Farley Flex

He was born in London, England, to Trinidadian parents.[http://www.guardian.co.tt/arts/2015-02-01/new-canadian-station-seeks-caribbean-tvfilm-content New Canadian station seeks Caribbean TV/film content] Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

Flex was instrumental in founding FLOW 93.5 in Toronto, the first urban music-format radio station in Canada when it first went on the air in 2001,{{cite news |url=https://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5962229-music-promoter-farley-flex-to-be-honoured-at-scarborough-walk-of-fame/ |title=Music promoter Farley Flex to be honoured at Scarborough Walk of Fame |newspaper= Inside Toronto |access-date=June 22, 2017}} and where he was the station's first Music Director and Vice President of Business Development. His success as an artist manager, radio personality and executive along with the success of the station prompted Canadian Idol's producers to select him as a judge before its 2003 launch. He is the recipient of the Bob Marley Day Award (2009),{{Cite web|date=February 9, 2009|title=Eight Get Bob Marley Day Awards in Toronto|url=https://jis.gov.jm/eight-get-bob-marley-day-awards-in-toronto/|access-date=February 11, 2022}} a Harry Jerome Award (2007), the Urban Music Association of Canada's Special Achievement and Media Personality of the Year Awards, and was inducted into the Scarborough Walk of Fame. Flex is the founder of R.E.A.L. School - Reality Education & Applied Life Skills a not for profit organization that engages primarily youth from inner city and marginalized communities worldwide. "What celebrity does is that it creates an umbrella under which you can do all those things with a higher level of impact."{{Cite news|last=Keung|first=Nicholas|date=April 27, 2007|title=Many know him only as Canadian Idol's most popular judge, but here's what else we should know about Farley Flex...|pages=B7|work=Toronto Star}}

Flex was the original manager of Maestro Fresh Wes, Canada's first mainstream rapper,{{cite news |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/maestro_fresh_wes-class_act|title=Maestro Fresh Wes |newspaper= exclaim |access-date=June 23, 2017}} and has also taken several former Idol contestants under his wing to promote their albums, such as Gary Beals and Toya Alexis.{{Cite web|title=Farley Flex|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060214/farley_flex_20060214/20060214/?s_name=idol2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410102418/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060214/farley_flex_20060214/20060214/?s_name=idol2006|archive-date=April 10, 2008|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=CTV.ca Canadian Idol}}

In 1994 he was featured in Andrew Munger's documentary film Make Some Noise.Craig MacInnis, "Hip-hop culture makes some noise". Toronto Star, April 22, 1995.

Flex currently operates FUSE Restaurant Entertainment Emporium, a restaurant in the historic district of Corktown in specializing in global cuisine and live entertainment.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080410102418/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060214/farley_flex_20060214/20060214/?s_name=idol2006 CTV.ca Canadian Idol biography]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090105231629/http://www.thelavinagency.com/speaker-farley-flex.html Farley Flex] speaker profile at The Lavin Agency

{{Canadian Idol}}

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Category:1962 births

Category:Black Canadian broadcasters

Category:Canadian people of Trinidad and Tobago descent

Category:Canadian Idol

Category:Canadian music managers

Category:English emigrants to Canada

Category:English people of Trinidad and Tobago descent

Category:Living people

Category:People from Scarborough, Ontario

Category:Harry Jerome Award winners