Radio host has those locked-down pandemic blues

Blake Frazer’s music program broadcasts every Thursday on Trent Radio

“Blues Themes Delivered by the Milkman”: A catchy title for a weekly Thursday blues show on Trent Radio, but what’s behind this moniker and what’s this show all about?

When Blake Frazer retired from corporate life in 2019, he decided to play on his passion for blues music by applying to do a show on Trent Radio, and he had to come up with a suitable name.

“I was in the dairy business for 35 years,” said Frazer during a recent interview.

“Twenty years as general manager at Kawartha Dairy in Bobcaygeon and before that I worked at Beatrice Parmalat for 15 years.”

Thus, it seemed only fitting to include a reference to this long career into the show’s name.

“And I deliver the music as a milkman would deliver the milk,” Frazier explained. Frazier’s show revolves around a different theme each week. Pulling facts of interest and historical details from his encyclopedic knowledge of blues, he speaks around the music he plays, selections that include both old and new blues tunes and tunes from Canada and around the world.

“Blues has been a passion of mine for years, and rock ’n’ roll and the influence of American blues people on that music,” said Frazer.

“I do a good mix of Canadian content, a lot of which is recent. I also play old music from Chicago, American music from where blues originated, Mississippi. And international music as well — British, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Yard Birds, The Animals. A lot of these bands played the blues; rock musicians who went back to the blues and cut blues albums.”

Normally produced in the Trent Radio studio, Frazer’s weekly show had to change when COVID-19 restrictions came along. Since March 26, he has recorded his show at home.

“It was a bit of a challenge. I don’t have the best computer skills and it takes more time,” Frazer said. “I use a program called Audacity that allows me to draw the music in. But my voice sounded tinny and echoey and not really rich, so I got a new microphone that was better, improved it.”

Frazer has now mastered doing his show at home and sees a definite advantage to pre-recording that may come in handy after the pandemic is over and he is able to travel.

“But I would like to go back to the studio. There’s something exciting and fun about speaking live,” said Frazer.

Frazer has publicists in Toronto that send him music. One asked if he would be interested in interviewing musicians, who due to the pandemic are unable to go out and perform. Frazer was interested and has since done several interviews on his show.

“I’ve interviewed David Clayton-Thomas, from Blood Sweat and Tears, Sass Jordan and Crystal Shawanda from Manitoulin Island who now lives in Nashville,” said Frazer.

“Crystal was part of a show I did on Indigenous blues music.”

Frazer has high praise for Trent Radio, both for listeners and music enthusiasts like himself.

“It’s a viable place for people to get alternative music. It’s a community station,” said Frazer.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to create your own thing. There is a form online to apply to do a show. And for people like me with no experience there is good chance you will be accepted. It’s not as restrictive as a commercial station where you get paid. It is all purely volunteer. A great opportunity for people.”

“Blues Themes Delivered by the Milkman” broadcasts every Thursday from 9 until 10:30 p.m. on Trent Radio 92.7 FM CFFF.

For a complete radio schedule of all programs, and information on how to submit a proposal for your own show, visit trentradio.ca.

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