Toronto Rocks
Encyclopedia
Toronto Rocks was an hour-long television program presenting music videos on CITY-TV
in Toronto
, Canada
in the 1980s, starting in 1984. It aired live at 4PM weekdays and was initially hosted by John Majhor
. Majhor was a longtime DJ
at 1050 CHUM AM
in Toronto and eventually became one of Canada's first "VJs" with the development of music video
s. Toronto Rocks was a predecessor to MuchMusic
and MTV
, and had kids rushing home from school every day to catch their favourite videos of the early 80's. During the show, Majhor played videos by a wide variety of the big name artists of the day. All the way from Michael Jackson
's "Beat It
", Van Halen
's "Jump
", Yes
' "Owner of a Lonely Heart
", to the Eurythmics
' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
" and other songs released in the 1980s by artists who became commercially popular during the decade. Wednesdays on the show were set aside for "Mid Week Metal Mania", where Majhor played only heavy metal
videos from the hard rock
and "hair bands
" of the day. He also interviewed in-studio guests and had various contests and giveaways. Over 400 episodes of Toronto Rocks were aired.
Other hosts were Brad Giffen
(until 1988), Lance Chilton
(1988–90) and JD Roberts also filled in for John Majhor
from time to time.
CITY-TV
CITY-DT, Channel 57 , is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada owned and operated by Rogers Media...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the 1980s, starting in 1984. It aired live at 4PM weekdays and was initially hosted by John Majhor
John Majhor
John Majhor was a radio and television host, most noted for his work in Toronto, Canada.-Early years:...
. Majhor was a longtime DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
at 1050 CHUM AM
CHUM (AM)
CHUM, branded as TSN Radio 1050, broadcasting at 1050 kHz in the AM band, is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media....
in Toronto and eventually became one of Canada's first "VJs" with the development of music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s. Toronto Rocks was a predecessor to MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, and had kids rushing home from school every day to catch their favourite videos of the early 80's. During the show, Majhor played videos by a wide variety of the big name artists of the day. All the way from Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "Beat It
Beat It
"Beat It" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Michael Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones . It is the third single from the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller . Eddie Van Halen was hired to add the song's distinctive overdriven guitar solo, but was prevented by his...
", Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
's "Jump
Jump (Van Halen song)
"Jump" is a song by the American rock group Van Halen. It is the only single the group released in their career to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was released in 1984 as the second track on the album 1984...
", Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
' "Owner of a Lonely Heart
Owner of a Lonely Heart
"Owner of a Lonely Heart" is a song by the progressive rock band Yes. It is the opening track of their 1983 album 90125. Written primarily by Trevor Rabin, the song reached number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100 — to date Yes's biggest chart success...
", to the Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (song)
Marilyn Manson released a cover version of "Sweet Dreams " as the first single from the EP, Smells Like Children. This version became an MTV staple and helped to establish the band in the mainstream. It also appears on the band's greatest hits album, Lest We Forget: The Best Of...
" and other songs released in the 1980s by artists who became commercially popular during the decade. Wednesdays on the show were set aside for "Mid Week Metal Mania", where Majhor played only heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
videos from the hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and "hair bands
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
" of the day. He also interviewed in-studio guests and had various contests and giveaways. Over 400 episodes of Toronto Rocks were aired.
Other hosts were Brad Giffen
Brad Giffen
Brad Giffen is a Canadian news anchor who has worked on television in both Canada and the United States.Over his broadcasting career he has also worked as a radio personality, disc jockey, VJ, television reporter and television producer....
(until 1988), Lance Chilton
Lance Chilton
Lance Chilton was a Canadian television journalist.He began his career at Citytv in Toronto in 1985, hosting City Magazine and Toronto Rocks and working as an entertainment reporter for CityPulse before joining MuchMusic as a reporter and anchor for FAX in 1990...
(1988–90) and JD Roberts also filled in for John Majhor
John Majhor
John Majhor was a radio and television host, most noted for his work in Toronto, Canada.-Early years:...
from time to time.