TORONTO (CelebrityAccess) –Dave Bookman, the noted Canadian radio host, and Toronto club booker better known as Bookie, died on May 21st. He was 58.
According to a statement from Indie 88, the Toronto radio station where he worked, Bookman passed away early Tuesday morning.
According to Canada’s Global News, Bookman had been in intensive care since April, after suffering from an aneurysm.
“Everyone knows Bookie as a crusader of the independent, winning the Unsung Hero award for his spirit and drive to make Indie happen,” his colleague Josie Dye wrote in a post announcing his passing on Indie 88.
“Bookie was the last true personality on air. He wasn’t hired for his charm, his looks, or his voice. He didn’t work his brand, or promote himself. He exuded knowledge, truth, opinions that mattered that had foundations in research and love for music,” she added.
Bookman was a longtime figure on Canadian radio, spending more than a decade at The Edge (CFNY) where he hosted the Indie Hour becoming a fixture in the Toronto’s indie music scene.
He also hosted Nu Music Night, an indie music-focused weekly event at the Horseshoe Club in Toronto, bringing in hundreds of up and coming bands to perform at the club over the last decade.
“You wouldn’t believe the quality of touring bands, Bookie, Elliott, and the team brought to the H-Shoe, for ‘free shows during Nu Music Nights’ from the Strokes first Toronto play, Old 97’s, Foo Fighters (twice), Billy Talent, The Hip, Nickleback, Big Wreck, Eels, Ash, Nada Surf, Spoon, Goldfinger, Vic Chestnut Son Volt, Matt Mays, and Slobberbone, but to name just a few, but more importantly Bookie’s series became the vehicle many Canadian artist(s) used to launch new records, from Triston Psionic, to the Inbreds, Weakerthans, and Joel Plaskett,” Horseshoe Tavern owner Jeff Cohen said in a statement on Bookman’s passing.
Last year, Bookman was presented with The Unsung Hero Award at the CIMA Celebration & Awards Gala in Toronto. The award recognizes “commitment and outstanding support to the Canadian independent music industry.”
