The only place on the web you will find great audio recordings of legendary Motor City disk jockeys, great Detroit radio stations and radio personalities — spanning over six decades — archived here in one place.
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Newly-added to the Aircheck Library repository (as listed below): 05/12/2023
01. CKLW-AM – Dave Shafer – May 25-June 7 1967.mp3
Fiat signs a contract with the Soviet government to build a car factory in the Soviet Union.
May 1966 lunar eclipse: A penumbral lunar eclipse takes place, the 64th lunar eclipse of Lunar Saros 111.
May 5 – The Montreal Canadiens defeat the Detroit Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup in ice hockey.
May 6 – The Moors murders trial ends in the UK with Ian Brady being found guilty on all three counts of murder and sentenced to three concurrent terms of life imprisonment. Myra Hindley is convicted on two counts of murder and of being an accessory in the third murder committed by Brady, receiving two concurrent terms of life imprisonment and a seven-year fixed term for being an accessory.
The Chinese Communist Party issues the ‘May 16 Notice’, marking the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.
A strike is called by the National Union of Seamen in the United Kingdom.
In New York City, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. makes his first public speech on the Vietnam War.
May 19 – Gertrude Baniszewski is found guilty of torturing and murdering 16-year-old Sylvia Likens at a court in Indianapolis, United States, and is sentenced to life in prison (she is released on parole in December 1985).
Explorer program: Satellite Explorer 32 (Atmosphere Explorer-B) is launched from the United States.
No. 9 Squadron RAAF becomes part of the 4,500 strong Australian Task Force assigned to duties in Vietnam, leaving for Southeast Asia aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney.
May 26 – British Guiana achieves independence, becoming Guyana.
Fidel Castro declares martial law in Cuba because of a possible U.S. attack.
The Indonesian and Malaysian governments declare that the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation is over (a treaty is signed on August 11).
Boat ride “It’s a Small World” opens at Disneyland.
May 29 – Sports stadium Estadio Azteca officially opens in Mexico City in advance of the 1968 Summer Olympics.
May 31 – The Philippines reestablishes diplomatic relations with Malaysia.
Source Credit: 1966 (May) WiKipedia
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Pathe-Marconi Red Carpets Motown in France, Promoting Gordy’s Acts and New Tamla-Motown Label
PARIS — Pathe–Marconi pulled out all stops this week to launch theTamla-Motown sound in France.
The European premiere of the T-M show was asell-out concert at the Paris Olympia Theater which featured most of the Berry Gordy Jr. team–the Supremes, the Miracles, Martha and the Vendettas, Stevie Wonder and the Earl Van Dyke Sextet.
To this concert Pathe-Marconi summoned their representativesinHolland,Sweden, West Germany, Italy, Switzerland,Belgium,Norwayand Denmark.Organizationcosts forthispilgrimage andthe lavish midnight cocktail party thatfollowedtheconcert amounted to some $4,000.
It was Pathe-Marconi’sbiggest promotion since the acquisition of the Capitol label 10 years ago.Advance publicity for the launching of the Tamla-Motown label included special point-of-salerecorddisplays and 50 huge posters—total area12,000 square yards–at strategic points throughout Paris. There were also display advertisements in France’s paper, France Soir.
SaidPathe-Marconipressman, M. Boullen: “The launching of the Tamla-Motown labelhere comes atatime when French record buyers are becoming more inclined to accept lyrics in English. There is now a very noticeable tendency for them to prefer the original record, in English, to the French language cover version.”
Enthusiastic Crowd
The Tamla team got an enthusiasticreception fromthe French audienceandBerry Gordy Jr. told Billboard afterwards he was well satisfied with the reaction.
Inashortspeechatthe cocktail party, Gordy said that his company always tried to put quality first and recalled that last year Tamla-Motown put out 65 singles, of which 44 got into the American charts.
First releases of the label in France include disks by the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Earl Van Dyke. Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, the Miracles, the Velvelettes, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Contours and Brenda Holloway.
Berry Gordy also announced that Tamla-Motown had signed French singer Richard Anthony. END
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Credit source information (as published): Billboard, May 1, 1965
Two months ago, Audacy abruptly dumped all of their Smooth Jazz formatted stations on HD2, including Detroit’s Home for Smooth Jazz, V98.7.
When WVMV dropped their smooth jazz format and calls on the FM side, the new station moved it over to WDZH HD2 in 2009. After fourteen years on the air, the plug was pulled on late Friday evening, February 24.
While the V98.7 format was abruptly dropped late-evening of February 24, here is a screenshot of the last smooth jazz song-history, having been played on Audacy on the morning of Tuesday, February 28. The last song played (and time), at the top. (Click on image for expanded, detailed read).
While Audacy still incorporates the V98.7 format on their website, they replaced the extensive WDZH Smooth Jazz V98.7 playlist — immediately — with a much less selective, more shortened-playlist titled, ‘Soundscapes’. Noticeably, it is a much different smooth jazz format (and with ads!) you will hear on the channel today.
On March 4, I called the Audacy listed number in Southfield (MI.). I had called to inquire whether possibly there was some techical error, maybe or, whether they dropped the station. They had confirmed (and stated also inasmuch, to the many dismayed inquiries from callers they received as well) that V98.7 is now the former, officially having been dropped just before 11:00 a.m., on February 28.
I’ve been a huge fan of the smooth jazz format since the WJZZ-106 era in the Motor City. When WVMV V98.7 first signed on in December 1995, I took notice. And I became a dedicated listener to that station throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s during its smooth jazz heyday on the FM dial, and, up until its recent demise on HD2.
Not left to mire in despair, I was able to acquire the entire V98.7 HD2 playlist which the station had used in their play-rotation, essentially the same, most notably, which the station used during the past five years. The list comprises well over 800 smooth jazz tracks and the best of smooth R&B hits, combined. I have become very familiar with all these song titled numbers. I’ve listened to the station on HD2 and Audacy for many, many years already. It was, for the most part, my favorite station I listened daily to on their streaming app.
During March (and April) I created fourteen WVMV Detroit Smooth Jazz playlists on Spotify. Each volume (numbered 1-14) lists 55-plus titles per, having uploaded every song from the acquired playlist to the Spotify platform. The only thing you will not hear will be those wonderful WVMV jingles (masterfully created by Groove Addicts in Los Angeles) interspersed between song sets played throughout hours of the day, 24/7, on V98.7 HD2.
Here is a preview sampler below for WVMV Volume #3 (click on the play button):
Not on Spotify?
To listen on your mobile device, you can download the Spotify app on the Google play store. On your PC, you can also download Spotify here. Then register and set up your Spotify account, create a password, and, just sign in. And it’s free.
Once there, click over [my name] Jim Feliciano (or you can click my name in the preview provided above or on Spotify) and then scroll down to Public Playlist. To the right of the page, click on Show all and all 14 playlists will be featured there in one place. Or, you can go here.
There are several accounts under the WVMV ‘Smooth Jazz’ banner already on Spotify. I cannot speak for those. But what I can assure you is this. What I have presented there on the Spotify platform are all those same Detroit ‘Smooth Jazz’ favorites you heard played from the WDZH HD2 rotation during the past 5 years. Guaranteed.
So If you loved (and miss today) listening to Smooth Jazz V98.7 on Audacy, pass the word! The entire Smooth Jazz Detroit playlist is now all up on Spotify.
The WJBK FORMULA 40 hits was compiled, tabulated and produced by Radio 1500’s Bob Martin and Rosemary McGann.
This survey was tabulated overall by each record’s popularity and its appeal, sales, listener requests and record airplays based on the judgement of WJBK Radio.
Previewed for the week of April 21, 1958
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Above featured WJBK chart digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
ON YOUR PC? To fully appreciate this WJBK Formula 40 Music Survey for the week of April 21, 1958 chart feature click on image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.
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A sincere thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.
Above WJBK music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.
Motown’s House Band Finally Gets Their Recognition and Just Due
LOS ANGELES — After more than 40 years of obscurity, the Funk Brothers are finally earning their due.
Though this group of 13 jazz/blues artists crafted much of the sound for Motown Records’ Detroit-era hits, its contribution to the music industry only recently received widespread recognition with the Standing in the Shadows of Motown documentary (Artisan).
The title’s April 22 DVD release ($22.98, $19.98 for VHS) promises to attract an even wider American audience with such notable added-value content as extra jam-session footage and extended documentary featurettes, as well as through its joint promotional support from Artisan Home Entertainment and Universal Music Enterprises (UME). UME promoted the accompanying soundtrack, which was released on Hip-O/Motown.
PACKED WITH CELEBRITIES, HITS The Standing in the Shadows of Motown project first took wing in the 1980s. Writer/producer Allan Slutsky had been researching the bass playing of James Jamerson for a book about R&B hotbeds of the 1960s. Interest in the musician’s style led Slutsky to track down his widow, who informed him about Jamerson’s work with the Funk Brothers through out that decade and into the early 1970s. Slutsky ultimately wrote a book about the Funk Brothers and produced the documentary, which was released in theaters last November.
Through interviews and re-enacted scenes, the film documents the Funk Brothers’ rise and fall at Berry Gordy Jr.’sMotown Records. It also features performance segments with the surviving members of the house band and such contemporary vocalists as Joan Osborne, Chaka Khan, and Ben Harper. Pianist Johnny Griffith and drummer Richard “Pistol” Allen participated in the film, but they passed away before its theatrical release. (Griffith’s passing came just days before the film’s debut.)
The film’s soundtrack-which includes new recordings of “Heat Wave,” “Do You Love Me,””I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and other Motown hits–garnered the Funk Brothers’ first Grammy Awards this year, in the categories of best traditional R&B vocal performance (for “What’s Going On,”with lead vocals by Khan) and best compilation sound track album for a motion picture, television or other visual media. The project, released Sept. 24, 2002, has sold 13,000 units, according to Nielsen Sound Scan.
Motown music’s ability to captivate modern audiences is not surprising to Funk Brother Jack Ashford, a tambourine player, who says, “Each Funk Brother had a unique signature to what he did, and these combinations made Motown’s music which in turn, collectively, created theMotown sound.”
Motown’s Funk Brothers Joe Hunter, Eddie Willis and Joe Messina inside Hitsville’s Studio A, “The Snakepit.” (Click on image for largest detailed view)
Pianist Joe Hunter adds that the film “is the biggest recognition that [the Funk Brothers] have ever gotten. And because of Allan, I saw a whole lot of people I hadn’t seen in 35 years. By the time we had played our third tune together, we were at it again.”
Viewers will gain further insight into the ongoing history of the Funk Brothers through the DVD’s special features. Among these selections are a commentary with Slutsky and director Paul Justman, biographies of individual Funk Brothers, and a featurette recorded at a dinner with the group. The interactive recording-studio extra also enables viewers to arrange and record variations of the Funk Brothers tunes.
“I think the DVD will be most rewarding, because it is going down in history,” says Funk Brother Joe Messina, a guitarist who had stopped playing music for 30 years before participating in the project.
MOTOWN MARKETING Artisan and UME’s joint promotional plans are designed to interest consumers in the video and the soundtrack. UME senior director of sales and marketing Ken Patrick says, “The goal is to try to create overall Motown excitement.”
The companies will run joint consumer print ads and are working on a variety of retail promotions. For example, Tower stores will feature end caps with the CD and DVD, while a sampler of Motown songs will be free with the purchase of the DVD at Circuit City outlets.
The Albany, N.Y.-based Trans–World chain is also running print and radio ads touting the titles. Trans World video buyer Mark Higgins says, “I think the DVD is going to do great. This is a natural for us, because our business is still primarily music.”
Artisan and UME will also provide support for the Funk Brothers’ April tour with Osborne. Artisan president of sales and marketing Jeff Fink notes, “We’re trying to include our retail accounts in the tour as much as possible. We will offer concert ticket giveaways at various stops.” Tour stops are still being determined. END
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Credit source information (as published): Billboard, March 22, 2003
The Funk Brothers jammin’ on stage at Detroit’s legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in 2002. [L-R] Joe Messina (guitar), Jack Ashford (tambourine), Johnny Griffith and Joe Hunter (keyboardists), Bob Babbitt (bass), and Richard “Pistol” Allen (drums). (Photo credit: Karen Sas)
Motown Monday!A special THANK YOU to CKLW and Big 8 Radio’s own Charlie O’Brien for permitting Motor City Radio Flashbacks to display his fabulous lithograph (recently having discovered online) he penned of The Motown Records Museum, a.k.a. Berry Gordy’s house he personally had named — Hitsville U. S. A. Suitable for framing . . . that is one great sketch, Charlie!
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Note: Click on the featured image 2x for largest detailed PC view.
NEW! A special THANK YOU to CKLW’s own Charlie O’Brien, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, for providing this classic Davy Shafer ‘Fun Radio 8‘ aircheck gem for this site’s aircheck archive, from 56 years ago.
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NOTE:The featured CKLW Dave Shafer aircheck is actually two airchecks combined — as dated — edited as one.
Audio recording was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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The only place on the web you will find great audio recordings of legendary Motor City disk jockeys, great Detroit radio stations and radio personalities — spanning over six decades — archived here in one place.
