Johnny Lombardi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Johnny Barbalinardo Lombardi, C.M., O.Ont. (December 4, 1915 – March 18, 2002) was a pioneer of multicultural broadcasting in Canada.
The son of Italian immigrants, Lombardi was born in the Little Italy section of Toronto. He was lead trumpet player for a popular Ontario big band during the 1930s, and also served in the Canadian Army in World War II and received many decorations and honors.
Upon his return in 1946, he opened a supermarket in Little Italy and began his broadcasting career as a producer for an hour-long Italian music program in which he advertised his supermarket. The show was successful and his store flourished. Lombardi became a promoter of concerts and sporting events. A champion of multiculturalism before it was implemented as Canadian government policy, he founded the multilingual radio stations CHIN in 1966 and CHIN-FM in 1967, which now serve over 30 ethnic communities. Lombardi later hosted an Italian-language television program on CITY-TV. He was also known for hosting the annual CHIN Picnics, featuring bikini contests derided by many feminists.
Lombardi was a recipient of the Order of Canada and in 1994, was invited by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the June 6, 1994 D-Day invasion of Normandy. Often referred to as the "mayor of Little Italy," Lombardi lived in the neighborhood all his life.
