Day: July 7, 2012

VETERAN DETROIT DEEJAY BARS ELVIS . . . SEPTEMBER 1, 1956

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1956

WKMH’s Robin Seymour Refused Presley Plays On Show

 

 

 

 

DETROIT — When it comes to Elvis Presley, deejays are saying plenty about him these days, but one thing they evidently can’t do is ignore him. WKMH Program Director and air personality Robin Seymour in Detroit, for instance, recently took a stand against playing Elvis Presley recordings on his show, following the singer’s controversial appearance on Milton Berle’s television program.

WKMH Robin Seymour, 1956.

However, after receiving over 500 letters from teenagers who threaten to boycott his show, Seymour wrote an open letter to his erstwhile fans, which appeared on the front-page article of a Detroit newspaper, under “Teen Life.” In the article, Seymour explained that, “now that Presley was keeping his gyrations under wraps,” (as Presley demonstrated recently with an appearance the Steve Allen Show) the rock ‘n’ roll artist was persona grata on Seymour’s program once again. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 1, 1956)

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FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS ’65… AUGUST 14, 1965

From the MCRFB news archives:

IT’S WHAT’S GOING ON IN AND AROUND THE MUSIC SCENE IN DETROIT….

 

 

 

 

The Serendipity Singers circa 1965. (Click on image for larger view).

DETROIT — The Supremes, Fugitives, and New Gibson and Martin Trio have been booked for a special concert slated for Saturday, August 21 at Oakland University’s Baldwin Pavilion at Meadowbrook on the campus, for the benefit of the scholarship fund…. Martha and the Vandellas, the Spinners, Barbara Lewis, the Byrds, the Orlons, and Vic Dana appeared for four days at Bob-Lo Island Park, taping a series of shows for Teen Town, emceed by Robin (The Bird) Seymour, veteran Detroit disc jockey on WKMH, WKNR, CKLW-TV on local channel 9…. The Serendipity Singers, NBC-TV’s “Hullabaloo,” Jack Jones, Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra, and the Supremes have been booked for several days as free acts at the Michigan State Fair Music Shell, opening Friday, August 27. END.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; August 14, 1965).

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WRIF-FM ’70s NEWS BRIEFS . . . MAY 22, 1971; AUGUST 4, 1979

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1971

Detroit Rocker WRIF-FM Moves Towards 24-Hour Broadcasting

 

 

 

 

Paul Greiner, 1971; Ann Arbor Sun article. (Click on image for larger view)

DETROIT — WRIF-FM has added two new broadcasters as they move toward a 24-hour format with live programming — Dan Carlisle and Paul Greiner. WRIF started moving toward  full live coverage over a year ago. With the two new personality additions, the FM station now offer 21 hours of live broadcasting and three hours of taped programming. Both voices, Carlisle and Greiner, are familiar to Detroit audiences.

Carlisle was one of the original deejay aces at WABX-FM in Detroit before going to Chicago’s WDAI-FM where he held the 10 P.M. to 2 A.M. time slot. Carlisle will be on WRIF-FM from 3 to 7 P.M. Crossing town from WKNR-FM where he filled in from 2 to 6 P.M. is Greiner. Airtime for Greiner will be from 11 P.M. until 3 A.M. END

 

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(Information and news source: Billboard; May 22, 1971)

 

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1979

KAREN SAVELLY ACES WRIF-FM

 

 

 

Karen Savelly, 1984 WRIF Press photo. (Click on image for larger view)

DETROIT — Karen Savelly has joined the on-air staff at ABC’s WRIF-FM in Detroit. She will handle the 6 to 10 P.M. time slot. Savelly comes from WRIF rival WABX-FM, where she also worked evenings. Prior to working both stations she was at WWWW-FM where she worked weekends. Experience at these three progressive Detroit radio stations has prompted WRIF to dub her the “first lady of Detroit FM radio.”

WRIF is also introducing a new concert series called “The Friday Night Late Show,” to run from 11 P.M. to midnight. The show will present “up and coming new talent,” according to program director Tom Bender. “We’re screening the list very carefully, not only to get the best talent, but a recording of them in concert that will show off their music to the fullest.” END 

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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 4, 1979)

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