Radio kingmaker John Brennan who launched careers of Alan Jones and Ray Hadley dies aged 89 after long battle with dementia
Alan Jones #AlanJones
Radio program director and kingmaker John ‘Brenno’ Brennan, who was behind some of the medium’s biggest names in Sydney radio, has died age 89.
Mr Brennan, who succumbed to a long battle with vascular dementia, was instrumental in the careers of stars Alan Jones, John Laws and Ray Hadley, among others and was considered a ‘giant’ who ‘harnessed the idea of dial-in democracy’.
He was instrumental in the ratings successes of 2SM, 2UE and 2GB, receiving an Order of Australia media in 1989 and then was inducted into Australia’s Commercial Radio Hall of Fame in 2002.
John Brennan, who has died age 89 after a dementia battle was said to be the inventor of talkback radio in Australia
The cover of John Brennan’s 2014 autobiography – The Life and Times of a Media Godfather
‘I’d never been in a radio station so anything I might have or might be I owe to him,’ Jones told 9News.
‘I owe John Brennan absolutely everything,’ said Hadley on 2GB.
On 2GB, Chris Smith said: ‘Others might claim they invented talkback radio, but Brennan did.’
Rugby league icon Phil Gould called Mr Brennan ‘a beautiful man’.
‘John gave me my first opportunity in radio many years ago. Always had words of encouragement,’ Gould tweeted.
Mr Brennan began his career in Wagga Wagga in 1949 at age 17 and moved to Sydney in 1956 working with 2SM for 26 years before he began with 2UE and then 2GB.
The managing director of Nine Radio, Tom Malone told staff Mr Brennan was ‘a legend’ who transformed radio wherever he worked.
‘He understood the power of talk radio and its ability to give ordinary Australians their say, and holding law makers and institutions to account.’
‘He loved the interaction with callers, and was passionate about news and current affairs keeping copious notes on issues important to everyday Australians.’
‘Better than anyone he understood the companionship talk radio provided – on weekends, overnights, during holiday periods, and big news stories.’
Mr Brennan is survived by his wife Jenny, his sons Richard and Peter Brennan.
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