— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
“THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS SHOW“
_______________
Aired on the night of December 19, 1968 on Detroit NBC WWJ-TV (Channel 4), 10:00 p.m., 52 years ago, on this day. Guests: Bob Newhart and Dom DeLuise, and Dennis Weaver. Plus cameos by dozens of celebrities, including Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Johnny Carson, announcing the sending of gifts of toys to children in hospitals around the country and through various charities.
(Source: Detroit Free Press; Sunday, December 19, 1968)
THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS SHOW * NBC-TV * THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1968
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” was written by Blane Ralph and Martin Hugh for a sad scene in the film ‘Meet Me In St. Louis’ (1944) and first had lines such as “it may be your last [Christmas]” and “[friends] will be near to us no more”. Hugh Martin recalled to Entertainment Weekly in 2007, “They said, ‘It’s so dreadfully sad.’ I said, ‘I thought the girls were supposed to be sad in that scene.’ They said, ‘Well, not *that* sad.'” Frank Sinatra’s version, by 1957, has altered lyrics more suitable for the jolly season as indicated by his album’s title “A Jolly Christmas” this song was included on. Judy Garland performed this song with Frank Sinatra’s modified lyrics on “The Judy Garland Show Christmas Special” in 1963.
_______________
(Source: azlyrics.com)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Keener original, Robin Seymour, has written a long awaited autobiography. “The DJ That Launched 1,000 Hits” is a fascinating read and a required addition to the library of every true Keenerfan. We caught up with Robin, now in his 90th decade of life, for a taste of the treasures to be found in his extraordinary memoir.
Robin Seymour September 2019 (Photo credit: Kevin Willett)
Here is the story of a Detroit radio and television pioneer, the great Robin Seymour. . . from his earliest days on WKMH radio, later in 1963 staying with the “new” WKNR Keener 13, to the host of “Teen Town” and “Swingin’ Time,” on CKLW-TV 9. Both of Seymour’s TV broadcasts became two of the original TV dance shows geared for teens — showcasing music legends of the day — beaming out of Windsor, Ontario into Detroit homes in the 1960s.
If you are a Baby Boomer and want to relive those wonderful days of the ’50’s and ’60’s this story is for you. It is complete with pictures of memorable Motown superstars. It is a most enjoyable read. Writer Carolyn Rosenthal masterfully captures Robin’s fascinating story from his earliest years in the service to his history making radio and television career.
You will find as well great Robin Seymour memories shared by current and former Detroit radio broadcasting luminaries —
Reflections by Pat. St. John (Sirius XM); Art Voulo, Jr. (Radio’s Best Friend’); Scott Morgan (The Rationals); Pat Holiday (CKLW); Jim Harper (ex-Detroit radio morning personality); Lee Alan (Lee Alan Creative); Jerry Goodwin (former WKNR WKNR FM WABX personality); Tom Ryan (former CKLW WOMC personality); Dick Purtan (former WKNR CKLW WOMC Detroit radio morning personality).
_______________
The legendary Detroit broadcaster passed away on April 17, this year. He was 94.
_______________
MAKES A FABULOUS HOLIDAY GIFT
AVAILABLE NOW on AMAZON BOOKS
Get the new Robin Seymour memoirs book today! Available HERE only through Amazon.com
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
“THE ANDY WILLIAMS CHRISTMAS SHOW“
_______________
Aired on the night of December 18, 1966 on Detroit NBC WWJ-TV (Channel 4), 10:00 p.m., 54 years ago, on this day. Guests: Andy and his brothers (The Williams Brothers), Bob, Dick and Don. His wife, Claudine Longet, and The Osmond Brothers.
(Source: Detroit Free Press; Sunday, December 18, 1966)
THE ANDY WILLIAMS CHRISTMAS SHOW * NBC-TV * SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1966
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is a popular Christmas song written in triple time in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released that year by pop singer Andy Williams for his first Christmas album, The Andy Williams Christmas Album. However, the song was not released as a promotional single by Williams’ record label (Columbia Records) that year, as they instead opted to promote his cover of “White Christmas” as the official promo single from the album.
_______________
(Source: WiKipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
The long anticipated WKNR book by Scott Westerman in print and available!
MOTOR CITY MUSIC!
At long last, the Keener legend is available and in print (published in 2019). It’s a tale 56 years in the making and 4 years in production, with biographical sketches of many of the original WKNR personalities, popular culture highlights from each year of the Keener era and scans of 9 years of WKNR Music Guides.
Motor City Music – Keener13 and the Soundtrack of Detroittells the story of Keener’s birth and how Bob Green, Dick Purtan, Jerry Goodwin, Robin Seymour and others found their way to the Detroit airwaves. There are classic tales of Keener and the Beatles, a contest that almost landed WKNR in court and the station’s power to raise a half million dollars for charity during a newspaper strike.
We meet two of the men behind the scenes, program director, Frank Maruca and chief engineer Jerry Martin, a duo who help craft both the sound and the vibe that made WKNR jump out of your radio and into your heart.
Music guide buffs will love watching their favorite hits ride up and down the charts, watching how the promotional pictures of the announcers morphed over the years and remembering some of the products that Keener helped sell to thousands of fans across the Motor City.
Motor City Music is a true trip down memory lane, a required reference for those of us who followed the music and a loving tribute to the talent that transformed a 5,000 watt AM station that barely covered the market into a powerhouse that became the soundtrack of our lives.
‘A Christmas Gift for You’ from Phil Spector (originally released as A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records) is an album of Christmas songs, produced by Phil Spector, and originally released as Philles 45 in 1963. Spector treated a series of mostly secular Christmas standards to his “Wall of Sound” treatment, and the selections feature the vocal performances of Spector’s regular artists during this period. The album peaked at No. 13 on Billboard magazine’s special, year-end, weekly Christmas Albums sales chart in December 1963. The album, released in the United States on November 22, 1963—the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated—was an immediate relative failure (in reception) at that time.
_______________
(Source: Wikipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Click on (COMPLETE LP) for the complete track listing on this album
PHIL SPECTOR * A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU (COMPLETE LP)
“Little Saint Nick” is a Christmas-themed hot rod song about Santa Claus and his sleigh, written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love of the American rock band the Beach Boys. The song was first released as a single on December 9, 1963, and peaked at number 3 on Billboard magazine’s special seasonal weekly Christmas Singles chart. Its B-side was an acappella version of “The Lord’s Prayer”. “Little Saint Nick” was recorded on October 20, 1963 at Western Studio in Hollywood. “Little Saint Nick” reappeared on The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album in 1964, with the stereo pressings of the album containing a new mix that removes the overdubbed sleigh bells and tuned percussion.
_______________
(Source: WiKipedia)
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
