June 2015 – Page 2 – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS ’68 . . . JUNE 15, 1968

From the MCRFB news archive: 1968

Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1968

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 1966 — **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

The former Phelps Lounge establishment, 9006 Oakman Ave., Detroit, as it appeared several years ago. — 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).

‘HERE COME DA JUDGE!’ HOT IN DETROIT IN JUNE, ’68!

“HERE COME DA JUDGE” * The Buena Vistas * MARQUEE (June, 1968)

A MCRFB Note: The phrase “here come the judge,” came off the heels of the TV popularity of the NBC prime-time comedy show, Rowan and Martin’s ‘Laugh-In.’ Pigmeat Markham first donned the catchy phrase during the NBC series’ second season in 1968. A local R&B group, the Buena Vistas, also got caught up the act. Charted on Detroit’s Top 40 CKLW and WKNR, the instrumental played the charts on Detroit’s R&B stations WCHB and WJLB, June, 1968.

HERE COMES THE JUDGE! A MOTOWN PHRASE FOR ’68!

“HERE COMES THE JUDGE” * Shorty Long * SOUL (June, 1968)

A MCRFB Note: The phrase “here come the judge,” came off the heels of the TV popularity of the NBC prime-time comedy show, Rowan and Martin’s ‘Laugh-In.’ Pigmeat Markham first donned the catchy phrase during the NBC series’ second season in 1968. Locally, Motown’s Shorty Long found himself caught up with ‘the judge’ act as well. His single made the ‘soul radio’ playlist on Detroit’s R&B WCHB-AM and WJLB-AM, June, 1968.

THIS WEEK 50 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!

NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’65 * The Byrds * WEEK OF 6/20 – 6/26/65

THIRTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds peaked No. 01 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100 week of June 20 through June 26, 1965. (source: Billboard).

MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1965 GO HERE.