Brenno Seeks the Next Laws or Jones

Radio veteran and icon, John Brennan, has begun searching for the next generation of talkback stars – the next John Laws or Alan Jones.

He has told The Sunday Telegraph’s Sharri Markson that he has begun interviewing candidates who, one day, might fill their shoes.

Brennan, who last week celebrated 55 years in commercial radio, is the man who discovered Jones, Ray Hadley and Stan Zemanek and fine tuned or influenced the careers of many others.

“Sydney radio is on the edge of a new era.” Amid speculation of when Laws and even Jones might retire, he says: “You have to look for new talent, in preparation for that. I audition a couple of people each month.

“I look for people who have an opinion about everything, have wide life experiences and wear their emotions on their sleeve.

“We have great hopes for Glenn Wheeler (2GB weekend overnights) as an emerging personality – he’s only been in radio for a couple of years.

“And, Chris Smith is doing extremely well in the afternoons, pulling in a strong 8-9%.”

Brennan, now 73, was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2002. He still has great enthusiasm for talkback radio and remains widely respected.

Last week was a special occasion for Brennan, as he marked 55 years in radio.

Brennan has cut a special cake at 2GB to mark his longevity in broadcasting.

At the celebration to mark this remarkable anniversary, 2GB General Manager, Louise Barrett, presented Brenno with this beautiful claret jug and gave this glowing speech which says it all …

“Today is a very special day for our legendary Program Director, John Brennan. “Brenno,” as we all affectionately call him, is today celebrating a milestone that not many of us have or will see in our radio careers and that’s 55 years in the business. In fact, the only other person I know who has been in radio longer is Bob Rogers.

I thought it fitting today that I enlighten you all about this wonderful career, how it began and where it has taken Brenno over 55 years.

Brenno started his career at 2WG Wagga on 25 May 1949. He called football and cricket and presented across all programs on the station.

A broadcasting highlight in his early career was his commentary of the Queen and Prince Phillip’s visit to Wagga. It was the first of many Royal and Papal visits he commentated over his radio career.

By 1955, Brenno was working for 2GZ Orange as their chief announcer and sports caller for rugby league, tennis and cricket. While he was working at 2GZ, he met a young John Laws, who was hoping for a job in radio. Brenno recommended Laws to 2GZ management as his replacement, as he had been appointed to Sydney’s 2SM as an on air announcer in 1956.

Initially employed as a back up announcer to Tony Withers and as the back up sports broadcaster to the legendary Frank Hyde, Brenno went on to call the reserve grade game of league for many years. His music shows, “Breezin with Brenno” and “Working to Music”, earned him a loyal following outside of the sporting arena. Along with John Mahon and John Harper, Brenno was lauded as being one of the best salesmen on air. In fact, he sold so much land for a client in Gosford that they actually named Brennan Street in his honour. This commercial appeal translated into TV appearances when Brenno became the first “OMO” man and increased sales by 80%.

In 1963, Brenno was appointed Program Director of 2SM. It was during this period that John launched the now famous “Good Guys” format and took 2SM to the top of the ratings. How many of us can remember growing up with 2SM and it was Brenno who was the instigator of that success, because not only was he Program Director, he was Music Director as well and was responsible for making hits for people like Brian Cadd. While Brenno was at 2SM, he made many trips to Rome to record documentaries for the Catholic Church. He was granted a private audience with Pope Paul in 1965 and later, back in Australia, he anchored 2SM’s coverage of the Papal Tour, which I think Brenno regards as one of the highlights of his career.

After 26 years at 2SM, Brenno joined 2UE as Sports’ Director and as a programming consultant. When Kerry Packer purchased the station, his first order of business was to call Brenno to his office in the city and appoint him Executive Producer of 2UE. In 1987, 2UE was sold by Kerry Packer to Alan Bond and Brenno became Program Director of both 2UE and the Bond Radio Network. He began to assemble the biggest array of radio talent and outline the news-talk-information-entertainment format that was to guarantee the success of 2UE. Following these changes, 2UE jumped from No 8 in the ratings to No 2 and not long after that, in fact following the Barcelona Olympics, 2UE became No 1 and remained pretty much in that position for 10 years until the rise of 2GB, which, of course, was where Brenno was consulting and now, of course, is Program Director.

I just thought it was also interesting to bring to your attention the radio talent that Brenno has recognised and nurtured over the years.

He discovered Alan Jones and placed him on the 2UE breakfast program.
He brought John Laws to 2UE in 1988 to host the morning show. He discovered Ray Hadley and has had an enormous influence on Ray’s career and many of Australian radio’s household names owe their start on radio to Brenno – the likes of Brian Bury, Stan Zemanek, John Stanley, Phil Haldeman, Shirley Stackhouse, Kathryn Greiner, the late Peter Frilingos and Peter Jackson, Bob Fulton, Mike Williams, Mike Walsh, Gordon Elliott, Frank Crook, Mike Gibson, Ron Casey.

Brenno, your contribution to the radio business is second to none. Your popularity among your peers is immeasurable. You are so well respected because you approach your work with diligence, dedication and dignity. You are one of life’s true gentlemen and you deserve every accolade possible on your 55 years in radio. Congratulations from us all.”