If there’s one thing that sets Johnny Canton apart, it’s that unmistakable voice. “You can go a long, long way just by using your voice,” Canton says. Both literally and figuratively, Canton’s voice has guided him through a 50-plus year career in radio.
For the past 33 years, listeners could find Canton on 102.9 Lite FM, but when the station switched to country music in late December, Canton and the rest of the on-air staff found themselves left behind. Canton had the honor of being the last live on-air personality before the switch, as a final opportunity to say goodbye to his devoted listeners. “They grew up listening to me,” Canton says. “The phone calls and the e-mails I received were just heartwarming.”
Since the switch, Canton has kept active running his long-time advertising agency Canton Communications Inc., which does radio and TV and print advertising for clients like Braemer Golf Course. The break has also allowed him to spend more time with his partner of over 30 years, Jane, and work on his bowling and golf game.
But don’t count Canton, who was inducted into the MN Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006, out of the broadcasting spotlight just yet. While nothing has been finalized, Canton hints at a possible return to the air. “It’s interesting to hear the opportunities that are being offered,” Canton says. “If something strikes my fancy, then certainly I will jump on it and see what can happen.”
