BEATLES IN DETROIT ’64: The Motor City was one of but a few North American cities selected to host two Beatles concerts on the same day. Photo taken prior Detroit press conference. (Clockwise from right foreground) John, George, Paul and Ringo played before 15,000 at each show at Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 6. (Tony Spina/Detroit Free Press)
S E P T E M B E R 6 , 1 9 6 4 : T O D A Y I N M U S I C H I S T O R Y
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1 9 6 4 :T H E B E A T L E S performed two sold-out concerts at the 15,000-capacity Detroit Olympia on this day. The other acts on the bill were (in order of appearance) The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry and Jackie DeShannon, before the Fab Four took the Olympia stage. After the concerts the British band stayed overnight at the Whittier Hotel near downtown Detroit before leaving for their next scheduled stop at the Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens, Monday, September 7. Both Beatles Olympia September 6 appearances sponsored by top 40 radio WKNR, Detroit.
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Pop Music History: September 6, 1964
BEATLES IN DETROIT ’64: The Beatles pose for the Detroit press before taking their questions at Olympia Stadium. Sunday afternoon, September 6, 1964. (Tony Spina/Detroit Free Press)
WKNR (Bob Green) BEATLES IN DETROIT * Beatles Olympia Press Conference * 9/6/64
BEATLES IN DETROIT ’64: Detroit police restrain Beatle fans back when the Beatles exited the stage at the Olympia Stadium after their first of two concerts there on Sept. 6. The crowd tries to reach for a member of the group as they passed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQh6wLMUd1g
BEATLES IN DETROIT ’64: Paul extends a hand of acknowledgement to bandmate John Lennon before the Olympia crowd, Sunday afternoon, September 6.BEATLES IN DETROIT ’64: On stage at Olympia, 1st. show, Sunday afternoon, September 6.BEATLES IN DETROIT ’64: Sole sponsor of both Beatles concerts on September 6 at the Olympia, WKNR microphones definitely were there. Between the shows the Fab Four mingled with the press. Here, WKNR newsman George Hunter interviews Ringo Starr. Shown standing behind Ringo were WKNR deejays Gary Stevens (waving) and Bob Green who emceed both Beatles shows. Robin Seymour looks on (bottom right). (Credit: Beatles press conference audio provided by Bob Green. Above photo property Bob Green; Scott WestermanKeener13.com) BEATLES IN DETROIT ’64: On stage at the Olympia 2nd. show, Sunday evening, September 6. Tony Spina/ Detroit Free Press(click image for largest PC view)
WKNR BEATLES IN DETROIT PROMO * WKNR (Bob Green) Productions * 9/6/1964
“…Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites.” — George Harrison, Detroit; 9/6/64
THE MICHIGAN BROADCASTER | June 2014 (pg. 1.) Courtesy Steve Schram and Scott WestermanTHE MICHIGAN BROADCASTER | June 2014 (pg. 2.) Courtesy Steve Schram and Scott WestermanTHE MICHIGAN BROADCASTER | June 2014 (pg. 3.) Courtesy Steve Schram and Scott WestermanWKNR 13 Bob Green: “Yes, we were thrilled with how our ’50 years ago’ celebration went. Scott Westerman and Steve Schram joined a bunch of ‘Keener Originals’ in NYC. GM Frank Maruca, who was such a big part of Keener’s success couldn’t make it. So we skyped him after dinner so we could all say Hi. Here it’s Bob Green, Frank ‘Swingin’ Sweeney and Steve Schram talking with Maruca.” (All photos property of Steve Schram; Scott Westerman; Bob Green and Keener13.com 2014).WKNR 13 Bob Green:“The full group (back row): ‘Swingin’ Sweeney. Scott Regen. Bob Green. Jerry Goodwin. Gary Stevens. Robin Seymour. Front row: Pat St. John. John Maher (WKNR News). Jim Brooker (WKNR News). Jim Kerr (Robin Stone WKNR ’71-’72).” (All photos property of Steve Schram; Scott Westerman; Bob Green and Keener13.com 2014).WKNR 13 Bob Green:“The reenactment (June, 2014) of our first Keener Birthday in 1964. Robin Seymour. Frank ‘Swingin’ Sweeney. Gary Stevens. Jerry Goodwin. Pat St. John. Bob Green.” (All photos property of Steve Schram; Scott Westerman; Bob Green and Keener 13.com 2014). THE REDEYE CAFE RESTAURANT, MANHATTAN (Click on image for detailed view)
A MCRFB Note: The ‘WKNR Reunion Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Station Launch’ took place at ‘The Redeye Cafe Restaurant,’ 890 7th Avenue, NYC, the weekend of June 14-15, 2014. A special thanks goes out to all our Keener13.com friends, Scott Westerman, Steve Schram, Bob Green, Scott Regen and all the WKNR “originals” for sharing with us your special ’50th’ Keener moments with us from NYC. Also. A ‘thank you’ to ‘The Michigan Broadcaster’ for providing the WKNR editorial (June 2014) MCRFB posted above. Keener LIVES 24/7 at Keener13.com —
For everything WKNR 24/7 relive the Keener experience only at Keener13.com!
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From the MCRFB RADIO NOTEBOOK: 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1962
WKMH-AM
DETROIT (October 28, 1957) — DETROIT DISK BIZ SLOW: Echoing a national complaint of recording distributors in the industry, Robin Seymour, deejay-program director of WKMH, Detroit, reports that in recent weeks the best selling lists around the Motor City has been static, with fewer and fewer new records making their way onto the charts. Seymour opined that that poor economic conditions locally are to blame, but added the optimistic prediction that things should change soon, since Detroit record sales during fall and Christmas have topped each previous year for the past several holiday yule seasons. END.
DETROIT (July 20, 1959) — Robin Seymour, WKMH, Detroit, has launched a daily 15-minute segment (6:15 – 6:30 p.m.) featuring musical highlights from a different year each day, along with commentary about news events of each date. The segment is produced by Arlene Schubert, who is currently the Dearborn-based WKMH music librarian. END.
DETROIT (August 28, 1961) — Two new jocks have joined WKMH, Detroit. Bob Green, formerly with WGVA, Geneva, New York, has moved into the 8-10:45 p.m. time slot on WKMH. Ray Otis, ex-WHK, Cleveland, has taken over the outlet’s 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. across the-board-time slot and its Sunday noon to 4:00 p.m. time-frame. Bob Green will also act as WKMH’s production director. END.
DETROIT (September 11, 1961) — Plans are now on the drawing boards for deejay record hops to be run direct by local arenas, with evening jocks doing their shows direct from the spot and featuring guest recording talents. Records by the artists would be available for purchase as well by recording distributors’ rack-jobbers. The idea of deejay broadcasts from rink locations is not new. Only in recent weeks, Lee Alan, WKMH, Detroit, staged a successful teen dance at the Riverside Roller Arena in that city with such acts as Bob Beckham, Little Caesar and the Romans, also the Marvelettes and the Edsels present. END.
DETROIT (March 10, 1962) — A flock of stations around the country last August supported city drives to encourage teenagers to return to high school and reduce “drop-outs” which result when youngsters find summer employment and don’t want to go back to school in the fall. For example, Dave Prince, WKMH in Detroit, sponsored a “back to school” contest, asking teenagers to complete in 25 words or less the statement: “I’m going back to school this fall because . . . ” Winners received wrist watches and transistor radios. The response was so great that the Michigan Education Association plans to stage similar contests next year with WKMH and other Michigan radio stations. END.
DETROIT (March 31, 1962) — (Billboard Programming Panel) — Question: “Do you have special promotions or programming ideas which are designed to build better relationships with local schools and students?”
(Dave Prince, WKMH, Detroit) — ANSWER:
“Station WKMH deejays lead yells at the high schools each fall. We have our own WKMH cheerleader sweaters, megaphones, and a special series of school chants and yells, using the deejays’ names, station call-letters, etc. I also sponsor a “Back To School” contest at the radio station during the fall in co-operation with the Michigan Education Association, giving away 10 wrist watches to the best ten letters. The MEA will incorporate the idea throughout Michigan next fall.” END.
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A MCRFB Note: Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was first published from the dated editions as noted above.
NEW YORK — With three albums solid (and chart entries) and what looks like growing teenage acceptance, record companies are moving out of the surf and on to the track. There is a heavy emphasis of rock product that features gunning engines, peculiar jargon and rolling beat of what looks like the next big teenage fad — hot rod music.
One of the first labels to leap from the crest of the surf wave on to the hot rod track was Capitol Records. The firm’s Beach Boys made the transition without grinding gears, roaring from a string of surf hits to their first behind the wheel and engine groove, “Little Deuce Coupe.” The LP has followed the smash single up the chart.
Capitol Records ‘Shutdown’ LP, featuring The Beach Boys, 1963(click image for larger view)
“Shutdown” is another Capitol album that has ridden on the charts for some time, and has given the label an indication what the new swing was about. It contain various artists in hot rod garb. The label also has its West Coast surfing personality, Dick Dale, swinging in on the street rod popularity with his first hot rod LP.
Capitol is pushing hard with promotions behind the hot rod build. The label is supplying disc jockeys with a wide variety of material which includes sweatshirts carrying similar type drawings to those shown on the album covers.
The deejay kits also carry literature about hot rodding, including a pamphlet that explains the jargon and information regarding the organization of the National Hot Rod Association. In addition, deejays are being supplied with copies of the automotive publication, Hot Rod. In New York, the Capitol distributors are working closely with the hot rod club in Hempstead, and also with the Dick Clark Show. Still another part of the kit contains a sampler LP of hot rod music on the label. In addition to these LP’s, Capitol has two albums on the market that features the sounds of actual hot rodders in motion.
Hot Rod Magazine, issued March, 1963(click image for larger view)
Regional breakout listing this week shows that the “Hot Rod City” LP on the Vault record label is coming in for a share of the action. This is another West Coast label making the transition from surf to road without a hitch. Vault is being distributed by Atco Records nationally and plans are in the works for special promotions with disk jockeys. Part of the national promotion being planned is a nationwide contest which would offer hot rod racing gear prizes to winners. These would be worked out with radio deejays on a regional basis.
A flood of singles product on a wide variety of labels has developed over the last month. Del Fi and a few other labels came roaring in with albums featuring the new motor sound. END.
(Information and news source: Billboard; November 23, 1963).
The Beach Boys ‘Little Deuce Coupe’ Capitol LP 1963 (b-side)
Addendum: In this MCRFB featured WKNR aircheck, Bob Green is heard promoting WKNR’s 200 Capitol Records ‘Hot Rod Kits’ giveaway at Korvette’s Department Store, located on Telegraph Rd., at W. Chicago. The date was February, 1964. (Click link for 6:05 audio).
1 9 6 4 : T H E B E A T L E S performed two sold-out concerts at the 15,000-capacity Detroit Olympia on this day. The other acts on the bill were (in order of appearance) The 
Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry and Jackie DeShannon, before the Fab Four took the Olympia stage. After the concerts the British band stayed overnight at the Whittier Hotel near downtown Detroit before leaving for their next scheduled stop at the Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens, Monday, September 7. Both Beatles Olympia September 6 appearances sponsored by top 40 radio WKNR, Detroit.
