Author: Jim Feliciano

A SALUTE TO A DETROIT RADIO LEGEND: SCOTT REGEN!

From the MCRFB audio files, featuring:

Scott Regen ON AIR HIGHLIGHTS 1965 — 1970

 

 

 

 

 

“Scott Regen was a phenomenon, and I just went along for the ride.” — Scottie Regen, legendary “Keener 13” and “Big 8” Detroit radio personality in the ’60s

 

 

“This is John Lennon, you’re probably listening to Scott Regen now and if you’re not, well you can’t hear what we’re sayin,’ tuh duh. . . .”

“Hello this is Paul McCartney, talking to a gentleman called Scott Regen who does his best to keep you happy.”

“Hi, this is Scott Regen of the Miracles and you’re listening to the Smokey Robinson show.” — Smokey Robinson

“Hi. This is Stevie Wonder and I’ll be visiting the Scott Regen Show. I hope that you’re with me when I do… I like to thank all of you for your cards and letters asking for me to be on the Scott Regen Show, you know I was coming. . . . so, until I’m on I’ll see ‘ya later.”

“Hi, this Johnny Rivers reminding you that you’re listening to the Scott Regen Show, that’s where it’s happening.”

“Hello Regen my ole’ friend, I’ve come to talk to you again. . . .” — Simon and Garfunkel

 

Do you understand the history you’re holding in your hands?  –Johnny Randell,  former WXYZ radio personality, Detroit, 1965 –1975

(Notes below from CD liner insert, as written by Johnny Randell, 2002).

Scott Regen, a phenomenon of the 60’s, was a legendary DJ on Detroit radio stations WKNR and CKLW. Scottie at one point had a 25 (share) rating on WKNR from 7 – 10 PM compared with the 7 and 8 of his two competitors. And WKNR could only be heard in half of the city! At one point on CKLW, Scott was No. 1 not only in Detroit, but in Toledo and Cleveland as well!

I was a deejay on a competing station. Scott was the most innovative and powerful force on rock radio. He was light years ahead of his time, instinctively marketing himself via what I call “Audience Directed Programming.” A concept no one even thought of back then.

Scott Regen used research, music mix, and the audience itself to create “Scott Regen.” And all from the heart. The history he made, his creative influence, is still copied today by radio programmers and DJ’s. Hearing Scott is hearing the evolution of rock radio.

WKNR’s Scottie Regen with the Beatles, August 13, 1966, at Detroit’s Olympia Stadium (photo courtesy Scott Westerman and Keener13.com)

Scottie says the ’60’s were a phenomenon and he just went along fro the ride. Listening to his CD shows otherwise. Scott didn’t just play ’60’s music. He was the ’60’s. He was a gift. His is the voice we remember. Now, remember it all again with this historic CD. Or hear it all for the first time. Either way you’ll see why Scottie is “radio king of the ’60’s.”

Scottie has lived in New York for the past 23 years (as of 2002 when this CD was released). He has worked for Atlantic Records, New York Newsday, and has appeared on several New York  stations including 92KTU, Z100, WXRK, WYNY, and LITE-FM. He currently owns his own Manhattan based marketing-advertising company. His music tastes range from Billie Holiday to Benny Goodman to Chuck Berry, to Sinatra to Bach, and lots in-between. His favorite music however, is of the ’60’s. Particularly Motown and of course, the Beatles.

In 1999, the Temptations requested Scottie write their liner notes for their historic CD re-issue, “Temptations Live.” Scott introduces the Temps on the original album, as well as on this CD.

And he never stopped believing that “… in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”*

— Johnny Randell

* Lyric line from Beatles' Abbey Road

None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Bob Green.

WKNR’s Bob Green. “The Voice of Keener 13”

“When I auditioned for the job at WKNR, Bob Green (now Bob Green Productions, Houston) still the best radio production person on the planet, was on the air from 3 – 7 PM. He was also the station Production Director. And he was the one who created the admired, unique, “on air” sound of WKNR.

None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Bob. He got me the job at WKNR. Not many people know this but I was turned down twice. Even so, Bob still went to bat for me! He believed I had it in me and put himself on the line with then GM Frank Maruca. He coached me. And I submitted a third audition tape. Then Frank heard what he needed to hear and I was hired.

There’s something as important as believing in yourself. Believing in others. Thank you BG.”

— S. R.

 

Thank You. Thank You. Thank you. Thank you. . . .

Konstantine and Joanne. WK Studios, New York. Frank Maruca, GM, WKNR, Detroit. Paul Drew, Program Director, CKLW, Windsor-Detroit. The most skilled and “feeling” Producer-engineers of all time, Bob Lusk, Greg Hallup, and Colin Kennedy, CKLW. Jacquie Simo, St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. Johnny Randell. Alan Freed and William B. Williams. Barney Ales. Al Valente. Phil Jones. Ken Sands and Ralph Seltzer. HDH. Lawrence Horn. Norman Whitfield. Pat Coleman. R. Dean Taylor. Larry Kane. Cliff (Remember the night with Bobby Darin at Lafayette Coney Island) Gorov. Tom Geraldi. Kalvin Ventura. Ron Alexanberg. Irv Biegel. Tom DeAngelo and Tim Tam. The Shy Guys. Bob Jamieson. Peter Gideon. Sammy Kaplan. Edwin Starr. The Fantastic Four. The Parliament-Funkadelics. Michael Stevens. Pat St. John. Steve Schram. Jim Harper. Harry Weinger. “Smokey.” Stevie Wonder. The Four Tops. The Supremes. Berry Gordy, Jr. THE ARTISTS AND ALL THE LISTENERS. ALL OF YOU AND EACH OF YOU. I apologize if I have forgotten anyone. And finally, thank you to my closest WKNR helper, warm hearted confidant and Lafayette Coney Island eating partner, Vaughn (Santa Claus to my daughter Laura) Trafaleaine. Vaugh was known and loved by our listeners as the “Big V.”

 

Liner notes from CD back cover:
Scott Regen, seen here, introduced, emceed the Beatles concert for WKNR at the Olympia on August 13, 1966. Scott followed the Beatles across cities in the U. S. during half of their concert tour in 1966. He would later say in a recorded interview with Tim Nixon (WHND) in 1983, his experience with the Beatles in the 1960s “… was astonishing to me. Although I knew all these things were happening to me, I was WATCHING all these things happening to me.” (Photo credit: Bob Benyas)

 

Scott Regen, a phenomenon of the ’60’s, was a legendary DJ on Detroit area radio stations WKNR and CKLW. On this CD you’ll hear on-air highlights with: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Marvin Gaye, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., Herman’s Hermits, The Righteous Brothers, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Simon and Garfunkel, Martha and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and more. (Back cover; CD liner notes).

From the MCRFB Aircheck Library, featuring Scott Regen:

Scott Regen – Radio King Of The ’60s – On Air Highlights 1965 – 1970 (38:44 audio)

Scott Regen (cutout; bottom) from a WKNR Music Guide, 1970

 

Addendum:For a comprehensive interview with Scott Regen, his thoughts, comments on his career during his years in Detroit radio and thereafter, read Scott Westerman’s insightful interview with Scottie at Keener13.com.

Thank you, Bob Green. Throughout the years, since I first contacted you in 1999, you’ve provided me with three reels of WKNR production tapes, four Keener 13 CDs including this Scott Regen CD — and for only the asking  — through the kindness of your heart. Today, all those materials you provided us is today deposited and archived on this website. Bob Green, you are truly a class act. George Griggs, Scott Westerman and I cannot thank you enough for your contributions, materials, comments, and of your selfless time you’ve provided us with all things that was ever ‘Keener’ for this website.

On behalf of George Griggs, Scott Westerman, our friend Greg Innis, I, and from everyone who grew up in Detroit listening to you on WKNR and CKLW, we thank you, Scottie Regen. For all those wonderful radio memories you shared with us during the time you were sitting high on top at No. 1 in Detroit. Hearing you on the radio, not only were you just on. You were there for us. Your audience. And if only just for that reason, we can say your radio listeners loved Scottie Regen all the more in return.

Today, Scott Regen, MCRFB remembers as we salute you.

mcrfb-com-logo-2

(The Scott Regen and Bob Green photographs above courtesy George Griggs).

A 23-year old Scottie Regen on WKNR in 1965. When this picture was taken, evidently this photo did not reveal the legacy early-on that would become synonymous with his name and the station he worked for during the ’60’s in Detroit — WKNR Keener 13.

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STATIONS SAY NO TO BEATLES’ DISKS… AUGUST 13, 1966

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

LENNON COMMENTS REGARDING ‘JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY’ SPARKS OUTRAGE, GROUP’S MUSIC AIRPLAY BAN ACROSS U. S.

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK — The radio ban against playing Beatles’ records, which was begun last week by Tommy Charles and Doug Layton, WAQY, Birmingham, Alabama, has spread across the country, with dozens of stations refusing to program or play recordings by the British group.

British magazine Datebook July 29, 1966 issue with the controversial “Jesus” Lennon comment which fueled universal outrage around the world.

Cause of the controversy is a statement published in a British magazine, Datebook, dated July 29, 1966 and attributed to John Lennon. The statement follows:

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that: I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary.”

At a press conference held here late Friday, August 5, Brian Epstein, Beatles’ manager, said the statement was taken out of context. Epstein explained that Lennon meant “in the last 50 years the Church of England and, therefore Christ, had suffered a decline in interest.”

While the statement, confirmed by a Beatles spokesman, went virtually unnoticed in England, the reaction in this country was immediate.

In the aftermath of Lennon’s comments, Beatles records were banned from radio airplay by dozens of stations, sparked by B. J. Williams, seen here, a deejay from KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma. (Click on image for larger view).

Greater impact has been in the so-called “Bible Belt” which is mainly in the southeast portion of the United States. But the ban has extended to other sections of the country. New York’s WABC has reportedly put Beatles records on the verboten list, but, at press time, the switchboard operator at the station said that not one of the station’s staff members could be reached.

B. J. Williams, deejay at KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma, called for a Beatles “bonfire” and broke the Beatles’ latest record while on the air.

In Milwaukee, WOKY music director King Kbornik said he would not ban the record until he had seen Lennon’s remarks in print.

The extent of the ban is not known, but a majority of the nation’s radio stations will continue to program Beatles records. The group is scheduled to perform a concert at New York’s Shea Stadium August 23.

A spokesperson for Capitol Records, which issues Beatles recordings under it’s logo in the United States, said Lennon’s remarks were “quoted out of context and misconstrued.” END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966)

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VEE-JAY RECORDS OFFICIALLY BANKRUPT . . . AUGUST 13, 1966

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

CURTAIN DOWN ON VEE-JAY AS LIQUIDATION IS ORDERED

 

 

 

 

Vee-Jay Records logo 1963 – 1965

CHICAGO — Vee-Jay Records, which scaled the sales heights before losing the Beatles in 1964, plunged into formal bankruptcy here last week.

In a hearing in U. S. District Court August 1, an offer by a West Coast combine to acquire the debt-ridden Chicago recording company was withdrawn and the court ordered receiver Gerald W. Grace to liquidate the company.

The acquisition offer was withdrawn because Vee-Jay’s obligation to the U. S. Government were considered excessive, Billboard has learned.

Vee-Jay has been in Chapter 11 status since early this year when President James Bracken announced that the firm had filed a petition for financial arrangement.

“The proceedings were instituted with the expectation that the corporation could be reorganized on a sound financial basis,” Bracken said.

In a hearing in May, a group represented by attorney William Bluestein of Los Angeles announced interest in acquiring Vee-Jay, which then owed the government about $1.5 million and had nearly $2 million in outstanding debts.

Bluestein’s group was interested in acquiring 69 4 Seasons masters, which were bid for at the same hearing by counsel for the 4 Seasons group. Bluestein’s interests would have made a financial arrangement with the government and would have paid creditors a dime on the dollar or 1/10th of 100 percent owed to each creditor.

‘The 4 Seasons Sing‘ on Vee-Jay Records; 1963. (Click on image for larger view)

The 4 Seasons contract with Vee-Jay Records reportedly called for the masters to revert to their agents, Genious, Inc., in the event of company bankruptcy. The masters will undoubtedly find their way into the catalog of Philips Records, a Mercury Records affiliate, also based in Chicago. The masters in question were awarded to Vee-Jay in a settlement following the signing of the group by Philips.

Vee-Jay suspended all operations here in May. The company was founded in Chicago in 1953, moved to Los Angeles in 1964 and returned last year. When the label returned to Chicago, the company had such artists as Jerry Butler, Betty Everett, Jimmy Reed, Little Richard, John Lee Hooker, the Dells, Joe Paige, Russ Morgan, Harry (Sweets) Edison, Fred Hughes, Joe Simon, Orville Couch and several gospel acts. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966)

Who owns the Beatles? Capitol Records vs. Vee-Jay Records, “cease and desist,” legal wranglings and continuous copyright ownership infringements claims against the Vee-Jay label, as this 1963 telegram would suggest, brought an ultimate end to Vee-Jay Records. The company was sued out of the business by mid-1966.
Beatles LP on Vee-Jay Records, released early-1965.

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WXYZ DETROIT PROMOTES SUMMER ‘SOUNDTACULAR’ CONTEST . . . JULY 14, 1962

A MCRFB news brief:

Deliberate Errors Sparks Contest Promotion

 

 

 

 

 

Bush 1962 transistor portable radio ad.

DETROIT — Station WXYZ pulled out a collection of over 500 hit records from 1957 through 1961 for a summer “Soundtacular” held here last week.

The big five-day salute to the recorded hits of the past five years was supported by newspaper advertising and a heavy schedule of radio and television announcements.

Working from a special list prepared by the WXYZ program department, the station’s six popular music personalities incorporated “Soundtacular” tunes into all programs.

The tunes and their year of popularity were deliberately identified incorrectly. Listeners were asked to listen for the errors and send corrections in.

Winner’s choice of a current popular hit LP, either by Connie Francis, Elvis Presley, Annette, Chubby Checker, Joanie Summers, Freddy Cannon or Shelly Fabare, along with a portable transistor radio, were awarded daily to contestants listing the most errors. END.

‘Palisades Park,’ by Freddie Cannon (Swan Records 507) 1962 LP

 (Information and news source: Billboard; July 14, 1962).

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FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: OCTOBER 13

From the MCRFB music calendar:

Events on this date: OCTOBER 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank and Bing on CBS-TV Sunday, October 13, 1957 promoting the brand-new 1957 Edsel by the Ford Motor Company. (Click on image for larger view).

1957: CBS television (see YouTube “The Edsel Show”, below) presents a star-studded new musical variety special sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, featuring Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and the Four Preps all singing praises of… the Ford Edsel, a new model which would soon be considered the standard by which all automobiles flops are measured.

1962: At London’s Prince of Wales Theater, the Everly Brothers’ Don Everly collapses from exhaustion during rehearsal for the duo’s upcoming tour of the U. K. Brother Phil continues the tour alone.

1963: Beatlemania begins in earnest as the Beatles appears on the popular BBC television show Sunday Night At The Palladium, performing “She Loves You,” “From Me To You,” “I’ll Get You,” and “Twist And Shout.” 15 million people in the U. K. alone watch the live performance on television, while thousands of fans pack Argyll street to catch a glimpse of the group.

1968: Ex-Supreme Florence Ballard gives birth to premature twin daughters, Michelle and Nicole.

1970: The ashes of Janis Joplin are scattered into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Stinson Beach in California.

Neil Young in 1975. (Click on image for larger view).

1975: Neil Young undergoes throat surgery in Los Angeles to remove a growth from his vocal cords.

1990: In a move that stuns his longtime fans, Bob Dylan is invited to perform at the West Point Military Academy. Oddly, he take the opportunity to perform his scathing anti-war attack “Masters Of War”; even more strangely, a cadre of cadets turn his protest song “Blowin’ In The Wind” into a choral unified singalong.

2000: The Eagles’ Don Henley is sued by a fan who claims the singer bashed her on the head with a pair of maracas after she tried to take his picture at a concert in Arkansas.

Country great Merle Haggard.

2001: Country legend Merle Haggard, who has a history of heart disease, cancels the remainder of his U. S. tour after complaining of tightness in his chest.

2004: The US Internal Revenue Service charges Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers with five counts of tax evasion for failing to report income from 1997 through 2002. Exactly one year later to the day, he goes on trial in Los Angeles for the charges and is sentenced to three years in prison.

 

Deaths: Ed Sullivan; 1974. Shirley Brickley (Orlons); 1977. Wade Flemons (Earth, Wind and Fire); 1993. Craig Atkinson (Count Five); 1998. Peter Doyle (New Seekers); 2001.

Releases: “American Pie,” Don McLean; 1971.

Recording: “Problems,” Everly Brothers; 1958. “Drive My Car,” Beatles; 1965. “My Generation,” The Who; 1965. “Julia,” Beatles; 1968.

Charts: 1958: ‘Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely,’ (LP) Frank Sinatra; hits No. 1 on the LP charts. 1973: ‘Goat’s Head,’ Rolling Stones; hits No. 1 on the LP charts. 1979: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You get Enough,” Michael Jackson; hits No. 1 on the charts.

Certification: 1971: “Go Away Little Girl,” Donny Osmond; certified gold by the RIAA.

The 1957 Ford Edsel Corsair.

 

And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day….

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DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND CAPTURES WINDY CITY . . . MAY 4, 1963

From the MCRFB news archives:

Chicago Motown Stay Proves Huge Success For Berry Gordy’s Detroit Hit Makers

 

 

 

 

CHICAGO — These days mention personal appearance tours in the Windy City and the name of the Tamla-Motortown Review is sure to crop up. The 10-act bill opened in Chicago’s Regal Theater last week for the first of a series of appearances that will last into June. It’s been strictly SRO (standing room only) all week, so much so, if fact, that the Regal changed from a three to four-show-per-day policy. Tamla-Motown has so much success during the past year with its tour that in September the review will be broken into three separate shows, each featuring several of the tour’s top stars plus some new Tamla-Motown talent.

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas with a few “memories” from 1963. (Click on image for larger view).

Meanwhile in other current Motown news, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas will break with their first album this week. It includes their big single hit, “Come And Get These Memories,” while the Miracles celebrate their fifth year together with an anniversary album that includes some of their early hits, many of which are nigh impossible to get: “Bad Girl,” “Get A Job” and “I Need Some Money,” they are three of the best.

May is birthday month at Tamla-Motown. Sandra Brown is first up on the third, Billie Jean Brown follows on the 12th. Mary Wells and Barney Ales, Tamla-Motown vice-president, both share the 13th., and Gladys Horton, lead singer of the Marvelettes, will wind up the month with one on the 30th.

Most of the Tamla-Motown group were in Chicago to catch the Regal opening. Berry Gordy, Jr., made it back just in time from his European tour which ended last month. . . . Billie Jean Brown and Sandra Edwards, together with Billie Jean’s mother, Mrs. Angie M. Brown, tours the city’s sights, stopping in for a fast hello and luncheon with a Billboard magazine reporter. Incidentally, Billie Jean and Sandra are the two girls who did “Camelwalk” by the Beljeans on Gordy last September. END.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; May 4, 1963).

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in the 1960s.

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