He has been described as an ‘icon in radio,’ is affectionately known as ‘the Bosom Buddy,’ and he has earned the love and admiration of countless Dominicans.
The voice and the infectious laughter that most Dominicans would recognize instantly, will no longer be heard daily on DBS Radio as Ted Daley said farewell on his final DBS Radio show earlier this week; ending a career that spans some four decades.
Actually, Daley retired about ten years ago but was placed on a month-to- month contract at the station. He finally decided to call it quits earlier this week.
In essence an era in radio broadcasting has come to an end.
One could say that radio and broadcasting have always been a part of Daley. By his own admission, radio “was always within me” and even before he entered a studio or sat behind a microphone, he made believe that he was on radio.
“As I was growing up I used to listen to Radio Trinidad and Barbados and when I was growing up I walked with a radio,” he told DNO. “Since I was a little boy, it was always within me.”
Daley’s childhood dream started taking shape when another radio icon, Alvin Knight, moved from customs, where he was working then, to the then Radio Dominica. Around that same time, a vacancy popped up at the station since another broadcaster, Rosie Mills, was leaving.
Inspired by Knight and sensing an opportunity, Daley quickly applied for a position at the station and he was accepted on a part time basis.
“I was 23 then,” Daley stated. “And it was my first stint on radio.”
The year was 1971, the new job allowed him on the radio three days a week and for the young broadcaster, it was a dream come true. “It felt good,” he said. “You having been looking towards that all along and now you got what you are looking for and you just have to explode and make people feel good.”
Daley described his first job on radio as a ‘general music show’ but his big break came three years later when Dennis Joseph, obviously impressed with the young broadcaster, decided to take him on full time at the radio station which was now DBS (Dominica Broadcasting Service).
“Dennis said he was tired of hearing my voice part time and he wanted to hear it full time,” he explained.
Daley was given a 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm time slot and he named his show “Radio on Wheels.”
“I would play music of the Caribbean and general songs that were popular,” he remarked.
Radio on Wheels turned out to be hugely popular and Daley accumulated many fans.
“In those days radio was different, radio was the pulse because you had no television, so you had to keep the people abreast of what you doing, making them know, making them feel that they are there with you because you are their eyes and you are their total sustenance,” Daley said.
To spice up the show Daley added his own twist with a series of rhymes. “I would say things such as ‘I am feeling as neat and groovy and spice and smoothie,’ ‘I am working on getting my pop and candy free,’ ‘don’t tell me if, don’t tell me no but, because I am here to TCB and take care of business,'” he said with a laugh. “You know, to keep the interest of the listeners and make them feel good.”
Everyone knew when Radio on Wheels was coming on because Daley’s theme song was “I don’t mind if you want to give me, I won’t refuse it” by Winston Soso followed by “Batuka” by Santana. “And I would start by saying ‘well this is the afternoon, it is going to build up for you and by the time the night time draws, you will be telling me I made you feel good, I gave you what you wanted, you got the inspiration, you got the rhythm, you got what you needed to standardize and make you feel good,'” he said in explaining how he began the show.
The Ted Daley Show came around when Dennis Joseph once again stepped in and told the broadcaster that he had been around for too long and he needed a show named after him.
The new show was different from Radio on Wheels because Daley was at liberty to bring in anyone for interviews and guests ranged from Gordon Henderson, Ophelia Marie, Nasio Fontaine, among others.
Daley noted in many ways the show revolutionized radio in Dominica. “Radio never had all those interviews before,” he said. “Before you would just come on and play music and move on.”
And more rhymes came out on the Ted Daley Show. “‘I am slick and sly like superfly, I will never tell you a lie,’ ‘I am clean like Al Green….what you hear is reality, only part of the bosom buddy,” Daley said of his rhymes.
With the advent of cable television, the internet and the digital age, Daley quickly adapted. “It made me stand up with what is happening and get into the pattern of things,” he said. “It never really deterred me, I just eased off the rap because you don’t have much to say as you used to say before. It gave you more ease to just flow with the music.”
For Daley there were many memorable times as a broadcaster but he remembered the day Hurricane David came and ravaged Dominica in 1979, the most. “It was that Monday morning, I was at home and they called us, myself and Felix Henderson, Michael Peter and Shermain Green-Brown and we had to work that day from morning until night,” he recalled. “We had to give people all the information on what they should do, where they got to do, where they supposed to go and so on. I will always remember that day.”
Keeping in touch with fans was something that Daley made sure he did because, according to him, it gave ideas for his show. “One of the things I always did was whenever I left work I would walk to different parts, like Tarish and Gutter, and meet people and hear what songs they like and I played them and that really makes them feel good,” he said.
So where did the name ‘Bosom Buddy’ come from? “There were different folks using pattern names to captivate people,” Daley explained. “So I said to myself, you know that name ‘Bosom Buddy’ is a nice seal, so instead of using Ted Daley, you say the Bosom Buddy, that gives you more zest,” he said.
With broadcasting now behind him, Daley said he is ready to move on. “Ted Daley has tried his best to help the Caribbean and the rest of the world feel good and now is his time to go in a different area and see what it is like on the outside,” he stated.
In many ways, radio broadcasting will not be the same in Dominica.
I, like most other Dominicans, love our dear radio stalwart Ted Daley!!! Great work throughout the years…….I am not convinced that he can live in retirement without radio! he will be back from time to time…..Keep on living and enjoying life bro!!! God bless………
I do not know you but I will certainly miss that familiar voice when I visit D/ca, the entertainment,and infectious laughter. Oh My!!! All the best on the rest of your journey. Enjoy the ride!!!
BagaLaga Ted. I know you got places to go People to See So See You Later.Ted well done my brother.
Service par excellente. A conscientious soldier who never surrendered in service. We were raised with your voice on radio and now we are adults and never imagined that we would not be hearing you again. But I guess this time had to come. We salute you Sir. Well done. I guess you are a happy man who remains cheerful despite challenges.
well done my bro i wish you didn’t have to go some times when i had a bad day listening to you would always put a smile on my face NUFF LOVE AND RESPECT TO YOU T.D
Ted is a genius,i use to boast about him to my foreign friends who admitted he was exceptional.The super station dbs,put a smile on your face children !
Ted worked with pearl Gregoire Nazareen Gordon Jeff Charles Pappadi
SUPER T,another great dominican in the radio business is just fading away to relax and recouperation.a voice that can never be replaced.a program of class.i really dont know if any other program can come as close to the ted dailey show.jezz.some of us we will not be at such easssseeee without the laughter of the super t one.well i just need to say super t you have done your part and i want to thank you for all that you have done for dominica and for us musicians. you have played our music and given us so much food for thought.our sports interaction program is another facet that we are really and truely going to miss.who can do it again?trust me no one.well super t,i want to wish you all the best you and georgous mrs ,d and i plead jah blessings before and after you.may god continue to bless you in all that you do.god bless you comrade ,myself and family and the members of the first serenade band family bless you and wish you continued sucess in your future endeavours.we hope to hear you laugh for us soon.big t,take it away.
Ted Daily you are the best, I remember you shouting out bus numbers saying high to the people in it. That was in the 70’s
I remember that very big fro you had !
Good luck in the future, it was great listening to you.
enjoy your retirement ted u deserve it will mist the laugh
Is this his second retirement, because I thought he did already…Is he a basketballer to be retiring and coming back again
Jah bless you Ted, I will miss you terribly especially on a Monday night with Ossie, nothing can replace that God bless you man, you have given much. touch lives inspired etc.
will surely miss you…..UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
I loved Ted and Ossie on the sports programme. I used to look forward to that programme.
Sir I wiil surely miss you on Saturday nights your laughs make it even better I was enjoying it to the fullest. Enjoy your retirement and all the best in whatever you decide to do
We have had our fair share of radio personalities over the years in Dominica. The following are some that readily come to mind:
Dennis Joseph
Barnet Defoe
Raymond Lawrence
Peter Richards
Ken Richards
Michael Peters
Reggie Blanchard
Josette Seraphine
Marylyn Pascal
Jeff Charles
Alvin Knight
Mickey Bruney
Stenberg Henry
Tim Durand
Shermain Green Brown
Ferdinand Frampton
Felix Henderson
Steven Dangleben
Curtis Matthew
Johnson John Rose
Havis Shillingford
Lennox Linton
Alex Bruno
Miss Gordon
Julian Morris
Ossie Lewis
Joseph Thomas
Andy Carter
B.A.B.A.
Mr. Mix
Jo-Kam
Rudy Joseph
Duncan Stowe
Minchie Israel
Cecil Joseph
Franklyn Moses ( Ma mafis)
Nigel Francis
Gordon Henderson
Wadix
Ferdina Frampton
There are more, the names do not readily come to mind thou I can see their image within my mind-eye.
All these persons together with Ted have made DBS Radio the number one Radio Station in Dominica up to this day. I just love DBS as the kid would say.
There was also Reggie Lawrence
A fond farewell to my Bosom Buddy, the Teddy Bear, Ted Daley. Surely, Ted must be the very last of the pioneer Caribbean DJ’s from the era of rhymes, exaggerated radio banter and musical raucous at drive time.
Now, what on earth am I supposed to do when I’m not listening to The Jazz
Also, Charles James, current Editor of The SUN.
I grew up listening to Ted on his afternoon show which started with Winston Soso’s “I don’t mind if you want to give me ” which today is still ingrained in my mind and remains a soca favourite. I listened fairly regularly to his Saturday night party show. There are times when I felt Ted exceeded his already high competence at djaying and no one in the world could beat him.
His unique and infectious laughter, his ability to equal Felix Henderson in speaking the creole language in their friendly conversations as the station’s programme transitioned from the creole programme to Ted’s afternoon programme, his gleeful engagement with his listeners, his widely listened Sports Interaction programme with Ossie Lewis, and his friendly greetings of members of the public whom he encountered as he went about his business – these I will always remember of him.
Ted, Bosom Buddy, I wish you the best in your remaining years.
And more thing: the liberty Ted took in the usage of English words, including out of context, which could be playful and sometimes funny.
Ted truly has a presence in the field of broadcasting.
I am going to miss your laugh Mr Daley
Teddy my boy! U sereved your country well…u deserve some kind of award during independence…we will miss u man!
hanks for your service “TED” you did it your way and inspired lots of people in the manner you were raised by your parents. God speed and guidance going forward. You have already left a vacuum at D.B.S. Radio will never be the same again, all good things must come to an end. You left your mark for others to follow you can never be duplicated May you continue to inspire people near and far. Soon we might have to name some part of D.B.S. after you may your name live on forever. Job well done brother. God blessings to you and your entire family.
A very informative and well written piece on Ted Daley.
Truel, our society is changing hands from generation to the next.
Ted is legend, not only in Dominica, but the Caribbean.
Best wishes to him in future endeavours
“I doh want to go to bed. I want to listen to Ted instead.” Happy retirement.
He will be missed. Loved that laugh of his. Enjoy the retirement Ted, you left your mark.
May the good Lord bless you with long life.You were truly inspirational!
Good luck Ted in your future endeavors…Thanks for the sunshine you brought on Radio.
An icon indeed. Best Wishes Bosom Buddy. May you have similar success in anything else you choose to pursue.
What a career! I remember listening to Ted when I was a student at DGS when he started on DBS. That was in times of Papa Dee (Daniel Cauderon), Denise Joseph, Alvin Knight and these guys.I can still picture seeing you walking towards Fort Young hotel heading up to DBS as I was leaving the Roseau Library back in the day. Have been away from DA for quite some time and recently started listening to DBS regularly and was just thinking that TED is still around! Man, you have been an inspiration.You are one of these people I am sure who never went to “work” since 1971. (when you love what you do it is not considered”work”). I am glad that you can relax now. Enjoy retirement. Listening to you for the past couple months you have not changed a bit…you just as smooth an operator as you were back in the day…Man like you never “retire” they just “refire”. God bless you my brother…
Enjoy your second retiremnt Ted. You are indeed a legend in Dominican radio. What’s next for you? Opening your own station or consulting? Whatever you intend to do, you’ll do very well. God Bless.
I can vividly remember Ted walking his way up to DBS through the old market, then the road to Fort Young, then to station with a pile of records (albums) in his hand.This was where our bus stop once stood. He would ” hail” everyone in a presidential manner and we ( students from SMA) felt so inspired talking to Ted. I can remember he playing some of my favorites like Phil COLLINS, Toto, Jerry Raffaty and others. Ted, you have left an indelible mark on me and others especially during the eighties. You’ve done remarkably wall. All the best. I’d rather listen to Ted instead.
i will surely miss ted in my head,best wishes my brother
Dominica needs the voice and laughter of Ted. Thanks Ted for long, excellent service to Dominica. I hope you find a programme on Qfm to continue to infect Dominica with voice,melody n love
Thank you ted for your long and dedicated service.
This is what I call (Public Service).
Now, go and continue to feast on fish and veggies and do your exercises and your contagious smile will continue to reign forever. You ought to be a Happy Camper in Dominica (BAGA LAGA)
Brother Ted, It is damn good to be retired. We love you.
to a great broadcaster; i worked with Ted and i will tell you even if you are having a bad day just the sound of that laugh and those words he can put together within seconds to rhyme can put a smile on your face; Ted you will surely be missed on the radio but you will forever be a part of dbs radio listeners..Great Job!! Well Done!!!
Well well TD a legendary voice, infectious laughter and all round knowledgeable and easy going man.
” Let your fingers do the walking, your feet do the stomping and your ears the listening you hear me sweet children..” TD
Thanks for the memories, the poetic moments and the essence of you that you shared with us.
Good bye “Bossom Buddy” you were a tower of power in your chosen field of journalism in Dominica and beyond our shores.Your unique style will be sadly missed.You had the gift to bring joy & laughter to the masses and your knowledge of cricket was always refreshing on the airwaves.You stayed above board and served well.
People like you come along once in a lifetime so stay well and may yout future be bright.
That unique infestious voice will surely be missed…thanks for all the lil rhymes and laughter… There’s always a time to come and a time to go …Good luck my Champ!
As a young boy attending the Roseau Boys School , Ted had a swag to that of a Cricketer walking up to the wicket to face the bowlers. That was a long walk-up – from Pottersville proceeding to the new bridge, then Gt. George Street, passing by ballheads bakery, hailing up the guys like Fanso, Ba-Ba, Kelly, folks of By-trini Store, Venas store, ACS Supermarket, Fort Young Hotel , all the fans on Victoria Street then into the studio. Hit-makers 50 was a good show when Ted was on a Saturday. Good memories, lots of nostalgia. An era has ended and so a new generation of radio DJs are asked to step up and make their mark in their way.
TD is now i can have more time to put sme love on u in dominoes>>>will miss u alot on d radio my boy.anyway enjoy retirement and may god continue to bless u ..nuffrespect
Thanks for the memories. It was fun working with guys like you, the late MP in the PM, Felix, Shermaine, Mickey, etc..Babylon by Bus…
The West Indian
Tim Durand has to be in the mix. Nobody talking about Ted’s big Afro and his trademark bell bottoms…I have been away from home for over 20yrs and still listen every Saturday night to enjoy Ted…also love his conversations with Toepee …lol
oh ted how am i going to hear that voice again i listen to that man for almost my whole life i was his secret admirer he never knew that but ted u got to move on that life enjoy the rest of it and pleas take care of your self and wife also your mom and thanks once again for every thing byeeeeeeeeee
All the best to my friend who I had the pleasure working with from 1988 to 1990 when I was a young technician just out of college and had my first job at DBS. We have remained friends ever since. All the best to you sir and do enjoy the rest of your life and your retirement
Asterix, were you in the class of Radio , TV. & Electronic Servicing.. with instructors: mr, Red Bruney, mr. Shillingford… Gertrude Roberts as English teacher, mr. Zammo with Tech. & Mech. D rawing.. Mr. Roberts with Engineering Science…and others can’t remember..?
Never got the chance to meet him but one day I will great guy when u listened to Teddy on the radio is no way u could have hate in your heart at that moment,must say thanks for the great job u did.
i am going to miss your laughter, always looked forward to hearing that heartfelt laughter.
I recall seeing Ted at the Windsor Park long before he started working at DBS; always that sticker plastered portable radio in hand, and I grew up listening to him on DBS.
He is truly a radio institution in the Nature Isle and will be missed.
As Ted would say when he ended his show back then, “You can shake it and make it but don’t you dear break it; I have to go, I have people to see, places to go and things to do!”
Keep on Trucking Ted!
We love you TD and will miss hearing your voice on DBS Radio. “Tears”
Ted and I grew up together and played football on the street alongside the Roseau River for years. Many Dominicans chose to call me BogoRoy, but as far as Ted was concerned his name for me was De Bird. I will miss Ted on Radio, but I will not forget the name De Bird because every time I watch the Heat Basketball and mention is made of the Bird Man, the tattooed basketball player, I think of Ted.
How comes you forgot to mention the Jingle : “Mamie, I doh want to go to bed; I want to listen to Ted instead!!”
Man! I am going to miss that infectious laugh. God speed ted. BTW, he looks a LOT like FLAVOR FLAV!
You do have a unique voice, and will be missed on DBS.
You revolutionized the business of feeding us with good music along with an attractive personality on the air. Thanks for your service to this nation.
Peace out my brother!!
Growing up listening to you surely will be miss wishing you all the best
It is said ”all good things must come to an end
You take it easy now my friend
Enjoy life for what it is
As many of us you did please ;
Now you’re into the next chapter in life
Happiness in abundance with the wife .
Your programme will be missed,I have been asking for you,knew something was up.Loved listening to you. you will be missed terribly,but I guess we all have to move forward.
Listener in Canada.
Again? I thought he did that already?
when you learn to read you will find your answer.
well said !
WOW!! His voice was the voice of Dominica radio!
I stopped listening to DBS a long time ago, but Mr. Daley was the standard that any new comer in the business would have meet before they gathered any level of my respect.
Brilliant job sir!!
great inspiration
“I dont want to go to bed, I want to listen to Ted instead” You will surely be missed Ted. Thank you for being a positive influence on the life of Dominicans. May God richly bless you. Good luck!
“I don’t want to go to bed, I want to listen to Ted instead”. Enjioy the rest of youy life bro.
I finally get to see that face. I love his voice, its very distinctive; buoyant personality. He reminds me of Cosby and my grand dad too.
Goodbye Bosom Buddy, you will be surely missed by me, and the whole of Dominica.
All the best BosomBuddy, you’ll surely be missed on the radio
sad that he is living
Think you mean,*leaving*
It is said ”all good things come to an end”
you take it easy now My Friend
Enjoy life for what it is
Many of us you did please
I’m glad that he’s “living”, sad that he’s “leaving”
well done ted u will be surely missed in da but now is the time for st,thomas and st, criox see u up herew soon
Leaving dummy