A 1972 JOHNNY WILLIAMS CKLW MONTAGE
Audio
WMJC MAGIC 95 BACK ON THE RADIO! TOM INGRAM
WMJC RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS
WMJC-FM 95 * 1977 * TOM INGRAM
— WMJC 94.7 FM —
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In April 1976, WHNE, the “all-oldies” station on the FM dial, became the new WMJC. Billing itself as the new “Magic 95” playing adult-contemporary, soft rock classics. Four years after its launch, according to Arbitron ratings, the station peaked its highest in ranking overall, respectively holding at No. 2 in September 1980. WJR, held the No. 1 spot on the radio dial overall at the time. In late 1984, WMJC began to manifest a three-year decline in the rating books, competing against WNIC, WCZY for a higher share for the ‘soft-rock’ crown. By late-1986, WMJC, already a decade on the dial, was all but formally finished, unable its climb for “respectable” ratings. Greater Media, the station’s owner, dropped the format with a new set of calls, becoming WCSX. The new classic-rock station signed in — going against two formidable, entrenched rockers on the FM dial in the Motor City at the time — WRIF 101.1 and WLLZ 98.7 in March 1987.
— TOM INGRAM —
NEW! TOM INGRAM WMJC aircheck date THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1977
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In this new WMJC aircheck (September 1977) we showcase the radio talents and production skills of Tom Ingram. Tom primarily made his mark in Detroit radio via production studios — not as a radio personality — as this aircheck would seem to indicate. Tom Ingram’s production voice was heard for many years in the Detroit radio market in general, having produced and plugged hundreds of ads and radio production pieces around the dial, beginning the late-1970s and throughout the 1980s decade.
You can hear Tom’s voice in two of his ads near the end of this September 1, 1977 aircheck. One ad is for Harmony House and the other he voice-tagged for Admiral appliances.
The above featured WMJC aircheck was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY! RECORD FLASHBACK ’66
—JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS—
*****
Released May 7, “(I’m A) Road Runner” peaked at #4 (charted 14 total weeks R&B overall) on the Billboard R&B chart in 1966. B-side: “Shoot Your Shot”
SOUL 35015 (Source: Billboard Top R&B Singles)
THE MAGIC BEHIND THE DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND! ’69
WHAT DOES IT TAKE (TO WIN YOUR LOVE) [INST.; AUDIO ENHANCED] * JR. WALKER
HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED
ERNIE HARWELL * Al Kaline’s Farewell to Tiger Stadium * September 27, 1999
1934 — 2020
— APRIL 6, 2020 —
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In lieu of his sudden passing this week, Motor City Radio Flashbacks today presents Al Kaline’s ceremonial ‘farewell’ speech he gave before the start of the final game at Tiger Stadium, Monday, September 27, 1999.
Introduction by Ernie Harwell. Broadcast on WJR 760, Detroit
— ABOUT THESE IMAGES —
Above newspaper images courtesy from the freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2019. Newspapers.com.
The above featured images was ‘clipped,’ saved, and digitally imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
— A VIEWING TIP —
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All newspaper images courtesy of the Detroit Free Press
TOM CLAY: ‘WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO . . .’ CKLW, 1964
— TOM CLAY —
In 1964, Tom Clay, the widely-popular radio personality heard on CKLW in Detroit, used to recite his composition, “What Ever Happened To,” heard more than occasionally during his evening shows while on the air, some 57-years ago.
Adapted from the 1962 motion picture soundtrack album, Mondo Cane, the background instrumental track Tom played, was titled, “More,” heard softly in the background while he recited his self-authored piece, “Whatever Happened . . .” to his large radio teen audience in the Motor City in 1963 and in 1964.
The legendary (and controversial) Detroit radio star was also heard on WJBK (’50s), WQTE (1960) and on WWWW FM (1970). Tom Clay passed away at the age of 66 from lung cancer in Los Angeles, California on November 22, 1995.
Soundtrack music conducted by Riz Ortolani and Nino Oliviero
WQTE 560 DETROIT RADIO PAMS SERIES #14: 1960-1961
WQTE ‘PAMS’ Jingle Pak on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS
WQTE-AM * Series 14 * 1960-1961
PAMS #14 “DRAMATIC SIGNATURES” SERIES
—1960—
A NOTE ON THESE WQTE JINGLES
While Motor City Radio Flashbacks had this WQTE package (unmarked) in the collection for years now, we didn’t know with any degree of certainly what year and what series this jingles package was initially numbered when it was created by PAMS, 60 years ago.
A special THANK YOU to website contributor Frederick Vobbe for providing the proper numbered PAMS series originally tagged with this classic WQTE jingle package.
Frederick R. Vobbe was the former engineer at Greater Media WHNE/WHND/WMJC in Birmingham, MI., late-70s through the 1980s.
Today he resides in Lima, Ohio, where he is chief engineer for radio and television in that market.
The featured WQTE jingle package has been digitally enhanced in sound by Motor City Radio Flashback
WHND 560 AM BACK ON THE RADIO! DR. BOB HEYDEN
WHND RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS
WHND-AM 560 * 1991 * BOB HEYDEN
NEW! BOB HEYDEN WHND aircheck date SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 1991
*****
— WHNE FM ‘HONEYRADIO’ WHND AM —
In August 1973, Detroit oldies station WHFI 94.7 FM became the former when the station changed its call letters to WHNE. WHNE, better known as ‘Honeyradio’ since its beginning, promoted and increased their own “All-Oldies” brand (1955-1970) on “FM 95” under the direction of FM automation programmers Bill Drake and Lester Chenault, owners of Drake/Chenault Enterprises.
By April 1976, Greater Media, owners of WHNE 95 and WQTE 560, dropped the oldies format on the FM side and changed formats to adult contemporary, playing soft-rock favorites on the new WMJC “Magic 95”.
WQTE (at time playing “Beautiful Music”) became the new WHND in April 1976, retaining the FM automated ‘All-Oldies’ banner on AM after having made its mark as “Honeyradio” on 94.7 FM. Four years later, the automation was dropped on WHND for live in-studio disk Jockeys, latter-1980.
By 1991, WHND was billed to be the oldest, all oldies radio station in the nation still on the dial. The station notched its place on 560 AM having played the biggest hits from the rock ‘n’ roll era for over 18 incredible years in the Motor City.
WHND’s amazing run came to an end on November 25, 1994, when, just before sundown, Fred “Boogie” Brian closed out ‘Honeyradio’ with a farewell and final song, “I’ll Remember You,” by Elvis Presley.
The above featured aircheck was audio enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
WJR 760 AM BACK ON THE RADIO: J. P. MCCARTHY
WJR RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS
WJR-AM 760 * 1991 * J. P. McCARTHY
NEW! J. P. McCARTHY WJR aircheck date: unknown FEBRUARY 1991
__________________
BYRON MacGREGOR
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In this brief interview, J. P. speaks with Byron about the current 1991 resurgence of his 1974 patriotic hit, “The Americans”.
NOTE: This WJR interview was conducted some days before the Gulf War came to a rapid close, ending this country’s direct U.S. military involvement in the liberation of Kuwait. A military cease fire was declared by President George Herbert Walker Bush, formally ending the conflict on February 28, 1991.
Four years after this 1991 interview – 25 years ago – J. P. McCarthy passed away on August 16. Eight months and two weeks after we lost Byron MacGregor on January 3, 1995.
DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY: RECORD FLASHBACK ’67
—JIMMY RUFFIN—
*****
Released August 19, “Don’t You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby” peaked at #27 (charted 6 total weeks R&B overall) on the Billboard R&B chart in 1967. B-side: “I Want Her Love”
SOUL 35035 (Source: Billboard Top R&B Singles)
