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Debuted #29 for the week of September 6, 1966, “Respect” peaks at #6 (1 week) on the WKNR Music Guide, September 26, 1966. Having charted 6 weeks overall — on its final week on the Keener charts the Cameo single drops out at #10 for the week of October 10, 1966.
Source: The WKNR Music Guides [1966]
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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Debuted #29 for the week of August 8, 1966, “96 Tears” peaks at #2 (2 weeks) on the WKNR Music Guide, August 22, 1966. Having charted 6 weeks overall — on its final week on the Keener charts the Cameo Parkway single drops out at #7 for the week of September 12, 1966.
Source: The WKNR Music Guides [1966]
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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Debuted #27 for the week of March 30, 1966, “Better Man Than I” peaks at #10 (2 weeks) on the WKNR Music Guide, April 20, 1966. Having charted 5 weeks overall — on its final week on the Keener charts the Lucky Eleven single drops out at #13 for the week of April 27, 1966.
Source: The WKNR Music Guides [1966]
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
WKNR October 1 and October 8 1964 charts courtesy of the George Griggs collection, founder, Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
The (above and below) WKNR music charts was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
Audio is courtesy of Bob Green and Bob Green Productions, Houston, TX
ON YOUR PC? To fully appreciate the two featured WKNR Music Guides for the week of October 1 and October 8 click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.
Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over WKNR chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
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A sincere thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.
Above WKNR music charts courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.
COMING OCTOBER 7: Two more WKNR exclusive ‘Beatles at Olympia’ charts — Series 3 and Series 4 — from October 1 and October 8, 1964.
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
The (above and below) WKNR music charts was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
Audio is courtesy of Bob Green and Bob Green Productions, Houston, TX
ON YOUR PC? To fully appreciate the two featured WKNR Music Guides for the week of September 17 and September 24 click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.
Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over WKNR chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
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A sincere thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.
Above WKNR music charts courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
“This month’s personality is Christine Schumacher. She is a five foot, blue-eyed blond from Room 213, the Braille class.
I’m not going to tell you what she’s like but I’m going to tell you what she did! About a month and a half ago, she entered the WKNR Scott Regen‘s ‘Record A Record With The Supremes’ contest. Well, she won, went to Motown Studios, she recorded, “Mother You, Smother You.” It is a hit now and is it ever great.
If you haven’t heard it yet, tune to WKNR, 1300 on your radio, between 7 and 9 at night. What do you know, we’ve got a star in our school!”
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
In 2015, I was immediately captivated when I came across the second page of Wilson Junior High School’s student newsletter, *The Spotlight*, dated January 27, 1967. This brief article, penned by Debbie Tosoain, was shared by Marilyn V. Harris, a Wilson alumna, in a Facebook post on May 15 within the Wilson Jr. High School group, where I am also a member. The piece evoked a fond memory of a well-known student who was at our school during that time.
In September 1966, I was new to Woodrow Wilson Junior High, having transitioned from Bennett Elementary School. At just 13 years old, like many of us were then, I started my three-year journey at Wilson, located on Lane Street in Southwest Detroit. After reading the Spotlight article, I was instantly reminded of Christine Schumacher, a prominent student who was there during my time at the school, from 1966 to 1969.
Most of us who attended Wilson would probably agree that Christine’s kindness, intelligence, and infectious wit left a lasting impact on everyone at the school. She was always eager to engage in conversations and her smile had a special way of winning over both students and the entire faculty during her time there.
Seeing her at various school events during our school years at the time, this article rekindled a special memory about her from late-1966. Christine, who was also blind, made the long journey from her home in Northwest Detroit (Sussex St.) to attend Wilson’s specialized classes for students with special needs, as was highlighted in the January 27, 1967 Spotlight issue from that time.
[MCRFB Note: Mouse click over (PC) or tap and stretch (mobile screen) over all images for largest digitized read.]
I vividly still recall the thrill that spread through the entire school when it was announced that it was Christine who had won the “Record A Record With The Supremes” contest, sponsored by WKNR and Motown Records. This contest was heavily promoted on Keener 13 for many weeks, late in the fall of 1966, most particularly during Scott Regen’s nightly show from 7 to 10 p.m. on WKNR.
During the course of our discussion about Christine and Motown (2015), a member of the Wilson group commened that she was 62 years old (then, she would be 71 today), and that she was alive and well, living in the east side of Dearborn, on Schaefer Rd., south of Michigan Ave. Post-Wilson, it was also mentioned she had pursued a career as a school teacher, focusing on working with impaired and special needs students throughout the years.
After some time, and as the discussions about Christine Schumacher on the Wilson Junior High School Facebook page (from May 15, 2015) came to a close, I, as a fellow group member, posted my final thoughts on June 5:
“To my fellow Wilson Junior High friends . . . I’ll be sharing more–something very special about Christine, Scott Regen (WKNR), and her recording with Motown on my website, Motor City Radio Flashbacks, soon. It will relate the very moment she was told she was the winner of the WKNR ‘Record A Record With The Supremes’ contest back in November 1966.”
I hope you’ll enjoy this special memory. For this was her remarkable moment, 58-years ago. When, in November 1966, she received the call from WKNR’s Scott Regen, congratulating her as the winner who would record with Motown’s Supremes—the #1 female group in the world at that time.
Wow. Christine Schumacher! While that event may have been a brief but memorable highlight for her (and for us at Wilson) at the time, she is fondly remembered, yet still today . . . our school’s very own Motown star. 🙂
MCRFB Update: We recently reached out to Scottie Regen and he kindly provided some personal recollections about Christine and the ‘Record with the Supremes’ contest which he launched, in conjuction with Motown Records and Barney Ales, while at WKNR in October 1966 . . . from September 24, 2024, Scottie Regen, he writes:
As for Christine being the winner, what happened was the idea struck me one night, and so I reached out to my friend, Barney Ales, the head of promotions at Motown at the time, to see what he thought about it, about the possibilities a contest with Motown records could take place for a lucky WKNR listener to record with the Supremes. He listened to my idea, he thought about it . . .and, he loved it!
I had a great time being present in the studio for that promotion. All the contest finalists (including Christine) were recorded at Golden World on Davison (in early-1966 G.W. became Motown Studio B), and Brian Holland—who produced hits for the Four Tops, the Supremes, and Martha and the Vandellas—managed everything for the contest. I really enjoyed collaborating with him. In hindsight, I think Motown viewed it as a talent search, and I wish they had taken it a bit further. Christine brought a sweet, innocent vibe, and she was truly amazed to have won the contest! –Robert Bernstein (Scottie Regen, WKNR)
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A special THANK YOU to Kip Brown, of Three Rivers, MI., for having contributed this WKNR aircheck, many years ago, for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks airchecks repository.
Our contributor, Kip Brown, first wrote to us, nine years ago:
“Hello there! As I write this I am transferring a 45 year old WKNR FM log recorder reel from October of 1970. It is from a collection of them I purchased many years ago that included both AM and FM tapes from March to October of 1970. As you may know, log recorder tapes were off-air recordings done for commercial performance or if something controversial happened and management needed a playback of the incident. They were recorded at a very slow speed so as to maximize available reel space. They contain hour after hour of continuous WKNR radio, uncut. I sold copies of some of the recordings years ago from the AM tapes. Most of the 1970 tapes on this very site came from those transfers. I have never circulated the FM transfers.
Thanks, and I enjoy your site very much!”
Kip Brown
Three Rivers, Michigan | 2015/12/31 at 8:30 pm
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The featured audio presentation was extracted from an actual 12-hour WKNR logger tape from March 30, 1970. Today, we are featuring the first two hours of Bob Green’s show on WKNR from that day. Fifty-four years ago.
Bob Green is a legendary broadcaster in Detroit radio history. He began his broadcasting career in Detroit at WKMH in 1961, then moved to Miami before returning to Detroit in 1963 to join “the new WKNR radio 13”, where he stayed until early 1968. He came back to WKNR for a short period between 1970 and 1971. Bob, today, is fondly remembered as “the voice of Keener 13.” Currently, he resides in Austin, TX, after having run Bob Green Productions, which was previously based in Houston.
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About the logger tape: The logger tape recording was an essential technology for radio stations before the digital age revolutionized recording and playback.
Here’s a breakdown of what logger tape is and why it was crucial:
Logger tape refers to a continuous reel-to-reel tape used to record radio broadcasts. The term “logger” comes from the concept of “logging” or documenting broadcasts for various purposes. The logger tape would run continuously at ultra slow speed, recording everything that was broadcasted over a particular period.
The large tape would continuously record broadcasts over a 24-hour period, typically using a loop of tape that was automatically replaced once it was full. This ensured that all broadcast content was captured without manual intervention.
Logger tapes also provided evidence that specific content, like public service announcements or political broadcasts, was actually aired as required.
Broadcast verification. Regulatory bodies, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S., required radio stations to keep records of their broadcasts. This was to ensure that stations adhered to regulations and maintained the integrity of their content.
Logger tapes served as evidence in legal disputes or complaints, such as copyright issues or allegations of improper content. If there were disputes about what had been broadcasted, the logger tape served as a complete record that could be reviewed in such cases, and if required.
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Newly restored! This featured WKNR (logger tape) audio recording was digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
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The above WKNR chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
ON YOUR PC? To fully appreciate this WKNR Music Guide for the week of August 8, 1968 chart feature click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.
Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over WKNR chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
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A sincere thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.
Above WKNR music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.
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NEW! A special THANK YOU to Mark Yurko, of Langhorne, PA., for his recent WKNR aircheck contribution for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks airchecks repository.
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks extends warm, birthday wishes to Scott Regen, b. July 23, 1941. Happy Birthday! We hope your one special day was truly fabulous. And thank you again, for those wonderful WKNR radio memories, when you were the #1 night-time radio deejay on the dial in Detroit in the mid-1960s. 🙂
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Newly restored! This audio recording was digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
WKNR, WJR Hitting Pay Dirt in Detroit, Thanks to Two Air Personalities
DETROIT — Two deejays — one in the Top 40 field and the other from a ‘middle-of-the-road’ easy music station, are basically responsible for the tremendous success of radio stations WKNR and WJR here in influencing the sales of records…. and may be largely responsible for the success of their respective radio stations in reaching a large audience.
WJR station manager James H. Quello, said that his good music station was proud of J. P. McCarthy. “He’s the number one radio personality in town. Everybody knows him and he’s in good part responsible… a major factor… in influencing the sale of LP’s in Detroit.”
According to Billboard’s Radio Response Rating Survey last week of the Detroit radio market — ranked the country’s fifth radio market — McCarthy was rated No. 1 in influencing radio listeners to purchase popular LPs. The station was rated first in the same category, but what makes it a unique situation is that the station gained strength to capture the top position since a similar Billboard survey of May 16, 1964, had placed WJR in second-place behind WCAR.
And the reason, according to Quello, is the power of McCarthy. McCarthy had been with the station at one time, then left WJR in Detroit to work for another radio station in San Francisco. He returned back to Detroit since the last Billboard survey. He’s so effective that WJR placed him on mornings in their 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. time-frame, and he returns for the 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. drive time. “After all, this is the motor city of the world… a big car place,” Quello went on to say. McCarthy features mostly MOR records (middle of the road), Quello said, “but we’re programming more contemporary music now, anything short of rock and roll.”
In influencing the sale of popular LP recordings, the major stations, in order, are WJR, WCAR, WWJ, and WJBK. WJR and WCAR has most of the power; in fact, WJR’s McCarthy had 52 per cent of the total points in Billboard’s survey, followed by WCAR deejay Joe Bacarella with 36 per cent overall.
WJR, incidentally, tied for second-place with WWJ in influencing the sale of conservative type records, was No. 1 in influencing the sale of classical records, and showed up fairly well as a power in influencing the sale of folk records as well.
Both Gain
The top position in the sale of popular record singles was again captured by radio station WKNR and its popular disk-jockey, Bob Green. In fact, both station and deejay gained in strength. WKNR radio was rated at 33 per cent in May 16, 1964, but increased its influence to 44 per cent as of last week. Green increased two points to 30 per cent.
WKNR radio station manager Walter Patterson said the Top 40 station isn’t doing anything different, “but we are fortunate in accumulating listeners.” A recent Pulse study showed that the 24-hour Detroit station as reaching 292,900 separate households during a given day.
“We’re not cocky, but we watch our position closely and never let up,” Patterson said. While the station does believe in strong air-personalities, — “some are and some are not” — it also practices “playing more music and keeping talk to a minimum.” The station’s “sound” is very important,” Patterson said.
WKMH the former, now WKNR, featured a “middle-of-the-road” music format until November 1, 1963, when it went Top 40. “We’ve pulled the fastest turnaround of any station in the country,” Patterson said. “What’s happening is the more we go, the more we get.” The station plays the top 31 records and distributes 99,000 copies of the station’s own survey guide of featured songs and hits. Patterson also said the station has a “refrigerator full” of promotions and uses them as the need arises.
Also in the Top 40 market, radio station CKLW has increased its power in influencing the sales of records since the last Billboard survey. The market saw WJBK change format from Top 40, where it ranked No. 2 last May, to good music. In May 1964, it was No. 4; now it ranks second. Dave Shafer and Tom Shannon of CKLW now rank second and third behind WKNR’s Bob Green.
John Gordon, the program director of CKLW, received the Billboard nod as most co-operative in exposing new records.
Close in R&B Field
In the R&B field in the Detroit market, it was a close race, but WCHB radio came out on top in influencing record sales. WCHB had 49 per cent, WJLB had 44 per cent and FM station WGPR had 7 per cent. WJLB ranked first last May.
Bill Williams, program director at WCHB, attributed the station’s increase in influence to a “much tighter format that was launched in January.” The station also went 24-hours in April. Williams said deejays on WCHB are now faster with delivery than before. “We play 35 of the top-selling R&B records, interspersed with every third record with one we think is a good prospect for a potential hit-maker to climb-up the chart.” This has made the station very important in getting listeners to go out and buy more into the R&B product,” Williams said.
“This is a good R&B market, its the home of the Motown sound,” he said, adding that he liked to think of his market as the entire population of Detroit. WJLB, however, scored with the top disc-jockey — Ernie Durham — in the power of influencing record sales. In fact, Durham almost captured the whole thing with a 44 per cent influence in the Detroit R&B market. The second-place honors goes out to Le Baron Taylor of WCHB, who held the No. 2 spot at 27 per cent.
Interesting to note is that an FM station, WBRB-FM is now showing muscles in influencing the sales of country music records. The field is still dominated by country powerhouse WEXL, which still came up with 86 per cent of the total points, but it’s no longer a one-station field. WBRB showed up with a 14 per cent; it’s a new station since the last Billboard survey. Bill Samples, of WEXL, is still the No. 1 deejay in the motor town getting country music records sold. END
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Source information and credit: Billboard July 24, 1965
