WJBK AMENDS ITS FORMAT TO SOFT ROCK . . . MAY 14, 1966

Station Lightly Modify Current Format Geared to Attract Younger 18 plus Audience

 

 

DETROIT — WJBK, 50,000-watt outlet here, has launched a soft-rock format, giving the market four Hot 100 stations. Program director John M. Grubbs said the format is more “amended,” than changed. The new programming operation is being changed slowly, but should be complete by May 9.

Dick Boyer has been added to the air personality roster to handle all-night chores. Jerry Blocker, a Negro, formerly of WCAR, will handle the 7-midnight slot, accenting light commercial jazz.

[MCRFB Note: Click on ad image 2x (PC) for largest detailed view. Or tap and stretch image across your device screen of choice for detailed DJ line-ups, names, and times.]

WJBK had tried a Hot 100 format before, but in August 1964, switched back to good music. The station is now injecting current Hot 100 Chart singles of non-raucous nature.

“What we’re looking for is the uptempo, but not specific, teen tunes,” Grubbs said. As an example, the station was playing last week, “Monday Monday” by the Mamas and the Papas. “Sloop John B” by the Beach Boys, “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers, “Daydream” by the Lovin’ Spoonful, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” by B. J. Thomas and the Triumphs, “Rainy Day Women,” by Bob Dylan and “How Does That Grab You, Darlin’, ” by Nancy Sinatra. Album cuts with bright appeal are also being played.

“We’re trying to create a hip sound for the 18 and-up age bracket,” Grubbs said, “and we’re getting a good reaction.” Last July the station placed fourth in Billboard’s Radio Response Rating survey for influencing sales of albums in the market. There are presently three Hot 100 stations in the market besides WJBK. WKNR, CKLW, and WXYZ. WJBK just recently upped its daytime power to 50,000 watts from 10,000; the station hopes to soon add to its nighttime directional pattern with the increased wattage power. END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard  May 14, 1966

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NEW! BACK ON “BIG 8” RADIO: CKLW 20 20 NEWS! RANDALL CARLISLE, MAY 1972

NEW! A special THANK YOU to Randall Carlisle and Charlie O’Brien for recently contributing this featured CKLW 20 20 News audio memory, from May 1972, for inclusion into our airchecks repository.

Audio digitally EQ enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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WXYZ RADIO 1270! THE DETROIT SOUND SURVEY: MAY 1965

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This list is selected each week by WXYZ Radio reports of records sales gathered from leading record outlets in the Detroit area and other sources available to WXYZ.

The above WXYZ 05/03/1965 chart survey was digitally restored completely in its entirety by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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By mid-January 1965, the Detroit Sound Survey charts was no longer printed for the public in general. The WXYZ charts, as featured above, were instead published solely for Detroit record retailers, music outlets, one-stop jobbers, and distributors only.

These Radio 1270 top 40 charts were the largest of the WXYZ Detroit Sound Survey charts ever printed, having measured 17.5″ W x 22 L” inches in size. These charts were primarily used for weekly record rank based on popularity, position, retail sales, and were used for record retail rack displays as well.

For the very first time, Motor City Radio Flashbacks will be featuring a dozen or so — as chart dated — of these extremely rare WXYZ 1965 surveys throughout the year.

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ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over WXYZ chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” chart across your device screen to magnify for largest detailed view.

ON YOUR PC? Click on chart image 2x for largest detailed print view.

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J. P. McCARTHY: SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJR SHOW THEME! ‘BEGIN THE BEGUINE” [1938] by the ARTIE SHAW ORCHESTRA

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Joseph Preistly McCarthy entered the world in New York City on March 22, 1933. In 1943, amid wartime, his family relocated to Detroit, where McCarthy attended Annunciation grade school and later DeLasalle near City Airport for high school. He pursued higher education at the University of Detroit starting in 1952.

At 19, McCarthy enlisted in the U.S. Army and found himself stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Despite lacking radio training, he secured a role at Armed Forces Radio to avoid relocation. After military service, McCarthy explored radio opportunities in Fairbanks and later on in Flint, where he briefly embraced the role of a “rock and roll” disk jockey, spinning hits by Elvis, Bill Haley, and the Everly Brothers.

Transitioning to WJR in Detroit in 1958, McCarthy’s career trajectory led him to KGO in San Francisco briefly in early 1963, before returning to WJR in December 1964. Back at WJR, he took on hosting duties for the “Morning Music Hall” and the “Afternoon Music Hall” initially, later becoming a permanent fixture in the morning drive and launching the “Focus” afternoon interview program.

His morning show swiftly ascended to the apex of Detroit radio, maintaining its dominance for roughly three decades until his passing. Acknowledged as Detroit’s preeminent radio personality, McCarthy was crowned “Top DJ” by Billboard in July 1966. In the late spring of 1995, McCarthy received a diagnosis of ‘myelodysplastic syndrome,’ a precursor to leukemia, and peacefully passed away in his sleep on August 16, 1995, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 62.

Today we are presenting J. P. McCarthy’s WJR show-opening theme, his first. From 1938 – BEGIN THE BEGUINE – by the Artie Shaw Orchestra.

A MCRFB Note: J.P. ultimately would use two other “themes” for his morning show on WJR as well. “Put On A Happy Face” by Bert Kaempfert, and, “Have A Nice Day” by the Count Basie Orchestra.

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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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