Month: February 2012

A TEENER’S ‘DAYDREAM.’ DAVY JONES REMEMBERED

HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACTING gig happened when he was eleven. He was a star on the BBC’s Coronation Street at age 16. And when he was 20, Davy Jones was picked from a casting call of thousands to be part of a made-for-television rock band that became one of the most popular acts of the decade.

After seeing the film  A Hard Day’s Night, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider decided to create a TV show that would feature what they hoped would be America’s answer to the Beatles. Their first choice was to sign John Sebastian’s Lovin’ Spoonful, but that group already had a record contract. So they ran an ad in  Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter in the fall of 1965 to find their musicians.

Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, and Brit Davy Jones were ultimately hired and under the guidance of Don Kirshner, the Monkees were born. The group had help from some of the best writers in the business including Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Neil Diamond and the Brill Building team of Gerry Goffin, Carole King. They charted  13 times on the WKNR Music Guide, with hits like “Last Train to Clarksville“, “I’m A Believer“, “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone“, “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and “Daydream Believer.” They held down Keener Hit Number One five times.

While each Monkee had his fan base, Davy was a particular favorite. With the British Invasion in full swing, his English accent and Beatle hair cut put him at the forefront. 38 years later,  Yahoo Music named him “Number 1 teen idol of all time.”

At the height of the Monkee’s popularity, Davy Jones talked with Bob Green about life in the Hollywood spotlight.

Jones continued to pursue a show business career after the Monkees broke up in 1971, touring with Dolenz, Boyce & Hart and various other side men. His stage and television credits include starring with Dolenz in Harry Nilsson‘s play The Point in London and appearances on, The Brady Bunch, My Two Dads, Here Come the Brides, and Love, American Style. He continued to record, releasing his last album in 2009.

His last performance happened on February 19th in Oklahoma, just ten days before he died in his sleep of a massive heart attack at age 66.

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CKLW-TV 9 ADDS TEEN SHOW . . . JULY 31, 1965

A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1965

CKLW-TV Bows Show for Teens

 

 

 

DETROIT — A Canadian TV station, CKLW-TV, which also serves Detroit, has kicked-off an hour daily variety show for teenagers called ‘Swingin’ Summertime.’ Host of the show, which features both live and taped segments, is Robin Seymour. 

Among the artists appearing on the first show were the Rolling Stones, Gene Pitney, Dwayne Hickman, Paul Anka, Deborah Walley and Harry Belafonte. The show is telecast live before a teen audience at the CKLW television studios in Windsor, Ontario. END

 

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; July 31, 1965)

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IN DETROIT IT’S ‘SWINGIN’ TIME’ CKLW 9 . . . APRIL 2, 1966

From the MCRFB news archives:

Bandstand TV Scene Bears Watching — The Detroit Scene

 

 

 

CKLW-TV host Robin Seymour host “Swingin’ Time,” 1965.

HOLLYWOOD — Teen-age bandstand TV shows come and go–and a couple of important ones met their demise during the past few months — but over-all they seem more popular than ever. Especially at the local level. A quick check of some of the nation’s major bandstand shows found them not only doing well from the advertising sponsorship angle, but in audience ratings.

“Shebang,” for instance, has been sold out the past few months and has a waiting line of advertisers, said producer Bob Burnett. And, though the Los Angeles show is no longer in syndication, it reaches a minimum of more than 4 million daily via CATV distribution throughout Southern California.

The Everly Brothers appearance on “Swingin’ Time” in 1965.

Among those national bandstand shows that became drop-outs were ABC-TV’s network “Shindig” show. “Shivaree” dropped out of syndication, but the producers are working on a new format to have it back in syndication next month. The show is now seen in the Los Angeles area.

For the national shows, formats tell the story. A local show can usually do quite well because, as talent-coordinator Art Cervi of “Swingin’ Time” in Detroit puts it, “From the local standpoint, you got a raison d’etre because you’re hitting the people–the kids–who can and do appear on the show. You have an audience participation factor that let’s people identify with you.” The Detroit show out pulls national shows in the market, said Cervi.

The Detroit Scene

“Swingin’ Time” on CKLW-TV, Detroit, is an hour bandstand show during weekdays and the Saturday hour show concentrated on featuring record artists.  But so many artists are now seeking to be on the show that talent-coordinator Cervi is using them on weekdays too.

Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels guest-appeared on “Swingin’ Time” in 1966.

Sponsorship for the show is good. The show is supporting itself and “it looks like its going to do much better,” Cervi said. “I think there’s room for a show like this in every big market. The only trouble some shows run into in various markets is that the markets are saturated with such shows. But we’re doing so well locally that Robin Seymour has given up his radio shows to concentrate on “Swingin’ Time.”

Cervi said his show reaches 85 to 90,000 homes a weekday and around 125 to 130,000 homes during the Saturday show. END

(Information and news source: Billboard; April 2, 1966)

A MCRFB Note: Here’s several videos of ‘Swingin’ Time,’ hosted by Robin Seymour on CKLW-TV 9 in the 1960s. A young Johnny Rivers and Bob Seger enhances as highlights as they appeared on the show. The complete shows features the Supremes and the Rationals when they first appeared on the popular Detroit/Windsor TV dance show.

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FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 29

From the MCRFB Music Calendar

Events on this date: FEBRUARY 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

1960: Just four years into his career, Elvis Presley becomes the biggest-selling recording artist of all time, with 18-million records sold, according to an article published today in Billboard. “The King” would go on to sell one billion records in the United States and world-wide.

The Beatles’ sheet music for 1967 “Sgt. Pepper.” (Click on image for larger view).

1968: The 10th annual Grammys are held in New York, and the Beatles take home a Grammy for Album Of The Year for their ground-breaking work LP Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band for 1967. The Jimmy Webb composition “Up, Up And Away,” recorded by the 5th Dimension, wins both Record And Song Of The Year honors. Bobby Gentry also won big with Best New Artist and two Grammys for her hit, “Ode To Billy Joe.” The biggest winner of the night was Glen Campbell with two vocal awards for “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” in the Best Vocal and Male and Best Contemporary Male Solo Vocal. Campbell was also awarded two more Grammys for “Gentle On My Mind” in the Country and Western Solo Vocal and in the Male and Country and Western Recording categories, not to mention an award was presented to the songwriter for Best Country and Western Song. Aretha Franklin nabbed two awards for “Respect” in the Rhythm and Blues category.

1968: Florence Ballard, having just legally settled during her break-up with the Supremes, marries her first husband, former Motown-chauffeur Thomas Chapman, in Detroit.

1972: John Lennon’s temporary visa expires, leading Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina to send a memo to the Nixon White House suggesting that deporting John Lennon might be “a strategic-counter measure” against his increasing anti-war activism.  Around the same time, CIA Director Richard Helms sent a memo to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover about Lennon’s upcoming “anti-war” tour, which kicked-off a three-year battle for Lennon to stay in the United States.

1977: While staying at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, Lynyrd Skynrd get in a heated argument with members of London’s Metropolitan Police, whose boxing team is staying at the same motel. A fistfight ensued, in which two members of the band are knocked unconscious.

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(Pop Music events source: oldies.com/)

 

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‘CK AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK: WALT “BABY” LOVE, ’70

From the MCRFB Aircheck Library:

Walt “Baby” Love on 800 AM CKLW 1970

 

 

 

— “CKLW on a solid gold weekend answering a hit line request from Detroit” —

 

When these Walt “Baby” Love airchecks were recorded in 1970, the Bill Drake era had catapulted CKLW to No. 1 in radio ratings in Motown. The Big 8 was the most listened to radio station in Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, and in Windsor, Sarnia, Leamington, Ontario and beyond.

With 50,000 watts of pure-enery emanating from the AM 800 transmitter towers outside it’s studios, the nighttime coverage was even more widespread after sundown. Reportedly at times, the CKLW signal could clearly be heard bouncing across four Provinces in Canada and in 28 states. The ‘CK signal had been picked up going far east well into Connecticut, and on some nights deep down into Florida as well.

But it was the Drake-Chenault format that drove the station to the very top. Tight and innovating, it moved faster than the competition drawing more emphasis on the playlist with less talk. By the early 1970s, CKLW was the most listened to radio station here in the Motor City.

Walt “Baby” Love became the first Black on-air talent at RKO radio, hosting radio shows at CKLW and WOR FM radio in New York City. He has held on-air positions at WNBC, WBLS and 99X, all located in New York City, as well as KHJ,  KMPC and KFI Los Angeles. Walt was also Urban Radio and Music Editor at the Radio & Records publication for 21 years.

In 2005, Walt Love earned a Master of Arts degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary of Pasadena, California. Today, Rev. Walt Baby Love currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Sonya and son Stephen.

CKLW – WALT “BABY” LOVE – 1970

CKLW – WALT “BABY” LOVE (Scoped) – 1970

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FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS ’68 . . . JULY 6, 1968

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1968

Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1968

 

 

 

DETROIT — The Rascals are scheduled to perform their first Detroit concert Sunday at Cobo Hall along with Rodney Knight and the Soul Sextex…. Currently appearing at the 20 Grand Driftwood Lounge are the Fantastic Four, the Detroit Emeralds, the Magic Tones, Kris Peterson, and McKinley Jackson and the Politicians…. Tiny Tim appeared at the Edgewater Amusement Park…. Tom Shannon of CKLW radio hosted the Swingin’ Time TV show for vacationing Robin Seymour for two weeks…. Musicor’s Toys were in Detroit the week of June 17 to do promotional appearances for their new recordings…. Chuck Jackson and his revue performed June 22 at Mr. Kelly’s Lounge.

Joe Simon and King Curtis and his band are current attractions at the Phelps Lounge…. WCHB Radio presented its annual “WCHB Talent Contest” on June 22 at the Fox Theater. The first place winner out of 20 contestants was a singing female trio called the Delcavettes. Their prize is a recording contract with Solid Hitbound Productions here. Also performing on the show, intermixed with the contest participants, were Motown acts the Monitors, Shorty Long, Yvonne Fair, and Chuck Jackson. Judges for the contest included Al Kent of Ric-Tic Records, Hank Talbert of Music Merchants Distributors, and singer Gino Washington…. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass appeared in its first Detroit concert June 17 at Cobo Hall. END

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 (Information and news source: Billboard; July 6, 1968)

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FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 28

From the MCRFB Music Calendar:

Events for this date: FEBRUARY 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

1962: Legendary deejay Murray The K threatens to leave New York’s WINS-AM after the station considers changing from their TOP 40 rock and roll format to adult easy-listening.

A recent photograph of the (thanks to the Beatles) world-famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. (Click on image for larger view).

1963: John Lennon and Paul McCartney compose the Beatles’ next hit, “From Me To You,” while on a bus tour from York to Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England, while on tour with Helen Shapiro.

1966: Over 10,000 pounds in debt, the owners of Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club — where the Beatles got their start — decided to close the rock institution. 100 fans barricade themselves in the club, but to no avail. The venue would later become a subway station, although the Cavern would re-open in a different location.

1976: At tonight’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Paul Simon picks up Best Pop Vocal and Best Album awards for Still Crazy After All These Years. In his acceptance speech he remarked, “I’d like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year.”

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(Pop Music events source: oldies.com/)

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MCRFB: A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SCOTT WESTERMAN

Scott Westerman, host-webmaster at keener13.com

January 18, 2012. A quick rewind. Back some forty-days ago, we were nothing. Forty-days ago we were nowhere to be found on the Internet.

But all this actually began with an email question back on January 19. A friend of mine (Frank Hartge) from Columbus, Ohio, wrote me with this question —

Jim, what ever happened to the Detroit radio flashback site? One of your friends helped to run it, if I recall correctly?

George Griggs was that friend.

Formerly of the now-defunct (since last November) Detroit Radio Flashback website, which was created by Scott McKinnon, George had found himself sitting on a huge cache of great Detroit air-checks and Detroit radio sounds he once provided for the old DRF site. But George no longer had a website he could call home.

Just the same, here I was with close to 40 GB of classic Detroit radio air-checks I had in my collection as well, right behind all what George already had, and he had so much more than I.

But back to my friend’s email. I had forwarded over to Scott W., since he knew Frank Hartge as friend as well. At the same time, I wrote Scott that I could donate anything and all of the Keener air-checks I may have for his keener13.com website. And that was about the extent of that exchange….

Or so I thought.

Unexpectedly, Scott’s response took me by surprise. On Sunday, January 22, he wrote,

“Thanks for your unending support for the Keener project, Jim. You inspire me to keep working on it.

Idea: let me see how I could set up a Detroit Radio Aircheck Archive for you on the site. You could have full control and upload to your heart’s content. It may take a little time, but I’m willing to pursue it if you’re interested.”

What?! I thought, you gotta be kidding me? Yes! Of course!

Returning a prompt reply, I immediately suggested that George Griggs, from the former DRF site, that he be on board for the new project as well. Once the site’s name was determined by George, and without ever saying anything, Scott Westerman quietly decided to put his project in motion. But instead of adding us as a link on the keener13.com website, he in turn had selected a website template from WordPress, along with web-build features just as he had selected for his website keener13.com. And within five days, Motor City Radio Flashbacks was born. And that’s actually how we came to be.

We premiered on the web on January 27, 2012. And so here we are today, thirty-days later. February 27, 2012.

Scott, all this would not have been possible without you. By your recommendation, it was you who desired in making this all happen. And so we want to take this opportunity to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. For making the new Motor City Radio Flashback website the reality it is today.

And we are now officially one-month old . . . . Thank you, friend.

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Jim Feliciano and George Griggs

February 27, 2012

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CKLW SALUTES MOTOWN SOUND . . . SEPTEMBER 30, 1967

A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1967

Billboard; September 30, 1967

 

 

 

Mike Rivers, air-personality with CKLW, chatted with Diana Ross of Motown Records last August during a three-week presentation of the Hot 100 station spotlighting records by hometown Detroit artists–namely Motown record artists.

Special jingles by the Johnny Mann Singers introduced each Motown record, and the station gave away copies of Motown albums featuring 16 Motown hits. END

 

The CKLW BIG 30 Survey Guide (pictured) is from the week of August 29, 1967

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 30, 1967)

 

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