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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
Great audio on that track but a bit too much compression.
Yes, it may well sound as though it is. I think it can be derived from the fact this recording was, 86 years old today, and the audio had been cleaned up and re-processed to sound like it was recorded in stereo (which was non-existent well before it’s time). This track was extracted from a marketed CD. It was the best in sound, in my estimation, that I was able to find. All I did, I slightly “enhanced” the overall sound through an audio software sound equalizer in order to “brighten” and freshen up the instrumentation, as it is heard in the audio presentation.
I listened to JP each morning on my drive from Plymouth to work in the New Center area of Detroit. I took Edward Hines Drive through the park to Ford Road. Anyone who lives in that area knows that Hines Drive is built in a flood plain and is frequently flooded after heavy rains. I remember JP once had a spoof listener contest in which he offered to give away a prize of an all expense paid cruise down Edward Hines Drive to the winner.
Thank you, Dale Behler, for sharing with us, your J. P. McCarthy memory!
This doesn’t sound like the original recording from the 1930’s. Did J.P. used an updated version of the song for his theme?
The only theme song I remember him using was the Bing Crosby/Count Basie “Have A Nice Day”. I seem to recall there was an instrumental bridge in that song that was edited to be a loop of sorts for those days when J.P. was late rolling into the Fisher Building from his home in Bloomfield Hills.
Actually, J. P. had selected several themes for his shows throughout the decades on WJR. The aforementioned/presented theme was his earliest. McCarthy later used “Put On A Happy Face” by Bert Kaempfert and of course, as you mentioned, “Have A Nice Day” by Count Basie. As to the original recording, I’ll repost my given response, from May 5, to another commenter about the Artie Shaw recording I replied to him, as my response:
“Yes, it may well sound as though it is. I think it can be derived from the fact this recording was, 86 years old today, and the audio had been cleaned up and re-processed to sound like it was recorded in stereo (which was non-existent well before it’s time). This track was extracted from a marketed CD. It was the best in sound, in my estimation, that I was able to find. All I did, I slightly “enhanced” the overall sound through an audio software sound equalizer in order to “brighten” and freshen up the instrumentation, as it is heard in the audio presentation.”
WJR had, at one time, one of the largest collection of music/records at the studio by the 1960s, a vast number or albums and records pre-dating the 1940s and 1950s. So most likely, the original 78 recording of “Begin The Begine” was already there. He may likely used the original acetate disk (mono as well) or from an album, possibly put on tape or on a cart, which would have sounded nothing like the recorded CD track featured for our presentation.
I remember the “Have a Nice Day” Basie version the most as his opening theme. I also remember him using a version with Bing Crosby singing the Lyrics as well. Finally when you heard his voice, “Well Good Morning World” you knew your Day was getting started on the right foot”