LEE ALAN! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WXYZ SHOW THEME: “ZING! WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART” [1958] by the LES ELGART ORCHESTRA

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NEW! WKNR FM-WNIC FM BACK ON THE RADIO: JIM CUTLER, APRIL 25, 1972

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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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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DAVE SHAFER! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJBK SHOW THEME: “THE HONEYDRIPPER” [1960] by THE KIRBY STONE FOUR

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Having tapped early-on radio aspirations during his high school days, Dave Shafer left Dover, Delaware for Detroit in 1961. He landed his first radio job, here, as music librarian at WJBK. Shafer eventually found his way behind the microphone – in studio – as the new “Jack the Bellboy” by the following year in 1962. And thus began Dave’s storied, three-decade broadcasting career in Detroit radio. Including stops at WCAR, WOMC, WCZY, along with a 11-year run at CKLW radio in Windsor, Ontario, in the 1960s and 1970s.

Today we are presenting Dave Shafer’s own WJBK show-opening theme. This one was from 1960 – THE HONEYDRIPPER – by the Kirby Stone Four.

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TERRY KNIGHT! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJBK SHOW THEME: “WILD TWIST” [1962] by THE ROLLER COASTERS

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Introduced to radio in 1961 during his college days at Alma College, Terry Knight was an aspiring 19-year old disc jockey at WTAC when he left the Flint station for WJBK in 1963. Hired for the vacated slot left open when Dave Shafer left the station (in June) for CKLW in Windsor, Knight was immediately awarded the station’s moniker “Jack the Bellboy” during the short span he was there.

Today we are presenting Terry Knight’s show-opening theme. This one is from 1962 – WILD TWIST – by the Roller Coasters. The instrumental, which he personally selected, was heard nightly at 7:00 p.m. sharp on Radio 1500.

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SPOTLIGHTING HIS WKMH SHOW THEME [1956] by THE FOUR LADS: REMEMBERING ROBIN SEYMOUR

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In 1947, and after a stint with the Arm Forces Radio Network near the end of WWII, Robin Seymour began an 18-year broadcasting career with WKMH in Dearborn. Today we are presenting his show’s opening theme. This one from 1956 – BOBBIN’ WITH THE ROBIN” – by the Four Lads (and accompanied by the Percy Faith Orchestra). The theme became his signature show-opener during the latter-1950s and was heard daily at the start of his show, 6:00 in the morning on Radio 1310.

Today, we remember this legend. Robin Seymour passed away, on this day, April 17, 2020. He was 94.

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CLARK REID! SPOTLIGHT ON HIS WJBK SHOW THEME: “I WANT TO BE HAPPY” [1961] by THE FOUR FRESHMEN

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In April 1956, Clark Reid transitioned from WJR to WJBK to become the new morning host, replacing Joe Gentile, who was moved to early-afternoons. We are presenting his show’s opening theme and this one was from 1961 – I WANT TO BE HAPPY – heard Monday thru Saturday when he signed-on for his show at 6:00 in the morning on Radio 1500.

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MICKEY SHORR! SPOTLIGHTING HIS WXYZ SHOW THEME: “NIGHT TRAIN” [1952] by JIMMY FORREST

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Mickey Shorr transitioned from WJBK to WXYZ during the summer of 1957. He was a disk jockey at WJBK for two years, starting there in 1955. When Ed McKenzie left WXYZ in the spring of 1959, Mickey Shorr took over his 3 to 6:15 p.m. weekday show. For a time Mickey also conducted McKenzie’s old Saturday Dance Party on WXYZ-TV. Denied ever having taken any pay-for-play, commonly referred to as “payola,” Schorr was terminated by WXYZ during the height of the scandal in November of 1959.

We are presenting Mickey’s show’s opening theme – NIGHT TRAIN – heard nightly when he signed-on at 7:15 p.m. at Radio 1270 in Detroit, some 65-70 years ago.

_______________Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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