Mad Dog and Billie

Canadian broadcasters Jay "Mad Dog" Michaels and Billie Holiday (real name Amanda Dunn) hosted a succession of prominent morning drive time shows in the Toronto, Ontario radio market as Mad Dog and Billie, later Jay and Billie and then Mad Dog and Billie again.

In 1999, CISS 92.5 FM Toronto, was acquired by Rogers Communications and moved from a country music format to contemporary hit radio. The station subsequently launched a morning show hosted by Jay Michaels and Daryn Jones, and changed its name to Power 92. After a second rebranding, it became KISS 92 FM and Billie joined as Jay's co-host when Daryn Jones departed to focus on his television career. During the contemporary hit period at KISS, the show frequently featured voice actress Stephanie Beard as "Suga BayBee". Jay and Billie stayed with the station through its transition to the urban contemporary music format.[1]

On the day that CISS switched to the JACK-FM format, longtime program director at CISS Julie Adam was named general manager and program director of Rogers' Toronto adult contemporary station CHFI. One of her first actions was to replace morning hosts Erin Davis and Bob Magee with Mad Dog and Billie, later Jay and Billie.[2] However, Adam called this a mistake in 2005 and dismissed Jay and Billie to make room for Davis' return.[3] When CJEZ host Mike Cooper did not have his contract renewed, it was speculated and later confirmed that he would follow Davis from CJEZ to CHFI and continue to be her co-host.[4] Mad Dog and Billie returned to mornings on CKFM-FM (then branded as "Mix 99.9 FM") in August 2006. When the radio station was rebranded as "Toronto Virgin Radio" on August, 2008, their morning show was rebranded as "The Breakfast Show with Mad Dog and Billie". Billie was fired from the station in July 2011.[5]

References

  1. LeBlanc, Larry (1997). "Toronto FM-License Decision Raises Ire". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  2. "Erin Davis departs as Mad Dog & Billie join CHFI". Daily News. 2003-06-16. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  3. Immen, Wallace (2005-09-23). "When the boss comes clean". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  4. O'Brien, Greg (2005-06-15). "Jay & Billie making room for Erin & Mike?". Cartt. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  5. "Billie From Mad Dog and Billie Fired From Virgin Radio". Toronto Mike. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
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