Your email address will not be published. CLICK HERE FOR PODCASTS. By 1958, there was a strict playlist with a more contemporary music format to follow. Paul Winter was one other big name on WXYZ, I believe he followed Fred Wolf. Thank again, Dave, sharing with us precious memories you having shared. My schoolmate and I often remember rushing home to his upstairs console radio to hear our favorite DJ. Ad: In the Detroit area it's CKLW - 5,000 watts day and night - clear channel. 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. By April, after talking to Fritz that he should hire him immediately, Alan had Joey Reynolds making the move over to the Motor City. . Growing up in Jackson, Paar started his career at, A disc jockey for WXYZ for two years in the 50s. (tailored after dog personality Rin-Tin-Tin). He had a show on Detroits WXYZ doing human interest stories during the 1940s and also did some voice acting work on radio in the 1950s. No. They spent 22 years on the radio at WRIF and . It was a small station. If you call 1-866- SOUL-JAM, you can cast your vote to McBride directly. WWJ recently celebrated 100 years of being a radio station. The new jingles custom were produced in Chicago byDick Marx Productions for Lee Alan and were beautifully sung for WXYZ by the famous Anita Kerr Singers. We knew when the dance was over when Lee played Since I Fell For You by Lenny Welch. Listen to the Superstar Power Hour with Shania Twain All this week from 2PM to 3PM with Katie Neal. When I was in Junior High School, I went to a Friday night football game at Birmingham High School. WWJ is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. They found that voice in Marc Avery. I remember when Lee had his horrible car accident. So, I rode my bike over to the shopping center which was about 2 miles away. Integrated Media Specialist. Required fields are marked *, A LOOK BACK INTO WHAT MADE THIS STATION GREAT, as one of the most storied and oldest broadcasting institution in Detroit or for that matter, the entire country. The campaign worked and WDRQ changed format. Pages in category "Radio personalities from Detroit" The following 65 pages are in this category, out of 65 total. According to the Detroit Historical Society, the station was founded by the Scripps family, which founded the Detroit News. About this same time, Jimmy Hampton was hired as the new over-night personality on 1270. Joey, THANK-YOU for your service to the USA! Still at second overall in 1966, 3 of the CKLW share percentage points went to WKNR, who gained at 47 from a 44 previous. WMXD BACK ON THE RADIO: GERALD McBRIDE, JANUARY 1996. So instead of dropping the outdated programming they added more. Scott Shepard Host: OverEasy, Sunday Mornings 7am to 10am Email: Scott@wcsx.com Scott Shepard host of OverEasy Sunday Mornings 7am to 10am. Yet, the station found itself still mired at third in the top 40 market. The top 40 formula at WXYZ was now growing in popularity on the Detroit radio dial. Special programming: Don McNeill Breakfast Club 10-10:55 a.m. M-F. Lou Gordon Comments, 2-minute commentary, 6:25, 9:25 a.m., 12:05 p.m. M-W-F. Call Board-Dick Osgood, drama-critic with interviews, 9:30-10 a.m. Sun. That in 1966 the listeners instead wanted more of the music. Jim Costa is headed home. I am beyond excited to begin another epic chapter with Gregg at WLAV along with the best team in the business.. Simulcast with WXYZ-AM. By the Way, the original call letters before they were WXYZ, WGHP stood for George Harrison Phelps an advertising man who made his fortune working for the BBDO Agency on the Dodge account. Those days and memories will forever linger, never to be duplicated. By April, after talking to Fritz that he should hire him immediately, Alan had Joey Reynolds making the move over to the Motor City. Thank you, The man who wore many hats in the Detroit music business. Towers has been in the Detroit market since 1999. There was the legendary broadcasts from the, By early 1963, after coming on board the ABC-owned and operated station in February the previous year, Lee Alan, with the, was by then pulling in a phenomenal 40 per cent share of the Detroit audience during the early evening and night time hours, according to a 1963, of the Top 40 business. Lee Alan left momentarily, came back again, this time working in the WXYZ television studios. Active on Twitter, Calvert provides the history of rock n roll and the influence it still has today. One night he informed his followers what actually happened. How did it happen? I graduated high school in 1966 and all we listened to was Lee Alan (the Horn), Joel Sabastian, Dave Pince and Robin Seymore The Bird. Worked with Lee Alan at WPON around 2004 to 2007 or so. Stream live CNN, FOX News Radio, and MSNBC. I will announce it, and how to get it on my Face Book Page. The estimated total pay for a Radio Personality is $49,332 per year in the Detroit, MI area, with an average salary of $46,037 per year. detroit radio personalities. But on the side, there was still glimmers of hope. for the Windy City that year. Iconic Detroit radio personality Alan . FILE - In this April 27, 1981 file photo, Casey Kasem and his wife Jean smile as he receives his own "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. Valenti has developed a reputation for shooting. When I was in High School I remember going to see and talk with Joel Sabastain during one of his remote broadcasts. Never got paid, but it was a real blast. Photographs by Beth Hoxie By Hour Detroit - September 27, 2010 Previous article Next article They found that voice in Marc Avery. . 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. Now holding a 29% share, a year earlier they held a higher 34% in 1965. I would be very curious if anyone knows anything about my grandfather, Lawrence Larry Kelley. Totally unbeknownst to us here, I am without words. Editorializes twice a week. Still prime on WXYZ radio since coming back to Detroit from New York in 1947 was Johnny Slagle. Highly-identifiable air personalities. A bit later he moved over to WOMC. I lived in Birmingham at the time. Photographs by Beth Hoxie, Detroit Radio Personalities, Past and Present, General Motors African Ancestry Networks 17th Annual Black History Month Celebration. Regards Lee Alan. Joseph Priestley "J.P." McCarthy II (March 22, 1933 - August 16, 1995) was a radio personality best known for his over 30 years of work as the morning man and interviewer on station WJR in Detroit, Michigan . During the earlier top 40 transition period some of the old radio names would leave WXYZ. He was hired with the hopes in retaining the older Wolf audience, while at the same time appeal to a younger audience being drawn to the New Radio 13 popularity on the radio dial. "There are so many people I wish . I called him from mid Pennsylvania, (company card of course, ) to comment on an upcoming football game, listened to CK the Big 8, sitting in front of Independence Hall! Slagle initially came over to Detroit (WXYZ) from Cleveland in 1935. Longtime metro Detroit radio personality and pioneering rock jockey John O'Leary was found dead at his Highland Park home, according to local media reports. Such latter-day legends as Jim "J.J." Johnson, Doug Podell, Allan Wilson, and Frank Beckmann are expected to make an appearance as well. A co-host of the , Mike Valenti, 97.1 The Ticket host (YouTube Screenshot). In the 80s, The Electrifying Mojo who was considered the most mysterious DJ, played. With more than 860 live broadcast stations in 153 markets across America, there's a local iHeartRadio station virtually everywhere. The event honored Sonny Eliot, the late Ernie Harwell, Specs Howard, Dick Purtan, and Robin Seymour. DETROIT BLACK RADIO PIONEERS During Douglas' heyday, Detroit was still a growing city, eventually topping off at 1.8 million residents in 1950. Visit our, Estrella Media Sells One From Los Angeles Cluster, Bold Gold Promotes Chase Daniels To Catskills Director of Programming, Kyle Santillian Joins The Morning Hustle As Headkrack Exits, Kenzie K Exits B96 & Additional Audacy CHRs, Classic Country Makes The Grade In San Luis Obispo, First Listen: Spotify DJ, YouTube Radio Builder. According to Lees book, entitled, Turn Your Radio On, during the battle for ratings in 1966, Alan stated, I have to say that in despite Chuck Fritzs and ABCs stubborn refusal to kill the old network programs, and let us be the pillar sound we needed to be, to get back on top boy, we gave it everything, everything we had. 1 in the ratings, they became a heavy influence for record sales in Detroit. Meanwhile, WXYZ, gained two percentage points from the 5 CKLW lost within a year. Audacy Effective immediately, WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit has a new daily lineup. No longer were the deejays allowed to play whatever they wanted to play. Listen To Podcasts That Examine The Passion, Perseverance, And Power Of Black Culture! BIRMINGHAM (CBS RADIO) - The mysterious personality behind the late-night 'Pillow Talk' radio music show has died. Finally, he reported the score, and I wrote Thank You on the paper, got on my bike and rode home. >>> LISTEN LIVE, Fractured G20 foreign ministers grapple with deepening rifts, Russian strike on Ukraine apartment block kills 3, injures 6, Extradited Indian charged with murder in Australian city, Global stocks lower after inflation fuels rate fears, British navy seizes Iran missiles, parts likely Yemen bound, SpaceX launches US, Russia, UAE astronauts to space station, War, anger cloud Ukrainian athletes' path to Paris Olympics, 20 injured by turbulence aboard Germany to Mauritius flight. Growing up his mother owned Simpsons Record Shop that was located by East McNichols Road and Joseph Campeau Avenue. Cool to have Lee still knocking around. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reflections on the website as well. Spinning on the floor and flying around crazed! THANK YOU Lee for putting the rumors to bed. The format was changed. Programs such as, Still prime on WXYZ radio since coming back to Detroit from New York in 1947 was, initially came over to Detroit (WXYZ) from Cleveland in 1935. These historic radio broadcasts were produced locally from the stations annex-studios, located at the former Mendelson building on East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. Following the news, many current and former 97.1 The ticket personalities took to Twitter to pay their respects to Jamie. Names on the pictures are Elmer Thompson,Jumbo, Jinny, Bob Long, Will Karson, Mel Karson, Paul ?Young. It was expected of us. Detroiters also tuned in on WXYZ for the latest thrilling adventures of The Green Hornet, The Challenge of the Yukon (tailored after dog personality Rin-Tin-Tin). He's crazy about Springsteen, the Spartans and bacon. We truly enjoy hearing from everyone! Besides radio and music promotion, Gibb also hosted his own TV show Russ Gibb at Random which was aired locally. Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. It brings back great memories! 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. ITS DAVE PRINCE . Connections Detroit City in Michigan, United States List Gallery Activity 1. "Solutions Not Slogans" hosted by radio personality Angie Starr of 105.9 KISS FM answered Detroit voters' questions about this year's election. The new Keener Sound was by then fast retaining the largest rise in total market share in Detroit radio history. Immediately after the war years, in 1946, the station was sold and was purchased by the American Broadcasting Network in New York. Thank you to all of the great Detroit listeners who support women in radio! By then WXYZ radio held down a huge Detroit audience over the competition for market share. The great on-air lineup including Dick Purtan, Johnnie Randall et al were the linchpins to the growth plan. Tom's career in radio spanned more than four decades. I loved it!. Hopefully, we can keep this website going for many years, thanks to Mr. Alans kindness. Then Id listen to the 11:55 newscast and the first ten minutes of Don Zee with his zombie theme Tarantula by the Tarantulas. By Januarys end Lee Alan was gone. holy smoke! If memory serves, Bob Beasley and I were fired the same day at WEXL by way of a memo at the end of our shifts in the commercial live copy note book. Yet, the station found itself still mired at third in the top 40 market. at times found themselves into a virtual ratings tie vying for the top 40 title on the dial, seemingly, with no end in sight. In 2003, Ryan Seacrest took over the American Top 40 program. Mix 92.3. Kasem, the smooth-voiced radio broadcaster who became the king of the top 40 countdown, died Sunday, June 15, 2014, according to Danny Deraney, publicist for Kasem's daughter, Kerri. While he did not start his career in Detroit, Kasem learned his chops on the west coast in the 60s. A diehard Spartan, Valenti has been a radio commentator in Detroit since the early 2000s. While the Detroit radio station was ABC parent-owned at the time, the button concept was dual inasmuch as a promo while pushing their new (at that time) ABC-TV series Batman both on WXYZ-AM radio and WXYZ-TV television here in Detroit. Starting in 1969, Dick has worked 51 years in radio news. He announced today on social media that he will return to his native Detroit to join 97.1 the Ticket as a new host on the powerful sports radio station. 20 thoughts on "FORMER DETROIT RADIO PERSONALITIES - DECEASED" Roger January 21, 2016 at 3:59 AM 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. WXYZ was in fact the legend of which you speak. ${paramValue} on Audacy: Listen to Free Radio Online | Music, Sports, News, Podcasts The early 40s were magic. Even ex-Detroit Tiger Denny McLain, whom you may recall. my album from Q93 and joined WRIF's D.R.E.A.D. Relive many of the classic 60s WXYZ Detroit Sound (some 40-plus total!) Beth Hoxie by Hour Detroit - September 27 detroit radio personalities 2010 Previous article Next article they found voice. Lee played since I Fell for you by Lenny Welch 40 formula at WXYZ now... 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