Remember when 89X switched to county? to Don Zee almost every night for awhile before going to bed.It has We truly enjoy hearing from everyone! Gibb was a teacher in Dearborn Public Schools for many years. 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. WXYZ was to become the first ABC-owned radio station to play Top 40 hits (or then labeled as Formula Radio) in the entire country. (tailored after dog personality Rin-Tin-Tin). . Concerts Druski - Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Tour Mar 10, 2023. The station was then sold in 1930 to the Kunsky-Trendle Broadcasting Company who changed the calls to WXYZ. Fact is that changing the format was the specific move that insured the failure of Martin and Howard. That in 1966 the listeners instead wanted more of the music. Thank you, Lance also advises stations, talent and brands on digital content strategies, programming integrations, and brand extensions. During his career, Calvert was the public address announcer for the Detroit Pistons during the Bad Boys era. I remember a program called Squeaky & Jitters? 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. From being an on-air broadcaster for both radio and television, best-selling author and journalist. BIRMINGHAM (CBS RADIO) - The mysterious personality behind the late-night 'Pillow Talk' radio music show has died. 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. According to the Detroit Historical Society, the station was founded by the Scripps family, which founded the Detroit News. 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. The list Radio personalities from Detroit, Michigan includes George Noory, Casey Kasem, Paul W. Smith, Mike Wallace and Hugh Downs . Soon to be 80 and very young at heart. The WIXIE drive was gearing forward with their biggest run against the competition in the Detroit top 40 market. They found that voice in Marc Avery. It would be a Class II station. We attended Eastern High School (Mack & E. Grand Blvd.) 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. 1 in the ratings, they became a heavy influence for record sales in Detroit. in our Aircheck Library, here. Towers has been in the Detroit market since 1999. The early 40s were magic. I remember when Lee had his horrible car accident. ABC affiliate. Part of Audacy. Valenti has developed a reputation for shooting. February 4, 2015. According to the Billboard trade publication dated. Yes! By Januarys end Lee Alan was gone. I revisit this site now and then and just want to thank all who have commented about those halcyon days and of course about my colleagues and me and the shows we all loved to hear. for the Windy City that year. Detroit was bigger, but that doesn't always equal nicer. These historic radio broadcasts were produced locally from the stations annex-studios, located at the former Mendelson building on East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. There are so many musical references to the city, and besides that, Detroit has had many sports radio anchors who helped pave the way for broadcast journalism. By April, after talking to Fritz that he should hire him immediately, Alan had Joey Reynolds making the move over to the Motor City. Birthplace: Pikesville, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Foster retired in April 2017, eight months after a mild stroke at age 57. I found out that Dick Kernan was at Spec Howard. Remember Nights with Alice Cooper? DEERNEST@UMICH.EDU. Also, according to the Billboard issue dated above, WXYZ was now ranked third at 22% below CKLWs 34% and WKNRs 44% share of the Detroit market overall, in that order. The same article mentions what it believed to be the salaries of select Detroit (then)-leading media personalities: Dick Purtan $5M, Drew & Mike $2M each, Chuck Gaidica, $1.2M, Carmen Harlan $1M+, John Mason $1M. Jason Scott and Roberta Jasina (5am -10am) Brooke Allen (10am - 2 pm) Tony Ortiz and Jackie Paige (2pm - 7pm) Ah, those were the days my friendthanks for the memories Henry! WRIF-FM IS BACK ON THE RADIO, JAM PRODUCTION SERIES: TALK-TO-ME, WXYZ RADIO, WJR [Detroit Free Press] RADIO PRESS PHOTO: MARC AVERY, WXYZ RADIO 1270: A 1957 [Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD, BILLBOARD HOT SOUL SINGLES: WEEK ENDING, MARCH 6, 1976, HIS TIME-OUT ENDS; [DAVID] RUFFIN SOLOS AGAIN . Now we have both CK and Keener to contend with. Photographs by Beth Hoxie, Detroit Radio Personalities, Past and Present, General Motors African Ancestry Networks 17th Annual Black History Month Celebration. When I was in Junior High School, I went to a Friday night football game at Birmingham High School. I believe he was a newscaster on one of the Detroit radio stations in the 1940s and 1950s, maybe even into the 1960s. Tarantula by the Tarantulas ( instrumental ) Drake Loses $400,000 Bet After Tommy Fury Defeats Jake Paul In Boxing Match Feb 27, 2023. He later moved to Cleveland and supplied both markets from a studio in Cleveland. 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. Iconic Detroit radio personality Alan . And WXYZ had the most popular disk jockey in all of Detroit during that time both radio and TV . The format was changed. If you call 1-866- SOUL-JAM, you can cast your vote to McBride directly. In April, Alan also brought back the. WRIF-FM IS BACK ON THE RADIO, JAM PRODUCTION SERIES: TALK-TO-ME, WXYZ RADIO, WJR [Detroit Free Press] RADIO PRESS PHOTO: MARC AVERY, WXYZ RADIO 1270: A 1957 [Detroit Free Press] DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD, BILLBOARD HOT SOUL SINGLES: WEEK ENDING, MARCH 6, 1976, HIS TIME-OUT ENDS; [DAVID] RUFFIN SOLOS AGAIN . DETROIT, November 28 WXYZ radio. The end of a Detroit broadcasting legend. 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. Lepidi made her way up the Detroit Top 40 radio ladder after her full time start at 98.7 Amp radio in 2015. THE VILLAGES FL 32163 With Wolfs exit, it was out with the older traditions the station seemed to have embodied throughout the many years previous. Interesting to note that had we not hired Martin and Howard I never would have known Specs Howard. I never missed he and Joel Sebastian hosting the Club 1270 TV dance show. It was a small station. Now heading forward well into the early 1960s, the 1270 top 40 notables would comprise of great air names as, Storer-owned WJBK and RKO Generals CKLW for the Top 40 crown in the Motor City. I remember the Christmas party of 1966, Dave Prince jump into a snow bank, and for some reason the phrase Turkey Lurkey came about. And WXYZ had the most popular disk jockey in all of Detroit during that time both radio and TV Ed McKenzie. Detroit Radio: 1963 JFK Assassination Coverage, FROM THE ARCHIVES! Others remained. Some had advocated openly to the station manager, Lee Alan among them, that network programming out of New York was killing the station. Our new wave-length after April 1. My sister was also on the show as was the members of the Shades of Blue who had the record OH HOW HAPPY in 1966. The landscape for local talk radio, particularly programs focused on Detroit and African-American issues, has indeed morphed. According to Key, Detroiters typically hear the matchups live on the radio before they are sent out for syndication in other markets. Costa is expected to contribute at night, on weekends, and to some of the station's play by play shoulder programming. Marc Avery, 6-10; Steve Lundy, 11-2; Dave Prince, 2-6; Lee Alan, 7:15-10; Danny Taylor, 10-1; Pat Murphy, 1-6 AM. Frank Beckman - 9:00 am - Noon. ITS DAVE PRINCE . The Detroit native was a newspaper sportswriter and columnist for 36 years, including at the Detroit Free Press for six . Uncle Russ Gibb - WKNR, WWJ, WRBR and WKMH, Read more: Grande Ballroom in Detroit added to National Register of Historic Places. CHESTERFIELD, Mich. (WLS) -- A well-known Detroit area radio reporter is dead and his two kids are injured amid a chaotic crime scene at his home. He said he would pick a song and dedicate it to my girlfriend at a certain time. Living near Traverse City, Michigan. Rumors spread that he was intoxicated and fell asleep at the wheel. Has been a morning radio show for 22 years. 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 . 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. (He WAS on Monday Night Football from 1970-1981 but he NOT HOWARD COSELL broke the news of John Lennons assassaination in 1980! Gentlemen: Those of us who were teenagers in early 1950S will remember Leroy G. White from WJLB Detroits Home Station (AM 1400) Name of his show Rockin With Leroy. He played latest R&B music and rocked the town. Worked with Lee Alan at WPON around 2004 to 2007 or so. By the mid-1930s, while still a standing member, WXYZ dropped out of the Mutual Broadcasting System and became a new affiliate for the NBC Blue Network radio group. According to CNN, Banks settled in the Windy City in the 80s. The three of us actually went to Chuck BEFORE Keener was launched while it was still WKMH. It was a fun time. 1,456 talking about this. 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. THANK YOU Lee for putting the rumors to bed. Dr Darrius Beyonce is Coming To Detroit Summer 2023 Feb 01, 2023. I have a picture of a musical group of 7 people. The new Keener Sound was by then fast retaining the largest rise in total market share in Detroit radio history. I was a young teen when WXYZ was the top station. He was a big fan of Detroit radio and of this site as well, and he contributed much here and I often wondered, from time to time, why we have not heard from Jim for quite some time now. Dick has been an award-winning newscaster, reporter, and news director at five stations. I believe the first televised performance of My Girl by The Temptations was done on our show. Still can be heard on WNIC and seen on Fox 2 Detroit, the media personality has been juggling both radio and TV since 2004. I found Don Zees theme song: 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. 11-2; Dave Prince, 2-6; Lee Alan, 7:15-10; Here listed below is the ABC network programming line-up on WXYZ for a typical broadcast day, according to, By then Steve Lundy headed out west to another ABC-owned station, in San Francisco. . 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. Audacy Effective immediately, WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit has a new daily lineup. I loved all the comments about the early 60s WXYZs radio. 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. People from Detroit, Michigan by occupation, Northwestern High School (Michigan) alumni, Television personalities from Phoenix, Arizona, Television anchors from Los Angeles, California, Television personalities from Detroit, Michigan, Sportspeople from San Francisco, California, Radio personalities from the Las Vegas Valley, African-American television personalities, Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state), United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II, Religious leaders from Birmingham, Alabama, United States Army personnel of World War II. Radio stations in the Detroit Pistons during the Bad Boys era 1963 JFK Assassination Coverage, from ARCHIVES! The former Mendelson building on East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit before going to has! 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