Tributes flowed Wednesday for veteran broadcaster Dennis Johnson who died at his home on Tuesday as colleagues hailed as an outstanding broadcaster and man of strong character whose voice will be missed.
Johnson, 64, a father of three, was at the time of his death senior producer and moderator of Voice of Barbados’ Brasstacks call-in programme. Johnson had been public about his battle with myasthenia gravis, a chronic, progressive disorder of the immune system in which antibodies destroy the communication between nerves and muscles. MG affects voluntary movement, especially control of eyes, mouth, throat and limbs and, in rare cases, may lead to death.
A popular announcer on Starcom Network stations, he rose to the level of programme manager at Starcom Network before a brief stint in television at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Following the announcement of his death, colleagues, friends, politicians, and members of the public reflected on aspects of his journey as a broadcaster and shared memories of their interaction
The Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers (BARJAM), in representing the media fraternity, said in a statement that it was shocked and saddened at the death of a colleague. The statement read that it would be fair to say that Barbados and the Caribbean have lost one of the finest and professional broadcasters of the last two decades.
The statement read: “As a veteran broadcaster, he has a love and deep conviction for the industry and used his wide knowledge and skills developed from his work over the years across the Caribbean in banking and hospitality, to always offer a word of advice to ensure professional standards were always maintained.
“A man of many talents, Dennis showed that he was not only able to easily engage the attention of thousands of listeners on Voice of Barbados’ Brasstacks programme as a talk show host, but he exhibited his passion for radio as a disc jockey, where he demonstrated his extraordinary skills and knowledge of music to a much wider audience.”
Johnson’s friend and former Starcom Network boss, Vic Fernandes, described him as an outstanding broadcaster, a man of great integrity, and a wordsmith of class.
Fernandes recalled that he came to his attention through then Head of News and Public Affairs David Ellis when he was Starcom’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
What also struck him about Johnson, said Fernandes, was his passion for excellence and desire to ensure that language and words were used in the proper context. He declared that money was seldom a consideration for Johnson.
Fernandes said: “I remember well when he left us to join CBC, I told him when I realized that I could not persuade him not to go, that I felt he would not last at CBC, that his principles, his integrity would not survive in an institution like CBC. I was right, and I said to him I am sending you on secondment and Dennis laughed and said to me ‘secondment’, boss?” and I said yes when you are ready to come home, you will call me.
“A couple of years later when my words obviously had reached the inner depths of his being, one evening my phone rang and the conversation went like this, ‘boss, this is Dennis Johnson I want to come home, can I come home?” My response to him was ‘Dennis come home’ and we hung up the phone. Until he arrived a couple days later to join the team, he did not even know what the terms of the contract were.”
Fernandes also shared that on another occasion when he was asked to cut staff, one of the positions at risk was Johnson’s. But Fernandes declared he was determined that he would not lose Johnson and therefore created the position of Senior Producer, which he occupied until his death.
He said when he gave Johnson the new contract after explaining to him in great agony why he had to do it, Johnson assured him that it was okay and took the appointment although it meant a cut in salary, and never once complained.
Fernandes said: “He will be missed. We travelled together to the National Association of Broadcasters [convention], we travelled to Disney, we laughed, we shared commentaries, we were constantly in contact on WhatsApp.”
From Glasgow, Prime Minister Mia Mottley who is attending the COP26 climate change summit offered a tribute that in the large scheme of Barbadian broadcasting, Johnson‘s near three-decades-long sojourn at River Road is but a small slice of that history, yet, he has had such a phenomenal impact in that time that it is almost impossible to imagine Starcom Network without him.
Johnson was a man of strong character who was committed to intellectual and broadcasting honesty and excellence, one who was not afraid to challenge the establishment, to defend the proverbial “small man”, then without so much as batting the eyelid, let that same small man know he was wrong, the Prime Minister said.
“He loved to talk, to discuss, to argue, to share his opinion, but always with the greatest of respect for those who engaged him-he was made for radio,” said Mottley. “Or perhaps, radio was made for him, for he was a natural in front of the mic. I have engaged Dennis on many occasions over the 30 years.
“He was unfailingly courteous and always fair. We did not speak often but when we did the conversations were deep, sincere and meaningful. While we all knew of his health challenges, he never hid behind them. Indeed, it reinforced in many of us his quiet courage.”
Minister of Information and Public Affairs Wilfred Abrahams said it was evident that Johnson was passionate about his work and indicated that his contribution to broadcasting in Barbados is unquestionable.
Abrahams said Johnson’s wide-ranging interest and knowledge on an array of topics made him a capable and well-loved call-in programme host with his role as moderator on Brasstacks, his most well-known media role that endeared him to listeners in Barbados. Abrahams said Johnson had a unique way of drawing parallels and making cultural references that exposed his intimate experience of life in Barbados and the Caribbean.
Abrahams said: “He showed a reliability for preparation, research and attention to detail. Dennis, whose last assignment in the media was with Starcom Network Inc, also worked previously at the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation. His role as television and radio producer and presenter will always be remembered and his reverent tone in the coverage of official ceremonies will be missed by all.” (AH)
