WKNR FM! RUSS GIBB, BACK ON THE RADIO: JULY 1969

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Russ Gibb, WKNR FM underground DJ and Detroit rock & roll visionary extraordinaire, passed away at the age of 87 on April 30, 2019.

In the featured aircheck, Russ Gibb interviews Jeff Beck on his Saturday mid-afternoon show. Inasmuch, Beck was billed to perform at the Grande Ballroom that same night. On another note, and across town as well, Creedence Clearwater Revival was to take the stage at the Olympia at 8:30 p.m.

In wake of his passing, the Detroit Free Press highlighted his career as a WKNR FM broadcaster, rock promoter, and ultimately, as an instructor/teacher in the Dearborn area. In remembrance of Russ Gibb, you can read the article online, here.

This is our very first Russ Gibb inclusion (of two) for the site’s Aircheck repository. A nameless donor, in sharing this recording, expressed complete anonymity. The said donor has made two audio contributions, here and here. He resides elsewhere outside the State of Michigan today.

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Audio was digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

**WKNR-FM Russ Gibb**, circa 1969 (Detroit Free Press file photo)

WKNR FM: ‘WHERE IS PAUL?’ JOHN SMALL PHONES JOHN LENNON, OCTOBER 1969

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It was the proverbial question raised by John Small, which he posed to John Lennon (via telephone), who was in London at the time. It was October of 1969. Three days after Russ Gibb fueled the rumor when WKNR FM aired his controversial two hour program, The Beatle Plot’ in his Sunday show, October 19, 1969.

In this radio interview with John Small, Lennon said that the rumor was “insane” but good publicity for Abbey Road (he further explains in the interview).

Last Friday (October 28) Motor City Radio Flashbacks featured an extension of the extremely rare and controversial WKNR program, ‘The Beatle Plot’. John Small, in collaboration with Russ Gibb and Dan Carlysle, shared their perspective, clues, and insights from their own ‘investigation’ they collective shared of the very question they raised on the night of October 19, Is Paul McCartney Dead?

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NOTE: In the event you may have missed our featured presentation — ‘Is Paul McCartney Dead? The Beatle Plot’ — you can find it HERE.

REMEMBERING A WKNR FM RADIO LEGEND: RUSS GIBB

**Russ Gibb** circa 1969 *(Photo courtesy the Detroit Free Press files)*

Russ Gibb - 1931-2019

Russ Gibb — Detroit rock visionary, schoolteacher and ‘Paul is dead’ prankster — dies at 87

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Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press Published 11:26 p.m. ET April 30, 2019 | Updated 2:36 p.m. ET May 1, 2019

(For the complete story click on the Detroit Free Press article/link highlighted above)

NEW! WKNR BACK ON THE RADIO: J. MICHAEL WILSON

**WKNR RECALLED ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WKNR-FM 100.3 * 1966 * J. MICHAEL WILSON**

NEW! J. MICHAEL WILSON WKNR aircheck date: *September (12?) 1966

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* THE GARY HUNT COLLECTION *

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ABOUT THIS RECORDING

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This is one interesting J. Michael Wilson aircheck find which Motor City Radio Flashbacks contributor Gary Hunt recently donated for our airchecks archives.

In listening in, this is not the best audio insofar as quality, as you will note. But it is the 10 p.m. night time hour. And you’re listening to the J. Michael Wilson Show in Detroit on WKNR in August 1966.

At first listen, I thought this aircheck probably had been recorded by someone who resided somewhere possibly east of the Detroit map at the time. As we know, the 1310 transmitted signal was deficient during the night time hours after sundown east of the city.

So I wrote back to Gary in regards, and here was his response, “the J. Michael Wilson aircheck was recorded at my best friend’s (Bob Becker) house on Covell Road N.W. Grand Rapids, MI via his TV antenna two stories high on the roof. This was from WKNR FM.”

Amazing. So there you have it. Another rare, but a classic J. Michael Wilson aircheck found, as was aired on the #1 radio station in the Motor City in 1966.

THANK YOU!

A special THANK YOU to Gary Hunt for sharing this special J. Michael Wilson memory with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

(Next week! Another NEW Gary Hunt WXYZ Jim Hampton aircheck from August 1966)

A MCRFB Note: Motor City Radio Flashbacks pulled up the WKNR Music Guide for the week of *September 12, 1966. And it appears the numbered song hits on this one WKNR JMW aircheck verifies it was recorded sometime during that particular week, as noted, for this aircheck presentation.

J. MICHAEL WILSON 1966

WKNR DETROIT RADIO: ’72 NEWSPAPER AD FLASHBACK

Sunday, January 09, 1972

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: “WKNR AM/FM PRESENTS”

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WKNR DETROIT RADIO: ’72 NEWSPAPER AD FLASHBACK

Sunday, February 20, 1972

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: “WKNR AM/FM PRESENTS”

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WKNR DETROIT RADIO: ’72 NEWSPAPER AD FLASHBACK

Sunday, March 12, 1972

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: “WKNR AM/FM PRESENTS”

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DETROIT 1972 WNIC AM 1310 NEWSPAPER FLASHBACK

Tuesday, April 25, 1972

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: WNIC-AM “Format Change for WNIC To Take Middle of Road”

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BACK ON THE RADIO: WHEN WKNR-FM BECAME WNIC

**WKNR HEARD ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WKNR-FM * April 25, 1972 * JIM CUTLER**

APRIL 25, 1972

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WKNR-FM ‘STEREO ISLAND’ LAST BROADCASTING MOMENTS

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NEW! WKNR FM/WNIC FM aircheck date Tuesday, April 25, 1972

* THE JIM FELICIANO COLLECTION *

A 1971 DETROIT WKNR RADIO NEWSPAPER FLASHBACK

Monday, February 10, 1971

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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A NEW FEATURE ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS!

DETROIT FREE PRESS: WKNR-FM ‘WKNR Is News Again!’

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