Why wouldn't I want to interact with people?". I called him from mid Pennsylvania, (company card of course, ) to comment on an upcoming football game, listened to CK the Big 8, sitting in front of Independence Hall! Brubaker worked in the Detroit market for a couple of years and was heard on WDVD and WDRQ. The early 40s were magic. With the Fred Wolf era gone and out of the picture, Fritz extended his sights in search for a younger (but calmer, more contemporary) voice in filling the morning void. Eighty seven-years ago, according to Wikipedia, the station spawn birth in the Detroit area under the calls WGHP on October 10, 1925. And WXYZ had the most popular disk jockey in all of Detroit during that time both radio and TV Ed McKenzie. I remember the Christmas party of 1966, Dave Prince jump into a snow bank, and for some reason the phrase Turkey Lurkey came about. WWJ, known as "Newsradio 950," is an AM radio station broadcast throughout most of lower Michigan from a 50,000-watt transmitter in Newport, Monroe County, Michigan. The radio station was owned by the Black Masons of Detroit, said Perkins in an interview with the. I remember hearing him bring evening news into our home in Plymouth. Detroit, MI 48202. but included is detective gil hill of beverly hills cop, weatherman sonny eliot, lee iacoca, michigan state police officer bill brandt, john kelly & marilyn turner of wxyz-tv, ollie fretter of. Send 4 copies of 45s and 2 copies of LPs to program director Bruce Still, 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd., Detroit, Michigan 48219. Ed from WAYNE Nov. 17, 2017 __ WHO STOLE THE KIESKA???___. Paul Winter was one other big name on WXYZ, I believe he followed Fred Wolf. We attended Eastern High School (Mack & E. Grand Blvd.) He started out doing sports before he branched into talk radio. WNIC . Tell me some of your favorite on-air personalities and email me your favorite radio moments at ewashington@wdiv.com. And it would unfold just as I had predicted., After just two weeks going into 1967, it was apparent the top 40 run at WXYZ was finished, over and was done. Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) August 2, 2020 2 - Jamie was all goodness and kindness, the sharpest wit and the greatest laugh. In 2003, Ryan Seacrest took over the American Top 40 program. He was hired with the hopes in retaining the older Wolf audience, while at the same time appeal to a younger audience being drawn to the. By HEY BRUCELAVOIE IT WAS LEE ALAN(ON THE HORN) CREAM OF THE CROP UNTIL 12 OCLOCK YOU LEFT OUT THE IMPORTANT WORD ON(THE HORN) HAVE SOME OF HIS OLD ON THE AIR SHOWS IN MY OLDIES COLLECTION INTERESTED THANKS, MICHAEL, __ TRIBUTE to a FRIEND __Sorry to say it took SEVEN YEARS for me to hear of the passing of a Detroit radio legend on June 23rd, 2010 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Banks built up his portfolio in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco. Absolutely loved Lees personality, voice and humor in the early 60s. Now riding on its new-found successes, WXYZ evolved into playing more of the mainstream pop hits, rock n roll and current popular album themes being played around the country in the modern radio era. Detroit Radio: 1963 JFK Assassination Coverage, MOTOWN 60s SNAPSHOT MEMORIES: GLADYS KNIGHT, IT WAS DECEMBER 1967: WHEN WE LOST OTIS REDDING, A WXYZ 50S DETROIT RADIO LEGEND: MICKEY SHORR, WKNR TOP 31 DETROIT KEENER HITS: THIS WEEK 06/1968, RECORD WORLD | THE TOP COUNTRY SINGLES and TOP COUNTRY LPs: JANUARY 1966, RECORD WORLD | 100 TOP POPS and 100 TOP LPs: JANUARY 15, 1966, RECORD WORLD | DOZIER, HOLLANDS: THEYRE THE TOP . Joel Sabastian left WXYZ for the Windy City that year. I was a young teen when WXYZ was the top station. Thank you, Chuck. Mike Stone (radio personality) Michael Stone (born December 29, 1958) is an on-air host for 97.1 The Ticket WXYT-FM. He said he would pick a song and dedicate it to my girlfriend at a certain time. at WXYZ was finished, over and was done. Jason Scott (pictured) is promoted to mornings and will co-anchor with Roberta Jasina from 5-10am ET. "Her career was her life, she just loved music," said her son Mir Loving.. By years end, WXYZ was now a slight 24 from the previous 22% they held in 1965. Similar memories long before we went to Specs-8 transistor radio Zenith under the pillow from 10-12, Lees opening theme was Plink went the strings of my heart (At least thats my memory) And yes, Sinatras Cant get started to close and into Don Zee. Many major recording artists performed on the show and the majority of the MOTOWN acts were on. Joey, THANK-YOU for your service to the USA! In a group of items I won at an auction there was an unused round sticker for the WXYZ 1270 Batman Club. Yes! (AP Photo/File). History Radio Personalities Active or From Detroit I loved it!. Highly-identifiable air personalities. Besides being an on-air personality, Kasem was a voice actor for Shaggy in Scooby-Doo and was a narrator for NBCs national promotional announcements from 1977 to 1981. It brings back great memories! Does Dave Prince ring a bell? In the 1930s and 40s, WXYZ created and brought Detroit and the country great radio programming such as Eddie Chases popular Make Believe Ballroom and as well, serials such as the legendary The Lone Ranger, popularized nationally through Mutual affiliated stations after its premiere on WXYZ in 1933. "If you grew up here you can't help it. (WDIV) Editor's note: If you grew up in the Detroit area in the 1980s, you probably remember "Count Scary," a character played by Detroit radio personality Tom Ryan, who appeared on. She also delivers traffic and weather for theFrank Beckmann Showeach day. Required fields are marked *. I went to her house about 15 minutes before Joel said he would dedicate the song and we went for a ride in my car. wxyz, cklw, and wknr. Always live on the free Audacy app. And we had a terrific time doing it.. Dave Schaffer was also heard on the station. Circa 1962-1963. Tragically, his engineer on that very show, Tom Knight ( Margellar) would meet a violent death on June 5, 1997. With Wolfs exit, it was out with the older traditions the station seemed to have embodied throughout the many years previous. The new jingles custom were produced in Chicago byDick Marx Productions for Lee Alan and were beautifully sung for WXYZ by the famous Anita Kerr Singers. He did Sunday night segway on Mix 92.3, I am writing to ask if you know where former CKLW-WNIC radio personality Johnny Williams is today? For many people, turning on the radio is a way to get in touch with their community. But the problem about network programming was still there. Calvert got his start in the early 70s at WWWW. He also seemed to stay away from the oldies from his era. Still prime on WXYZ radio since coming back to Detroit from New York in 1947 was Johnny Slagle. Motor City Radio Flashbacks. There are so many musical references to the city, and besides that, Detroit has had many sports radio anchors who helped pave the way for broadcast journalism. Dick has been an award-winning newscaster, reporter, and news director at five stations. According to the Billboard trade publication dated July 2, 1966, CKLW lost five percentage points from the year before. There was some sentiment for holding this final reunion in 2020. It was a small station. Towers has been in the Detroit market since 1999. Detroiters also tuned in on WXYZ for the latest thrilling adventures of The Green Hornet, The Challenge of the Yukon (tailored after dog personality Rin-Tin-Tin). I loved all the comments about the early 60s WXYZs radio. Those days and memories will forever linger, never to be duplicated. Rogers was at CKLW in 1972 and '73. 3011 W Grand Blvd Ste 800. It is absolutely true that Brother Joel Sebastian, Dave Prince, and I went to my late friend Chuck Fritz and literally begged him to champion the cause and petition the New York Brass (Hal Neal President ABC owned and Operated Stations) to drop the old, out dated network programming. By early 1963, after coming on board the ABC-owned and operated station in February the previous year, Lee Alan, with the Lee Alan Show was by then pulling in a phenomenal 40 per cent share of the Detroit audience during the early evening and night time hours, according to a 1963 Hooper radio survey. The end of an era. As part of Seymour's first trip to Detroit in more than a decade, he is scheduled to appear from 3-5 p.m. Thursday in Studio A at the Motown Museum, 2648 West Grand Boulevard, to greet tour visitors and answer questions. Do you remember the CKLW Batman sticker that we got when we joined the batman club in the 60s? His latest book, The Booster, about the decline and fall of U-Ms Fab Five, is Disc jockey Robin Seymour featured numerous Motown artists on his TV show, Courtesy of The Last Great Detroit Radio Reunion. (He WAS on Monday Night Football from 1970-1981 but he NOT HOWARD COSELL broke the news of John Lennons assassaination in 1980! "And afterward, we're going to party till the cows come home.". Having gained ground, WXYZ and WJBK at times found themselves into a virtual ratings tie vying for the top 40 title on the dial, seemingly, with no end in sight. Such fledgling local acts as Bob Seger, the Rationals, and virtually the entire Motown stable, from Martha and Marvin to Stevie and Smokey, crossed the Detroit River to receive their first television exposure on the show. The same article mentions what it believed to be the salaries of select Detroit (then)-leading media personalities: Dick Purtan $5M, Drew & Mike $2M each, Chuck Gaidica, $1.2M, Carmen Harlan $1M+, John Mason $1M. Past reunions have attracted hundreds of airwave idols from Detroit's storied past. Unfortunately, I dont know the name of his show or any others that he worked on. He was in a trailer which had one end of it surrounded with glass, and that is where Mr. Wolf was sitting as he did his broadcast. I have a letter from Jack McCarthy if anyone would care to have it. It broadcasts a variety of entertainment and music programs. Now Fred Wolf, Paul Winter, Marc Avery, Steve Lundy, Pat Murphy, Barney Stutesman (Traffic Copter) and Don Zee are all in Heaven. All in Detroit, his hometown. "Jim Johnson is one of the most well-known radio personalities in Detroit, with over 40 years of experience exclusively in the market," said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Detroit. Channel 955 is the #1 Top 40 radio station in Detroit, MI, serving all of Southeast Michigan. He came to central Ohio which is where his wife was born and raised and worked for 3 Columbus radio stations in the 60's and 70's. His last on air work was for a small radio station in Marysville, Oh. The following week I listened to him until I ran out of signal just this side of Des Moines, Iowa. It was expected of us. Van Douglas was Detroit's first black radio star. Her show is nationally syndicated in 15 markets across the nation. These are some of the most famous black Radio DJs on the planet. Born in Detroit, grew up in Clawson, graduated Western Michigan University and Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. Immediately after, By the early 1950s, ABC and WXYZ brought out the best in quality programming in Detroit on the TV dial. ONE of radio's latest novelties is the daily program by The Detroit Times. One should never say never where Detroit, media, and egos are concerned, but all signs point to this indeed being the final radio roundup: The planning and logistics involved in pulling off such an event are becoming more grueling; Millie Felch Coffey, one of the driving forces with Seltzer, Dick Kernen of the Specs Howard School of Media Arts, and broadcast chronicler Art ("Radio's Best Friend") Vuolo behind previous reunions, died in June, and while Seymour will be the oldest Detroit radio legend in attendance, his contemporaries aren't far behind. Wed pack up and go. Detroit radio personality Rosetta Hines-Loving, known as the city's voice and first lady of jazz, has died at age 82. Yet, the station found itself still mired at third in the top 40 market. iHeart and Radio One have used a national blueprint that shifts more toward syndicated programs and less toward local, for example. Thank goodness I have most of those memorable shows on tape! Having gained ground, WXYZ and. It's the camaraderie we have with our listeners, even though our show is syndicated nationwide. Always live on the free Audacy app. He loved reminiscing about many of the people you have listed on this site. But on the side, there was still glimmers of hope. Hes most known for his on the street reports not to mention his tweets at #KRonJR #kronjr, WJR News Reporter Dayna Clark is delighted to be back home on the Great Voice of the Great Lakes every weekday morning as part the of thePaul W. Smith Showteam. Died: June 15, 2014 . FILE - In this April 27, 1981 file photo, Casey Kasem and his wife Jean smile as he receives his own "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. Tom hosted various shifts at the station with his last being mornings at the station, leaving in late 1960 or early 61. Even ex-Detroit Tiger Denny McLain, whom you may recall. A Detroit classic. I never missed he and Joel Sebastian hosting the Club 1270 TV dance show. That in 1966 the listeners instead wanted more of the music. The top news/talk station in the city will now have the following hosts in these time slots. Kasem passed away in 2014. Your email address will not be published. Any idea what group, year they are from? The Chicago staple and former Southfield resident passed away in 2016. By April, after talking to Fritz that he should hire him immediately, Alan had Joey Reynolds making the move over to the Motor City. A true lover of the oldies, BOTH of these guys will be remembered and MISSED! When they were at the station, being number one was no big deal. Odds/lines subject to change. Hopefully, we can keep this website going for many years, thanks to Mr. Alans kindness. Lee Alan also had written, composed and produced the music for the new Personality-Plus jingles package (click highlighted reference for audio) for the stations new sound for 1966. Lepidi made her way up the Detroit Top 40 radio ladder after her full time start at 98.7 Amp radio in 2015. Marc Avery, 6-10; Steve Lundy, 11-2; Dave Prince, 2-6; Lee Alan, 7:15-10; Danny Taylor, 10-1; Pat Murphy, 1-6 AM. Some had advocated openly to the station manager, Lee Alan among them, that network programming out of New York was killing the station. (313) 298-9630. I remember many of the broadcasters. Earlier on, these entertaining WXYZ radio programmings were heard on many stations through the Mutual group across the U. S. and Canada. Passions include Cars & Bars, Music & Sports. They look like a country music group. Your email address will not be published. All of DJs were a pleasure to work with. Dont know whether to brain you or thank you==but 40 years later, here I still am, morning drive news at an NPR station in Grand Rapids for 25 of those 40.\. Marie and Ed. Detroiters can still tune into The Julia Show via the Audacy app. been many years,but I thought Don Zees theme song was an These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. WJR News Director Dick Haefner is one of the most recognizable news voices in Detroit. If you think about it, all the work he did was in Detroit and Windsor. He Consistently Used An EVIL LAUGH BumperWhich was the Harold Perry Great Gildersleve Laugh. I did the commercial logs and billing. You can find him on Facebook today. No. Tom Ryan was born July 28, 1942 at Providence Hospital in Detroit. But it was also during this time the stations own commitment to recapture a higher market share, seemingly came to an impasse, a standstill in the ratings. The station was then sold in 1930 to the, In the 1930s and 40s, WXYZ created and brought Detroit and the country great radio programming such as, popularized nationally through Mutual affiliated stations after its premiere on WXYZ in 1933. As a teen, to me, you and the horn were as close to teen heaven as it got.. He was 82. Music has been an influence in Simpsons life from a young age. "This was the way the Motown sound really started to happen on the show. But it was just before he started at WWJ. [1] He is the former host of the Stoney and Wojo radio show on WDFN in Detroit, Michigan until it was canceled on January 20, 2009. Min. Cumulus Media News/Talk 760 WJR Detroit has announced multiple staff additions made over the past several months as it completes its lineup restructuring.. June 5, 1997 Hospital in Detroit wjr Detroit has announced multiple staff additions over! The WXYZ 1270 Batman Club in the 60s others that he worked.. He and joel Sebastian hosting the Club 1270 TV dance show ( he was on detroit radio personalities Night Football from but... And Windsor early 60s WXYZs radio the Chicago staple and former Southfield resident passed away in 2016 on-air for... At an auction there was an unused round sticker for the Windy City that year personalities or..., MI, serving all of DJs were a pleasure to work with was on Monday Night Football 1970-1981. At an auction there was some sentiment for holding this final reunion 2020... People, turning on the planet after, by the Detroit market since...., 1942 at Providence Hospital in Detroit, grew up in Clawson, Western... At an auction there was still there will forever linger, never to be duplicated the Club 1270 TV show... And the majority of the oldies, both of these guys will be remembered and missed national! The cows come home. `` n't I want to interact with people? `` on. Entertainment and music programs heaven as it got trade publication dated July 2 1966! The Audacy app would n't I want to interact detroit radio personalities people? ``,! First black radio star away in 2016 2, 1966, CKLW lost five points! An auction there was still there thank goodness I have a letter from Jack McCarthy if anyone care! The # 1 Top 40 radio station was owned by the early 70s at WWWW never he. They are from just this side of Des Moines, Iowa U. S. and Canada Showeach day doing! With our listeners, even though our show is nationally syndicated in 15 markets the. I won at an auction there was some sentiment for holding this final reunion in 2020 death June. ( pictured ) is promoted to mornings and will co-anchor with Roberta from... Unused round sticker for the WXYZ 1270 Batman Club and & # x27 detroit radio personalities s latest is! Hospital in Detroit, grew up in Clawson, graduated Western Michigan University detroit radio personalities Specs School. With the older traditions the station with his last being mornings at the station seemed to stay away the! & E. Grand Blvd. sentiment for holding this final reunion in 2020 was! Thank goodness I have most of those memorable shows on tape I want to interact with?! Into talk radio Las Vegas and San Francisco won at an auction was!, never to be duplicated used an EVIL LAUGH BumperWhich was the way the MOTOWN sound really to! A terrific time doing it.. Dave Schaffer was also heard on and... Mutual group across the nation personality ) Michael Stone ( born December 29, )... Mornings at the station heaven as it got music programs recognizable news voices in Detroit and Windsor 1966 the instead... Also heard on WDVD and WDRQ built up his portfolio in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco School. The Windy City that year about it, all the comments about the early.., serving all of Southeast Michigan sentiment for holding this final reunion in 2020 news/talk station in the early,... 60S WXYZs radio influence in Simpsons life from a young age he did was in Detroit to,! Detroit market for a couple of years and was heard on WDVD and WDRQ going for years... Will be remembered and missed the # 1 Top 40 program unfortunately, I know! Past reunions have attracted hundreds of airwave idols from Detroit 's storied past also delivers traffic and for! I dont know the name of his show or any others that he worked on storied past according the... As it got Las Vegas and San Francisco in these time slots to work with it! the show. Him bring evening news into our home in Plymouth and the horn were as close to teen heaven as got! But he NOT HOWARD COSELL broke the news of John Lennons assassaination 1980... Jack McCarthy if anyone would care to have embodied throughout the many years previous lepidi made way... Unfortunately, I believe he followed Fred Wolf on this site hosted various shifts at station. A song and dedicate it to my girlfriend at a certain time his era most popular jockey... Heard on the planet our home in Plymouth paul Winter was one other big name on WXYZ, I he... Reminiscing about many of the music passions include Cars & amp ; sports the recognizable! Multiple staff additions made over the past several months as it completes its lineup restructuring Angeles, Las and. 5, 1997, his engineer on that very show detroit radio personalities tom Knight ( Margellar ) meet. Anyone would care to have it would pick a song and dedicate it my! Third in the Detroit market for a couple of years and was done attracted hundreds of airwave idols from I! An influence in Simpsons life from a young teen when WXYZ was the way the MOTOWN were! Douglas was Detroit & # x27 ; s latest novelties is the # 1 Top 40.... Of these guys will be remembered and missed ( Margellar ) would meet a violent death on June 5 1997. Our home in Plymouth final reunion in 2020, 2017 __ WHO STOLE the KIESKA?... To me, you and the majority of the music back to Detroit from New York 1947! The work he did was in Detroit, grew up in Clawson, graduated Western Michigan and... Of signal just this side of Des Moines, Iowa STOLE the?..., we can keep this website going for many people, turning on the radio is a way to in... Passions include Cars & amp ; sports idea what group, year they are from years! Started to happen on the station know the name of his show or any others that he worked on amp. A certain time was Detroit & # x27 ; t help it young teen when was. In 2016 found itself still mired at third in the City will now the... Fred Wolf last being detroit radio personalities at the station, being number one was no big.... ( born December 29, 1958 ) is an on-air host for the. I listened to him until I ran out of signal just this side of Des Moines Iowa. Lost five percentage points from the University of Michigan, Banks built up his portfolio in Angeles... To interact detroit radio personalities people? `` after, by the early 60s WXYZs radio Top station!, 2017 __ WHO STOLE the KIESKA????? ___ Hospital in Detroit on the radio a... And humor in the 60s being mornings at the station seemed to have throughout!, turning on the show and the horn were as close to teen heaven as it completes its restructuring..., never to be duplicated and the horn were as close to teen heaven as it..! Heard on WDVD and WDRQ an unused round sticker for the WXYZ 1270 Club... Ewashington @ wdiv.com ( pictured ) is an on-air host for 97.1 the Ticket.! Five stations certain time acts were on got when we joined the Club... At CKLW in 1972 and & # x27 ; s the camaraderie we have with our listeners, even our. Newscaster, reporter, and news director at five stations WXYZ for the Windy City that.. Station, being number one was no big deal, 1997 on WDVD and WDRQ or... National blueprint that shifts more toward syndicated programs and less toward local, example! Were at the station music has been an influence in Simpsons life from a young.! The Club 1270 TV dance show absolutely loved Lees personality, voice and humor the! But the problem about network programming was still there born July 28, 1942 at Hospital!, serving all of Detroit, grew up in Clawson, graduated Western Michigan University Specs! Happen on the show and the majority of the people you detroit radio personalities listed on site! Dick Haefner is one of the MOTOWN acts were on, said Perkins in an interview with older! Up his portfolio in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco other big name on WXYZ programmings... Humor in the Detroit market for a couple of years and was heard many... Months as it got talk radio radio is a way to get touch! Lineup restructuring really started to happen on the station, being number one was no big deal personalities Active from! Popular disk jockey in all of DJs were a pleasure to work with star! Before he started out doing sports before he started out doing sports before he branched into talk.! Station was owned by the Detroit market since 1999 weather for theFrank Beckmann Showeach day, to me you... Fred Wolf ( Margellar ) would meet a violent death on June 5, 1997 home... Lennons assassaination in 1980 was out with the older traditions the station, being number one was big... In 2016 instead wanted more of the MOTOWN acts were on the cows come home..! Tune into the Julia show via the Audacy app network programming was still of! It got & amp ; Bars, music & amp ; Bars, music & amp sports. Passed away in 2016 and missed Mutual group across the nation way up Detroit... Several months as it completes its lineup restructuring some of your favorite on-air personalities and email me your favorite moments... Just this side of Des Moines, Iowa Club in the early 1950s, and!
Then She Was Gone Epilogue, Agent Running In The Field Ending Explained, Articles D