Audio

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK W/: STEVE ROBBINS WKNR ’67

From the MCRFB Aircheck Library: WKNR

Steve Robbins on 1310 AM WKNR “Keener 13” 1967

 

 

 

“In Detroit for the first time. You heard their records. You seen them on TV. Now see them in person! The Monkees in person at Olympia Stadium 7:30 Saturday. KEENER presents the MONKEES!” —  Paul Cannon, WKNR

 

THE MONKEES ARE COMING! KEENER 13 Brings the Monkees to Olympia, January 14, 1967

WKNR Keener deejays Steve Robbins, J. Micheal Wilson, and Bob Harper circa 1967 (click on image for larger view)

….The Monkees are coming, right?…

 

On Saturday, January 14, 1967, WKNR “Keener 13,” in conjuction with Dick Clark Productions, sponsored the biggest Detroit concert event since WKNR brought the Beatles to Olympia Stadium on August 13, 1966.

…. No. 1., what a perfect song by the perfect group, the Monkees on Keener 13…

When this classic WKNR aircheck was recorded on Friday, January 13, 1967, you can sense the exuberance and euphoria for the anticipated arrival, then, of the band’s arrival here in the Motor City for the very first time.

There was a “lot of excitement around here,” at the station at the time, said Keener deejay Steve Robbins on his show just twenty-four hours before the Monkees would take to the stage at the Olympia, Saturday night, January 14, 1967. The Olympia Monkees event eventually sold out.

Moving swiftly from city to city across the country, the Monkees 1966-1967 North American Tour was such a success that it was extended further into late-August of that year by popular demand. WKNR would again sponsor the Monkees return back to Detroit at the Olympia once again, this time it was scheduled for Saturday, July 29, 1967.

National Guardsmen patrolling Detroit’s Grand River Avenue in front of the Olympia. Thursday, July 27, 1967.

But in the early hours of Sunday, July 23, 1967 Detroit erupted in flames. Due to the civil unrest and local and federal curfews imposed during the riots, the pre-scheduled show was immediately canceled.

Keener deejay J. Michael Wilson issued this WKNR-released statement on Wednesday, July 26 during his 10 PM show:

“Here’s an important announcement regarding the Monkees appearance in Detroit. In case you missed it, the concert at Olympia Stadium scheduled Saturday, July 29 has been postponed. The new date has not been determined at this time. Please hold on to your Monkees tickets. When a new date has been set it will be announced on WKNR. Do not call WKNR or Olympia. Stay tuned to Keener for information regarding the Monkees concert — repeating — the Monkees concert sheduled for July 29 has been postponed. No new date has been set at this point. Hold on to your Monkees tickets and stay tuned to Keener for further information. Do Not call WKNR or Olympia.”

Unused Monkees ticket. Olympia Stadium. July 29, 1967. (Click image for sharper scan)

Ultimately, the Detroit-canceled July 29 Monkees concert was rescheduled for Sunday, August 13, 1967 — a year to the day WKNR brought the Beatles back to Olympia in August 1966.

In January of 1967, Keener “fill-in” Steve Robbins was sharing on-air duties on a part-time basis at the WKNR-FM studios, while sharing some air-time there with Keener FM deejay Bob Harper. Just the same, at the time Robbins was still doing his full-time show during the week at WKFR in Battle Creek’s “Keener 14” under the name Steve Clark. When Jim Jeffries left WKNR the latter-part of 1967 for WQXI in Atlanta, Steve left WKFR to become the new overnight deejay on Keener 13.

This week, unexpected news came that Davy Jones, formerly of the Monkees, passed away suddenly at the age of 66 on February 29. But for a just brief moment in time, MCRFB will take you back in 1967 when “Monkeesmania” was widespread and prevalent here in the Motor City and the Monkees and WKNR was at the top at No. 1. “THE MONKEES ARE COMING!”

From the MCRFB Aircheck Library, featuring:

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WKNR-AM * Steve Robbins * (Monkeesmania!) January 13, 1967

The Monkees (TV marquee) MCRFB

Bob Green talks to Davy Jones of the Monkees, 1967

WKNR-AM * Bob Green * Davey Jones Interview (Monkees) 1967

The Monkees (TV marquee) MCRFB

(Keener deejays 1967 photograph, top, courtesy the Art Vuolo collection)

mcrfb-com-logo-2

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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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THE DETROIT FREE PRESS: MARVIN GAYE ON TEEN BEAT!

Detroit Free Press: ‘TEEN BEAT’ Interviews Marvin Gaye, 1966

 

 

 

 

Motown recording artist Marvin Gaye circa 1966

During 1966, Detroit’s morning paper, the Detroit Free Press ran a weekly feature on Fridays called ‘Teen Beat.’

The feature article would comprise of interviews, photos, the music, the fads and anything else that was of special interest to the teenage scene in Detroit during that time.

Here is a rare, recorded interview Marvin Gaye gave to Teen Beat with Loraine Alterman. Loraine was the teen-editor for the Detroit Free Press when she interviewed Marvin Gaye for the Free Press column at the time.

Listen in once again as Marvin answered some of Alterman’s questions, such as,

What do you think of ‘Mod’ clothes and long hair? What’s your favorite record? Whose your favorite singer? If you were not a singer, what would you like to be? How do you like living in Detroit?

“The Teen Beat Song,” by Marvin Gaye, on Side A. The Marvin Gaye interview with Loraine Alterman, was on Side B.

In 1966, Marvin Gaye even recorded a song for the Detroit Free Press’ Teen Beat on Motown Records, but the recording was intended only for non-commercial distribution and was not to be sold. And we’ll include that M.G. rarity here as well. And who knows? Maybe you might have read about this same Marvin Gaye interview in Teen Beat one Friday morning a long time ago, just before you went off to school.

Teen Beat. Fridays. “Only in the morning Free Press.”

 

 

 

 

MARVIN GAYE * THE TEEN BEAT SONG * 1966

LORAINE ALTERMAN * INTERVIEW * MARVIN GAYE * 1966

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SANDY SELSIE? REMEMBERING HER “JIMMY” HIT IN ’63

Canadian Girl Singer Hails from Richmond Hill, Ontario

 

 

 

 

 

S A N D Y   S E L S I E .

IF YOU WERE TO DO A SEARCH on the world-wide web, not much information can be found on the Internet today regarding, Sandy Selsie.

All that has been primarily known about Sandy Selsie was that she had several country/pop singles in the early-1960s on the Columbia record label. And that she originally was from Canada. And that’s just about it.

SANDY SELSIE’S “When Jimmy Comes Home” on Columbia 4-42883. Produced by Don Law and Frank Jones. Written by Earl Shuman and Leon Carr. Released November 1963.

But there was a detailed mention about this female Canadian artist on a Yahoo message board, which I recently found on the Spectropop blog site message forum.

A poster there, who goes by the name of “Boris” laid claims he resides in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. An avid record collector on “girl/girl groups” since the early-nineties, and in researching Canadian recording artists, he stated he once had gone to the Canadian National Archives library and came across a newspaper article on Sandy Selsie, which appeared in the local Richmond Hill, Ottawa newspaper called The Liberal. 

Accordingly, the article first appeared in 1963. The article had stated Sandy Selsie hailed from Richmond Hill, Ontario, now a large suburb outside of Toronto.

Back in 1963, according to The Liberal article, Sandy Selsie was a grade 10 student who attended Bayview High School in Richmond Hill, at the age of 15. Her father, Fred Selsie was her talent-manager during that time. Mr. Selsie was instrumental in signing a 5-year contract for Sandy with Columbia Records earlier in 1961. Her first recording for the label was, “A Date With Loneliness” which was released in November of that year.

Sandy Selsie No. 32 WJBK November 22, 1963 (click image 2x for largest detailed view).
SANDY SELSIE No. 32 WJBK November 22, 1963 (click image 2x for largest detailed view).

The article quoted Sandy Selsie as stating how her career came into prominence early-on. “I started out singing in the area shows. And gradually branched over to radio and television. I’ve had guest spots on the Country Hoedown television show as well as appearances on the Tommy Hunter radio show.”

The article also stated her big break happened when the family took a vacation down to Nashville, Tennessee, early in 1961.

“We were down there on our vacation. And we decided I should drop in to Columbia Studios for an audition.” She was signed immediately. “I was really surprised, because it’s unusual for a big recording studio to sign you just like that.”

In closing the article, Sandy Selsie expressed her desires in pursuing a Major in Performing Arts.

On a small note, as it were, Columbia Records initially released Sandy Selsie’s “When Jimmy Comes Home” in November, 1963. The song debuted on the CHUM playlist early-on in November in Sandy Selsie’s own home-town. Just the same, the song would find it’s way over to CKEY 580 AM in Toronto about the same time-frame.

Locally, the Selsie song made it’s way over here on Detroit radio, “When Jimmy Comes Home” debuted first on WJBK Radio 1500 on Friday, November 15, 1963.

Six days later, it debuted at the #30 spot on the WKNR Keener 13 playlist for Thursday, November 21, 1963. On a local level, the song didn’t stay long on the charts here in Detroit. But after having first heard it played on WKNR late in 1963, personally, this Sandy Selsie classic will always be a great Keener song memory from that year.

While certainly there weren’t too many, this long forgotten, obscure song as was recorded by Sandy Selsie, arguably, may well have been the greatest “Jimmy” song that was ever recorded in the Top 40 era.

—   M O T O R   C I T Y   R A D I O   F L A S H B A C K S

SANDY SELSIE * When Jimmy Comes Home * COLUMBIA Records (1963)

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THE VOICE OF MORNINGS REMEMBERED. J.P., WJR 760

A Tribute to J. P. McCarthy

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For over 30 years, legendary morning radio personality

Joseph Priestley McCarthy

broadcast his #1 rated show on WJR-AM in Detroit.

“J.P.” regularly interviewed world leaders, captains of industry,

entertainment luminaries, champions of sport and legions of listeners.

J. P. McCarthy passed away from a rare blood disorder on August 16, 1995.

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Produced and directed by: Michael Shiel & Russ White

Narrated by: Mike Whorf and Frank Beckmann

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Motor City Radio Flashbacks Remembers

A TRIBUTE TO J.P. McCARTHY * WJR 760

 

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AIRCHEX OF THE WEEK WITH JOEY REYNOLDS

From the MCRFB Aircheck Library:

Joey Reynolds on 1270 AM WXYZ 1966

…I hope we last….

 

 

The date is April 19, 1966. WXYZ 1270 is set on your radio dial. The time is 9:00 PM on a Tuesday evening here in the Motor City.

Coming in fresh from Cleveland’s WIXY, listen in as Joey Reynolds introduced himself on The Joey Reynolds Show for the very first time when he first came over to Detroit.

FROM THE MCRFB AIRCHECKS LIBRARY

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WXYZ-AM * JOEY REYNOLDS * APRIL 1966

…Well uh I don’t understand quite frankly Al what you’re getting at. What are you trying to say is you don’t like me?….

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WXYZ 1966 radio personality Joey Reynolds’ station- profile brochure cover (click on image for larger view).

In this classic 1966 WXYZ aircheck, Joey Reynolds did all he could to keep his composure with a certain caller, Al Evans from South Junior High School.

When this aircheck was taped in May of 1966, Joey Reynolds was known for his propensity to berate other radio stations and on-air personalities during his shows while in Detroit. Whether his on-air rhetoric might have been described as “good clean fun” or just a display of Reynolds own personal ego, these assumptions might have been taken more than lightly by some listeners, such as the one noted particular call to The Joey Reynolds Show would come to obviously demonstrate.

In April 1966, WXYZ had many of the best radio voices covering the Detroit radio map at that time. Marc Avery. Lee Alan. Dave Prince. Jimmy Hampton. Pat Murphy. Danny Taylor.

Under Lee Alan, now as program director, WXYZ retained its star status with their legendary top 40 personality-plus line-up. The ABC-owned station’s share for higher numbers was paramount moving forward against WKNR and CKLW. The station was locked in battle to regain the top 40 crown they once held over Detroit several years back. Detroit, in 1966, was a three-station top 40 market.

But it was the Reynolds star, despite the anticipated expectation he’d be held for higher ratings and audience popularity the moment he first signed on, never came to fully rise during his short stay here in the Motor City.

By July 1966, a little over two months after WXYZ General Manager Charles Fritz and station Program Director Lee Alan brought the Gavin Award winning radio host to Detroit, the station found itself floundering at third place with only a 24 percent share of the Detroit radio audience overall.   

Joey Reynolds as he looked back in the ’60s on the radio. (Click on image for larger view)

In contrast, CKLW held their ground just a short-distance ahead with a 29 share at second place. Meanwhile, WKNR was still at the top with a 47 percent share of the total Detroit audience who were listening to Keener 13 at any given time throughout their entire broadcast day.

As to his statement, “well I hope we last”… he didn’t.

By the first week of November 1966, and six months after first coming on WXYZ, Joey Reynolds was completely removed far away east from the Detroit radio scene at WDRC in Hartford, Connecticut.

But according to Wikipedia, the Reynolds resume reflects he’s had an illustrative career in both radio and television during his later years in broadcasting as well. He even came back to Detroit on WHYT for a short while during 1983 into 1984.

Today, as of this date, Reynolds is presently hosting All Night With Joey Reynolds on the WNBC-TV owned sub-channel station WNBC-TV2 in New York City.

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(The Joey Reynolds poster courtesy of the Art Vuolo Collection)

FROM THE MCRFB AIRCHECKS LIBRARY

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WXYZ-AM * JOEY REYNOLDS * MAY 1966

(The Joey Reynolds poster courtesy of the Art Vuolo Collection)

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