From New England, Don Berns was a top notch Top 40 DJ, who worked at dozens of stations around the U.S. From Kansas City to Buffalo, from Dallas to Pittsburgh and a stint in San Diego. But it’s in Toronto where he made his name.
He made an imprint at every station he worked at. If it was his forward-thinking-creative shows at the old CFNY, or shuffling through the oldies at KEY590. He would return to CFNY to do a show with Jim “The Duffer” Duff. He touched the rave scene as DR Trance when he fell in love with techno music and even got CFNY to play techno music, like “James Brown is Dead” and “O Fortuma“. He would start an alternative dance program on Energy 108 which became a landmark show in the local rave community. He would later work with HOT 103, Power 88.5 and Q107. And yes, Don Berns was the voice of YTV.
He acted. His theatre credits included, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Fagin in Oliver and Snoopy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.
The Berns entourage woke up expressing their sadness on Twitter this morning that their leader is gone.
Sad #DonBerns has died. I learned a lot from him in the late 80’s, when he took me in as an intern at #CFNY. Brash + brave, in the best way!
— Kevin September (@Septembersphere) March 2, 2015
Dear Don Berns. We’re all gonna miss you. We do. i’m gonna play these songs and remember. http://t.co/fcyQo3UWWJ — Rob Preuss (@rObPreuSSx) March 2, 2015
Rest in peace to my friend and mentor Don Berns aka Dr. Trance! Canada has lost one of it’s most legendary. pic.twitter.com/xK7m5VPit2
— Flipside (@MCFlipside) March 2, 2015
Doctor Trance once wrote under the `notes’ secion of a questionnaire, “In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
We love you, Don Berns. Rest in Peace.
🙁
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