Toronto’s reggae community is mourning the loss of one of its most devoted champions. DB Hawkes, a legendary radio host, archivist, and cultural documentarian, has died at the age of 76.
The news was shared by Ken Stowar of CIUT-FM, who confirmed that Hawkes passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his wife Mary Ann and his son Lamont.
DB Hawkes was the longest-standing on-air host in CIUT-FM’s history. His relationship with the station began even before it officially became an FM broadcaster, when he was involved with the University of Toronto’s closed-circuit radio system. For decades afterward, DB became synonymous with reggae on Toronto airwaves, earning a reputation as the city’s foremost reggae archivist.
Over more than five decades, Hawkes recorded nearly every reggae artist who passed through Toronto. He was a permanent presence at the now-defunct Bamboo Club, where he meticulously documented performances by reggae and African artists who took to its stage. His dedication extended far beyond club walls. As CIUT’s live remote recordist for decades, DB captured an extraordinary body of work, including roughly 30 years of recordings from Afrofest, performances from WOMAD at Harbourfront, Jamaica Day celebrations, and countless other cultural events. He also recorded innumerable live studio sessions by artists performing at CIUT itself.
In many ways, DB Hawkes pioneered what audiences today recognize as live streaming—long before the digital age. He brought concerts directly into people’s homes, cars, and radios, preserving moments that might otherwise have been lost to time.
Radio host DJ Chocolate credits Hawkes as a formative influence in her own musical journey. “DB was centrally important to me as a young lover of reggae music in this city,” she said. “I was too young to get into a lot of concerts for the first few years, some clubs were too smart to accept my fake ID, and DB’s broadcasts of live shows nurtured and increased my enthusiasm.”
She added that Hawkes’ work went far beyond simply playing records. “What we now call live streaming, he did in an analogue world, by bringing the concert to people’s radios, homes and cars. His political and pithy commentary—DB was also capital-S Smart—alongside the music has been a highlight of my weeks for over 30 years.”
Colleagues and listeners alike remember Hawkes not only for his vast musical knowledge but also for his sharp intellect, deep political awareness, and unwavering commitment to preserving reggae culture in Toronto. As Ken Stowar noted, “There is a lot more to DB, and many stories and such will be heard and written for many years to come. He was a legendary and iconic Toronto figure.”
DB Hawkes will be resting at the Cardinal Funeral Home at Bathurst and Dundas. His legacy lives on in thousands of recordings, decades of broadcasts, and in the countless listeners whose love of reggae was shaped by his voice and vision.
