Day: June 25, 2021

NEW! WDRQ-FM BACK ON THE RADIO: DAVE PRESTON

WDRQ RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS

DAVE PRESTON | DATE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1979

— SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT —

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to our newest contributor Dave Preston — formerly of WDRQ — for recently donating this FM 93 radio aircheck (he recorded in 1979) to our Motor City Radio Flashbacks’ airchecks archive.

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THE DAVE PRESTON COLLECTION 

WDRQ 1979 luminaries: ‘Zippo’, Jim Ryan, Kim Carson, Dave Preston (L-R back) Michael Stevens and Bill Garcia (L-R front). [Photo credit: Dave Preston]

— DAVE PRESTON —

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Dave Preston writes: “Jim, I worked at WDRQ FM 1979-1981 and worked at WTWR, Tower 92 during this time era as well. I worked with some great talent, Jim Zippo was somewhat of a passer by but Don Geranimo really left his mark. This tape dated back to when I was first hired by Eddie Rogers. After a recent switch at the time, the new format of WDRQ was Disco. They had hired a whole new staff at the time and I was part of the new hires over there along with a list of others.

The disco format did not last very long. Eddie Rogers was soon let go and Mark Driscoll then became program director. Mark began adjusting and readjusting both the staff and format on an ongoing basis even from day one from his hotel room, nearly over night, turning the station into a revolving door. Mark was replaced after a year by Bill Garcia. Bill was the program director credited with hiring Don Geranimo for evenings.

At the end of the 1970’s and early 1980’s WDRQ continued to evolve quickly and abruptly. What was once a top 40 station switched to an all disco format. Later shifting to ‘The Motown Sound’ under the direction of Mark Driscoll then changing like a hat, calling itself an ‘Urban format,’ shuffling through a list of air talent and gaining the reputation for being ‘An Endless Revolving Door.’ The only person who seemed to experience any sort of stability was then WDRQ-FM Production Director, Doak Breen.
 
In hindsight, working for both Steve Schram and Victor Ives was a great experience and a well needed contrast to the ongoing drama at WDRQ during that time.”

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The featured WDRQ aircheck was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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