Zabava Hour parties on with new host

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This article was published 26/06/2024 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For decades, the Zabava Hour radio program has been an important part of Brad Salyn’s life and that of much of the Ukrainian community. He’s now ensuring that the important program continues.

Salyn is the new host of the Zabava Hour, which airs on CKJS 92.7 FM on Friday and Saturday evenings. It features Ukrainian music from across Canada, with many of the artists being household names in the Ukrainian community.

“The Zabava Hour has been an essential program for Ukrainian musicians and the entire Ukrainian community on the prairies for over 40 years,” Salyn said. “It has been a welcoming presence for the over 25,000 Ukrainian newcomers, as well as a staple for the more than 100,000 people in Winnipeg who identify with Ukrainian heritage.”

Salyn paid tribute to community leaders and former Zabava Hour hosts R.J. Tompkins and Nestor Shydlowsky, who did their part to keep Ukrainian traditions and music alive through the program. After Shydlowsky passed away in 2020, CKJS was airing repeats of old Zabava Hour shows. Salyn was listening with his daughter one evening when he decided to follow in his footsteps and host the program.

It’s a natural fit. Salyn has an encyclopedic knowledge of Ukrainian music and an extensive collection of songs. He’s trained in media and production and has two decades of experience in communications, having worked in the mayor’s office at city hall and as chief of staff to former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson. Add a long career as a musician in several Ukrainian bands, and he should settle in easily.

Many Ukrainian-Canadians of Salyn’s generation grew up listening to the Zabava Hour. For most, it was the focal point of social gatherings full of food, stories, and laughter.

The Zabava Hour is synonymous with Ukrainian culture. What made it unique in Salyn’s younger years is that many artists were neighbours and sometimes even family members. Stories abound of various bands playing at family weddings and community events. These weren’t vague personalities on the radio; they were part of the community.

Salyn said he is fortunate to have been part of the last generation that played with these familiar legends, names like Yogi Klos, the Interlake Polka Kings, the Drifters and Boris Nowosad. He’s committed to playing the familiar names that mean so much to so many.

But he’s also cognizant of new listeners with different tastes, especially over the last two years. An influx of thousands of Ukrainians have arrived in Manitoba with their favourites. Salyn said he enjoys the challenge of playing them all and can tap into his years of political consensus-building to find a mix that keeps everyone returning on the weekends.

“I’m the kind of person where I want to play something new every week; I don’t want to hear repeat songs,” Salyn said. “It’s a balance between the old and the new and making sure it’s done with respect. Appreciate the audience that’s there, but I also want the kids … to like it, too.”

Salyn is active on social media. Look for him on Facebook at Zabava Hour – CKJS 92.7 Multilingual. Zabava Hour airs on Fridays from 7 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 5 to 6 p.m.