June 2009 

Erin Davis really lives out loud — to the fullest

By Wendy Peters, The Business Executive

 

OAKVILLE —Erin Davis has become somewhat of an institution in the world of radio broadcasting. While the word “institution” might not sound terribly flattering, where Erin Davis is concerned it is meant as a huge compliment. She is indeed a force of nature. When she speaks, you can’t help but listen; her voice is melodic and her humour both quick and wicked. She was born to be on radio, and as a regular on the speaker circuit she seems to revel in telling the
audiences her story of “Living Out Loud.”

Davis was the luncheon keynote speaker at the third annual Journey to Success conference hosted by Company of Women on June 16. The full-day event, held at the Oakville Conference & Banquet Centre, was a sold-out, huge success and attracted women from all over the GTA and Golden Horseshoe.

Erin Davis and co-host Mike Cooper are radio’s top morning show talent on Toronto radio station CHFI – 98.1. They teamed temporarily on another station after Erin’s very public dismissal from CHFI in 2003. The chemistry between them was almost instantaneous and now the popular duo leads the airwaves together on CHFI where Erin returned, bringing Mike along with her for her second go-round.

Davis described the pain of being so unceremoniously dumped by her bosses back in June of 2003, due to CHFI’s quest to attract a different audience; “and a smaller one,” she quipped. “At the age of 40 I had a hip replacement,” she jokes now, referring to the duo that then replaced her on the morning show — “Mad Dog and Billie.” Their monikers say it all. It was a very public and painful firing, Erin noted, but she was also dumbfounded by the reaction of her listeners. They were furious and let it be known; both to Erin via her newly created blog — she received 2,000 emails the first week and another 2,000 after the Toronto Star broke her story — and with angry calls and messages to CHFI management who soon realized what a dreadful mistake they had made.

However, while grieving for what would be a temporary loss of her life’s work on the radio, Davis admits that her firing provided “a huge chance to start over.” She landed a gig hosting a talk show on the then Women’s Network; played the fairy godmother in the pantomime, “Cinderella,” and filled in for a maternity leave on EZ Rock – 97.3 radio. It was there that she met Mike Cooper; and when CHFI publicly apologized for the error of its ways and lured Erin back to the fold, she agreed on the understanding that Mike be her co-host. That is where they are now and where they will likely remain for a long time to come.

Despite the few bumps in the road, Erin has led a pretty charmed life. The third of four daughters to loving parents, she became used to moving around since her father was in the Air Force. This may have sewn the seeds of her love of travelling, which she and her husband, Rob and their daughter do frequently. Rob is a wonderful Mr. Mom if ever there was one and he was home all those early mornings to see their daughter off to school while Erin entertained her cherished listeners. She is the first to credit Rob for all his support and nurture during their 21-year marriage and her continually burgeoning career. He is also her manager.

"Living out loud means taking pleasure in the moment", says Erin, who is living exactly the life she wanted and seems to relish every minute of it. She admits to needing reality checks, but those come from her husband and daughter and the moments of peace and quiet she craves. “Allow silence in your life,” she advises.

Rob once wrote on Erin’s blog about his wife: “What you see is what you get.” It was an accurate portrayal of Erin Davis. She is welcoming, honest, down-to-earth but possesses a star quality. She doesn’t put on any airs, though —what you see is definitely what you get, and it’s all good.