On October 12, 1969, WKNR killed Paul McCartney.Russ Gibb, working on WKNR-FM, heard from an Eastern Michigan University student about a series of clues that seemed to point to Paul McCartney’s death. The story took on a life of its own, both on Keener and WKNR-FM and Russ received credit for making the tale of McCartney’s supposed demise a national story. In the Spring of 2007, Dutch documentarians came to Dearborn to ask Russ to recount the adventure for posterity.Read the full story at Keener13.com. And watch the full documentary here.
WKNR all-night personality Jim Jeffries in 1965. (Click on image for larger view)
We’re going to take you back to January 30, 1967. A time when Keener 13 was still hot on the radio dial in Detroit.
During the time this aircheck was recorded, WKNR arbitrarily still held the number one slot overall in total audience ratings. Number one for three consecutive years since the Keener Sound took a phenomenal hold on Detroit radio early-on in 1964.
When Keener DJ Bill Phillips left the overnight shift open at Keener 13 in mid-1965, Frank Maruca, station program director for WKNR at that time, promptly filled the void. He knew where to call. He made the call for Jim Jeffries from sister-station WKFR “Keener 14” in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Jim Jeffries on WKNR Keener 13.(Click on image for larger view)
While doing the overnight 1AM to 6AM shift, once on board, Jim Jeffries popularity rose to prominence at WKNR. Jim connected well with his audience with his blend of personality, humor, exuberance and warmth. The Jeffries brand soon became the overnight sensation during his entire radio stay in Detroit. By mid-1966, Jeffries became the most listened to deejay doing the all-night show in Detroit at the time.
But before the end of 1967, Jim Jeffries would set sail for newer horizons outside of Detroit. This time he was offered a ‘prime-time’ radio slot for another radio market outside of Michigan. Keener newsman Bob Neal, along with Keener DJ Bob Harper, would soon follow Jim Jeffries down to WQXI in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sadly, Jim Jeffries passed away suddenly on November 17, 2009. (For more on his passing, see Scott Westerman’s special tribute to Jim Jeffries at Keener13.com).
But as you listen to this January, 1967 Jim Jeffries aircheck, you’ll understand why a generation of Detroiters during that time stayed up faithfully throughout the night listening to the Jim Jeffries Show on Keener 13.
If you ever called WOodward 3-8925 to request a dedication, you remember the days when telephone numbers started out with a word. Can you match these numbers with their owners? TYler 8-7100, TOwnsend 9-2800, WOodward 5-0043, TExas 4-1100?
Charlie Van Dyke’s Bicentennial Salute to the American Flag in 1976
… Is it possible to wave the flag too much … provided of course, that you wave it with integrity….
Charles Leo Steinle aka Charlie Van Dyke, first launched his career in radio broadcasting in 1966, as a nineteen-year old with the legendary KLIF 1190 in Dallas, Texas. By the early 1970s, and rapidly-rising in the industry known for his baritone pipes, his distinct voice behind the radio microphone would eventually carry him to major markets around the country.
Harnessed by Bill Drake for his RKO radio stable, stops would include morning drives at KFRCin San Francisco, KHJin Los Angeles, a short stint at CKLWin Windsor/Detroit and then it was on to WRKOin Boston.
But it’s the Bicentennial Year. 1976.
Seemingly what was lacking was a narrative to commemorate the country’s bicentennial celebration for that year. And that’s when Van Dyke decided to step in.
Charlie Van Dyke “The Flag” 45 RPM record sleeve from 1976
According to Charlie Van Dyke, he had retained a particular speech his uncle had written and prepared for an oratory-speech contest while in high school. His mother, in adding to the Van Dyke story, had saved a copy of that award-winning speech. That narrative saved would become The Flag.
With minor changes in the lyrics, Clive Fox worked on the produced project for release through United Artists Records. Jimmy Haskell would provide the music behind Van Dyke’s saturated, patriotic salute he voiced-over in The Flag.
Today, while no longer in radio, Charlie Van Dyke continues to free-lance his voice talents for media markets in both radio and television affiliates across the country.
Charlie Van Dyke, we thank and salute you for your acclimated 1976 display and show for true-American patriotism!
CHARLIE VAN DYKE * THE FLAG
Special thanks to George Griggs for contributing “The Flag” record/audio featured with this exhibit.
If WKNR’s owner, Mrs. Knorr, thought that Tommy James’ “I Think We’re Alone Now” was a little too much for the Keener airwaves, then “Jungle Fever” by the Chakachaswas well over the edge of the envelope. That it became a hit at all is one of those improbable stories that seem to proliferate in the music business. Here’s the backstory from Keener13.com.
The number one songs from this week in 1965-72. The unlikely rock star who recorded “The Girl From Ipanema“, Detroit’s Flaming Ember and The Beatles Last Concert. Learn the backstory atKeener13.com.
From 1971-1993Soul Trainwas the place where every R&B act wanted to be. Former journalist and Chicago DJ,Don Cornelius, got the idea that there ought to be a television program to showcase soul acts. While some likened the program to a soulful American Bandstand, Cornelius made the genre his own with the famous sign off, “.. and you can bet your last money, it’s all gonna be a stone gas, honey! I’m Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!”
During it’s heyday, Soul Train was a showcase for some of the most memorable R&B acts, helping amplify Michael Jackson’s career and cementing James Brown’s “Godfather of Soul” image for a generation. It’s been credited as the inspiration for present day shows like “So You Think You Can Dance”. The show’s theme song, “The Sound of Philadelphia“, became a crossover hit at the dawn of the disco age. Even after Cornelius departure he remained in the public eye as the force behind theSoul Train Music Awards. Which aired in syndication from 1987 through 2009.
Don Cornelius died today. The police say it was an apparent suicide.
Here are theO’Jaysperforming, “Love Train,” their number one soul single from 1973 on Soul Train.
ONE OF THE MOST analyzed records of all time is Don McLean’s “American Pie.” While it’s commonly agreed that the song is an ode to the deaths of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, it’s nuances are still debated.
The closest McLean came to explaining it’s meaning was in his 2000 video, Starry Starry Night. “I’m very proud of the song,” he said. “It is biographical in nature and I don’t think anyone has ever picked up on that. The song starts off with my memories of the death of Buddy Holly. But it moves on to describe America as I was seeing it and how I was fantasizing it might become, so it’s part reality and part fantasy but I’m always in the song as a witness or as even the subject sometimes in some of the verses.”
While Don McLean never fully discussed it’s meaning, many of us have tried. The best analysis I’ve read was written by WKNR and WCFL veteran, Bob Dearborn. Here’sScott Westerman’s breakdown of American Pieas broadcast on KRKE and XM/Sirius in 2010.
H E Y D O Y O U R E M E M B E R the Think Summer campaign Keener launched in Detroit in the winter of 1965?
“Think Summer“ Susan Wayne WKNR 45 RPM jacket 1965
Well let’s see . . . . I can still see those Think Summer newspaper ads, and there were those Think Summer button give-aways, there was also a Think Summer contest as well, those Think Summer billboards around town, and then there was a Think Summer song, yeah . . . that was played on the radio on Keener 13!
According to the WKNR music guides posted onKeener13.com, Think Summer by Susan Wayne debuted during the week of February 18, 1965. But by the time Think Summer peaked at the No. 25 spot onWKNR, March 3, 1965, well, that would be it . . . just three short weeks on the WKNR Keener 13 playlists.
But that was enough for WKNR to generate some kind of ‘mirage,’ if you will, a brief winter’s thaw we must have felt, at least momentarily, during the station’s contest with all their summer-time give-a-ways during that February. If all else, the Think Summer promo became the ultimate Keener event during that cold winter here in Detroit 47-years ago.
Straight from the Keener vaults, courtesy of WKNR’s own Bob Green, here’s three of those WKNR Think Summer promos from that memorable winter’s brief “summer-time fun” contestants cashed in on listening to Keener 13, 1965.
And Last, from the MCRFB music archives, here we present “Think Summer“ as it was recorded by Columbia’s own, here she is, folks . . . Susan Wayne!
Enjoy the WKNR 1965 “THINK SUMMER” audio flashbacks!
A MCRFB NOTE: By the way, according to Bob Green, that was Danielle David and her Dearborn Dolls singing along in the ‘Name Game’ Think Summer promo. Thanks, Bob, for sharing with us these classic WKNR audio gems with Motor City Radio Flashbacks!
On October 12, 1969, WKNR killed Paul McCartney. Russ Gibb, working on WKNR-FM, heard from an Eastern Michigan University student about a series of clues that seemed to point to Paul McCartney’s death. The story took on a life of its own, both on Keener and WKNR-FM and Russ received credit for making the tale of McCartney’s supposed demise a national story. In the Spring of 2007, Dutch documentarians came to Dearborn to ask Russ to recount the adventure for posterity. Read the full story at Keener13.com. And watch the full documentary here.
