A MCRFB news brief:
Former Detroit Radio Greats Will Return To Reminisce Broadcasting Motor City Airwaves During ’60s, ’70s
DETROIT — With much excitement, anticipation currently being delivered through the station’s own promotional radio advertisements, WNIC 100.3 and Detroit is gearing up for its radio reunion several weekends from now. WNIC-FM, “Detroit’s Nicest Rock,” the current calls and resident of the former legendary WKNR-AM FM studios in Dearborn, will be bringing back the likes of former Detroit radio personalities such as Bill Gable (whose now at WMAGic in High Point); WLW Cincinatti’s Gary Burbank; Super Max Kinkel, who can be heard late nights on WCBS-FM, and Jim Davis (who back then was Big Jim Edwards on CKLW; today Davis manages WVAF in Charleston, W. Va.).
Word is that WKBW Buffalo’s Tom Shannon and record executive Scotty Regen will also be on hand, to name a few. Other former Detroit radio names are tentative, on the list they may possibly appear, but are as of yet (several names) still pending and unconfirmed.
Now, if you want to see this for yourself, Art Vuolo, Mr. Radio himself, “Radio’s Best Friend,” will be videotaping the scheduled 2-day event in its entirety, as he did recently for the Chicago get-together at WLS (as it seems there’s been a rash of these events in the Midwest lately). Vuolo’s has those tapes ready for sale, and you can reach him at (313) 5*9-79*0). Art can also tell you where you to get some of the best sounding audio tapes of that particular WLS gathering. When you phone, Art suggests you ask for details regarding the Landecker-Sirott video/audio package of that Windy City radio event as well.
Vuolo also hinted the special Detroit reunion broadcast on WNIC will eventually be available on tape and will be offered to avid radiophiles more the same, thanks to the filming, recording and video services he is well known in providing of such radio events around the country so do stay tuned. . . . END.
Addendum: Also, Art Vuolo currently writes commentary for Mike Austerman’s radio and television Michiguide.com website. And last, for more on Art Vuolo videos see the “introduction” to his website as attached to this post, down below.
(Information and news source: Billboard; May 18, 1985).
Art Vuolo Jr.
“Radio’s Best Friend”
In 1977, Art Vuolo saw a B&W ¾” videotape of a color 8mm film taken by the legendary San Diego personality, Shotgun Tom Kelly. The film, which was actually a “video presentation” for KFMB-FM “B-100,” was shot in 1976. Vuolo was dazzled. He thought “Wow . . . a video aircheck, what a concept.” This offered a chance for people to SEE what goes on in a radio studio while air personalities are actually on-the-air! That did it.
Back in April of 1978 Art borrowed a crude early edition color TV camera, hooked into an industrial Sony Beta deck with BI speed only and taped his first video aircheck at Indianapolis’ legendary Top 40 radio station 13/WIFE. Similar to the B-100 video, the WIFE tape was a video tour of the station featuring key employees and all of the various jocks actually on-the-air. It included: Danny McGuire in the Morning (aka Ron Fraiser), Steve “Super Cooper”, Diane Shannon, Thom Christy and Jerry Steele. It was the beginning of an era.
It was the start of Vuolo Video Air-Chex.
Now it’s easy to order as many as you want on Art Vuolo’s Video Air-Chex website. This site includes many sensational “moments” in radio history both on audio and videotape. Enjoy your visit and I hope you find something you would like to have in your personal collection. — Art Vuolo Video Air-Chex (An introduction from the Vuolo website)
