Author: Jim Feliciano
VETERAN DJ ED MCKENZIE QUITS ON WXYZ . . . MARCH 16, 1959
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1959
McKENZIE BOWS OUT IN ‘FORMULA RADIO’ PROTEST
DETROIT — Veteran deejay Ed McKenzie resigned from station WXYZ here last week in protest of the station’s “formula radio” programming policy.
Rallying to his side was his long-time competitor and another Detroit veteran spinner, Robin Seymour, of WKMH, who came out strongly last week for McKenzie and against “formula radio.” Seymour stated that, “It’s a crime and a shame when one of the true deejays – one of the men who made the jockey a major factor in broadcasting – has to bow to the dictates of a program director.”
Although Seymour and McKenzie – two of Detroit’s key deejays – have vied for audience ratings for the past eleven years (they occupied the same afternoon time slot) Seymour said they remained friends – their friendship dating back to the time McKenzie gave Seymour his first radio job at WJBK here.
Seymour had asked McKenzie to appear on his WKMH show to discuss the whole formula radio situation and his reasons for leaving WXYZ. Seymour said they will explore the jockey’s need for freedom of programming and will discuss further on whether the advent of “formula radio” has anything to do with the fact that no new name deejay (other than Dick Clark) has come up from the ranks in recent years.
Seymour said his station, WKMH, is now the only major Detroit station operating on a non-formula programming policy. The outlet did adopt a non-rock and roll format last year, but Seymour said the management dropped the policy last January, and put record programming back in the deejay’s hands. As a result, the jock said WKMH’s ratings are already showing a small rating climb – the first rating increase for the station in some time.
The WXYZ “formula” (featuring the Top 40 singles was adopted by the station about a years ago, and WXYZ vice-president in charge of radio, Hal Neal, opined “Our interpretation of radio is that it is a step moving forward.”
McKenzie on the other hand expressed his opinion that this “formula” did not jibe with his interpretation of radio as “being intimate and friendly.” He stated that his ratings were dropping since the “formula” policy had gone into effect and that he would sooner “dig ditches or sell hot dogs” than go back to formula radio “because I can’t do something I don’t believe in.”
The radio station disagreed with use of McKenzie’s bird calls on the air and his “on the air” comments on office typing and the programming. The station also found themselves in disagreement with McKenzie about their new policy to boost the station on his programs, which the jockey termed “unnecessary.”
McKenzie’s 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. spot is being taken over by Mickey Shorr, who will have another replacement for his own Night Train program. Reportedly making between $60,000 and $80,000 a year in his 29th year with radio, McKenzie was Jack The Bellboy at WJBK before he changed to WXYZ radio in 1952. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; March 16, 1959)
FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS ’68 . . . MARCH 2, 1968
From the MCRFB news archive: 1968
Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1968
DETROIT — The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Masonic Auditorium, Friday, February 23. The show presentation event was sponsored by WKNR “Keener 13” . . . Ernie Durham, WJLB disk jockey who has for years hosted a Sunday night record hop at the 20 Grand for those 17 and over, will begin a weekly Friday night hop at the club for teenagers 14 to 17. In addition to presenting popular recording acts, Durham also plans to sponsor talent shows on those evenings. . . . Sylvia Burton Christopher, originator of Arthur, the popular discotheque in New York City, is opening a similar establishment here called the Woodward Street Car. . . . The Four Seasons performed a Detroit concert Friday, February 23. . . . Sammy Davis, Jr., will entertain at the annual Fight For Freedom dinner to be held at Cobo Hall, April 28. Cleveland’s Mayor Carl Stokes will be the principal speaker at that affair. . . . Marian Anderson performed at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s last Kresge Concert at the Ford Auditorium, Tuesday, February 13. . . . Count Basie, Mariam Makeba, Wes Montgomery and the Jimmy Smith Trio, the Oscar Peterson Trio, and social comedian Richard Pryor performed together for a one-night jazz concert at Cobo Arena, Friday, February 23. . . . Diana Ross and the Supremes are doing one-nighters across the northern United States, including college campuses. . . . The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas left town recently to participate in the Motortown Revue Japanese Festival which will tour Japan for one month. The artists have been scheduled for TV appearances, concerts, and will entertain U.S. troops stationed in areas in and around Japan. . . . The Pop Concert Committee of Wayne State University has scheduled its first pop concert for Friday, March 22, at the Ford Auditorium. Dionne Warwick has been chosen to headline the concert, along with other acts still to be determined. . . . Robbie Dee, disk jockey on WCHB, has been promoted to production manager at that station. . . . Hello People are booked into the Chessmate for one week, beginning March 12. . . . Leon Issac is the new early afternoon disk jockey for WJLB. . . . Currently in progress is the Memphis Sounds Show at the Riviera Theater through Thursday, March 29. Among the artists on that show are J. J. Barnes, Pat Lewis, the Holidays, Eddie Floyd, Pig Meat Markham, Ruby Andrews and Barbara Mercer. END.
(Information and news source: Billboard; March 2, 1968).
LOOK WHAT WE FOUND! DANNY TAYLOR (WXYZ-AM)
WXYZ-AM Radio 1270 Danny Taylor 1966
We recently found this photograph of Danny Taylor. It was listed for auction on eBay (2012).
Lee Alan, WXYZ great and former program director at WXYZ-AM 1270 in 1966, recently wrote comments on Motor City Radio Flashbacks in regards to his friend and former WXYZ radio personality Danny Taylor:
“The big mystery here is: Whatever happened to Danny Taylor (not his real name)? We have all been searching for him for years. If anyone knows his name or anything of his whereabouts we would appreciate a heads up.
Danny was a great voice and talent. So great in fact that his was the voice on all the WXYZ – “Personality-Plus” IDs and intros in the mid 1960s.”
By the way, anyone who could provide information on Danny Taylor, or of his whereabouts today, let us know on MCRFB.COM or contact jim@mcrfb.com. Anyone who has any airchecks you are willing to share of Danny Taylor, and anybody else who was on WXYZ-AM from the 1960s, contact: jim@mcrfb.com.
UPDATE RE: DANNY TAYLOR
“The big mystery here is: Whatever happened to Danny Taylor (not his real name)? — Lee Alan (January 24, 2014)
Motor City Radio Flashbacks received information (10:08 p.m.; May 09, 2014) regarding WXYZ radio personality Danny Taylor. You may view Neal Tenhulzen’s comments here.
Lee Alan, if you wish to contact Mr. Tenhulzen further regarding Danny Taylor, let us know. We can provide you a contact email address. MCRFB.COM (May 10, 2014).
ADDENDUM: 1/30/2013: Special THANKS once again to our friend Jim Heddle from Arizona for sharing with us this *rare* Danny Taylor aircheck audio clip!
LOOK WHAT WE FOUND! A BOB GREEN (WKNR-AM 13) PHOTO FROM 1966
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: AMERICAN BREED * ’67 * MONO
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: AMERICAN BREED * ’67 * STEREO
QUEEN OF SOUL CORONATED DAY IN DETROIT . . . MARCH 3, 1968
A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1968
Aretha Sets Concert Mark in the Motor City
DETROIT — Aretha Franklin’s “homecoming” concert at Cobo Hall here, Friday, February 16 set a record for a single concert event, a record set for the auditorium. The concert hit a $60,000 gross playing to an audience of 12,000.
February 16 was named “Aretha Franklin Day” by the mayor of Detroit, Jerome P. Cavanaugh, to mark the Atlantic record artist first concert in Detroit in over a year. Following the concert, Jay-Kay Distributors and Atlantic Records held a party for the singer at the Pontchartrain Hotel attended by local disk jockeys, dealers and friends, family members were seen in attendance as well of Miss Franklin. END
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Information and news source: Billboard; March 3, 1968
February 16, 1968: Detroit Declares “Aretha Franklin Day”
*****
By February 1968, Aretha Franklin had established herself as among the world’s premier recording artists, her genre-spanning recordings achieving commercial and critical acclaim, and appealing to mixed-race audiences around the world. The previous year had seen the release of “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You),” her triumphant Atlantic Records debut produced by Jerry Wexler and recorded with an ace backing band at Rick Hall’s Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The landmark soul recording included Franklin’s righteous re-working of Otis Redding‘s “Respect,” which rose to Number One on the Billboard Hot 100, and the inspired candor and groove of the album’s title track. That same year, Wexler and engineer Tom Dowd worked with Franklin on her sophomore effort for Atlantic, ‘Aretha Arrives,’ which included the hit single “Baby I Love You,” peaking at Number Four on the Billboard Hot 100. Less than a year later, in January 1968, ‘Lady Soul’ arrived, featuring “Chain of Fools” and “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like),” the latter written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Both singles charted in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. It was in 1968 that legendary deejay Pervis Spann, “The Blues Man,” ceremoniously placed a crown atop Franklin’s head during a performance at Chicago’s Regal Theater, announcing her as the “Queen of Soul” – a moniker that remains undisputed. Her success and the subsequent adoration of a growing legion of fans set the stage for a momentous homecoming performance.
On February 16, 1968, Franklin led a stellar performance at Detroit’s Cobo Hall. At the show, Detroit Mayor Jerome P. Cavanaugh declared the date as “Aretha Franklin Day,” while local disc jockey Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg – who helped host the event – proclaimed Franklin “everybody’s soul sister.” The evening also included the presentation of plaques and certificates from representatives of music-trade publications, to wit Billboard, Cash Box and Record World, who all recognized Franklin for her contributions and success in 1967. The packed crowd of more than 12,000 people loudly cheered for their Queen, and were treated to a lively 90-minute set from Franklin, who moved between her piano and charismatically owning the stage in a sleek, lime-green dress, her collar and hips wrapped in fanciful feather adornments, while sporting dangling globe earrings and a stylish hair up-do. The Sweet Inspirations, which included vocalist Cissy Houston, backed Franklin that evening, delighting the crowd with soaring versions of “Natural Woman,” “Respect” and many more from Franklin’s impressive catalog.
Among the evening’s many highlights was the appearance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had flown to Detroit to attend the concert and recognize Franklin with a special award from the Southern Christian Leadership Council. Franklin’s father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin, was active in the SCLC, as well as a fiery, in-demand preacher famous for his impassioned sermons and singing voice. King and Franklin’s father were friends and shared a mutual admiration fostered during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, making King’s presentation to Aretha both personal and declarative, recognizing the female performer’s role in defining African-American identity. Although he had laryngitis and could not speak, King’s presence caused a stir. Rita Griffin of the Michigan Chronicle recalled of the moment Franklin and King shared on stage: “[King] never said a word, because he couldn’t. But you could just feel the impact his presence had – just him being there… All 12,000 people in that room cared for him – you could feel it.” Almost seven week later, Dr. King was killed in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968.
In the immediate years that followed, Franklin would release a remarkable body of material. Between 1970 and 1972 alone, she released five albums – ‘Spirit In The Dark,’ ‘This Girl’s In Love With You,’ ‘Live At Filmore West,’ ‘Young, Gifted And Black,’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ –that provided illuminating, poignant commentary on American life and culture – past, present and future. (source: rockhall.com).
*****
(Information from web sources: Wikipedia, Bio, Rock Hall Fame, NPR, and All Music)
Addendum: Below: An actual video clip of Lady Soul from the “Aretha Franklin Day” event held at Cobo Hall, in Detroit, February 16, 1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L4Bonnw484
NINE DAYS AFTER RELEASE ‘RUBBER SOUL’ MILLION SELLER . . . JANUARY 1, 1966
A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1966
‘RUBBER SOUL’ A WHOPPER FOR BEATLES
NEW YORK – The Beatles have topped themselves – again – their latest Capitol album sold 1,200,000 copies in its first nine days on the market. This, according to Capitol Records, breaks every sales record previously held by the Beatles.
Capitol reports that the album has been selling at a clip of about 140,000 copies a day ever since its release on December 6, 1965. The new Beatles LP picked up its heaviest sales in the New York area, selling over 200,000 copies in nine days. In at least four other areas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, sales figures total well over 100,000 for the same period.
Capitol initial allocation on “Rubber Soul” of two million units is also its largest ever, on any album. As of mid-month (December figures), 60 per cent of that allocation sold.
The album was formally certified by the RIAA as a million seller last week. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 1, 1966)
MCRFB Addendum
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From the MCRFB aircheck library listen here when WKNR’s Bob Green debuted also, for the very first time on his show a track from the newly-released ‘Rubber Soul’ LP on Keener 13 in December, 1965 . . . “. . . And this one is showing up on the Top 3 plus 1 voting nightly on the Scott Regen Show.”
THIS DAY: PHILIPS SIGN ‘FOUR SEASONS’ TO LABEL . . . JANUARY 18, 1964
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
GROUP EXITS VEE-JAY LABEL; CREWE TO CONTINUE PRODUCTION REIGN WITH GROUP AT PHILIPS
CHICAGO — The Four Seasons have been signed by Philips Records. The group has enjoyed a half-dozen singles smashes in the last 16 months, three were No. 1 entries previously held on the Billboard charts. All of their hits, as well as five of the group’s albums, were introduced on the Vee-Jay label.
Under the terms of the new deal, Philips will release recordings by the group throughout the world through its overseas affiliate. Their initial single, “Dawn,” is due out at once. Disks by the group will continue to be produced by Bob Crewe.
The original Vee-Jay deal involved an agreement between Crew’s production firm from the label, with the masters leased to Vee-Jay. A Crew spokesman stated that they terminated this arrangement last year because of what they called “breaches” and violations in the agreement found with Vee-Jay Records. Since that time, the group has been without a recording contract.
Among the Four Seasons principal hits were “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” “Candy Girl” and “New Mexican Rose.” END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 18, 1964)