Not about photography

I'd like to digress for a second and talk about the passing of Martin Streek.

Who the heck is Martin Streek? For Torontonians, Martin Streek was a DJ for the alternative radio station 102.1 The Edge (formerly CFNY). He had worked for the station for over 20 years as a DJ and was well-known for his "live to air" broadcasts every Friday and Saturday nights from The Kingdom and The Phoenix night clubs, respectively. His voice was well known to many Edge listeners for 2 generations. He was the embodiment of what the radio station was back in the day, the so-called "Spirit of Radio" era.

Sadly, Martin passed away 2 weeks ago, taking his own life. Coincidentally (and really not coincidentally), he had been let go by the radio station that he faithfully served for over two decades because of corporate restructuring. To some, suicide is not understandable. But I can understand the conclusion that Martin might have come to before making that fateful decision to end his own life.

Martin Streek loved his alternative music. As far back as his love of the The Clash to NIN, Smashing Pumpkins and the rise of alternative music in the 90's. Working at the radio station allowed him to express his love and devotion to the genre and the bands that make the music. That expression led others to give those bands a listen, and to love those bands as much as he loved those bands and their music. His listeners respected his love of alternative music, and his knowledge of music in general. His voice was the hallmark of many a Friday or Saturday night for many listeners and club-goers.

I'm one of those people who listened to his broadcasts on Saturday nights from The Phoenix, and attended many of those broadcasts. I was lucky enough to shoot some pool with him a few times in The Parlor inside the club on 410 Sherbourne. My friend and I were up next to play him a game and after his turn at the table was done, he bought my friend and I each beers, just out of the blue. He was the voice of my 90's radio. The entire decade.

102.1 The Edge is pretty much the only alt-rock station in Toronto. With his firing, he was unlikely to find a suitable employer that would allow him to express that devotion again. I'm only guessing that's what was going through my mind. I don't profess to know Mr. Streek, but I know of the obvious loyalty he showed the station, and his love of the alternative music scene.

After the news of his death spread across the internet, a wave of grief and loss echoed from many Streek listeners. It was unusual in the fact that they were so deeply affected because of either what they knew of the man, or what he had meant to them as being the weekend voice for a generation of listeners. But most of all, they were affected deeply because he was genuine. What you heard on the air was what you got off the air. Michael Jackson's death occurred the same week, but I've read many a Facebook or Twitter posting about how Martin Streek's passing affected them more than MJ's death. In some ways, Michael Jackson was on the brink of that downward spiral many a time, but we all thought Martin Streek would live forever. He had been such a mainstay of CFNY/102.1 The Edge that it was hard to imagine the station without him. And now we must.

Rest in peace, Martin. Thank you for being there for us. We wished we could have been there for you.