget charity, reaches around the world with our signal and influence. I am honoured on behalf of the Board of Directors and our listeners everywhere, to congratulate Ross on this prestigious honour."
“I am deeply grateful to be receiving this award. I have been very fortunate to have work I love to do,” said Porter. “I would not be where I am today without the unwavering support of my coworkers, family, friends and the musicians who play this incredible music. I share this award with all of them."
Before assuming the senior executive role at JAZZ.FM91 in 2004, Ross Porter was widely known for a distinguished career as a broadcaster with the CBC. Porter was integral to the careers of many of Canada’s most successful performers, including Diana Krall, Molly Johnson, Crash Test Dummies, Jane Bunnett, and Holly Cole. Throughout his early career, he amassed an impressive list of commendations as a producer of radio documentaries on music icons including Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Chet Baker, and working on acclaimed television documentaries on the lives of legends Oscar Peterson, Joni Mitchell, Moe Koffman, Quincy Jones, George Harrison, Brian Wilson, and Diana Krall.
As an executive for Canwest from 2002 to 2004, Porter developed, launched, and spearheaded programming for Canada’s national music channel COOLTV, also managing day-to-day operations at Canwest’s 24- hour jazz station, COOL-FM. His lengthy list of background credentials also includes stints as a respected print journalist, serving as a music columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press and as a reviewer for The National Post. He has also written about music for the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen, and the Ottawa Journal. In 2006, McLelland and Stewart published Ross Porter’s first book, “The Essential Jazz Recordings: 101 CDs".
Since assuming his current position as President and CEO of JAZZ.FM91, Porter has repositioned the station as an important force on the broadcast landscape, regionally, nationally and internationally. He is responsible for delivering the highest ratings in the station’s history. High-impact community outreach initiatives he has spearheaded are extensive and include the creation of the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band, the Jazz 4 Kids music series, the Jazzology radio show (an accredited part of the curriculum at four post-secondary institutions) the JAZZ.FM91 Thinkers Series, Jazz Lives, JAZZ.FM91 Sound of Jazz Concert Series, JAZZ.FM91 Cabaret Series, the JAZZ.FM91 World Music Festival and the on-line teaching resource – the Canadian Jazz Archive.
JAZZ.FM91 is called “One of the most vibrant and versatile jazz stations on the planet” by Jazz Times. More than just a radio station, the JAZZ.FM91 enterprise is Canada’s only 24/7 jazz broadcaster and registered not-for-profit charitable arts organization dedicated to enriching the cultural, educational and community experience of their audience. JAZZ.FM91 can be heard live on the air at 91.1FM, streamed online at jazz.fm, or listened to on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, with the free JAZZ.FM91 App.
