DETROIT — The departure of featured deejay Tom Clay from CKLW last week was as an “amiable termination” based on Clay’s decision to quit because he was not able to spin his own records, and was not based on any difference of programming, as reported elsewhere.
Clay felt he was not doing enough on his show when not allowed to play the records himself, but John Gordon, CKLW’s program director, told Billboard that present contracts with both the engineers and AFTRA prohibit this practice at the station.
Last week the Tom Clay show was replaced by the Terry Knight show, Monday through Friday, 7 to 11 p.m. and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Knight comes from WTRX, Flint, where he had a similar show and was formerly a deejay on WJBK. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; July 11, 1964)
“Swingin’ Time” the HOTTEST Dance Show on TV in Detroit
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels 1966
By the mid-60s, Detroit could claim two television programs that mirrored the successful formula of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. Club 1270 and Swingin Time became the Motor City’s showcase for the stars and would-be stars of rock n roll. We got our first glimpses of local heroes like Jamie Coe and Bob Seger also worldwide sensations like Leslie Gore and the Rolling Stones in glorious black and white.
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For more on the history of Club 1270 and Swingin time, along with two classic video clips, visitkeener13.com.
Charlie Van Dyke’s Bicentennial Salute to the American Flag in 1976
… Is it possible to wave the flag too much … provided of course, that you wave it with integrity….
Charles Leo Steinle aka Charlie Van Dyke, first launched his career in radio broadcasting in 1966, as a nineteen-year old with the legendary KLIF 1190 in Dallas, Texas. By the early 1970s, and rapidly-rising in the industry known for his baritone pipes, his distinct voice behind the radio microphone would eventually carry him to major markets around the country.
Harnessed by Bill Drake for his RKO radio stable, stops would include morning drives at KFRCin San Francisco, KHJin Los Angeles, a short stint at CKLWin Windsor/Detroit and then it was on to WRKOin Boston.
But it’s the Bicentennial Year. 1976.
Seemingly what was lacking was a narrative to commemorate the country’s bicentennial celebration for that year. And that’s when Van Dyke decided to step in.
Charlie Van Dyke “The Flag” 45 RPM record sleeve from 1976
According to Charlie Van Dyke, he had retained a particular speech his uncle had written and prepared for an oratory-speech contest while in high school. His mother, in adding to the Van Dyke story, had saved a copy of that award-winning speech. That narrative saved would become The Flag.
With minor changes in the lyrics, Clive Fox worked on the produced project for release through United Artists Records. Jimmy Haskell would provide the music behind Van Dyke’s saturated, patriotic salute he voiced-over in The Flag.
Today, while no longer in radio, Charlie Van Dyke continues to free-lance his voice talents for media markets in both radio and television affiliates across the country.
Charlie Van Dyke, we thank and salute you for your acclimated 1976 display and show for true-American patriotism!
CHARLIE VAN DYKE * THE FLAG
Special thanks to George Griggs for contributing “The Flag” record/audio featured with this exhibit.
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
