CBC's jazzy radio program — Hot Air — celebrates 70 years
Host Bob Smith had enough clout to bring on big stars like Duke Ellington and Lena Horne
It's been 70 years of jazzy goodness for CBC Radio's Hot Air, the longest running CBC Radio program in the country.
The Vancouver-based music program first hit the airwaves on February 1, 1947 as a special half hour show devoted to jazz and on May 23, 1947, Hot Air became the hour-long program it remains today.
It all started with with a debonair young man named Bob Smith, the original host of the program.
A huge jazz fan, Smith spun the latest records from his vast personal collection for listeners across the country.
During his 35 years as the host of Hot Air, Smith became known as "the voice of Vancouver jazz" to legions of listeners.
Home to big stars
In 1950, Hollywood actress and singer Lena Horne made an appearance on Hot Air.
According to a printed CBC program guide from that week, she created a stir when she appeared at the Vancouver studios, thanks to her "slim beauty and complete naturalness which charmed staff and artists alike."
You can hear a clip from that interview here.
In 1966, Smith spoke with legendary pianist Dave Brubeck. Many years later, in 2014, Dave's son Dan performed a special concert at CBC Vancouver's Toque Sessions.
The Dan Brubeck Quartet also recorded those songs for an album called "Live at the Cellar: Celebrating the Music and Words of Dave and Lola Brubeck," which was nominated for a Juno Award.
Listen to part of Smith's 1966 conversation with Dave Brubeck here.