J. P. McCARTHY: SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJR SHOW THEME! ‘BEGIN THE BEGUINE” [1938] by the ARTIE SHAW ORCHESTRA

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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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LEE ALAN! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WXYZ SHOW THEME: “ZING! WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART” [1958] by the LES ELGART ORCHESTRA

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Lee Alan, a native of Detroit, was born in 1934 and grew up in the city. His passion for broadcasting sparked at the age of 14 while he was an avid fan of WXYZ’s serial, “The Lone Ranger.” After graduating from Cooley High School, he pursued his interest in broadcasting by enrolling at Wayne State University.

His journey in radio began at WCAR, located in Pontiac, followed by a stint at WJLB. Despite a brief period of service in the Army, Alan returned to WJLB for a short time, handling the overnight shift. In 1959, he secured the all-night slot at WJBK, occasionally filling in elsewhere. However, in December of that year, he parted ways with WJBK due to what management described as “simple economics.”

Alan then joined WKMH, where he hosted two shows. In 1962, he departed Detroit for Cincinnati. Shortly after arriving there, Alan received an unexpected call from WXYZ, offering him a new broadcasting opportunity back in Detroit. At one point, he juggled roles in both television and radio, serving as the host of “Club 1270” in 1963 and later transitioning to “The Swingin’ Kind” in 1966, both on WXYZ-TV. Lee Alan concluded his radio career and retired in 1970. For decades thereafter, after opening his own ad agency, his voice was heard on countless car dealership commercials on radio and television in Detroit and around the country.

Today we are presenting Lee Alan’s WXYZ show-opening theme. From 1958 – ZING! WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART – by Les Elgart & Orchestra. One of the best remembered, if not the best, themes heard on Detroit radio in the past 60 years.

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ERNIE DURHAM! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJLB SHOW THEME: “HAND CLAPPIN” [1955] by RED PRYSTOCK & ORCHESTRA

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Ernie Durham, an alumnus of New York University with a journalism major, secured his initial radio position as a newscaster on WDET in Detroit during the early 1950s. During his tenure there, he also commenced hosting a jazz program. In 1955, upon joining WJLB, Durham found himself broadcasting in two different cities during his formative years in the industry. His schedule involved hosting a 3-6 p.m. show on Flint’s WBBC (formerly a Booth station, later transitioning to WTRX), followed by an immediate transition to Detroit for his nightly 8 p.m. slot on WJLB (the flagship station of Booth Broadcasting). Today, he is esteemed as one of Detroit’s broadcasting icons. After leaving WQBH, Durham returned to WDET prior to his passing in December 1992.

Today we are presenting Ernie Durham’s WJLB show-opening theme. This one from 1955 – HAND CLAPPIN’ – by Red Prystock.

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DON ZEE! SPOTLIGHTING HIS CKLW SHOW THEME: “TARANTULA” [1960] by THE TARANTULAS

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By the close of 1963, Don Zee had garnered significant popularity among teenage radio listeners with his “All-Night Satellite Show,” broadcast overnight on WXYZ. However, by the conclusion of 1964, his presence on the airwaves had shifted primarily to weekends, airing on both Saturdays and Sundays. By July 1965, Don Zee had departed from WXYZ altogether. Nonetheless, his resonant voice continued to captivate audiences as he resumed his overnight show, now transmitted from across the river at CKLW Radio 8-0 in Windsor, Ontario.

Today we are presenting Don Zee’s CKLW show-opening theme. This one from 1960 – TARANTULA – by The Tarantulas (which incidentally, Don also played opening his overnight shows when he was at WXYZ).

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TOM CLAY! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJBK SHOW THEME: “CURTAIN TIME” [1952] by the TONY ACQUAVIVA ORCHESTRA

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Tom Clay began his radio career in Buffalo at WWOL in late 1954. After almost two years there, he eventually pursued a move for Cincinnati’s WSAI. Unfortunately, Clay’s time at WSAI was cut very short due to a format change. He was hosting the 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. nightly shift. Next stop, Detroit. Hired by WJBK, it was those same hours he occupied as “Jack the Bellboy” during the two years he was on Radio 1500 from 1957 to November of 1959.

Today we are presenting Tom Clay’s own WJBK show-opening theme. This one was from 1952 – CURTAIN TIME – by Tony Acquaviva and the New York Symphony Orchestra.

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DAVE SHAFER! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJBK SHOW THEME: “THE HONEYDRIPPER” [1960] by THE KIRBY STONE FOUR

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Having tapped early-on radio aspirations during his high school days, Dave Shafer left Dover, Delaware for Detroit in 1961. He landed his first radio job, here, as music librarian at WJBK. Shafer eventually found his way behind the microphone – in studio – as the new “Jack the Bellboy” by the following year in 1962. And thus began Dave’s storied, three-decade broadcasting career in Detroit radio. Including stops at WCAR, WOMC, WCZY, along with a 11-year run at CKLW radio in Windsor, Ontario, in the 1960s and 1970s.

Today we are presenting Dave Shafer’s own WJBK show-opening theme. This one was from 1960 – THE HONEYDRIPPER – by the Kirby Stone Four.

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TERRY KNIGHT! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJBK SHOW THEME: “WILD TWIST” [1962] by THE ROLLER COASTERS

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Introduced to radio in 1961 during his college days at Alma College, Terry Knight was an aspiring 19-year old disc jockey at WTAC when he left the Flint station for WJBK in 1963. Hired for the vacated slot left open when Dave Shafer left the station (in June) for CKLW in Windsor, Knight was immediately awarded the station’s moniker “Jack the Bellboy” during the short span he was there.

Today we are presenting Terry Knight’s show-opening theme. This one is from 1962 – WILD TWIST – by the Roller Coasters. The instrumental, which he personally selected, was heard nightly at 7:00 p.m. sharp on Radio 1500.

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SPOTLIGHTING HIS WKMH SHOW THEME [1956] by THE FOUR LADS: REMEMBERING ROBIN SEYMOUR

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In 1947, and after a stint with the Arm Forces Radio Network near the end of WWII, Robin Seymour began an 18-year broadcasting career with WKMH in Dearborn. Today we are presenting his show’s opening theme. This one from 1956 – BOBBIN’ WITH THE ROBIN” – by the Four Lads (and accompanied by the Percy Faith Orchestra). The theme became his signature show-opener during the latter-1950s and was heard daily at the start of his show, 6:00 in the morning on Radio 1310.

Today, we remember this legend. Robin Seymour passed away, on this day, April 17, 2020. He was 94.

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CLARK REID! SPOTLIGHT ON HIS WJBK SHOW THEME: “I WANT TO BE HAPPY” [1961] by THE FOUR FRESHMEN

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In April 1956, Clark Reid transitioned from WJR to WJBK to become the new morning host, replacing Joe Gentile, who was moved to early-afternoons. We are presenting his show’s opening theme and this one was from 1961 – I WANT TO BE HAPPY – heard Monday thru Saturday when he signed-on for his show at 6:00 in the morning on Radio 1500.

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MICKEY SHORR! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WXYZ SHOW THEME: “NIGHT TRAIN” [1952] by JIMMY FORREST

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Mickey Shorr transitioned from WJBK to WXYZ during the summer of 1957. He was a disk jockey at WJBK for two years, starting there in 1955. When Ed McKenzie left WXYZ in the spring of 1959, Mickey Shorr took over his 3 to 6:15 p.m. weekday show. For a time Mickey also conducted McKenzie’s old Saturday Dance Party on WXYZ-TV. Denied ever having taken any pay-for-play, commonly referred to as “payola,” Schorr was terminated by WXYZ during the height of the scandal in November of 1959.

We are presenting Mickey’s show’s opening theme – NIGHT TRAIN – heard nightly when he signed-on at 7:15 p.m. at Radio 1270 in Detroit, some 65-70 years ago.

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A CORRECTION — We are grateful from having recently heard from the quintessential, Detroit radio historian, David Carson (July 7, 2024), author of ‘Rockin’ Down the Dial’.

David pointed out a couple of date anomalies he found in the Mickey Shorr post this site presented, above:

“Mickey Shorr took over the 7:00 pm to 12:30 am evening hours on WJBK in June, 1955. His last show on WJBK was broadcast on Saturday, April 29, 1956 – not in 1957. His first day on the air at WXYZ was Monday, August 27, 1956.

You also mentioned that Mickey filled in for Ed McKenzie on his TV show in the summer of ’58 – this is correct. However, upon his return from medical leave Ed decided to give up his show: “Ed McKenzie’s Saturday Party.” The show was renamed “Mickey’s Saturday Dance Party” and moved to 3:30 in the afternoon where it aired from Sept. 1958 thru November 1958.”

There you have it.  It just goes to show, at times, even the newspapers we rely upon with their provided information in print (source info provided for the M.S. post was from the Detroit Free Press archive), sometimes even the publication can get it wrong.

Thank you, David, for setting the record straight. And thanks as well, for providing the two articles, below, which clearly provides added support to the correct dates we missed in our (April 15) Mickey Shorr /theme/timeline/presentation.

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