WKNR, WJR HITS BIG PAY DIRT . . . . JULY 24, 1965

WKNR, WJR Hitting Pay Dirt in Detroit, Thanks to Two Air Personalities

DETROIT — Two deejays — one in the Top 40 field and the other from a ‘middle-of-the-road’ easy music station, are basically responsible for the tremendous success of radio stations WKNR and WJR here in influencing the sales of records…. and may be largely responsible for the success of their respective radio stations in reaching a large audience.

WJR station manager James H. Quello, said that his good music station was proud of J. P. McCarthy. “He’s the number one radio personality in town. Everybody knows him and he’s in good part responsible… a major factor… in influencing the sale of LP’s in Detroit.”

According to Billboard’s Radio Response Rating Survey last week of the Detroit radio market — ranked the country’s fifth radio market — McCarthy was rated No. 1 in influencing radio listeners to purchase popular LPs. The station was rated first in the same category, but what makes it a unique situation is that the station gained strength to capture the top position since a similar Billboard survey of May 16, 1964, had placed WJR in second-place behind WCAR.

And the reason, according to Quello, is the power of McCarthy. McCarthy had been with the station at one time, then left WJR in Detroit to work for another radio station in San Francisco. He returned back to Detroit since the last Billboard survey. He’s so effective that WJR placed him on mornings in their 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. time-frame, and he returns for the 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. drive time. “After all, this is the motor city of the world… a big car place,” Quello went on to say. McCarthy features mostly MOR records (middle of the road), Quello said, “but we’re programming more contemporary music now, anything short of rock and roll.”

In influencing the sale of popular LP recordings, the major stations, in order, are WJR, WCAR, WWJ, and WJBK. WJR and WCAR has most of the power; in fact, WJR’s McCarthy had 52 per cent of the total points in Billboard’s survey, followed by WCAR deejay Joe Bacarella with 36 per cent overall.

WJR, incidentally, tied for second-place with WWJ in influencing the sale of conservative type records, was No. 1 in influencing the sale of classical records, and showed up fairly well as a power in influencing the sale of folk records as well.

Both Gain

The top position in the sale of popular record singles was again captured by radio station WKNR and its popular disk-jockey, Bob Green. In fact, both station and deejay gained in strength. WKNR radio was rated at 33 per cent in May 16, 1964, but increased its influence to 44 per cent as of last week. Green increased two points to 30 per cent.

WKNR radio station manager Walter Patterson said the Top 40 station isn’t doing anything different, “but we are fortunate in accumulating listeners.” A recent Pulse study showed that the 24-hour Detroit station as reaching 292,900 separate households during a given day.

“We’re not cocky, but we watch our position closely and never let up,” Patterson said. While the station does believe in strong air-personalities, — “some are and some are not” — it also practices “playing more music and keeping talk to a minimum.” The station’s “sound” is very important,” Patterson said.

WKMH the former, now WKNR, featured a “middle-of-the-road” music format until November 1, 1963, when it went Top 40. “We’ve pulled the fastest turnaround of any station in the country,” Patterson said. “What’s happening is the more we go, the more we get.” The station plays the top 31 records and distributes 99,000 copies of the station’s own survey guide of featured songs and hits. Patterson also said the station has a “refrigerator full” of promotions and uses them as the need arises.

Also in the Top 40 market, radio station CKLW has increased its power in influencing the sales of records since the last Billboard survey. The market saw WJBK change format from Top 40, where it ranked No. 2 last May, to good music. In May 1964, it was No. 4; now it ranks second. Dave Shafer and Tom Shannon of CKLW now rank second and third behind WKNR’s Bob Green.

John Gordon, the program director of CKLW, received the Billboard nod as most co-operative in exposing new records.

Close in R&B Field

In the R&B field in the Detroit market, it was a close race, but WCHB radio came out on top in influencing record sales. WCHB had 49 per cent, WJLB had 44 per cent and FM station WGPR had 7 per cent. WJLB ranked first last May.

Bill Williams, program director at WCHB, attributed the station’s increase in influence to a “much tighter format that was launched in January.” The station also went 24-hours in April. Williams said deejays on WCHB are now faster with delivery than before. “We play 35 of the top-selling R&B records, interspersed with every third record with one we think is a good prospect for a potential hit-maker to climb-up the chart.” This has made the station very important in getting listeners to go out and buy more into the R&B product,” Williams said.

“This is a good R&B market, its the home of the Motown sound,” he said, adding that he liked to think of his market as the entire population of Detroit. WJLB, however, scored with the top disc-jockey — Ernie Durham — in the power of influencing record sales. In fact, Durham almost captured the whole thing with a 44 per cent influence in the Detroit R&B market. The second-place honors goes out to Le Baron Taylor of WCHB, who held the No. 2 spot at 27 per cent.

Interesting to note is that an FM station, WBRB-FM is now showing muscles in influencing the sales of country music records. The field is still dominated by country powerhouse WEXL, which still came up with 86 per cent of the total points, but it’s no longer a one-station field. WBRB showed up with a 14 per cent; it’s a new station since the last Billboard survey. Bill Samples, of WEXL, is still the No. 1 deejay in the motor town getting country music records sold. END

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Source information and credit: Billboard July 24, 1965

J. P. McCARTHY: SPOTLIGHTING HIS WJR SHOW THEME! ‘BEGIN THE BEGUINE” [1938] by the ARTIE SHAW ORCHESTRA

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Joseph Preistly McCarthy entered the world in New York City on March 22, 1933. In 1943, amid wartime, his family relocated to Detroit, where McCarthy attended Annunciation grade school and later DeLasalle near City Airport for high school. He pursued higher education at the University of Detroit starting in 1952.

At 19, McCarthy enlisted in the U.S. Army and found himself stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Despite lacking radio training, he secured a role at Armed Forces Radio to avoid relocation. After military service, McCarthy explored radio opportunities in Fairbanks and later on in Flint, where he briefly embraced the role of a “rock and roll” disk jockey, spinning hits by Elvis, Bill Haley, and the Everly Brothers.

Transitioning to WJR in Detroit in 1958, McCarthy’s career trajectory led him to KGO in San Francisco briefly in early 1963, before returning to WJR in December 1964. Back at WJR, he took on hosting duties for the “Morning Music Hall” and the “Afternoon Music Hall” initially, later becoming a permanent fixture in the morning drive and launching the “Focus” afternoon interview program.

His morning show swiftly ascended to the apex of Detroit radio, maintaining its dominance for roughly three decades until his passing. Acknowledged as Detroit’s preeminent radio personality, McCarthy was crowned “Top DJ” by Billboard in July 1966. In the late spring of 1995, McCarthy received a diagnosis of ‘myelodysplastic syndrome,’ a precursor to leukemia, and peacefully passed away in his sleep on August 16, 1995, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 62.

Today we are presenting J. P. McCarthy’s WJR show-opening theme, his first. From 1938 – BEGIN THE BEGUINE – by the Artie Shaw Orchestra.

A MCRFB Note: J.P. ultimately would use two other “themes” for his morning show on WJR as well. “Put On A Happy Face” by Bert Kaempfert, and, “Have A Nice Day” by the Count Basie Orchestra.

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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

NEW: ST. PATRICK’S DAY! J. P. McCARTHY ON WJR 760 RADIO, MARCH 17, 1993

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For over 30 years, legendary morning radio personality Joseph Priestley McCarthy broadcast his #1 rated show on WJR-760 in Detroit. “J.P.” regularly interviewed heads of states, world leaders, government officials, corporate figures, champions of sports, entertainment luminaries, and dedicated listeners, highlighting his storied broadcasting career in the Motor City.

One day short of 51 months having passed after this broadcast first aired, J.P. passed away on August 16, 1995.

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to our friend, Jim Nuznoff, of Port Charlotte, Florida, for this recent contribution to our Motor City Radio Flashbacks airchecks repository. Thanks again, Jim, we are grateful for your generosity and your support for this site, always.

Jim writes (January 9, 2024) — “March 17, 1993. J. P. McCarthy Show featuring a remote broadcast on St. Patrick’s Day, live, from the Pegasus Restaurant in Detroit. This was a somewhat, somber show, according to the news you will hear in the audio. For it was also the time when Detroit area restaurant owner Chuck Muir (along with his wife) was reported missing aboard his sailboat during a storm in the Bahamas. And auto dealership owner and long-time friends, George and Lynn Drummey (of Drummey Olds) were also on board as well. I don’t think they were ever found.”

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Newly restored! This selected audio recording was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

RADIO AM 760! WJR BACK ON THE RADIO: J. P. McCARTHY, APRIL 1994

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A MCRFB NOTE: C-SPAN televised the J. P. McCarthy Morning Show in its entirety (4 hours) on April 6, 1994, 29 years ago today.

Throughout this entire show, you will hear the voices of Gene Fogel, Dan Streeter, Dick Heifner, Joel Alexander, Dennis Nuebacher, with the day’s news, traffic, weather and sports. And of course, J.P. speaking with guests and taking calls throughout the broadcast.

At time this broadcast was simulcast on C-SPAN, J. P. McCarthy was at WJR for 27 years. The WJR morning ‘voice of the Great Lakes’ passed away on August 16, 1995. J. P. was 62.

NEW! A special THANK YOU to the anonymous donor (from Allen Park, MI.) who expressed he remain as, ‘unnamed’. Thanks again for providing this rare J. P. McCarthy audio memory which aired — on this day — 29 years ago.

Audio recording was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

WJR’S McCARTHY IS TOP DJ IN DETROIT . . . JULY 2, 1966

Number One Air Personality — 18 Months After Returning to WJR

DETROIT — J. P. McCarthy of WJR is the king of the air personalities in Detroit, according to the record industry.

McCarthy received 52 per cent of the votes of record dealers, distributors, one-stop operators, and local and national record company executives as being the major influence on album sales. They also attributed him with having vast influence in creating sales of Easy Listening singles.

James H. Quello, program director of the Easy Listening format station, said that McCarthy, “seems to be able to pick them. He practically made Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in Detroit.” A lot of the credit, too, should go to music director Harold Lake, Quello said.

“We try to play the bright new beats that aren’t rock,”Quello said, “try to be cheerful and entertain and sensible. McCarthy practically dominates all morning ratings because of his warm personality an the fact that he keeps his show interesting. For instance, he has little gimmicks he calls winners and losers –– sort of comments about topical matters. He also plays novelty records.”

WJR also scored as the major influence on classical record sales with 55 per cent of the votes. The programming of WJR has given the station tremendous billings. “Business in the last year and a half has been absolutely fantastic,” Quello said. “We’ve definitely proved that there’s room in a market for all kinds of music – country music, our music, or rock ‘n’ roll.”

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard; July 2, 1966

WJR 760 AM BACK ON THE RADIO: J. P. MCCARTHY

**WJR RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

WJR-AM 760 * 1991 * J. P. McCARTHY

NEW! J. P. McCARTHY WJR aircheck date: unknown FEBRUARY 1991

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BYRON MacGREGOR

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In this brief interview, J. P. speaks with Byron about the current 1991 resurgence of his 1974 patriotic hit, “The Americans”.

NOTE: This WJR interview was conducted some days before the Gulf War came to a rapid close, ending this country’s direct U.S. military involvement in the liberation of Kuwait. A military cease fire was declared by President George Herbert Walker Bush, formally ending the conflict on February 28, 1991.

Four years after this 1991 interview – 25 years ago – J. P. McCarthy passed away on August 16. Eight months and two weeks after we lost Byron MacGregor on January 3, 1995.

‘GOOD MORNING, WORLD’! J. P. MCCARTHY: WJR 760

—Joseph Priestly McCarthy—

This year will mark 25 years having passed since we lost J. P. McCarthy. August 16, 1995

NEW! ’65 WJR BRACE BEEMER TRIBUTE: J. P. MCCARTHY

**WJR RECALLED on MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WJR-AM 760 * 1965 * J. P. McCARTHY**

NEW! J. P. McCARTHY WJR aircheck date: Tuesday, March 2, 1965

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* THE PAUL URBAHNS COLLECTION *

BRACE BEEMER REMEMBERED

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Friday, March 20, 2015

Today’s story is a condensed version of an article written by Radio Historian and Troy resident, Larry Zdeb. Mr. Zdeb has provided many presentations on early radio and radio personalities, especially The Lone Ranger.

“On January 31st, 1933 the Lone Ranger radio show made its debut. After a few actors portrayed the Ranger, an audition turned up a 24-year-old Wayne State University student with a big voice, Earle Graser, who became the first long-running Lone Ranger! Brace Beemer was a station manager at WXYZ at that time. In station owner George W. Trendle’s mind, Earle Graser sounded great but did not look like the character Mr. Trendle envisioned as the Lone Ranger. Brace Beemer, however, looked the part! He was six foot three with rugged good looks. For all public appearances it was decided that Brace Beemer would appear as the Lone Ranger even though he did not play the character on the radio at the time.

The first public appearance of the Lone Ranger was on July 30th, 1933 on Belle Isle for the Detroit Parks and Recreation jamboree! During the intermission, atop a borrowed horse named “HERO”, Brace Beemer appeared as the Lone Ranger. When he rode out in front of the estimated 10,000 children assembled in front of the casino, the kids went wild with excitement and rushed the Masked Man! Brace was afraid someone might be injured in the crush and ordered the children back to their posts! The children obeyed the Lone Ranger, a disaster was prevented, and a new American hero was born.

Everything ran successfully at WXYZ until Monday, April 7th, 1941 when Earle Graser fell asleep at the wheel while driving home and was killed when his car struck another vehicle. The Lone Ranger was broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Graser died on early Tuesday morning and WXYZ needed a Lone Ranger for the next evening’s broadcast.

Brace Beemer was chosen by Mr. Trendle to become the new Lone Ranger. Not wanting to shock the listeners with a new voice immediately, Trendle had the next few episodes rewritten with a story-line that the Lone Ranger was severely injured and could barely talk. Beemer played the part brilliantly and turned out to be the longest running Lone Ranger in history, playing the role from 1941 until the last live broadcast on September 3rd, 1954.

In 1949, in addition to radio, the Lone Ranger began as a television show. From 1949 to 1954 the program was broadcast simultaneously on television and radio. Brace wanted to play both parts but Clayton Moore was chosen to be the television Lone Ranger. He got the part partially because he sounded like Brace Beemer. After the final Lone Ranger live radio broadcast in 1954, Beemer became Sergeant Preston of the Yukon for a short time. After that show ended, Beemer dabbled in radio commercials and was an entertainment promoter. Even in retirement, he still received fan mail.

Brace Beemer died on Monday, March 1st, 1965. As many as two hundred cars were in the funeral procession to the White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. His grave is near the World War I Polar Bear statue which is fitting because Brace was the youngest World War I American volunteer at 14 years old.”

Source: ‘The Story of the Lone Ranger‘ c/o The 365 Project; March 20, 2015

THANK YOU!

A special THANK YOU to Paul Urbahns of Radcliffe, Kentucky, for recently sharing this special WJR ‘Bruce Beemer Tribute’ as aired on WJR radio, Tuesday, March 2, 1965. Hosted by J. P. McCarthy.

Tuesday, March 2, 1965

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: BRACE BEEMER

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**Brace Beemer** as the Lone Ranger. A WXYZ radio *Lone Ranger* publicity shot from 1942

WJR RADIO 760: J. P. TALKS TO J. ALLEN HYNEK, 1977

**WJR RECALLED ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**WJR 760 * 1977 * J. P. McCARTHY**

WJR AM aircheck date FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1977

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to Jason Chase, of Lake Orion, MI, for recently donating this WJR radio aircheck to the Motor City Radio Flashbacks aircheck repository.

J. P. McCARTHY speaks with DR. J. ALLEN HYNEK

41 YEARS AGO

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Tonight, Tuesday, January 8 (10/9c) the History Channel premieres the anticipated and much acclaimed new drama series, ‘Project Blue Book’, described by the network as having been “based on the true, top-secret investigations into Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and related phenomena conducted by the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1969.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek (Aiden Gillen), a brilliant yet underappreciated professor, is recruited by the U. S. Air Force to spearhead a clandestine operation called Project Blue Book. Along with his partner, the debonair Air Force Captain Michael Quinn (Michael Malarkey), he is summoned to investigate UFO sightings around the country and use science to discover what really happened.” . . . (Quoted source: History.com)

J. P. McCARTHY: COVETED KING, DETROIT RADIO 1966

**Detroit Free Press** *December 4, 1966*

Sunday, December 4, 1966

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: J. P. McCARTHY

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