Detroit Radio Sidebar – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WCZY-FM RADIO NOTES

From the MCRFB radio notebook: 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986

WCZY-FM

DETROIT (August 1, 1981) — Bill Garcia has been hired away from WDRQ-FM Detroit to be program director at WOMC-FM. Garcia had been moving the Hot 100 formatted WDRQ into a more adult contemporary mode and into direct competition with Metromedia’s WOMC. Charter Broadcasting has WDRQ on the block. Garcia succeeds Dave Shafer, who’s moved over to WCZY-FM, which is running the syndicated Schulke II vocal-oriented Beautiful music format. END

DETROIT (January 22, 1983) — Dick Purtan is about to make one of radio’s more expensive walk across town, leaving CKLW to join Gannett’s WCZY Detroit. Not only does he have the biggest contract in WCZY’s history, topping the $200,000 paid him by CKLW, but he will also be featured on Gannett’s new U.S.A. Today Radio Network.

His current contract with CKLW expires March 1, but he’s already off the air there and it’s likely he’ll start before that at WCZY. Whatever the date, WCZY promises the biggest promotion blitz to ever hit Detroit radio. As for mornings at the Big 8, CKLW is planning to team up Tom Delisle of WDIV-TV Detroit with Purtan’s former morning partner, Tom Ryan, who will assume a larger role on the morning show. END

OPERATION GRADUATION 1985

DETROIT (June 1, 1985) — Furthering the efforts of the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and SADD (students Against Drunk Driving) WCZY-FM has come up with a promotional blitz targeting the various “prom nights” celebrations that occur annually at this time and often the cause of fatalities associated with drunk driving.

In a campaign known as “Operation Graduation 1985,” the station is seeking further to educate the youth in the Detroit area about the real dangers of drinking and driving. To get the point across, the station has enlisted the support of well-known musicians/artists Kim Carnes and the Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston, as well as local celebrities and station personalities, who have recorded urging listeners to have fun but warning, “If you’re going to drink, don’t drive.”

Rather than attempt to dissuade kids from drinking, or attempt to have them drink less, the campaign is non-judgmental in this regard. The issue is not drinking, but drinking and driving. In that spirit, a “Parent/Student Agreement” is also being made available, and kids and parents are urged to read and sign it. Basically, the student promises not to drive with someone who has been drinking. Nor attempt to drive if he or she has been drinking. The student also pledges, “If I need a ride, I will call home for one.”

On the parent’s part, the order is a bit taller, stating, “”I promise to offer a ride to my child if she/he would need it . . . with no questions asked.” END

DETROIT (August 3, 1985) — Lee Douglas takes on additional duties at Gennett-owned pop outlet WCZY-AM-FM Detroit. He’ll continue programming the FM, as he has for the past two years, while moving into the vice president/operations post. Having taken the FM head-to-head with competitor WHYT in the latest Arbitron, Douglas oversaw the station’s switch to pop in June, and the combo is now broadcasting 24-hour simulcast. END

HOT 100 SINGLE SPOTLIGHT

DETROIT (April 5, 1986) — It’s great a record shows renewed strength and regain it’s bullet. Three records rebulleted this week. The first one, “Your Smile,” by Angela & Renee (Mercury) at No. 73, pulled in strong sales reports, and the record has now gone Top 5 at WCZY-FM in Detroit. END

– (Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was first published from the dated editions as noted above).

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WHFI-FM BILLBOARD NOTES

From the MCRFB radio notebook: 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973

Station Milestones

WHFI-FM

DETROIT (August 9, 1969) — The on-air line-up at WHFI-FM in Detroit is now pretty elite. Program director Tom Coleman now has some of the best radio voices now working for him: Marc Avery, former WJBK personality. Don Zee, formerly with CKLW before Paul Drew took it over; Don Alcorn, Lee Alan, formerly WXYZ program director; and Ira Jay Cook from CHLO, St. Thomas, Ont., Canada. END

DETROIT (September 26, 1970) — Ira J. Lipson, former all-night personality at WHFI-FM, Birmingham, is now with Media Associates in Detroit, a public relations firm. END

DETROIT (June 24, 1972) — WHFI-FM, located in the suburb of Birmingham here, has picked up the rights to broadcast the “Olde Golde” program marketed by Programming General. The station was previously live with MOR music; John Allen is program director. Programming is operated by Ken Draper in Los Angeles. Broadcast Products automation equipment is being used. END

DETROIT (October 9, 1973) — Tom Miles, program director at WHFI-FM in Birmingham, reports that the station has changed call letters to WHNE-FM (Honey Radio) and is featuring an automated oldies package. END

– (Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was first published from the dated editions as noted above).

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WLBS-FM BILLBOARD NOTES

From the MCRFB RADIO notebook: 1979

Station Milestones

WLBS-FM

DETROIT (April 28, 1979) — WLBS-FM (Formerly WBRB-FM) in Detroit’s suburban Mt. Clemens, is planning to increase power from 17 kw to 45 kw for its new disco format. The station was recently acquired by New York-based Inner City Broadcasting, which also operates WBLS-FM New York. Billboard’s man in Detroit John Battaglia reports it has the following new on-air lineup: Keith Bell, from ABC’s WRIF-FM Detroit, from 6-10 a.m.; Pat Edwards, from WKLR-FM Toledo, from 10-2 a.m.; Brent Wilson, from WJZZ-FM Detroit, 2-7 p.m.; Jim Siciliano, from CJOM-FM Windsor, Ont., 7-midnight; and Tom Duggan, from WJZZ, midnight-6 a.m. Working weekends is Dennis Rice, from WWWW-FM Detroit. Edwards is also the music director and Wilson is the station’s program director. END

DETROIT (September 20, 1980) — WLBS-FM, Detroit’s Inner City Broadcasting outlet, collected well over 100,000 signatures for a giant get-well card to ailing comic Richard Pryor. END

___

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was first published from the dated editions as noted above)

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WNIC-FM BILLBOARD NOTES

From the MCRFB radio notebook: 1978, 1984, 1985, 1986

Station Milestones

WNIC-FM

DETROIT (January 28, 1978) — Jim Harper, program director of WDRQ in Detroit, is heading over to WNIC, Detroit, to do a morning show at the Dearborn-based station. And Art Vuolo, one of the world’s greatest radio buffs, is the new promotion director at WNIC and its AM affilliate, WWKR. END

DETROIT (December 15, 1984) — Changes in the Detroit personality scene have WOMC’s Peter Carey staying in afternoons but moving to WNIC FM 100, where Steve Cassidy now serves as production director. Steve, as you’ll recall, joined WCLS in the 9 to noon slot last week after a production directorship across town at WMJC. END

DETROIT (March 9, 1985) — Since Steve Gannon has exited the morning team of Harper, Gannon & You (Harper being Jim) on Detroit’s FM WNIC, rumors are milling around the Motor City have local comic Bruce Gerish slated as his replacement. END

DETROIT (March 30, 1985) — Joining Jim Harper on the “Harper & Company” morning show on WNIC Detroit is local singer/impressionist/actor Karen Paraventi. END

DETROIT (June 29, 1985) — WNIC-AM-FM Detroit puts it listeners to the test by asking the question, “What is the craziest thing you would do for Madonna tickets?” The winner was contestant Andrea Diddio, who dressed as radio sex-advisor Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Enjoying the gimmick was WNIC-FM morning man Jim Harper and staff, as Diddio went on to sing Madonna’s “Get Into The Groove” live during his show. END

DETROIT (July 13, 1985) — Celebrating a true Independence Day last week was Dick Buller, who retired as sports director at WNIC-AM-FM in the Motor City. A long-time Detroit radio talent, Buller’s 38 years in broadcasting ought to give him plenty to ponder in his newfound leisure time. END

DETROIT (October 26, 1985) — A fourth WNIC Detroit staffer leaves that outlet to join newborn pop neighbor WDTX. That’s Jim Harper, who leaves the morning shift at WNIC to program WDTX. Per contractual agreements, Harper will hold on starting his airshift on WDTX until February. END

DETROIT (December 14, 1985) — Still in the Motor City, Price AC outlet WNIC lost longtime “Pillow Talk” host Alan Almond. No, Almond did not jump over to the newest Detroit pop outlet, WDTX, as several other WNIC staffers have recently. The air talent has jumped to AC competitor WMJC. Replacing Almond on WNIC as host of the 7-midnight program is Johnny Williams, a 14-year veteran at CKLW Windsor, Canada . . . WDTX has added another new ex-WNIC staffer: Mike Bradley, who comes on board as assistant-program director, starting February 1 in the new year. END

DETROIT (September 13, 1986) — Detroit’s “soft-rock” AC outlet WNIC is sending 100 of its listeners to Booth Bay Harbor, Maine, aboard the WNIC/Trans Air jet on September 3 for a one-day trip to New England. The day in Booth Harbor starts with a shopping spree and wraps up with a traditional clambake on the beach, to put a nice finishing touch on the last few days of summer left in the season. END

DETROIT (November 22, 1986) — Tired of print polls on your popularity of lack thereof? Try turning the tables on the press and, at the same time, garner some irresistible attention from your local media writers. That’s what WNIC morning man Mike Murphy is in the process of doing with his listener poll on some of Detroit’s best newspaper columnists. The votes are still rolling in, and the winning columnists will appear on Murphy’s new morning show on 100.3 WNIC. END

– (Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was first published from the dated editions as noted above).

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WKMH-AM BILLBOARD NOTES

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.

___

A MCRFB Note: Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was first published from the dated editions as noted above.

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WXYZ-AM BILLBOARD NOTES

From the MCRFB RADIO notebook: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1971

WXYZ-AM

DETROIT (November 7, 1960) — Joel Sebastian, formerly KLIF, Dallas, has returned to his home town and WXYZ, Detroit. END

*****

DETROIT (January 20, 1962) — Joel Sebastian has returned to WXYZ, Detroit, in the 7:15 p.m. to midnight time segment, Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays. The jock left WXYZ some time ago to join WIND, Chicago. He replaces Lou Sherman and Fred Weiss at WXYZ. In addition to his daily chores he will conduct “Teen Bulletin Board” on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Coca-Cola sponsors the teen show. END

*****

DETROIT (March 31, 1962) — There has been a personnel shuffle at WXYZ, Detroit, but station program director Bob Baker reports that the station’s programming will remain the same. Marty McNeely is leaving the station, and Lee Alan is returning in the 7:00 p.m. to midnight slot. Joel Sebastian, heretofore night man, is taking over the 3-7 p.m. hours, and Paul Winters, formerly afternoon man, is moving into the 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. mid-morning-early afternoon drive. END

*****

DETROIT (March 2, 1963) — Paul Winter of WXYZ radio, Detroit, ran a promotion during National Electric Week that deejays can adapt to any time. Winter offered to pay the next electric bill of any listener who correctly estimated the number of electrical appliances in the average American home, as determined by the electrical industry. Listeners were also asked to name one electric appliance they did not own. END

*****

DETROIT (March 9, 1963) — WXYZ disc jockey Dave Prince, who recently joined the station from WKMH, Dearborn-Detroit, launched his new show by doing remotes from the sports car exhibition at the Henry Ford Museum in the Motor City’s famous Greenfield Village. Dave Prince began his first Saturday morning and afternoon show on 1270 last week (March 2) and will be doing a Sunday afternoon show on weekends as well. END

*****

DETROIT (August 31, 1963) — When it comes to televised teen-dance shows gaining popularity in several major cities across the country, local Detroit TV show “Club 1270,” aired Sunday afternoons on WXYZ-TV (local ABC-owned Channel 7) is one on top. The program is co-hosted by Joel Sebastian, and Lee Alan. Some 100 youngsters, all regular participants, sit around tables on the club-type set. Sodas and potato chips are served while teens whirl around the floor to the latest records. The talents on the show is outstanding of course . . . Trini Lopez, Freddy Scott, Stevie Wonder, etc., whether nationally popular acts or local. END

*****

DETROIT (January 11, 1964) — WXYZ Radio personalities Joel Sebastian, Lee Alan, Paul Winter and Dave Prince conducted a pre-Holiday campaign to get usable toys for hospitalized children at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. More than 300 toys were given to the youngsters at the hospital Christmas party. On a different note, WXYZ radio personality Joel Sebastian, and wife, Frances, proud parents of eight and a half pound baby girl, Laura Elizabeth, born Thanksgiving day. END

*****

DETROIT (May 11, 1964) — Lee Alan, popular night-time deejay on WXYZ 1270 in Detroit, leaves his weeknights 7:15 p.m. – midnight show to set up his own promotional and programming service. END

*****

DETROIT (February 13, 1965) — WXYZ’s deejay Marc Avery show was interrupted recently by a call that came in on the station’s “Hot Line” (a private phone number in the studio designated for pick-up for emergency calls, etc.). The caller said, “This is C. E. Hooper calling. May I ask you what radio station you are listening to?

At first Avery thought it was a joke, but when the caller persisted in the interview, he realized it was on the level and answered back, “The Marc Avery Show on WXYZ-Radio.” Avery than confessed to the caller why he was listening to the show.

On a lighter note, what Avery and the executives of the ABC-owned station are now asking Hooper whether they will still get credit for Avery taking and answering the call. END

*****

DETROIT (October 16, 1965) — Jim McQuary has joined the WXYZ personality roster in Detroit; he was formerly with WJBK in the same city . . . WXYZ also added Danny Taylor . . . David R. Klemm, formerly with WXYZ in Detroit, has been appointed station manager of WLCY, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida. END

*****

DETROIT (January 15, 1966) — Program Director Bruce Still at WXYZ, Detroit, reports that a campaign launched by air personality Marc Avery drew in roughly 20,000 books of trading stamps to buy toys for children at Christmas. END

*****

DETROIT (March 3, 1966) — Bruce Still has been named operations director at WXYZ, Detroit; Lee Alan was promoted to program director and will continue his nightly on-air show. END

*****

DETROIT (February 18, 1967) — The deejay team of Martin & Howard debuted January 30 on WXYZ, Detroit. Teams have worked well on Easy Listening format stations and if these two do well on a Hot 100 format station in a major market like Detroit, it might prove interesting for other stations. Also, Joe Bacarella, formerly program director and afternoon deejay with WCAR, Detroit, has shifted to WXYZ, Detroit, as director of operations. END

*****

DETROIT (June 3, 1967) — Dick Kernan has been promoted to assistant director of operations and Jim Nell to traffic director of WXYZ, Detroit. Perry Krauss has been named producer of the Martin & Howard show. Incidentally, Kernan will assist operations director Joe Bacarella with programming. Krauss joins from WCAR, Detroit; where he headed the Perry Krauss Orchestra. END

*****

DETROIT (November 23, 1968) — Mike Sherman has joined WXYZ in the 2-6 p.m. slot and Dick Purtan, who’d been doing both morning and afternoon drive-time show, will now just be heard mornings 6-10 a.m. Sherman was formerly WIBC in Indianapolis. END

*****

DETROIT (February 27, 1971) — William F. Lochridge has been named general manager of WXYZ-FM; he’d been with Katz in that city; Dick Kernan will continue to direct operations and programming of the station. END

___

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine; All excerpts culled as was first published from the dated editions as noted above)

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WOMC-FM BILLBOARD NOTES

From the MCRFB notebook: 1977, 1979
and (2) 1981

WOMC-FM

DETROIT (March 5, 1977) — Dave Shafer is the new program director of WOMC-FM in Detroit. He has been an afternoon personality at the station since January 1976 and before that Shafer was an air personality and program director at WCAR-AM, Detroit. Oddly enough, he once was one of the Jack The Bellboys who worked at WJBK-AM in the old days, along with Tom Clay and others. Later, Shafer was a morning and afternoon disk jockey for eight years on CKLW-AM. Then he went to WYSL in Buffalo as program director, spent some later time at WYKC in Cleveland, then returned to do the morning show on CKLW in Detroit for 3 and a-half years. Shafer replaced Joe Taylor, who left to become program and general manager of WGAL in beautiful out-of-town Lancaster, Pennsylvania. END.

DETROIT (October 27, 1979) — Metromedia’s WOMC-FM has signed two of the Motor City’s top on-air personalities. Marc Avery has moved over from WJR-AM to handle morning drive and Tom Dean has left ABC’s talk station WXYZ-AM to move into an afternoon slot.

Avery, who will be on from 6 to 10 a.m., comes from more than eight years at WJR where he was host to his “Saturday Morning Confusion” show and more recently did the “Afternoon Music Hall.” He also had previously worked in Detroit as morning man at WJBK-AM and WXYZ. He succeeds Jim Davis.

Dean, before being a talk host on WXYZ, was host of the “Femme Forum” program on WDEE-AM. He succeeds Bob Charlton, who has left the station to pursue his own business. END.

DETROIT (October 3, 1981) — Veteran Detroit broadcaster Dave Lockhart has joined the air staff at WOMC-FM hosting the morning drive program, 6-10 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Prior to his WOMC appointment, Lockhart spent 15 years at ABC’s WXYZ-AM Detroit, handling both music and news format. END.

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was published from the dated editions noted above).

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WDRQ-FM BILLBOARD NOTES

From the MCRFB notebook: 1971, 1981 and 1982

WDRQ-FM

DETROIT (June 10, 1971) — Al Casey has been slated to program Bartell’s St. Louis operation, which is still pending FCC approval, so he’s in Detroit programming WDRQ-FM. Andy Wilson is music director. Ron Thompson and Jay Stone are among the air personalities at the new Top 40 station in the Motor City. George Wilson, national director of Bartell, is managing WDRQ-FM. END.

DETROIT (August 1, 1981) — Bill Garcia, has been hired away from WDRQ-FM Detroit to be program director at WOMC-FM. Garcia has been moving the Hot 100 formatted WDRQ into a more adult contemporary mode and into direct competition with Metromedia’s WOMC. Charter Broadcasting has WDRQ on the block. Garcia succeeds Dave Shafer, who’s moved over to WCZY-FM, which is running the syndicated Shulke II vocal-oriented Beautiful music format. END.

DETROIT (January 30, 1982) — Alan Furst is the new program director at WEEP-AM in Pittsburgh, succeeding Barry Mardit, who has moved on to become program director at WWWW-FM in Detroit. Mardit succeeds Dene Hallan, who has left to become program director at WHN-AM New York (Billboard; December 12). Furst continues to work the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.air shift. Furst is not the only new program director in the Motor City. Cliff Winston has taken over full programming duties at WDRQ-FM. Operations director at “The Q” Rick Torcasso has transferred to KSLQ-FM to program that station. Both WDRQ and KSLQ are owned by Charter Broadcasting. Torcasso succeeds John Larabee, who left the station. END.

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was published from the dated editions noted above).

DETROIT RADIO SIDEBAR: WKNR-AM BILLBOARD NOTES

From the MCRFB notebook: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, and 1972

STATION MILESTONES

WKNR-AM

DETROIT (September 11, 1965) — Ted Clark, formerly with Miami’s WQAM, has joined WKNR, along with J. Michael Wilson, who was formerly with KBTR, Denver. WKNR has also promoted Paul Cannon to assistant program manager and Jim Jeffries, formerly with WKFR, Battle Creek, Mi., is replacing Cannon on the all-night show in the Motor City. END

DETROIT (January 15, 1966) — Dick Purtan, air personality at WKNR, Detroit, reports all doing fine, especially doing mornings. Purtan took the place of Frank Sweeney, who switched to the other side of the radio business ans is now national promotion director for Monument Records with headquarters in Detroit. END

DETROIT (March 5, 1966) — The Supremes, hot Motown Records artists, recently made a studio appearance with Scott Regen, WKNR, the popular Detroit (7-10 p.m.) radio personality who feature interviews with record artists on his nightly show. The famous female recording trio were featured in a five-hour special marking their nightclub opening at the Roostertail recently in Detroit. END

DETROIT (September 17, 1966) — The “Motown Mondays” at Detroit’s Roostertail Supper Club are now being broadcast on WKNR, Detroit, each Saturday at 11:00 p.m. Scott Regen is host. Artists of Motown Records appearing on the show include the Four Tops, Jr. Walker and The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha and The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, The Marvelettes, and the Temptations. This is the first time in recent years that “live” music is being broadcast on WKNR. END

DETROIT (December 24, 1966) — Frank Maruca, program director of Top 40-formatted WKNR, said he’d been holding back on Christmas records until the week before Christmas. At that point, the station will institute a formula — the Saturday before Christmas, WKNR will play one Christmas tune an hour; on Sunday, two per hour; Monday, three per hour; at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve the station will switch to a temporary all-Christmas format that includes everything from “Jingle Bell Rock” to holiday songs by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. END

DETROIT ( February 18, 1967) — Steve Robbins, formerly with WKNR-FM, replaced Jim Jeffries on WKNR, Dearborn, Michigan, beginning February 6. Jeffries has been called to six-months of active duty with the Army. Dave Forster of WLAV, Grand Rapids, Michigan, takes over Robbins’ FM duties. END

DETROIT (March 11, 1967) — Scott Regen, heard nightly 7-10 p.m. on WKNR, Detroit, has written the liner notes for the new “The Supremes Sing Holland – Dozier – Holland” album; he also wrote the liner notes for the “Four Tops Live At The Roostertail” and can be heard singing along with the Tops on “Reach Out.” Regen also introduced the Temptations on the new “Temptations Live At The Roostertail” long-playing album. END

DETROIT (April 6, 1968) — There has been some big changes at WKNR in Detroit. Departing were Scott Regen, Jerry Goodwin, and Ted Clark. On WKNR now are J. Michael Wilson, 6-9 a.m.; Ron Sherwood (from WKNR-FM) 9 a.m. til noon; Dan Henderson (from WAIR, Winston-Salem, North Carolina), noon – 3 p.m.; Gary Mitchell (from CKLW, Detroit) 3 -7 p.m.; Bob Harper ((from WKNR-FM), 7 – 10 p.m.; Sean Conrad (from WOHO, Toledo, under name of Ron Knight), 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.; and Dave Forster (from WKNR-FM), 1- 6 a.m. New men on WKNR-FM include Jerry Taylor from WAIR in Winston-Salem, S. C., and Alan Busch from WTTO, Toledo. END

DETROIT (March 14, 1970) — Bob Green returns as noon – 3 p.m. air personality and as production manager in Detroit; Ron Sherwood has been promoted to music director of the Top 40 operation. The station is revamping . . . . Skip Broussard has resigned at WMPS, Memphis, to become new program director of WKNR, Detroit. Lee Sherwood has just resigned as program director at WFIL in Philadelphia to consult WKNR. Jerry Goodwin, who jocked at WKNR since 1963, has joined WABX-FM, Detroit. He attends Wayne State University. END

DETROIT (October 17, 1970) — Bob Dearborn is now with WCFL, Chicago, doing the all-night trick. He’d been Mark Allen at WKNR in Detroit and at WPTR in Albany and back at WIXY in Cleveland as part of the original Top 40 crew. He started 10 years ago at CKOC in Hamilton, Canada, but says WCFL is the greatest station he’s ever worked at. The Top 40 operation, incidentally, is experimenting with longer album cuts at night, playing, for example, the longer versions of “Closer To Home” and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “getting fantastic response” to it, says Dearborn. END

DETROIT (April 24, 1971) — Harry C. Walker is the new general manager of WKNR and WKNR-FM in Detroit. Walker had been general sales manager at the station, Frank Maruca is out; Mr. Maruca had been with the station for many years, including its days as the market’s number one top 40 station during most of the 1960s. END

DETROIT (July 31, 1971) — Frank Maruca, has been named general manager of WKIX, Raleigh; he’d been general manager of WKNR, Detroit. END

DETROIT (August 14, 1971) — Bill Garcia has taken over as program director of WKNR, Detroit, and Bob Green is out. Garcia needs a heavy morning man, as a.m. personality Jim Tate is slated to leave the building for the very last time. Staff includes Robin Stone, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Pat St. John, 2-6 p.m., Mark Darwin, 6-10 p.m., Michael Stevens, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m., and Gary Kent, 2-6 a.m. Garcia is rating every record played and has plunged the station into a “very, very hard rock” format approach. Armed with a 40-record playlist and oldies dating back to 1954, including Chuck Berry and Bill Haley product, Garcia plans some excitement for the market. The station will be leaning towards LP cuts, and not just those cuts we think will become singles later, but cuts we know will probably be not be released as singles.” END

DETROIT (March 4, 1972) — Bob Green, former program director of WKNR, Detroit, informed Billboard the bulk of the staff at KULF, Houston, were formerly with WKNR — himself, Jim Tate, and Ron Sherwood. Green stated he is looking for a young personality to add to his staff. Format is easy listening. END

(Information and news source: Billboard Magazine. All excerpts culled as was published from the dated editions noted above).