Author: Jim Feliciano

FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: MARCH 12

From the MCRFB music calendar:

Events on this date: MARCH 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1953: Popular WDIA disc jockey Rufus Thomas signs with Memphis label Sun Records in order to release a song titled, “Bear Cat,”  an answer song record to “Big Mama” Thorton’s hit, “Hound Dog.”

1955: Master jazz saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker, dies at the age of 34. The hard-living Parker’s postmortem suggests he may have died from pneumonia, a heart attack, burst stomach ulcers, or cirrhosis of the liver.

Billy Holiday leaves a Philadelphia police station after her arrest for drug charges in 1956.

1958: A Philadelphia court sentences Billie Holiday to one year probation for pleading guilty two years earlier for heroine possession.

1959: Philadelphia’s own Fabian, discovered by Philadelphia’s own Dick Clark,  is named “Most Promising New Talent” in an American Bandstand viewers poll.

The Beatles HELP! actual movie theater lobby placard; 1965.

1965: The Beatles wrap up their location shooting of Help! in the Bahamas. In an interview with the New York Times, Beatles manager Brian Epstein declares  that the band will still be popular in ten years. Epstein also stated in the interview that the Rolling Stones were “just another fine group,” in his opinion.

1969: Infamous London police officer Det. Sgt. Norman Pilcher, well known for singling out and busting rock stars, enters George Harrison’s house in Esher, Surrey, England and arrest the Beatle and his wife Patti for possession of marijuana (specifically, cannabis resin). That same morning, Beatle Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman in the office registry in Merylbone, London and again in the Anglican church in St, John’s Wood. The other three Beatles don’t attend.

1971: Paul McCartney’s lawsuit dissolving the Beatles is upheld when a London court grants his request to appoint a non-biased receiver to handle the group’d business affairs in the wake of the band’s management dispute.

Nancy Sinatra with her famous walkin’ Go-Go Boots; circa 1967.

1996: Nancy Sinatra gives her famous white go-go boots, the one that were made for walkin’, she donates the pair to the Beverly Hills Hard Rock Cafe where it has been on display there for the past sixteen years.

2003: On the eve of the Rolling Stones’ first tour of China, the Chinese government submits a list of forbidden songs to the group, songs which the band is prohibited from playing anywhere during their stay while in that country. Songs include “Brown Sugar,”  “Honky Tonk Woman,” and “Let’s Spend The Night Together.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day . . . .  M  A  R  C  H   1  2

 

 

Loading

WHEN ‘THE NATION’S NEW SINGING SENSATION’ FIRST CAME TO DETROIT: MAY 25, 1956

A Motor City Radio Flashback memory: 1956

A Moment in Time: Elvis Takes Detroit In ’56

 

 

 

 

 

DETROIT, March 09, 2012 — Elvis Presley, “the nation’s new singing sensation,” came to Detroit for the first time on Friday, May 25, 1956. He was booked to perform “in person” live on stage at the Fox Theater for three performances for that date.

The 21-year old singing phenom was winding up his tour in the Midwest that spring, having previously stopped in St. Paul, Minn., and in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Presley also performed at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis Tennessee on May 15, then took a ten-day break from his tour while home before heading north to the Motor City.

Actual Elvis Presley Fox Billboard (click on image for larger view)

 

In the Lacrosse, Wisconsin performance Presley’s hip-thigh gyrations on stage compelled the editor of the local newspaper to complain to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, of various reports picked up that Elvis’ act consists of ‘sexual gratification on stage.’

At the Detroit concert, the general admission ticket price to see Elvis was $1.50, all seats were available at that set admission price. In the earlier two shows, a young Lee Alan, who was then the all-night deejay at WJLB, emceed the event by introducing Elvis before the Detroit Fox crowd. Robin Seymour, the popular radio personality on WKMH then, also met Elvis Presley backstage during one of the three Fox concerts.

In 2006, FTD released a book, entitled, A Moment In Time: 4 Days in ’56 on November 29 that year. It was authored by Michael Rose. Rose had assembled these May 25 Detroit photographs while capturing a glimpse of Elvis Presley’s life during 1956. A snapshot in time, many of these photographs reportedly have never been published before, according to the author.

The following evening, Saturday, May 26, Elvis was in Columbus, Ohio. Then it was off to Dayton, Ohio for two performances at the University of Dayton Fieldhouse on Sunday, May 27, before heading back home to Memphis, on Monday, May 28, 1956.

But here in Detroit in 1956, these images captured a moment in time in the lives of these Detroiters when “the nation’s new singing sensation” swept their city by storm during one memorable evening in May of 1956.

Elvis Summer of '56

MCRFB.COM Logo (2)

Loading

FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: MARCH 9

From the MCRFB music calendar:

On this date: MARCH 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1961: The Supremes release their first single, “I Want A Guy,” it is not a hit.

1963: The Beatles kick off in a UK tour supporting Tommy Roe and Chris Montez. By the end of the 21-date tour, the band becomes the headliner.

1970: The British blues band formerly known as Earth take the stage at

Actual Chris Montez, Tommy Roe UK Tour Billboard with the Beatles; March, 1963

London’s Roundhouse with a heavier sound and new name — Black Sabbath.

1976: For the second time, the Who’s Keith Moon collapses while performing at a show, this time at the Boston Garden. Though drug and alcohol are the culprits, Roger Daltrey tells the crowd Moon is suffering from the flu.  The gig ends, but the group plays another concert for ticket-holders on April 1.

1987: The Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City inducts Lennon and McCartney, Goffin and King, Mann and Weil, and Sam Cooke in their initial awards ceremony for the selected inductees.

2004: Tom Jone’s manager — and son — Mark orders the 63-year old sex symbol singer to stop wearing tight leather pants onstage.

 

 

 

 

 

And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day . . . .  M  A  R  C  H   9

Loading

PAVONE RECORDS IN SECRECY… JANUARY 18, 1964

From the MCRFB news archives:

RCA Victor Sneaks In Rita Pavone

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK — Under wraps of secrecy, RCA Victor brought its Italian and world-wide singing star Rita Pavone into the country for clandestine recording sessions.

Miss Pavone recorded her first album and some singles in English for release later this year, when the young lady makes her official performance debut and an extensive stay in either May or September. She was assisted at the  recording date by Dorio Soria, international director for RCA Victor.

The recording will include special English material for the young lady and a drive will be mounted to help push Rita Pavone’s recordings in this country. She has steadily widened her sphere of influence on the Continent, where she has sold something like three million single records and albums in a little more than a year in her native Italy. In addition, she has currently established a breakthrough singing in German, while in Germany with the title, “Wenn Ich Ein Junge Waer” (I Wish I Were A Boy). Plans have also been implemented to push the lass into the Benelux countries and Scandinavia.

Pavone returns to Italy this week for dates all over the European continent and will star in a musical film, which she will start filming upon her immediate return to her native country. END

 

Addendum: Rita Pavone first debuted here on the WKNR playlist on May 28, 1964, when RCA released her one and only two-sided hit, “Remember Me,” along with “Just Once More” on the B-side. “Remember Me” was on the WKNR music guides for five consecutive weeks from the end of May throughout the month of June, peaking at the #7 spot on “Keener 13” on June 18, 1964, while dropping down to the #9 spot altogether from the WKNR playlist on June 25, 1964.

 

 

(Information and news source: Billboard magazine; January 18, 1964).

Loading

SPINNING RECORDS ON WJBK-TV… APRIL 14, 1958

From the MCRFB news archives:

TV Disk Hops Hit In Detroit

 

 

 

 

 

 

A typical suburban Detroit family viewing household television in 1958 (Photo credit: Detroit Times)

DETROIT — WJBK-TV has come up with ample evidence of  current audience popularity for afternoon “bandstand” formats of programming records on TV for dancing by a live studio audience of teenagers.

The Detroit television station pulled a special ARB survey of its new “Detroit Bandstand,” emceed by Dale Young from 5:00 to 5:30 weekdays, and came up with a whopping 14.8 share in viewer ratings in the Detroit-TV market during the afternoon time period. The ratings were double its nearest competition, “Superman.”

Reacting to the ratings surprise, WJBK-TV added a Saturday segment of the “Detroit Bandstand” show at 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The station claims that 4,000 pieces of mail came in during the show’s first week.

 

Hopping On The Hop Wagon

Stations in other markets have added record hops to their TV schedules, a major impetus being the success of Dick Clark’s ABC-TV network strip. As recently as WJBK-TV in Detroit, now KBTV, Denver, has taken the logical step of programming its new “Denver Bandstand” in and around Dick Clark’s show, so the teenagers will be dancing to local disks for 30 minutes, followed by Clark, returning to the local show for one hour. Up until now, stations have been programming directly opposite Clark or as far away from him on the clock as possible. END.

 

(Information and news source, Billboard Magazine; April 14, 1958).

Loading

R&B RISES ON THE AM RADIO DIAL . . . APRIL 29, 1967

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1967

R&B Radio Outlets Richer; Static Quo on DJ Dollars Dismal


 

 

 

NEW YORK — The current success of many R&B format radio stations across the nation “is not that all apparent at the deejay level,” according to Ronnie Roker, an executive at Mark II Records.

Mark II records is the label of Tag LTD. Productions, a firm headed by Magnificent Montague, former air-personality with KGFJ, Los Angeles, and Roker, formerly with Liberty Records. The label’s first release is “Precious Memories” by the Romeos, now No. 38 with a star on the R&B chart, and climbing also on the Hot 100 Chart in pop sales. Montague played congos and bongos on the record. The LP is due out soon featuring the group.

The record got its start on R&B stations; among those that helped boost it were WVON, Chicago; WWIN and WEBB in Baltimore; WABQ and WJMO in Cleveland; KGFJ in Los Angeles, KATZ in St. Louis, and WJLB and WCHB in Detroit. It was WQV in Pittsburgh, Roker said, that swung the record into the pop field and did so much to promote record sales.

Format Operation

R&B stations — practically all major ones — have gone to a format operation, Roker said. “Format lessens the amount of new records exposed, although the number of records exposed on R&B radio stations far surpass that on pop stations.  Its much easier to get a record started in the R&B field, though not as easy as five years ago. Today, you have to put out a good record to get it played.  There are very few bad records — or even mediocre ones — played on any R&B station.”

ERNIE DURHAM WJLB 1964

The tight formats now being used by R&B stations have really helped them, Roker felt. “It has been responsible for higher ratings of these stations in the general market, bringing them more business and higher advertising rates.” But this hasn’t helped most deejays, he said; their salaries haven’t been increased or, at least, it’s “not that apparent.” Roker said he felt deejays should share in the growth of the stations through higher salaries, “but whether they will is a different matter.” END

___

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine; April 29, 1967)

Addendum: Here are two *rare* airchecks of Detroit’s own R&B Grandmaster himself, “Frantic” Ernie Durham, as he was 10 years earlier on R&B WBBC-AM in Flint, Michigan, in 1957 and in 1958.

From the MCRFB Aircheck Library, featuring:

WBBC-AM Ernie Durham: Ernie Durham – WBBC – Flint – November 1957.mp3

WBBC-AM Ernie Durham: Ernie Durham – WBBC – Flint – November 1958.mp3

Loading

MOTORTOWN ROUNDUP DETROIT… FEBRUARY 16, 1963

From the MCRFB news archive:

Detroit R&B Roundup 1963

 

 

 

 

By NICK BIRO

 

Motown Review 1965 poster

Tamla-Motown’s all-star revue was SRO during it’s recent Brevoort Theater stint in Brooklyn. It broke an attendance record previously set by  Jackie Wilson.

Home for a record-cutting session now, the troops included: the Miracles, Marvelettes, Mary Wells, Marvin Johnson, the Supremes, and Little Stevie Wonder…. Of the five awards given by BMI to Jobete Music, a Tamla-Motown affiliate, two belong to Bill (Smokey) Robinson, lead singer with the Miracles. Bill seem well on his way to some more awards this year. Robinson is the writer for Mary Wells’ “Two Lovers” and the Miracles’ “You Really Got A Hold On Me.” They’ve been one and two on Billboard’s R&B charts for weeks. END.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine; February 16, 1963).

Loading

FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS . . . JUNE 24, 1967

 

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1967

Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1967

 

 

 

 

The Who played two shows June 14 at an Ann Arbor teenage club, The Fifth Dimension, before heading over to the Monterey Pop Festival…. Capitol artists Sadler and Young booked into the Roostertail for two weeks, beginning June 26, to be followed by another Capitol artist Peggy Lee, the week of July 10…. Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, had a Martin and Howard Day, June 11, in honor of the morning disc jockey team on WXYZ 1270 in Detroit…. Only the least expensive seats ($5.50, $4.50) are left for Frank Sinatra’s July 9 Cobo Hall Arena appearance.

Volt recording artists Otis Redding and the Bar-Kays to appear at Expo ’67, July 3-4…. Deon Jackson begins a two-week tour of Army bases beginning June 30…. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas recorded a live album at the 20 Grand Club June 6-8…. English female vocalist Kelly Michaels has been signed by Ollie McLaughlin. A release on his Karen label is due shortly…. The Supremes made their debut at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles June 13…. The Herman’s Hermits tour with the Who and the Blues Magoos were signed for the Atwood Stadium in Flint, August 23.

Charles D. Fitz, vice-president and general manager of WXYZ Radio and President of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, presided at the MAB sponsored Fifth Annual Congressional Dinner in Washington. John E. Campbell, vice-president and general manager of WXYZ-TV and WXYZ editorial director, Joe Vaughn, also attended the dinner for Michigan congressional representatives…. Baby Jane Holzer was in Detroit to promote her new Atco single “Rapunzel.” She did the Robin Seymour CKLW-TV show…. WKBD-TV, Channel 50, Detroit, will carry “Upbeat” from Cleveland on Saturday mornings at 9:30 beginning July 1…. The Monkees will be in Detroit at Olympia Stadium on July 29. The Olympia concert event will be sponsored by WKNR…. Capitol Records hosted a party for Lou Rawls after his sellout concert at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit recently. END

___

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine: June 24, 1967)

WHEN THE WHO PERFORMED SOUTHFIELD HIGH IN 1967!

 

A MCRFB Note: This picture (above; below) was taken when the Who performed at the Southfield High School auditorium, Wednesday, November 22, 1967. Opening for the headlining British group were two local Detroit bands. The Unrelated Segments and The Amboy Dukes. Tickets were $3.00 dollars at the door.

For more on this incredible 1967 SHS event, click here to former CKLW and WKNR alumnus Pat St. John’s personal website. Pat will recount his personal involvement in this little-known event (with the Who) in this amazing Detroit rock ‘n’ roll back-story!

A ticket stub to The Who performance at Southfield High, 1967. (Photo credit; thanks: Judy Evans, Facebook. (used here by permission).
A ticket stub to The Who performance at Southfield High, 1967. (Photo credit; thanks: Judy Evans, Facebook (used here by her permission)

Loading

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:

___

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

Loading