DETROIT — (September 2) — Bang recording artist Van Morrison visited Detroit on promotion Friday and Saturday (August 18 -19) . . . TheMerry-Go-Round were in Detroit Monday (August 21) to do some promotional work . . . Talent playing at the Michigan State Fair which began Friday (August 25) and runs through Monday (September 4) included Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66; Diana Ross and the Supremes; Buddy Greco with Buddy Rich and theKing Cousins; the New Vaudeville Band; the Rationals, Question Mark and the Mysterians, and theSandpipers . . . Ted Lucas of the Misty Wizards sold a song toJay and the Techniques and it may be their next single. Lucas wrote the Wizards’ current Reprise single “It’s Love” . . . Bobby Darin opens at the Roostertail on Sept. 7.
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Information and news source: Billboard; September 2, 1967
Question Mark & The Mysterians. One of the many acts billed for the Michigan State Fair, at the fairgrounds in Detroit, August and September, 53 years ago.
Detroit Free PressSunday, August 27, 1967(click on ad 2x for largest PC view; tap on image and stretch ad on your mobile device for detailed view).
DETROIT — (03/1968) –The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Masonic Temple Auditorium, Friday Feb. 23. The show was a WKNR-FM Russ Gibb production presentation. . . Ernie Durham, WJLB disk jockey who has for years hosted a Sunday night record hop at the 20 Grand for those 17 and over, will begin a weekly Friday night hop at the club for teenagers 14 to 17. In addition to presenting popular recording acts, Durham also plans to sponsor talent shows on those evenings . . . . Sybil Burton Christopher, originator of Arthur, the popular discotheque in New York, is opening a similar establishment here called the Woodward Streetcar. The Four Seasons performed a Detroit concert Friday Feb. 23 . . . . Sammy Davis Jr., will entertain at the annual Fight for Freedom dinner to be held at Cobo Hall April 28. Cleveland’s Mayor Carl Stokes will be the principal speaker at that affair. . . . Marian Anderson performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s last Kresge Concert at the Ford Auditorium Tuesday, Feb. 13 . . . . Count Basie, Miriam Makeba, Wes Montgomery, and Jimmy Smith Trio, the Oscar Peterson Trio, and comic Richard Pryor performed together for a one-night jazz concert at Cobo Arena, Friday Feb. 23.
Detroit Masonic Temple Auditorium(click on image for largest detailed view)
Diana Ross and the Supremes are now doing one-nighters across northern United States, including college campuses . . . . The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas left town recently to participate in the Motor Town Revue at the Japanese Festival which will tour Japan for one month. The artists have be en scheduled for TV appearances, concerts, and will entertain U. S.troops stationed in areas in and about Japan . . . . The Pop Concert Committee of Wayne State University has scheduled its first pop concert for Friday, March 22, at the Ford Auditorium. Dionne Warwick has been chosen to headline the concert, along with other acts still to be selected . . . . Robbie Dee, disk jockey on WCHB, has been promoted to production manager of that station . . . . Hello People are booked into the Chessmate for one week beginning March 12. . . . Leon Isaac is the new early afternoon disk jockey for WJLB . . . . Currently in progress is the Memphis Sounds Show at the Riviera Theater through Thursday (March 29). Among the artists on that show are J. J.Barnes, Pat Lewis, the Holidays, Eddie Floyd, Pig Meat Markham, Ruby Andrews, and Barbara Mercer. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; March 02, 1968)
Russ GibbWKNR-FMJimi Hendrix on stage at the Masonic Temple(Detroit) Friday, February 23, 1968A WKNR-FM Russ Gibb PRODUCTION Jimi Hendrix (poster) Masonic Auditorium 02/23/68
DETROIT — (02/1968) — Bill Cosby appeared in concert at Cobo Arena Friday (January 26). With him will be the Pair Extraordinaire. . . . Clay MacMurray, formerly with Jay Kay Distributors here, has been appointed Midwest promotion manager for Venture Records. . . . Solid Hitbound Productions announces the release of four new singles this week on the Parliaments, J. J. Barnes, Steve Mancha and Little Sonny. . . . Paul Anka headlined for one week, Jan. 8-14, at the Roostertail supper club. Other acts during that week included the Lazy Eggs and the Utopias.
Detroit Cobo Hall circa 1968. In the foreground, looking north of Cobo Arena, is the Ford Auditorium(click on image for largest view)
Two Motown acts, the Monitors and Bobby Taylorand the Vancouvers appeared in a Motown Revue at the 20 Grand Driftwood Lounge Jan. 12 -18. . . . Nina Simone and Detroit’s Gerald Wilson and his band are booked into the Masonic Auditorium for Saturday (27). . . . The Sam and Dave Revue will come through here Feb. 2 at Cobo Hall, presented by LBJ Productions. . . Aretha Franklin is scheduled to appear in concert early next month, also at Cobo Hall. Sharing the bill with her will be the Young-Holt Unlimited and Erma Franklin, backed by an orchestra with strings. . . . The Fantastic Four will make their 20 Grand debut with the Detroit Emeralds Friday (26). . . . The entertainment lineup for the annual Autorama at Cobb Hall, Friday through Sunday (19-21) include the Bob Seger System, the Rationals, the Scott Richard Case, the Camel Drivers, the Amboy Dukes and the Tallasmen. . . . Pianist Seymour Bernstein played a series of concerts at the Detroit Institute of Arts during the week of Jan. 12, after Kaebi Laretel had to cancel because of illness. Bernstein performed unnamed selections, then called for children in the audience to suggest titles. Their impressions of the music were surprisingly close to those of the composers’. . . . On Friday Jan. 12, Al Hirt and Pee-Wee and the Young Set appeared in concert with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sixten Ehrling. The concert took place at the Ford Auditorium, and was a benefit performance for the Symphony’s pension and maintenance funds. . . . Disk jockey Tom Shannon will do his second TV production with WJBK Channel 2. Shannon will discuss the record business with other disk jockeys. A Sonny and Cher movie feature will be included as part of the program. END.
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(Information and news source: Billboard: February 10, 1968)
The Henry and Edsel Ford Memorial Auditorium (facing Jefferson Ave.), early 1960s.
DETROIT — (02/1968) —Janis Ian appeared in concert Friday (26) at the Masonic Auditorium . . . . The Sam and Dave Revue opened Friday (2) at Cobo Hall, including an 18-piece orchestra and other acts from the Stax/Volt stable of artists. . . . Rhetta Hughes appeared in the Roostertail’s main dining room during the week of Jan. 18-24 . . . . Red Buttons headlined at the Roostertail for 10 days through Feb. 3, and the Four Tops are scheduled to open there Monday (12) . . . . MGM Records will present the Every Mother’s Son as part of a promotional campaign at the Roostertail’s Upper Deck for Robin Seymour‘s celebrity night on Wednesday (14) . . . . Bob Harper is the new disk jockey at WKNR, filling the all-night spot . . . . The all-night spot at WCHB is now being filled by Ron White, and Leon Ivan is the new early afternoon disk jockey for WJLB.
Dave Shafer CKLW
Dave Shafer, formerly with CKLW, is now head promotion man for Record Distributors here . . . . Tom Shannon, top disk jockey at CKLW, has scheduled his second TV production with WJBK Channel 2 for Friday (16). The format of the show will consist of a discussion about radio with other Detroit area disk jockeys. Representing the other stations in the area for Shannon’s discussion will be Ernie Durham for WJLB, Dick Purtan for WKNR, Hank O’Neal for WJBK, and Bill Williams for WCHB. Video tapes will be shown of performances by the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Every Mother’s Son . . . . Laura Lee is currently performing at the Phelps Cocktail Lounge, and James Carr has just closed there . . . . CKLWChannel 9 plans to begin a weekly taping of live, nightclub type shows at the 20 Grand Driftwood Lounge, to be telecast on Thursdays. Aretha Franklin will perform her first Detroit concert Friday (16) at the Cobo Hall Arena. With her will be Erma Franklin and the Young-Holt Unlimited . . . . Al Williams will present the “Memphis sounds Show” at the Riviera Theater for seven days, Feb. 23-29. This show will include Eddie Floyd, Barbara Merger, Pat Lewis, J. J. Barnes, the Holidays, Pig Meat Markham, the Casanovas, Dusty Williams, Denis Thomas, Ruby Andrews and Timmy Willis . . . . Don Davis, formerly the music director for Solid Hitbound Productions here, has set out to start his own operation under the name of Groovesville Records. One of the first acts signed on WCHB, has been appointed production manager for that station . . . . Motown Record Co. has filed suit for $1 million against a theater here which recently opened, calling itself the “Beverly Motown Theater.” Motown Records contends the name is a fraud on the public and an “unlawful infringement” on the Motown trade name . . . . MGM’s Orpheus is set for the Chessmate through Sunday (11) . . . . Philip’s 4 Seasons are scheduled for a Detroit concert, Friday (23).
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(Information and news source: Billboard: February 10, 1968)
DETROIT — (04/1967) — Terry Knight will open at the Chess Mate with his new revue (probably and 8-piece band) May 1 . . . . Due in May is the Beatles‘ new album called ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart Band.’ John took a full month to produce one of the cuts, “Lovely Rita,” which features a backwards track of a musical comb. Sounds, Inc., accompany John and Paul’s duet on another number . . . . Warner Brothers dug into the past and dug out “Searchin'” by the Mugwumps who are none other than the Spoonful’s Zal, Mama Cass, Papa Denny and Jim Hendricks, now in a group called The Lamp of Childhood. The Mugwumps were together in 1964 . . . . Bob Seger and The Last Herd begin a nationwide promotion tour for their new release, “Vagrant Winter.” . . . . Jamie Cole recorded “First Girl” written by Dugg Brown and arranged by Bob Seger . . . . At the Ford Auditorium on May 12 the Blues Magoos in a concert sponsored by the Chess Mate with Don Zee emceeing . . . . Patty Hawkins has a Five Americans fan club. Address is 366 W. Webster, Ferndale 48220 . . . . England’s very hot Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich planned U.S. promotional tour this month but may not make it since they just left for Australia to join Eric Burdon & The Animals on tour. They replaced the Hollies whose drummer Bobby Elliot got sick . . . . The all-girl Pleasure Seekers from Gross Pointe makes most of their adorable mini mini outfits . . . . Dick Clark bringing in the Monkees July 29 to Olympia . . . . A beautiful new teen club opens at Pine Knob Friday when Dave Shafer will be there with the Unrelated Segments and other groups. Saturday Don Zee will emcee with groups like the Epidemic. END
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THE PLEASURE SEEKERS circa 1966. From left: organist Arlene Fenn; lead singer Suzi Quatro; drummer Darline Arnone; bass guitarist Pammi Benford; and lead guitarist Paett Quatro.
(Information and news source: Detroit Free Press; Fri., April 14, 1967)
DETROIT — The Supremes, Fugitives, and New Gibson and Martin Trio have been booked for a special concert August 21 at Oakland University’s Baldwin Pavilion at Meadowbrook on the campus, for the benefit of the institution’s scholarship fund . . . . Martha & The Vandellas, the Spinners, Barbara Lewis, the Byrds, the Orlons and Vic Dana appeared for four day at Bob-Lo IslandPark, taping a series of shows for ‘Teen Town,’ emceed by Robin (The Bird) Seymour, veteran Motor City disk jockey, on CKLW-TV Channel 9 . . . . The Serendipity Singers, NBC’s “Hullabaloo,” Jack Jones, Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra, and the Supremes has booked for several days as free acts at the Michigan State Fair Music Shell, opening August 27. END
(Information and news source: Billboard; August 14, 1965).
The Supremes (w/ Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra) about to be introduced by Michigan Governor George Romney, Opening Day, Michigan State Fair, August 27, 1965.
CHECK THESE OUT!Missed any previously featured ‘FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS‘ on Motor City Radio Flashbacks? You’ll find them all archived HERE.
DETROIT — The Delphonics have just ended a 10-day engagement at the 20 Grand Club, with the Vibrations and Barbara Mason the current attractions at that spot. This is Miss Mason’s first appearance in Detroit . . . the Phelps Lounge presented a musical review May 24 – June 2 showcasing Jimmy Ruffin, the Parliaments, Bettye LaVette, Jimmy Delphs, Carl Carlton, and Louis Curry. The recording “Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music,” by the Bandwagon was one of the first to break as a result of a promotional film. The record was listed as a national breakout here (on CKLW) after an initial four weeks here of TV film exposure . . .
Motown’s Shorty Long circa 1967
. . . . Diana Ross and the Supremes have just completed a six-day engagement at the Fisher Theater . . . . from Detroit has come two productions on the popular phrase “here comes the judge.” One is by the Buena Vistas on the Marquee label and the other by Shorty Long on the Motown Soul label . . . . Florence Ballard, formerly of the Supremes now recording for ABC Records, appeared last Thursday on the Swingin’ Time TV show for host Robin Seymour CKLW Channel 9.
WCHB“Super Soul” radio will present its annual “WCHB Talent Contest” on Saturday, June 22 at the Detroit Fox Theater. Each year the station holds auditions for new local talents and presents the best acts in one show along with various artists of the Motown label. The Motown acts chosen this year has not been announced as yet.
. . . . The June Jazz Festival is booked into the Masonic Temple Auditorium for Saturday, June 22. Jazz artists scheduled to appear include Donald Byrd and his Quintet, Quartet Tres Bien. Jean DuShon, Stanley Turrentine, and the Shirley Scott Trio. . . . Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass will appear in concert on Monday, June 17, at the Cobo Hall Arena. . . . WKNR-FM has initiated a progressive rock format, slated officially commencing Monday, June 10, and reports excellent reaction after only a few days of operation, according to WKNR-AM and FM music director Paul Cannon. END
Once vibrant in its heyday as an established R&B nightspot during the ’60s and early-1970s, the Phelps Lounge, 9006 Oakman Ave., Detroit, as it appears today in this photo taken several years ago.
FLORENCE BALLARD * “Going Out Of My Head ” * ABC RECORDS (1968)
(Information and news source: Billboard; June 15, 1968).
DETROIT — Diana Ross and the Supremesare scheduled for a one-week engagement at the Fisher Theater, May 20-26 . . . . A production called Jazz Greats Volume II is booked into Cobo Arena Sunday (May 19). It will showcase such jazz personalities as Lou Donaldson, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Kenny Burrell, and the Modern Jazz Quartet, with Flip Wilson furnishing the comedy. . . . James Brown was presented a trophy by Bill Williams of station WCHB at the end of singer’s successful concert performance here last month.
Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers just ended a week-long engagement at the 20 Grand Driftwood Lounge . . . . Terra Shirma Sound Studios has recently opened a new 8-track complex here at 15305 Livernois. Some of the first productions there has been on local artists Louis Curry, Danny Woods, the Utopias, Jimmy Delphs, Ortheia Barnes and Parish, for labels such as MGM, M&S,RCA and Columbia.
WCHB has filled its late-evening spot, formerly held by Robbie D, with a new disk jockey calling himself Butterball, Jr. . . . Donald S. Condon has joined Stereodyne, the tape cartridge duplicator and manufacturer, introducing the spill-proof Dynapak tape cartridge. Condon will conduct the marketing for duplicating music, the Dynapak cartridge, and other Stereodyne products in the U. S., Canada, Mexico and Europe. . . . The Parliaments, Jimmy Delphs, Jimmy Ruffin, Bettye LaVette, Louis Curry and the Bandwagon will appear in one show at the Phelps Lounge, Friday, May 24. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; May 18, 1968)
Kenny Burrell circa 1968.
KENNY BURRELL * “Wonder Why” * Verve * ‘Blues – The Common Ground’ (LP) * ’68
Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town 1967-1968
A CKLW TV 9 ad for December 31, 1967. (Click on this image for large detailed view).
DETROIT — The Roostertail, Detroit’s largest nightclub, plans to devote one night a week to the 21 and under crowd. Disk jockey Robin Seymour will host the first “night for the young” Sunday (January 7) with four bands providing entertainment. Seymour has also taped a special New Year’s Eve TV show for CKLW Channel 9. Featured on that show will be Deon Jackson, Robert Knight, Bobbie Gentry, the Cowsills, and others . . . . Radio station WCHB hosted its annual Christmas stage show at the Fox Theater December 16, featuring Motown acts.
The annual Motor Town Revue ran for ten days (December 23-January 1). Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Marvelettes, Willie Tyler and Lester, and a new Motown group called Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers appeared for the ten-day run of the show. Stevie Wonder headlined the first five days, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles headlined the last five shows . . . . Gino Washington and Merit Music Distributors have released Gino’s successful recording of “Gino Is A Coward” . . . .
The Utopias, released their first recording locally on the LaSalle label, titled, “Girls Are Against Me,” distributed by Solid Hitbounds Productions . . . . Brenda Holloway is in town to work on her next Motown recordings. END
(Information and news source: Billboard; January 6, 1968).
A Motor Town Revue Poster. Detroit Fox Theater December 23, 1967 – January 1, 1968(Click on image 2x for largest view).
DERAM’S RECORDS own Moody Blues cancelled out of their visit to Detroit August 19. They were to appear at Meadow Brook, and outdoor theater on the main campus of Oakland University. The British group was to appear as part of a series of concerts that includes Atlantic’s Aretha Franklin, Apple’s Mary Hopkins, Reprise’s First Edition, RCA’s Peter Nero and Atco’s New York Rock & Roll Ensemble . . . WABX-FM held it’s first free concert at Tartar Field Sunday, July 20. The event drew roughly 2,500 people with such acts appearing as the SRC, Savage Grace and Plum Wine, all local groups . . . The Frost, Vanguard Records artists, returned home to Detroit from their West Coast tour rather suddenly when drummer Bobby Rigg was hospitalized after being bitten by a spider. The group made stops at the Fillmore West in San Francisco and the Whiskey Au Go Go in Los Angeles . . . Capitol’s SRC is set to launch on a three months’ tour that will hit cities from California to Toronto.
Cleveland’s James Gang w/ Joe Walsh circa 1969(click on image for larger view).
The time between August 1 through 3 was a few golden days for Detroiters. Atco’s Blind Faith appeared at the Olympia Stadium Friday, August 1, the Petosky Rock Concert and Jive Fest with London’s John Mayall, SRC, Columbia’s Spencer Davis, Savage Grace, and several other acts took place August 1 through 2, WABX radio held their second free concert August 3 with big local groups and the list goes on . . . . Fantasy’s Creedence Clearwater Revival pulled a hefty crowd into Olympia July 26. On the bill with the San Francisco group was Bell’s Box Tops, Savage Grace and the James Gang. Reprise’s Jethro Tull was to be part of the lineup but the English group did not show up . . . Parrot’s Savoy Brown Blues is set to record an album at the Grande Ballroom in August . . . Jack Bruce, ex-bassman for Cream is reportedly going around England producing back up musicians he remembers from his days backing other musicians and singers. Since he’s now a millionaire, he’s decided to get these guys on record and not worry and not worry about making money off it.
Detroit’s Flaming Ember circa 1969 (click on image for expanded view).
A festival in Detroit designed to feature English groups with Michigan groups is being worked on. Some of the artists named in the negotiations are Immediate RecordsNice, Atlantic’s Led Zeppelin, RCA’s Lighthouse, Frost, Mainstream Record’s Amboy Dukes and others. . . Motown’s Smokey Robinson has been named chairmen of the “I Care About Detroit” committee. Last year Smokey and the Miracles recorded a tune called “I Care About Detroit” which received fairly good local response . . . Val Pringle is set to appear at the Raven Gallery until August 10 . . . The city of Detroit is trying to reach the younger set through free concerts in the middle of the Motor City every Wednesday afternoon. It’s all part of a “Detroit Is Happening” program . . . Friend & Lover is slated into the Raven Gallery August 12-31. . . . A new club opened up in Detroit recently called The Birth Groups, which they don’t play there as such, instead the club will supply amplifiers and musicians are invited to come in, share the stage and jam. There is no food or beverage, just sound . . . Eddie Holland, of Holland, Dozier, Holland fame has signed several groups to his new Hot Wax label. Included in the groups are the Changing Times, Politicians, the Flaming Ember and the Honey Cone.
Grand Funk Railroad (click image for largest view)
Michigan group the Grand Funk Railroad, Capitol artists, made their first Detroit appearance at the Eastown Theater July 25 . . . They’ve recently signed to appear at the Houston and Nashville Pop Festivals . . . MGM’s Herman’s Hermits did nice business at Windsor’s Elmwood Casino in their recent 10-day stay there . . . WABX-FM announced plans to have another night at the movies. The featured film will be Monterey Pop and special guest artists will be Elektra’s David Peel and the Lower East Side . . . RCA’s Carolyn Franklin, sister of Aretha Franklin, has signed to appear at the Central Canada’s Exhibition’s “Where It’s At” pavilion in Ottawa August 23. END
(Information and news source: Billboard; August 9, 1969).
The MCRFB NEWS archive: 1967
