Category: John O’Leary

THE MAJOR GROUP: A SPECIAL EVENT! JOHN O’LEARY’S FINAL APPEARANCE ON-STAGE

JOHN O’LEARY’S FINAL APPEARANCE ON-STAGE

A MCRFB note: For the benefit of our friends of this site, we are publishing this notice — having received Monday, June 6 — in behalf of Brian Major and the Orion.Events:

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Jim McCarty

Orion.Events invites you to attend John O’Leary’s final appearance on-stage this Thursday, June 9th, at Wildwood Amphitheater in Lake Orion. Jim McCarty’s Mystery Train with special guest Pat Smillie will be performing and to open the evening is blues great Carl Henry.

The urn containing John’s remains will be joining them on stage. John’s last appearances as an emcee were at Wildwood in 2021.

John O’Leary was a fixture of Motor City rock radio for four decades and was heard on stations such as WWWW-FM, WABX-FM, WLLZ-FM, WIQB-FM and CIMX-FM. His last gig was at classic-rock outlet WCSX-FM (94.7), where he worked from 2002 to 2013.

A memorial was held earlier this year for John, and $3445 dollars was raised in his honor. That check will be presented to the Oxford Community Memorial and Victims Fund during the event. John was the broadcast voice of the Oxford High School hockey team. On hand to receive the check will be Joe Farrell, Chairman of the fund.

Gates open at 6:30 and music begins at 7. Advance tickets are only $10 and are available at www.Orion.Events. A portion of the proceeds from the entire Wildwood season will also be donated to the Oxford Family Fund.

Wildwood Amphitheater is located at 2700 Joslyn Ct. in Lake Orion, north of I-75, exit 83. For more information, visit www.Orion.Events.

Making Entertainment Great Again,

Brian Major | Executive Producer

         

 

 

 

1-800-FILM-911 | 248-613-8322

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IN MEMORIAM: JOHN O’LEARY BENEFIT CONCERT [FEBRUARY 1 UPDATE]

The memorial for John O’Leary at the Token Lounge drew approximately 400 attendees and raised $3445 for the Oxford Community Memorial and Victims Fund. There are more donations still coming in. 

The photos attached (in order; view below):

1. Louie Abraham, Charlie Martin guest vocalist, with Dave Edwards and the Look,  Rick Zeldes  Photo Credit: Marty Rickard

2. Rock Harley as Johnny Cash (representing when WWWW went country) Photo Credit: Richard Blondy

3. Vinnie Dombrowski (lead singer of Sponge) performing solo/acoustic ) Photo Credit: Richard Blondy

4. Roger Burghdoff, Doug Podell, Brian Major – Producers of the memorial. Photo Credit: Marty Rickard 

5. Jim Edwards (Lead Singer – See Dick Run) Photo Credit: Marty Rickard

A big Thank You to the Motor City media and to everyone who came out Sunday night to pay tribute to John O’Leary!

Update #1: A local funeral director has stepped up to offer his services. He will be claiming John’s body and arranging the cremation. We will be scattering John’s ashes at all of his favorite haunts (no pun intended), Cobo Hall, Pine Knob, Bookies, Harpo’s, The Ritz, Wildwood Amphitheater, to name a few. This will be videotaped and posted for all to view.

Update #2: The entire memorial is being assembled for viewing by those who were unable to attend. A link will be posted soon – stay tuned.

Update #3: A preliminary examination for Sean Lamoureux is scheduled for Feb. 8. He was arraigned Nov. 24 in 30th District Court in Highland Park, three days after the discovery of John’s body.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any requests for interviews or Memorial photos.

Making Entertainment Great Again,

 

BRIAN MAJOR

Executive Producer | 1-800-FILM-911 | 1-248-613-8322

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Photo One

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IN MEMORIAM: JOHN O’ LEARY BENEFIT CONCERT [IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE]

 

Greetings to all (and friends of Motor City Radio Flashbacks),

We are finalizing our memorial for slain Motor City rock DJ John O’Leary.

(https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2021/11/22/detroit-rock-radio-john-oleary-found-dead/8721569002/). 

We wanted to make certain that you are aware of John’s passing, and of the details for his memorial, scheduled for Sunday, January 30th. 

If you are are unable to attend, please feel free to make a donation in John’s name to the Oxford Community Memorial and Victims Fund at https://www.oxfordbank.com/donations.

John was the broadcast voice for the Oxford High School hockey team for many years. We are planning to broadcast the memorial on Zoom and Facebook live, those details will be forwarded to you as soon as they become available.  

You will find attached the press release for distribution – feel free to pass it forward. Copies of the photos are also attached.

DETAILS

  • John O’Leary Memorial, Sunday January, 30th, at 5 pm                                  
  • Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland, MI 48185
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  • Doors open 5 p.m. Advance tickets only $10 – www.TokenLounge.com
  • Proceeds will be donated in John’s Name to the Oxford High School Community Memorial and Victims Fund via www.oxfordbank.com/donations.

RELEVANT LINKS

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns, especially if you have a favorite photo or memory to share. My direct contact is 248-613-8322 or via e-mail at this address and we look forward to hearing from you either way.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter and continued success in the New Year.

Making Entertainment Great Again,

Brian Major

Executive Producer | 1-800-FILM-911 | 1-248-613-8322

January 19, 2022

 

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DETROIT RADIO MOURNS PASSING OF JOHN O’ LEARY, WABX ‘AIR ACE’

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John O’ Leary. There was no equal.

No words can fully express how much John has meant to Detroit radio, he was loved by his fans and admirably respected by his peers. The name would become as synonymous as WABX.

For the name itself would come to be a special radio brand. To a (X99) generation from long ago, he left an indelible broadcasting imprint that will be remembered always. And never having heard on Detroit radio ever since.

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WABX Aces Chuck Santoni, Jerry Lubin, John O’Leary, Karen Savelly.

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In paying homage to his dear friend, another Detroit radio legend, Jim Harper beautifully worded John’s passing this morning. We share his heart-felt sentiments, here, today —

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Detroit Radio has given up another Legend, to that big station in Heaven.

John O’Leary, one of the original WABX Air Aces, and longtime Detroit DJ has passed away.

Jim Harper (MCRFB Archive)

The only thing John loved more than being on The Radio was connecting with Detroit listeners like you. He played Rock tunes for many years on a variety of stations, most recently WCSX. He had tremendous talent and was one of the nicest guys I ever worked with.

You won’t find anyone in our business with a bad thing to say about him…he truly was one of the last Peace, Love and Rock Roll DJs around.

We would talk from time to time over the past couple of years. He was always thinking of others and was crushed when his Friend and mentor, WABX ace-legend Jerry Lubin passed away not too long ago.

Here’s an example of the kind of message I would get from John:

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“Thinking about you, Jim. I hope you and yours are healthy and I’m telling you man every time I post that picture the comments goes off the chart! You left your mark with tons of people and I guess after we’re gone that’s all we can hope for!

Stay healthy and all the best to you and yours.”

— John

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You certainly left YOUR mark, Johnny.

I will try for the rest of my Life to be as kind as you were.

 

Rest in Peace.

Love you, Man.

Jim Harper (Facebook; November 22, 2021)

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Motor City Radio Flashbacks expresses heartfelt condolences to the entire O’ Leary Family, his friends, and to his fans everywhere.

‘Godspeed, John O’ Leary. Take up your wings and soar high’

 

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JERRY LUBIN, ORIGINAL WABX ‘AIR ACE’, PASSED AWAY AT 80

WABX FM-Air Aces Chuck Santoni, Jerry Lubin, John O’Leary and Karen Savelly, circa 1979 (Photo credit: John O’Leary; Facebook)

JERRY LUBIN

— 1940-2021 —

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WABX Air Ace Jerry Lubin passed away from Covid 19 yesterday. He was a friend of mine and so much more.

My condolences to his sons Adam and Ethan Lubin and their families and also Beverly Lubin. Also my condolences to everyone who heard him on WABX or WLLZ or W4 and thought of him as an old friend when they heard his voice . . . that unmistakable voice.

Dan Carlisle mentioned to me that with Jerry’s passing all the original (day 1) WABX Air Aces are gone except for Dan.

September 21, 1940 – February 4, 2021

R.I.P. Jerry

John O’Leary (Facebook)

WABX

(Photo credit: John O’Leary; Facebook)
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For more on Jerry Lubin’s passing, published February 5, 2021 in the Detroit Free Press, GO HERE
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks expresses heartfelt condolences to the Lubin Family

‘Godspeed, Jerry Lubin. Take up your wings and soar high’

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CLASSIC DETROIT RADIO SOUND BYTES: WABX-FM, ’77!

WABX-FM * JOHN O’LEARY * APRIL 1977

ABOUT THIS WABX SOUND BYTE

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WABX put together this 99x DJ audio collage for their 10th Anniversary concert at Cobo Arena, Thursday, April 28, 1977. During the concert this 99X production piece was played while the WABX Air Aces were all onstage in between acts. Headlining the event that evening were the groups HEART and THE KINKS.

A special THANK YOU to John O’Leary of WABX-FM for recently contributing this 1977 99X memory with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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CLASSIC DETROIT RADIO SOUND BYTES: WABX-FM, ’80!

WABX-FM * JOHN O’LEARY * SEPTEMBER 1980

ABOUT THIS WABX SOUND BYTE

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In this WABX audio you will hear John O’Leary with 99X newsman David Segal updating the news about John Bonham’s (Led Zeppelin) sudden, and unexpectant cause of his reported death. It is after 3:00 in the afternoon of September 25, 1980.

A special THANK YOU to John O’Leary of WABX-FM for recently contributing this 1980 99X memory with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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