St. Clair College announces today that they will be conferring an Honorary Diploma in Music Theatre – Performing Arts to Rosalie Trombley during the June, 2011 Convocation exercises.

The St. Clair College Board of Governors, confers honorary diplomas on individuals that have made a significant contribution to this region. 

“If someone were to write the book on the music industry in the Windsor- Detroit area through late 60's to the mid 80's, you would find the name and influence of Rosalie Trombley on many of the pages,” said Dr. John  Strasser, St. Clair College President.

St. Clair College's Fred Sorrell and former CKLW Station Manager, who worked with Rosalie, states “There was no other lady in the music industry and radio business that had the influence with both artists and the listening public. It's our opportunity, to celebrate and recognize what she has achieved as part of our community.”

The college also will be hosting a Tribute Dinner for Rosalie Trombley on Tuesday, June 14th at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, to establish a scholarship in her name for the students in Music Theatre - Performing Arts.

Rosalie Trombley, born in Leamington, Ontario, began her career in 1963 at CKLW in Windsor, Ontario and grew to become a legendary figure in the music industry. Rosalie Trombley is legendary in the history of AM Top 40 radio and was known for her amazing ability to predict and pick future hits. Artists that have publicly acknowledged her pivotal role in their success through early belief and airplay include, but are not limited to, Alice Cooper, Elton John, Bob Seger, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tony Orlando and Dawn, The Guess Who, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, Gordon Lightfoot, The Stylistics, Anne Murray, Parliament/Funkadelic, Aerosmith and many, many others.  A 1973 Billboard article specifically notes her role in promoting the Skylark song "Wildflower", playing it for over three months as an album cut before its release as a single.

The term "crossover hit" owes much of its definition to Rosalie's uncanny ability to pick artists from urban & rock playlists and cross them over to CKLW and their Top 40 format.  In that era of radio the top 40 format, as defined by cumulative audience listenership and reach, was the most listened to programming of the music audience.

Bob Seger immortalized Rosalie Trombley in his 1972 song "Rosalie" from his Back in '72 album. "She's got the tower, She's got the power / Rosalie, Rosalie Trombley" are two lines from the lyrics of that song. The song has been covered by the band Thin Lizzy, on their 1975 album Fighting. Trombley reportedly refused to allow the station to air the song, threatening to quit if the station added it to its playlist.  CKLW never played it, although the song did receive airplay on other Detroit stations.

Rosalie Trombley has been inducted into the Motor City (Detroit) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Week Broadcaster's Hall of Fame. Now retired and still residing in Windsor, Ontario, Rosalie Trombley's legendary status remains undiminished.