Radio Erindale whetted his appetite (Continued from page 2) He got turnedâ€"on to "radio" two years ago, when he went from high school to a commerce course at the University of Toronto. He didn‘t much care for the course of study, but he took comfort behind a mike at Radio Erindale. He learned a lot there about which buttons to push and when, but what really grabbed him, he says, was the sense that he was "putting music into people‘s hearts". It was a heady feeling; one he doesn‘t want to lose. The kid has clear goals. "You‘ve got to know where you‘re going so you can keep on going, you know?" FOCUSED INDIVIDUAL Those clear objectives helped to get him through his first year at Ryerson. He‘s always been a tightly focused young man with personal projects which he pursued to the max, whether it was learning comâ€" puter technology or collecting hockâ€" ey cards. "I enjoyed Ryerson," he says, "but it was a lot of work. Basically, zero social life. Quite a few allâ€" nighters, especially towards the end of the year." But don‘t get the wrong idea about Barr. With all this talk of "putting music in people‘s hearts" and "smiles on their faces", he is a pragmatic kid. He claims his speâ€" cialty is taking an idea (not necesâ€" sary his own), developing it, and turning it into a finished product. It‘s a skill. He didn‘t hesitate to ask for help from his deejay chum Williams (a WQMM FOAM for your cushions Ask us about Q@“ WE SELL MATTRESS BOX SPRINGS AS SETS OR INDIVIDUALLY deadâ€"ringer for Arsenio Hall, we hear), on a couple of assignments at school this year, and Mary Ellen Frederick, the executive director of our local Red Cross helped out with the PA (Public Access) announceâ€" ment that won him the award. The kid has learned how to tap into resources â€" human and otherwise. Barr would be the first to admit that he‘s come a long way since Grade 12 when he joined the WOSS Student Council for the first time as Minister of Social Affairs, organizâ€" ing dances. OVERCAME SHYNESS "Before that," he says, "I was in a tremendous shell." This is a bit hard to believe coming from a guy who became the founding coâ€"chair of the Red Cross Youth Council and chairman the year after; who was elected VP of the Student‘s Council in Grade 13 in addition to maintainâ€" ing soaring academic standards. Barr says he is proud of his acaâ€" demic success at high school. It was a hard thing to do. It was never ‘cool‘ to be a ‘browner‘, he says. There were plenty of scoffers and bullies. But he persevered. "I got high marks because I wanted to; I enjoyed getting acaâ€" demic medals," he says. "Sure I‘m ARGYLE MATTRESS MFG. CO. LTD. 1020 Kerr st. 845â€"9116 proud of my accomplishments. With my marks I could have gone on to Yale or Princeton if I‘d wanted to." It was that, he says, and also linking up with deejay, Williams, his mentor, his main man. Two and a half years ago, shortly after FM107.9 (Energy 108) started broadcasting dance music, Barr called up the station and started chatting with Williams. But the sweetest part came in his later high school years when, "I started feeling acceptance from peoâ€" ple in my own generation." That was his cue to break out, he says. No more Mr. Shy Guy. "Just the nicest guy in the world," the radio student says. He took an interest in my record collecâ€" tion and invited me over to the staâ€" tion. We‘ve been buddies ever since." , pudds" SUBARU c OAKVILLE * Lease based on 48â€"month term, $4,000 preâ€"payment, plus all applicable taxes. 2400 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD WEST 845â€"3577 "The Family Business That Service Built" It got the kid thinking seriously, "Hey, I could do this." He had some money saved from his business (lawnâ€"cutting, firewood, oddâ€"jobs) which he‘d had since he was 16. Williams took him shopping and they came home with a bunch of deejay gear. The danceâ€"radio deejay even helped the kid get a few jobs and let him come along on a couple of bar gigs to promote the station. Apparently, the bar and dance club circuit is part of the danceâ€" radio shtick. The noise, the music, and excitement of a room full of bodies, are alluring features. Certainly, the pace, the tension, "the power" of radio has got Barr in its At least for now. The kid â€" wise beyond his years â€" doesn‘t preclude altering his ultimate destination. He‘s flexible. They told him this year at school that jobs in radio are adjustable steel on rug rollers BEDFRAMES only +29" getting scarcer. The technology is changing. Soon everything will be "digital radio"; the old technology will be obsolete. On the other hand, rumors are flying of a new Danceâ€"Radio Station at 99.1 FM just about the time he graduates. Could that be his destiny? It‘s a tantalizing thought. Barr‘s short term goals are stacked up something like this: earn enough money this summer to go back to school; learn something about the local dance club scene; do some deejaying; stay involved with the Red Cross; manage and promote Irish Cream â€" a new local band; play some pool; and hang lose with his buds. Things could change next year, of course. The focus of year two at Ryerson is television, another fastâ€" paced, exciting, powerful medium. Either way, we expect Barr to be part of the solution.