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
— 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.
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The featured WDRQ aircheck was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
hey there! I worked with Dave Preston at WDRQ in the late ’70’s (actually beginning in the mid 70’s as a part-timer)…and that’s me at the beginning of his aircheck dated September, 1979. How do I get ahold of dave?
Thanks!
-Mike Vaughn (Now Michael Right)
This Dave Preston air check from Sept 79 is PRICLESS!!! I was an 12 y.o. kid listening in those days.. many hours per day! Living in Ann Arbor. Although the business side and adjustments to format and branding made it a whirwind from the stations perspective, the influance that the late 70’s early 80’s music had on the listeners is MAGIC and should never be minimized! Just think of the diversity in the playlist! From THE KNACK and Patrick Hernandz.. to Cameo, Chic and FUNKADELIC! Disco, Funk and the Music on FM RADIO was a place where we could all LIVE together… black, white and brown .. everybody! It shaped my perspective of the world as a kid. It Inspired me greatly. I later moved to LA, formed by own band AZ-1 who had top 40 success, did a solo album on Warner Brothers, joined as a lead singer with 90’s Icons Color Me Badd, and then later toured singing with legend Prince’s Band. As I recall, I firs heard Prince “I WANN BE YOUR LOVER” on DISCO 93 WDRQ in late 1979. Thank you all for those formative years that influanced a fantastic career in music. I would LOVE to hear more from this era! With Love and Thanks! – Martin Kember-