NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA * JULY 19-25, 1970
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SEVENTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “(They Long To Be) Close To You” by The Carpenters peaked at #1 this month (4 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending July 19 through August 21, 1970. (Source: Billboard)
For our previous Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits go HERE
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Where would we be without the internet today? Three days!
Our internet provider (Comcast) shut down completely (on Sunday) during a severe thunderstorm we experienced here in Detroit. Therefore, we were set back not having posted any new features on this site for a couple of days.
But Comcast finally came through for us (sometime during the 10 AM hour) today, Tuesday.
And so we are back in the groove on Motor City Radio Flashbacks . . . .
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1965
WGPR Making Waves in Detroit with Increased Remote Broadcasting
DETROIT — A radio station that’s “kinda movin’ ” gets listeners and WGPR-FM is a station constantly on the move. Floyd M. Jones, station manager, said the station is “No. 1 among FM stations and No. 3 among stations – period.”
Probably the strongest example of how this station moves, however, is a countdown of its remotes – 36 a week. Jones handles a two-hour daily, three – hour Saturday evening jazz record show from the Disk Jockey Lounge. Dan (Bull Frog) Harrison does an rhythm and blues record show from the Chit Chat Lounge. DJ Larry Dixon may handle a random remote broadcast, but nothing steady at the moment; however, he does have a weekly record hop.
The 50,000-watt FM station broadcasts about 20 hours a day covering a radius of 75 miles. One reason for the tremendous success enjoyed by the station, Jones said, is that some 87 per cent of Detroit’s Negro element has FM radios. “But it’s more than that. We’re creating the image here that FM is more than just a background medium. We’re putting out a new sound.”
While the station programs record shows for Detroit populace such as Greeks, Italians, Polish and Mexican, the main portion of each day is used with rhythm and blues programs – a total of three programs a day for a total of seven hours. Jazz takes up about four hours each day. Gospel music is played early in the morning. Sunday is devoted to remote broadcasts most of the day from local churches. The station employs about 40 people. Bob Longwell is the station’s general manager.
Another reason the station is moving, according to Jones, is that programming and air personalities aims at three important and large audience segments. “I take care of the jazz fans,” Jones said. “Larry Dixon is a teen-oriented personality. And Bullfrog is for the rhythm and blues fans.” END
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Information and news source: Billboard; July 17, 1965
MABEL JOHN on ATLANTIC RECORDS
—1966—
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The above Billboard ad was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
THE KEENER PODCAST * 04/06/06 * SCOTT W. RECALLS ’60s CLASSIC COMMERCIALS!
As much as we’d like to deny it, those commercials we saw and heard in the 60s are as much a part of our consciousness as are the rock acts we listened to on WKNR. This week we bring back some of the most memorable ad themes of the Keener era. We also answer your requests for the Radiants, the Raiders and some 1970 reflections.
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COCA COLA * JAY & THE TECHNIQUES (1967) * THE COCA COLA CO.
THE FLAG
… Is it possible to wave the flag too much … provided of course, that you wave it with integrity….
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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 KFRC in San Francisco, KHJ in Los Angeles, a short stint at CKLW in Windsor/Detroit and then it was on to WRKO in 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.
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!
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A MCRFB NOTE: Previously posted on Motor City Radio Flashbacks, February 5, 2012.
CHARLIE VAN DYKE * THE FLAG * JULY 4, 1976
** A MCRFB VIEWING TIP **
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–THE GUEST LIST–
Your last chance to hear them all. The Guest List re-plays begin today, July 1, through Sunday July 5, and it all starts at 10am Eastern/7am Pacific time. The Guest List:
Wednesday: singer Keith Hampshire, musician Bill King, The Wrecking Crew’s Denny Tedesco and Don Randi, Bill Loop (Edward Bear)
Thursday: Sirius/XM’s Phlash Phelps and Pat. St. John, Doug Podell and Robbie Lane (Robbie Lane & the Disciples)
Friday: PBS-TV’s T.J. Lubisnksy, Detroit News journalist/Author Susan Whitall and west coast musicians Probyn Gregory, Rob Bonfiglio, Morty Coyle, Jim Laspesa and Derrick Anderson
Saturday: Big 8 Day – Scott Regen, Tom Shannon, Gary Burbank, Frank Brodie, etc.
Sunday: Documentary producer Michael MacNamara (“Radio Revolution”), John Landecker (WLS), Art Vuolo, Dennis Mitchell (Breakfast With The Beatles), Peter Foldy (“Bondi Junction”/ “Roxanne”)
The Guest List will stream at the top of each hour beginning 10:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. each day, July 1-5. The Guest List. Listen HERE. Only on big8radiocom!
— A VIEWING TIP —
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A MCRFB NOTE: Yours truly — curator of this website — check out my Guest List Top 10 selections at 8:00 p.m., tonight.
Thank you, Charlie O’Brien, honored in having made your Guest List as well 🙂
THE GUEST LIST * Jim Feliciano * APRIL 23, 2020 (date initially having first aired)
(Above radio guide courtesy freep.com newspapers archives. Copyright 2020; Newspapers.com)
* A MCRFB VIEWING TIP *
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