NEW! A special THANK YOU to Randall Carlisle and Charlie O’Brien for recently contributing this featured CKLW 20 20 News audio memory, from May 1972, for inclusion into our airchecks repository.
Audio digitally EQ enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
Ad restored and audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
Audio file digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
Audio file digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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Joseph Preistly McCarthy entered the world in New York City on March 22, 1933. In 1943, amid wartime, his family relocated to Detroit, where McCarthy attended Annunciation grade school and later DeLasalle near City Airport for high school. He pursued higher education at the University of Detroit starting in 1952.
At 19, McCarthy enlisted in the U.S. Army and found himself stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Despite lacking radio training, he secured a role at Armed Forces Radio to avoid relocation. After military service, McCarthy explored radio opportunities in Fairbanks and later on in Flint, where he briefly embraced the role of a “rock and roll” disk jockey, spinning hits by Elvis, Bill Haley, and the Everly Brothers.
Transitioning to WJR in Detroit in 1958, McCarthy’s career trajectory led him to KGO in San Francisco briefly in early 1963, before returning to WJR in December 1964. Back at WJR, he took on hosting duties for the “Morning Music Hall” and the “Afternoon Music Hall” initially, later becoming a permanent fixture in the morning drive and launching the “Focus” afternoon interview program.
His morning show swiftly ascended to the apex of Detroit radio, maintaining its dominance for roughly three decades until his passing. Acknowledged as Detroit’s preeminent radio personality, McCarthy was crowned “Top DJ” by Billboard in July 1966. In the late spring of 1995, McCarthy received a diagnosis of ‘myelodysplastic syndrome,’ a precursor to leukemia, and peacefully passed away in his sleep on August 16, 1995, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 62.
Today we are presenting J. P. McCarthy’s WJR show-opening theme, his first. From 1938 – BEGIN THE BEGUINE – by the Artie Shaw Orchestra.
A MCRFB Note: J.P. ultimately would use two other “themes” for his morning show on WJR as well. “Put On A Happy Face” by Bert Kaempfert, and, “Have A Nice Day” by the Count Basie Orchestra.
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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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Lee Alan, a native of Detroit, was born in 1934 and grew up in the city. His passion for broadcasting sparked at the age of 14 while he was an avid fan of WXYZ’s serial, “The Lone Ranger.” After graduating from Cooley High School, he pursued his interest in broadcasting by enrolling at Wayne State University.
His journey in radio began at WCAR, located in Pontiac, followed by a stint at WJLB. Despite a brief period of service in the Army, Alan returned to WJLB for a short time, handling the overnight shift. In 1959, he secured the all-night slot at WJBK, occasionally filling in elsewhere. However, in December of that year, he parted ways with WJBK due to what management described as “simple economics.”
Alan then joined WKMH, where he hosted two shows. In 1962, he departed Detroit for Cincinnati. Shortly after arriving there, Alan received an unexpected call from WXYZ, offering him a new broadcasting opportunity back in Detroit. At one point, he juggled roles in both television and radio, serving as the host of “Club 1270” in 1963 and later transitioning to “The Swingin’ Kind” in 1966, both on WXYZ-TV. Lee Alan concluded his radio career and retired in 1970. For decades thereafter, after opening his own ad agency, his voice was heard on countless car dealership commercials on radio and television in Detroit and around the country.
Today we are presenting Lee Alan’s WXYZ show-opening theme. From 1958 – ZING! WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART – by Les Elgart & Orchestra. One of the best remembered, if not the best, themes heard on Detroit radio in the past 60 years.
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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
NEW! A special THANK YOU to our friend, Jim Nuznoff, of Port Charlotte, Florida, for this recent contribution for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks airchecks repository.
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At 7:54 a.m., Tuesday morning, April 25, 1972, ‘Stereo Island’ WKNR-FM morning personality Jim Cutler stated without explanation that it was “an important day in the Motor City” and, with that, moments later said a final goodbye and closed a chapter in Detroit radio history with a final song, “Poem For My Little Lady,” by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.
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Jim writes (January 9, 2024) — “On the date noted on this aircheck, WKNR FM transitioned to WNIC-FM. I did simultaneously had recorded as well, the WKNR-AM to WNIC-AM at the approximate time when the transition took place. But, unfortunately, it was ruined by someone at the studio who threw the wrong switch. That action resulted in several seconds of dead air. Insofar as the AM side, I no longer have that ‘WKNR to WNIC’ tape today.” –Jim Neznoff
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Newly restored! This selected audio recording was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
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Ernie Durham, an alumnus of New York University with a journalism major, secured his initial radio position as a newscaster on WDET in Detroit during the early 1950s. During his tenure there, he also commenced hosting a jazz program. In 1955, upon joining WJLB, Durham found himself broadcasting in two different cities during his formative years in the industry. His schedule involved hosting a 3-6 p.m. show on Flint’s WBBC (formerly a Booth station, later transitioning to WTRX), followed by an immediate transition to Detroit for his nightly 8 p.m. slot on WJLB (the flagship station of Booth Broadcasting). Today, he is esteemed as one of Detroit’s broadcasting icons. After leaving WQBH, Durham returned to WDET prior to his passing in December 1992.
Today we are presenting Ernie Durham’s WJLB show-opening theme. This one from 1955 – HAND CLAPPIN’ – by Red Prystock.
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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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By the close of 1963, Don Zee had garnered significant popularity among teenage radio listeners with his “All-Night Satellite Show,” broadcast overnight on WXYZ. However, by the conclusion of 1964, his presence on the airwaves had shifted primarily to weekends, airing on both Saturdays and Sundays. By July 1965, Don Zee had departed from WXYZ altogether. Nonetheless, his resonant voice continued to captivate audiences as he resumed his overnight show, now transmitted from across the river at CKLW Radio 8-0 in Windsor, Ontario.
Today we are presenting Don Zee’s CKLW show-opening theme. This one from 1960 – TARANTULA – by The Tarantulas (which incidentally, Don also played opening his overnight shows when he was at WXYZ).
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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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Tom Clay began his radio career in Buffalo at WWOL in late 1954. After almost two years there, he eventually pursued a move for Cincinnati’s WSAI. Unfortunately, Clay’s time at WSAI was cut very short due to a format change. He was hosting the 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. nightly shift. Next stop, Detroit. Hired by WJBK, it was those same hours he occupied as “Jack the Bellboy” during the two years he was on Radio 1500 from 1957 to November of 1959.
Today we are presenting Tom Clay’s own WJBK show-opening theme. This one was from 1952 – CURTAIN TIME – by Tony Acquaviva and the New York Symphony Orchestra.
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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
