HAVE A CUP OF JOE WITH JOE – Greg The “Nipper” Gnyp . . . Windsor’s Unvarnished Iconic DJ
A few years ago, I was a guest on the AM800 morning show.
When I entered the Bell Media building at 1641 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor, I walked down a long hallway to the far south end where the AM800 CKLW studio was situated.
Along the way I passed several other studios that were home to other Bell Media radio stations in the area. Each had a large glass window looking into the studio.
At one of them, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Inside, wearing a wrinkled white t-shirt, shorts and sandals with white socks, with his bushy beard, left eyebrow piercing and greying tinged hair was Windsor’s unvarnished, iconic radio DJ — Greg the “Nipper” Gnyp. He was broadcasting on 93.9 The River.
He spotted me and with waving arms signalled me to come into his studio. There he gave me the warmest bear hug greeting.
That’s Greg Gnyp. That’s the Nipper. Genuine, warm, and welcoming.
In October 2020, Bell Media underwent an organizational restructuring (I call it a cull) releasing Gnyp and many of his colleagues. Gnyp was out of radio.
For the April music issue of Biz X, I invited Greg Gnyp to have a Cup of Joe with me while I interviewed him for this column. He agreed, but he had a pint of his favourite brew instead.
Joe McParland (JM): Gnyp, we’ll start off with the basics . . . what is your hometown, where did you go to school and what was your post secondary school degree in?
Greg Gnyp (GG): I was born in Windsor, raised in South Windsor, and went to Massey High School and then the University of Windsor and graduated with a Communications Studies degree and did college radio for four years.
JM: I assume the radio work was with CJAM (a non-profit campus based community radio station)?
GG: Indeed it was. CJAM, 91.5 on your FM dial (now 99.1). It was a cool place and one of Windsor’s gems, with outreach into the metropolitan Detroit area.
JM: I’ve been told that you also obtained a journalism degree at the University of Terra Cotta?
GG: LOL . . . at times it felt like that. No, Terra Cotta Pizzeria at 318 Pelissier Street was the restaurant I owned with my sister Dina for 15 years from 1998 to 2013.
JM: When did you start in commercial radio?
GG: After graduating in May 1990, I interned with 89X (CIMX 86.7) in July just as it was starting up. I then was hired by accident when Greg St. James, the Program Director and the brains behind 89X, asked me one day to fill in for someone who called in sick for their scheduled 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift. I was terrified, but I did it and was hired.
JM: As a youngster, did you ever see yourself growing up to be a radio disc jockey?
GG: No, not at all! My goal, honestly, was to work for a record company. I wanted to be the guy who promoted records and promoted artists. That’s why I initially interned at 89 X; I was trying to get some insight into how to get artists and their records on the airwaves.
JM: Were you trying to become the male version of the famous Rosalie Trombley from AM800, the music director and former receptionist who was so powerful that she set the radio agenda across North America?
GG: Yes, I was! Exactly! And I would often talk with Rosalie. But, once I landed on the air, I got the “bug” and I loved it. I was so fortunate to start with the likes of Greg St. James, John O’Leary, and my radio partner, David DeRoches. We were doing everything that the industry said couldn’t be done. For example, we used to do an overnight live broadcast from a Detroit club that was open until 5 a.m. on Fridays. We were known as the “Funky Fresh Cocoa Puffs”. We played rock alternative music and became one of the hottest radio stations in the Detroit market.
JM: So when did you move over to 93.9 The River?
GG: I started the end of 2005. At first, I was working both part time at 89X and full time at 93.9. The latter drew a more mature adult audience, which seemed a better fit for a more mature DJ . . . LOL. And that’s where I stayed until released in 2020.
JM: Gnyp, you are the only DJ I know without a vowel in your last name. And you are the only radio personality with a locally brewed beer named after you. Any other oddities you’d care to share? (Note: Chapter Two Brewing Company has released three different “GNIPA” brews for fundraising purposes. The last one was for the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest this past summer, an organization that Gnyp strongly supports.)
GG: Another oddity? Well, I bought a house on your street — Victoria Avenue — while working at 93.9 The River. And the house number is 939. And to get to the house I need to turn left off Elliott Street, the name of one of my three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels — Primrose, Pearl and Eliot, aka “The Pack”).
JM: You have frequently said in your self-deprecating way that you had a face only for radio. Has this changed?
GG: LOL. I guess I have proven myself wrong. YourTV Windsor/Leamington invited me to host, not just one, but two of their weekly shows, Windsor Creates and Meet the Music.
JM: Tell us about Meet the Music; it seems to be right in your wheelhouse.
GG: Joe, it is, and I am so honoured to be doing this, to showcase the awesome, diverse local music talent we have here in the Windsor Essex area. Guests perform on the program and join me in an in depth conversation about their musical journey. There’s not enough space here to highlight all the talent we’ve had on our shows, but I invite you to go online for shows already aired.
JM: How long have you been hosting this?
GG: We have two seasons completed and are entering our third year.
JM: Gnyp, thank you for spending some time with me and letting the people know a bit more about you and your career. All of us at Biz X wish you the very best in your future endeavours.
Now, I’m going to conclude my chat by letting you read what the Producer of Meet the Music, Emily Moore, has to say about the Gnyp . . . “Working with Gnyp in the last year and a half at YourTV Windsor has been amazing. He always has an interesting story or fun fact to tell you. He loves to share his knowledge about his time in the industry with everyone, including our dedicated volunteers. In creating Meet the Music and Windsor Creates, with Gnyp, our YourTV Community has grown, and has allowed local artists and crafters to be seen. We look forward to collaborating with Gnyp for years to come.”
