Radio kingmaker John Brennan who launched careers of Alan Jones and Ray Hadley dies aged 89 after lengthy battle with dementia
- John Brennan started in radio in 1949 in Wagga Wagga and died age 89
- His programming and administration led 2SM, 2UE and 2GB to rankings successes
- He was instrumental within the careers of Alan Jones, Ray Hadley and John Legal guidelines
Radio program director and kingmaker John ‘Brenno’ Brennan, who was behind a number of the medium’s greatest names in Sydney radio, has died age 89.
Mr Brennan, who succumbed to a protracted battle with vascular dementia, was instrumental within the careers of stars Alan Jones, John Legal guidelines and Ray Hadley, amongst others and was thought of a ‘large’ who ‘harnessed the concept of dial-in democracy’.
He was instrumental within the rankings successes of 2SM, 2UE and 2GB, receiving an Order of Australia media in 1989 after which was inducted into Australia’s Business Radio Corridor of Fame in 2002.
John Brennan, who has died age 89 after a dementia battle was stated to be the inventor of talkback radio in Australia
The quilt of John Brennan’s 2014 autobiography – The Life and Instances of a Media Godfather
‘I might by no means been in a radio station so something I may need or is likely to be I owe to him,’ Jones advised 9News.
‘I owe John Brennan completely every thing,’ stated Hadley on 2GB.
On 2GB, Chris Smith stated: ‘Others may declare they invented talkback radio, however Brennan did.’
Rugby league icon Phil Gould known as Mr Brennan ‘an exquisite man’.
‘John gave me my first alternative in radio a few years in the past. All the time had phrases of encouragement,’ Gould tweeted.
Mr Brennan started his profession in Wagga Wagga in 1949 at age 17 and moved to Sydney in 1956 working with 2SM for 26 years earlier than he started with 2UE after which 2GB.
The managing director of 9 Radio, Tom Malone advised employees Mr Brennan was ‘a legend’ who reworked radio wherever he labored.
‘He understood the ability of discuss radio and its skill to provide odd Australians their say, and holding regulation makers and establishments to account.’
‘He liked the interplay with callers, and was obsessed with information and present affairs retaining copious notes on points essential to on a regular basis Australians.’
‘Higher than anybody he understood the companionship discuss radio supplied – on weekends, overnights, throughout vacation durations, and massive information tales.’
Mr Brennan is survived by his spouse Jenny, his sons Richard and Peter Brennan.
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