And WXYZ had the most popular disk jockey in all of Detroit during that time both radio and TV Ed McKenzie. (WWJ) -- WWJ Newsradio 950 listeners will be hearing some familiar voices in new time slots, as Detroit's top news station announced a new anchor lineup Thursday, effective immediately. Lee Alan. By late-summer 1965, the veteran morning-broadcaster, WXYZ, under the direction of Chuck Fritz, the 37-year old general manager at the station since 1963, was by then re-structuring the stations appeal for a younger audience. Hopefully, we can keep this website going for many years, thanks to Mr. Alans kindness. Read more: Casey Kasems daughter pushes Michigan lawmakers to pass elder abuse bills, Ken The Casual One Calvert - WWWW, WABX, WRIF, WLLZ, WJR and WCSX, Related: A look inside Detroits historic Black-owned radio station. Eighty seven-years ago, according to, the station spawn birth in the Detroit area under the calls, WGHP was once a charter member (of 16 stations) that aired the first, program in 1927. I went to her house about 15 minutes before Joel said he would dedicate the song and we went for a ride in my car. was in search of its own identity with ideas for newer audience appeal. Pages in category "Radio personalities from Detroit" The following 65 pages are in this category, out of 65 total. Back in the late 60s, it was a pleasure to work with Chuck Fritz, Joe Bacarella and Marty Greenberg while I was at Grey Advertising Detroit as we tried to build the WXYZ Radio audience. No longer were the deejays allowed to play whatever, The top 40 formula at WXYZ was now growing in popularity on the Detroit radio dial. My compliments to Jim Feliciano and the MCRFB staff for this terrific site. Lepidis personality on and off air is as colorful as her hair. ET. Audacy Effective immediately, WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit has a new daily lineup. Now riding on its new-found successes, WXYZ evolved into playing more of the mainstream pop hits, rock n roll and current popular album themes being played around the country in the modern radio era. Detroit was bigger, but that doesn't always equal nicer. Few deejays had the special connection with the listeners and the artists that Regen did. Growing up in Jackson, Paar started his career at, A disc jockey for WXYZ for two years in the 50s. Earlier on, these entertaining WXYZ radio programmings were heard on many stations through the Mutual group across the U. S. and Canada. "Jim Johnson is one of the most well-known radio personalities in Detroit, with over 40 years of experience exclusively in the market," said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Detroit. ONE of radio's latest novelties is the daily program by The Detroit Times. Her show is nationally syndicated in 15 markets across the nation. It would be a Class II station. and ask do you need a live band somewhere? In a comparatively short space you have captured a great deal of the essence of the battle for ratings that took place in the 60s. Worked at the Rouge complex and was found by Tom Margellar who critiqued my released 45 which resulted in a very short and wonderful relationship about record collectiong and music in general. Regards Lee Alan. While he did not start his. He worked in markets across the nation such as WQMG at Greensboro N.C., Tampa Florida at 95.7 The Beat/iHeartMedia and afternoon drive at . Meanwhile, WXYZ, gained two percentage points from the 5 CKLW lost within a year. I too remember the days when Mr. Alan and his crew were doing wonders at WXYZ radio in the early 1960s. By April, after talking to Fritz that he should hire him immediately, Alan had Joey Reynolds making the move over to the Motor City. When I was in High School I remember going to see and talk with Joel Sabastain during one of his remote broadcasts. His influence was so strong that he started the Paul is Dead rumor in 1969. Jim Harper, who has been heard on Michigan airwaves intermittently for more than 40 years, announced his retirement today from his current post at WMGC (105.1-FM). I just posted one of his WXYZ October 10, 1966 Detroit Sound Survey charts he kindly provided to us in 2013. It was expected of us. How did it happen? Thank you Larry and may God Bless My schoolmate and I often remember rushing home to his upstairs console radio to hear our favorite DJ. He said he would pick a song and dedicate it to my girlfriend at a certain time. Happy to say, as of today, Sunday, September 15, 2019 I (and as moderator/administrator for the site) I viewed today the site stats in the dashboard panel for this WXYZ thread and WordPress Jetpack showed this article has had 6,019 hits since tabulating this post beginning in 2016. The move reunites Henson and McCormick, who previously co-hosted together at 97.1 FM Talk WKRK Detroit from 2002 to 2006. BABY! I was a young teen when WXYZ was the top station. Jason Scott, previously an afternoon anchor, has been promoted to morning drive and will co-anchor with Roberta Jasina from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays. Then For A Short TimeMorning ManTill The Drake Format Arrived. Stream live CNN, FOX News Radio, and MSNBC. DAHMER was the interim night jock on . Yes Tarantula By the Tarantulas We look forward to Greggs contributions to the next incredible chapter in the history of one of the countrys greatest Classic Rock stations., Henson remarked: Returning home to Michigan to work with Michelle McKormick and Cumulus is very exciting for me and my family. CKLW. It is still available, here. Station Events Join 97.9 WJLB at Astronomicon 6 Mar 03, 2023. rjw, Please send any info you have regarding Joe k. Bacarella and any lawsuits in which he was a participant. I remain thrilled to be working with Roberta Jasina and such professional people at such a revered station., Tune in live for all the latest news on WWJ Newsradio 950. Within the past hour, the heartbreaking news broke that Jamie Samuelsen of 97.1 The Ticket had died at the age of 48 after a battle with colon cancer. Rich in history as one of the most storied and oldest broadcasting institution in Detroit or for that matter, the entire country. These historic radio broadcasts were produced locally from the stations annex-studios, located at the former Mendelson building on East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. During the earlier top 40 transition period some of the old radio names would leave WXYZ. Martin and Howard were hired . I never missed he and Joel Sebastian hosting the Club 1270 TV dance show. The station was then sold in 1930 to the, In the 1930s and 40s, WXYZ created and brought Detroit and the country great radio programming such as, popularized nationally through Mutual affiliated stations after its premiere on WXYZ in 1933. Drake Loses $400,000 Bet After Tommy Fury Defeats Jake Paul In Boxing Match Feb 27, 2023. (He WAS on Monday Night Football from 1970-1981 but he NOT HOWARD COSELL broke the news of John Lennons assassaination in 1980! Tell me some of your favorite on-air personalities and email me your favorite radio moments at [email protected]. Now holding a 29% share, a year earlier they held a higher 34% in 1965. Lori Bennett, Operations Manager, Cumulus West Michigan, said: With the 50th anniversary of WLAV next year, its thrilling to have an innovator like Gregg join us in bringing the station to the next generation of Classic Rock fans. Gwen. Management, the entire radio staff and Lee Alan, now as program director were convinced the right formula was now in place moving forward for 1966. On top of working at WJR and having his own talk show, The Frank Beckmann Show, Beckmann also was the announcer at the Big House for the University of Michigan and for the Detroit Tigers. The list Radio personalities from Detroit, Michigan includes George Noory, Casey Kasem, Paul W. Smith, Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs . Even ex-Detroit Tiger Denny McLain, whom you may recall. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Banks built up his portfolio in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco. I would be very curious if anyone knows anything about my grandfather, Lawrence Larry Kelley. UK is grappling with vegetable shortages. Real NameDon Zemenski, My husband remembers a disc jockey named Bob Beasley during the late 60s Or early 70s on WWJ when it was music. By April, after talking to Fritz that he should hire him immediately, Alan had Joey Reynolds making the move over to the Motor City. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. The station management impressed the ABC brass in New York to drop many of the local shows and transcend to a more modern sound. 25 Feb/23. Detroit radio personality and author Steve Black is celebrating his 1,000th episode of his syndicated "The Chop Shop Guitar Show." (Photo by Scott Legato) When Steve Black began his syndicated . 26 Feb Feb In 1955, Doctors Haley Bell, Wendell Cox and Robert Bass founded WCHB. during the battle for ratings in 1966, Alan stated. Growing up his mother owned Simpsons Record Shop that was located by East McNichols Road and Joseph Campeau Avenue. He came to central Ohio which is where his wife was born and raised and worked for 3 Columbus radio stations in the 60s and 70s. Jim Matthews, the overnight news anchor at WWJ-AM radio station for nearly seven years, died in the attack, while his 35-year-old girlfriend suffered multiple stabbing injuries, said Chesterfield. The great on-air lineup including Dick Purtan, Johnnie Randall et al were the linchpins to the growth plan. Cumulus Media Classic Rock 97 LAV WLAV Grand Rapids MI has announced the addition of Gregg Henson to its morning show alongside Michelle McKormick and Travis Gibbs for what its being branded as Michelle and Gregg With Travis. Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life, Regarding the very last name listed, Don Zee.I believe he was also on CKLW overnights at least in 66 & 67 before he went to Texas where he passed from a cleaning his gun incident. That it should be dropped. Some had advocated openly to the station manager, Lee Alan among them, that network programming out of New York was killing the station. According to the Billboard trade publication dated. CUMULUS MEDIA announces that it has appointed well-known former Detroit radio personality Gregg Henson as On-Air Co-Host, Mornings, on heritage Classic Rock station 97 WLAV-FM (96.9) in Grand Rapids, MI. When WXYZ insisted that I recommend hiring Martin & Howard we all knew that with the size of that investment at stake the station would back off and drop the mainstream audience format we had going. By then WXYZ radio held down a huge Detroit audience over the competition for market share. The WXYZ line-up in late 1965 consisted of some of the greatest radio voices heard on Detroit radio during that time. So, Watch How You Drive That Automobile Now..And Dont You Dare Turn It Into a Couple of Tons of Deadly Weapon. Reggie Reg Davis is a 30-year radio broadcast veteran. The Detroit native was a newspaper sportswriter and columnist for 36 years, including at the Detroit Free Press for six . . About this same time, Jimmy Hampton was hired as the new over-night personality on 1270. Living near Traverse City, Michigan. Under the Havana Treaty, CKLW would move from 1030 to 800 kHz and continue to have a power of 5,000 watts. One last thing. I loved it!. Concerts Monster Jam 2023 Mar 11, 2023. The three of us actually went to Chuck BEFORE Keener was launched while it was still WKMH. WXYZ was in fact the legend of which you speak. Everything Detroit. Tom's career in radio spanned more than four decades. Lee Alan also had written, composed and produced the music for the new Personality-Plus jingles package (click highlighted reference for audio) for the stations new sound for 1966. FOX News Radio has been added as the WJR network news provider and WJR news reporter/anchor Marie Osborne, WJR producer Chris Renwick and former WJR news reporter Lloyd Jackson have signed on as the first WJR Senior News Analysts, covering, writing and producing stories and presenting them across the day within the local WJR talk shows. Soon to be 80 and very young at heart. Vote on the 'Top 7 @ 7' songs with Rob + Holly Weeknights at 7PM on your favorite Audacy Country station. By years end, WXYZ was now a slight 24 from the previous 22% they held in 1965. #4 of 38 on. My wife passed away in 2001 but I still remember her fondly when I think about Club 1270 and the Walled Lake Casino. In 1964 and 1965 my future wife and I were both dancers on Club 1270. Rogers was at CKLW in 1972 and '73. the scene was set for the end. Remember Nights with Alice Cooper? In July 1967, Tom was stationed downtown with his Michigan Air National Guard unit. Among the leading personalities to grace the airwaves there were Tom Shannon, Dave Shafer, Charlie Van Dyke, Frank Brodie, Terry Knight, Walt "Baby" Love, Bill Gable, Tom Rivers, Ted Richards, Scott Regen, Charlie O'Brien, Dick Purtan, Gary Burbank, Byron McGregor and Dick Smyth. In the 1930s and 40s, WXYZ created and brought Detroit and the country great radio programming such as Eddie Chases popular Make Believe Ballroom and as well, serials such as the legendary The Lone Ranger, popularized nationally through Mutual affiliated stations after its premiere on WXYZ in 1933. Learn How To Advertise On Detroit Radio . In a group of items I won at an auction there was an unused round sticker for the WXYZ 1270 Batman Club. The first radio station in Detroit went on air Aug. 20, 1920. Kasem passed away in 2014. The list consists of 66 members. Thank You. Just as we had outlined. 1 in the ratings, they became a heavy influence for record sales in Detroit. Costa is expected to contribute at night, on weekends, and to some of the station's play by play shoulder programming. The Lone Ranger, all local creations that had me glued to the receiver. But by mid-1966, not much had changed for WXYZ during their battle for higher ratings in Detroit. ITS DAVE PRINCE . Ad: In the Detroit area it's CKLW - 5,000 watts day and night - clear channel. Paul Winter, Micky Shorr and Jack Sorrell with his jazz-themed Top Of The Town. It was a bold move which proved successful. And it would unfold just as I had predicted., After just two weeks going into 1967, it was apparent the top 40 run at WXYZ was finished, over and was done. February 28, 2023 Michigan Bracing for Another Major Snow - Here's Where March 2023 Upcoming Tv Shows and Movies! But pleas towards Fritz to persuade ABC in New York to drop network programming fell on deaf ears. The top 40 formula at WXYZ was now growing in popularity on the Detroit radio dial. M o r e T o p 4 0 Y e a r s T h e 6 0 s. But by late-summer of 1964, WJBK was out of the Top 40 business. More great information can be found in Dick Osgoods book: WYXIE Wonderland if you can find a rare copy. Slagle initially came over to Detroit (WXYZ) from Cleveland in 1935. Dunbar got his start in college at Michigan State, where he did play-by-play football for East Lansings WKAR. We also saw many fine acts at the Casino. . Radio 1270 became the hottest commodity on the radio dial for local music venues and dance entertainment. Still can be heard on WNIC and seen on Fox 2 Detroit, the media personality has been juggling both radio and TV since 2004. Martin and Howard was in, Joe Bacarella was the new program director and WXYZ was officially Sound Of The Good Life.. Do you remember the CKLW Batman sticker that we got when we joined the batman club in the 60s? 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