From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

Station’s Music Format Centers Spotlight on Local Dance Hall Scenes, Jazz Clubs, Ballroom Entertainment Venues in ‘Flashback’ Show

DETROIT — Uniquely different emphasis to the “Detroit Sound” is given by a month-old program on WHFI-FM, which concentrates upon full-size dance bands with music originating in the area, or in some cases by Detroit musicians.

Both taped live performances and records are used in the show, for which Frank Sidney, society band leader for many years and now president of the Detroit Orchestra Leaders Association (DOLA) is host. Format includes also interviews with leaders and sidemen.

The content of the show, which is produced by Len Ford of WHFI, covers all varieties of dance band music-ballroom, swing and jazz alike.

One segment of the show is subtitled “Flashback” and includes recordings
from the “golden era” of big bands of the territory, as recorded in various media at theaters, radio stations, ballrooms, Great Lakes cruise ships and other locations. Typically featured are such famed bands of an earlier decade as Jean Goldkette, Seymour Simons and Del Delbridge.

This new show, exploited as typical “Detroit Sound,” is right in line with the general style of WHFI, which leans strongly on large dance bands in particular and dance music in general in its programming though the total musical offering is quite diversified. Typical if unusual is “Jazz From Britain,” using a local British announcer.

Sidney has enlisted the close co-operation of DOLA as well as of the parent Detroit Federation of Musicians (AFM Local 5), of which it is a segment. Other radio stations are co-operating by making their old recording files of old-time broadcasts and music available. In some instances the private collections of engineers and other station personnel are being tapped to present musical rarities of the big band period.

Thus Sam Benavie, formerly director of major theater and radio bands and now musical director of Jam Handy, movie producers, has loaned rarities from his own files. The revival of the dance band is being furthered also by DOLA through clinics held for younger musicians, plus the institution of their own musicians’ ball to be held this winter at the Latin Quarter. END

(Information and news source: Billboard; September 10, 1966)

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