Gordon Solie

Gordon Solie
Born Francis Jonard Labiak
(1929-01-26)January 26, 1929
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Died July 27, 2000(2000-07-27) (aged 71)
New Port Richey, Florida, U.S.
Cause of death Throat cancer
Other names Jonard Pierre Sjoblom
Occupation Professional wrestling announcer

Gordon Solie[1] (born Francis Jonard Labiak,[1] later Jonard Pierre Sjoblom,[1] January 26, 1929 – July 27, 2000), was an American Florida-based professional wrestling play-by-play announcer working for Georgia Championship Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, USA Championship Wrestling, Continental Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling.

He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential wrestling announcers. Jim Ross cites him as the most significant influence on his career as an announcer.

Professional wrestling career

Hailing originally from the state of Minnesota -- home to hundreds of sports-entertainment legends -- Solie moved to Tampa, Fla., in the 1950s after completing military service in the United States Air Force. Little did he -- or anyone, for that matter -- know that while starting out as a radio disc jockey and promotions man, Solie would eventually become one of the most famous voices of all-time. Solie began his pro wrestling career as a ring announcer, making $5 a night emceeing weekly shows in the Tampa Bay area. He soon began working for Championship Wrestling from Florida, and in 1960, he moved into the broadcast booth to become the lead announcer for CWF's Saturday morning television shows, a spot he would occupy for the next quarter-century. During that time, he commentated on matches featuring some of pro wrestling's biggest legends, including WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, The Brisco Brothers and Dory Funk, Jr., among numerous others. Solie rose to national prominence when Superstation WTBS began broadcasting pro wrestling, and the exposure helped him branch out, leading to Solie working for promotions in Georgia, Alabama and Puerto Rico. What our fans in those areas found out was something Floridians had known for years: That Solie was a true icon.

Much of his fame stems from his gravelly-yet soothing voice he used to call the in-ring action and his unique lingo. He is credited for originating the term "Pier-Six Brawl" to describe a wild brawl, and was also notorious for noting when a bloodied Superstar was "wearing the crimson mask." His vast knowledge of the impact of each maneuver shone in his words, including his oft-imitated signature call of a suplex as a "su-play."Solie often said that his approach to calling matches was low-key -- yet he could convey the increased importance of a moment simply by slightly modifying his tone of voice. His signature sign-off -- "So long from the Sunshine State," followed by a wink -- became an institution among Florida wrestling fans of multiple generations.

When CWF finally folded in 1987, Solie returned to Georgia and became one of the lead announcers for the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) later WCW television programs. It was a natural transition for "The Dean," who had also been Georgia Championship Wrestling's lead announcer before it became a subsidiary of NWA/WCW. He remained there until his eventual retirement in 1995. Sadly, Solie was diagnosed with cancer soon after his retirement. In the late-1990s, his vocal chords were removed due to throat cancer, robbing the world of one of the greatest voices to fill the airwaves. In July 2000, Solie finally succumbed to cancer at the age of 71, leaving behind five children and a multitude of fans.

In 2005, his posthumously-released memoir Gordon Solie ... Something Left Behind became a best-seller, proving that his legacy and his memory will never be forgotten by the generations of sports-entertainment fans fortunate enough to have grown up -- or grown old -- with the sound of his voice. In 2008, "The Dean" took his rightful place in the pantheon of the elite as Jim Ross inducted him into the WWE Hall of Fame, an honor accepted by Solie's five children - Pam, Danise, Jonard, Eric and Greg. [2]

Legacy

On March 29, 2008, Jim Ross posthumously inducted Solie into the WWE Hall of Fame in the Class of 2008. Later the same year WWE's WWE Classics on Demand video service began offering The Film Room with Gordon Solie, hosted by Ross, focusing on Solie's announcing and interviewing of a specific wrestler or group of wrestlers involved in a feud. On August 11, 2009 Solie's biography, The Solie Chronicles was released by Crowbar Press.

Personal life

Death

Solie's last announcing job was to be the Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view in 1999, but he could not attend due to failing health. He died of throat cancer on July 27, 2000. In 2005, Florida Media, Inc. published a collection of Solie's short stories and poetry in Gordon Solie ... Something Left Behind.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 Magee, Bob (October 27, 2003). "AS I SEE IT 10/28: Wrestling loses two of its best". WrestleView.com. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.wwe.com/superstars/gordonsolie
  3. ↑ Profile, gordonsolie.com; accessed March 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ Pedicino, Joe; Solie, Gordon (hosts) (August 15, 1987). "Pro Wrestling This Week". Superstars of Wrestling. Atlanta, Georgia. Syndicated. WATL.
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