For 23 years, Jurgen Gothe brought plain-spoken intelligence to CBC Radio 2 on DiscDrive, the eclectic afternoon show that ran from 1985 to 2008. Gothe died Thursday afternoon, prompting an outpouring of affection from fans and fellow broadcasters on Twitter:
— Stephen Quinn (@CBCStephenQuinn) April 10, 2015— Jen Woltemade (@JAWoltemade) April 10, 2015— Janet McDonald (@ursedated) April 10, 2015— Chris Coburn (@TheChrisCoburn) April 10, 2015— Tim Tamashiro (@TimTamashiro) April 10, 2015— Catherine Kustanczy (@catekustanczy) April 10, 2015Gothe hosted DiscDrive from "scenic subterranean Studio 20" in CBC Vancouver. The studio still bears a plaque commemorating the popular show. But, from time to time, the DiscDrive team would take the show on the road, and Gothe would broadcast in front of a live audience — and that's where he really came to life.
Long-time DiscDrive producer Grant Rowledge recalled that "when we were out in public, he'd be out just engaging individual listeners in conversation, to the point where our director, or me, would have to come and wrangle him and say 'Jurgen, 30 seconds! 20 seconds! Get back to the mic!'"
Here's a look at one of those public broadcasts from Toronto in 1993, showing Gothe as many remember him best — sweater-clad; surrounded by paraphernalia relating to music, food and cats; and every bit as companionable in conversation as on the airwaves.