Scott Regen Host Motown At Detroit’s Roostertail Club For WKNR
. . .The Upper Deck of The Roostertail, is proud to present . . . .
— From the MCRFB Aircheck Library featuring WKNR-AM
Motown Monday LIVE at The Roostertail (w/Scott Regen) 1966
DETROIT — The “Motown Mondays” at Detroit’s Roostertail Supper Club are now being broadcast on WKNR, Detroit, each Saturday at 11 P.M. Scott Regen is host. Artists of Motown Records appearing on the show include the Four Tops, Junior Walker & The All-Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes and The Temptations. This marks the first time in memory that “live” entertainment and music will have been broadcast on WKNR exclusively from the location for the nightly popular Scott Regen Show. END
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Addendum: In 1967, Scott Regen, heard nightly 7 to 10 p.m. on WKNR at the time, wrote the liner notes for “The Supremes Sings Holland – Dozier – Holland” Motown LP. Scott also wrote the liner notes for “The Four Tops Live At The Roostertail” and can be heard singing along side with the Four Tops on “Reach Out.” Scott Regen also introduced the Temptations on their 1967 album “The Temptations Live At The Roostertail” as well. On ‘Keener 13,’ Scott Regen became the highest-rated night-time deejay in Detroit – No. 1 — in 1965, 1966 and 1967. Truly, Scott Regen was “Detroit Radio King Of The ’60s!“
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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 17, 1966)
The Roostertail, 100 Marquette Drive, Detroit, MI. 48214Inside the spectacular Roostertail Supper Club as it looked in the 1960s. Besides showcasing Detroit Motown artists during that era, many, many other great acts performed here since its opening in 1958.The Roostertail Upper Deck bar and lounge area circa 1967.
Jim Tate and Mac Owens on WKNR-AM 13 August 21, 1970
Today is the 21st day of August and MCRFB will be showcasing two complete airchecks (nearly 2 full hours) from WKNR with Jim Tate and Mac Owens. These WKNR aircheckswas recorded 42-years ago in 1970, it was a Friday, and it was August 21.
(Click on image for larger scan).
These two Keener airchecks was adapted from a saved 1970 WKNR logger tape recorded ultra-slow 15/16 ips, as Jim Tate began the day just after signing-in after 6 AM. WKNR newsman Vincent Smith breaks in with the morning’s newscast at 15 past the hour with a report that a Delta Airlines jet hijacked to Cuba the previous day landed safely at Miami International Airport. The hijacker purportedly to have said to have a bomb. Some of the songs you’ll hear in this aircheck are from CCR, Sandy Posey and 100 Proof (Aged In Soul) along with Eric Burdon and War, two heavy hitters from the WKNR music guide for the week of August 17. The No. 1 song on WKNR? It was “Don’t Play That Song,” by Aretha Franklin. Also, these 1970 airchecks are loaded with memorable spots for the day, Gene Merollis Chevrolet, Canada Dry to name a few,and there’s even a spot for an adults-only flick entitled, “Tuck Me In,” at the time showing at the Trans-Lux in “vivid color” and was rated X! And for 1970, in these Keener airchecks you’ll hear what sounds like the PAMS series 39A jingle package.Here’s the rest of the WKNR deejay caravan for 1970: Dan Henderson, Chris Ryan, Bill Garcia, Gary Granger, Ron Sherwood, Bob Green, Scott Regen and Pat St. John. It’s 1970 all over again and Jim Tate is doing what he did best on Keener 13!
From the MCRFB Aircheck Library, featuring:
WKNR-AM Jim Tate AUGUST 21, 1970 Keener 13 (click name for audio)
WKNR-AM Mack Owens AUGUST 21, 1970 (click name for audio)
(Click on image for larger scan).
The second aircheck highlights an hour of Mac Owens signing in on his show right after Jim Tate at the 9 A.M. hour. One of the WKNR contest production promos at the time was the 1970 WKNR ‘Words’ Contest. Entrants submit lyrics for possible songs to be published and then recorded by Motown artists. Grand prize for the selected winning entry will be $1,000. You’ll hear a spot for Elias Brothers, announcing the newly-opened “Big Boy” restaurant at the Southland Shopping Center in Taylor. Remember “funny car” races at the drags? The big drag event was on Sunday for the Funny Car Spectaculars at the Motor City Dragways at I-94 and 26 Mile Rd. You’ll also hear spots with Johnny Cash for Metro Detroit Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers, Arrid Extra Dry, Pickway Shoe Mart and an offer for 2 FREE Libby 16 oz. glasses with a 10 gallon fill-up at all participating Austin-Gulf gas stations in the Detroit area. WKNR’s newsman Dick Buller reports the day’s news events as we learned 4 homicides were recorded during the night in Detroit. Songs from the WKNR Music Guide for the week of August 17 in this aircheck includes Mongo Jerry, Gene Chandler, along with the Beatles, and there was also a “classic oldie” played by Archie Bell & The Drells from 1968. On the music guide listed for the week were hits by the Carpenters, the Poppy Family, the Motown Spinners, Clarence Carter and Bread. But the most requested song for the morning according to Mac Owens was “Spill The Wine” by Eric Burdon and War, No. 10 on the WKNR Top 13. Relive Keener radio with Jim Tate and Mac Owens (And oh! What a voice!)as it happened on WKNR 42-years ago for this day in 1970 —August 21.
Detroit WJR-AM morning ace J.P. McCarthy. (Click on image for larger view).
DETROIT — The March/April Hooper has these total rated time figures: CKLW 19.4; WJR 12.2; WWJ 10.2. It’s to early to tell what WKNR will do, but in this rating WABX-FM has a 6 between 7-11 p.m. Sunday through Saturday, while WKNR had a 4.4. As for WCAR, which is the Ken Draper-consulted station, it’s still pretty far back, except for being second each Sunday during midday. WDEE is already fairly far ahead of WEXL, it’s new Detroit country competition. But the market seems to belong for the moment to Paul Drew, program director of CKLW, except when J.P. McCarthy is on the air mornings over at WJR. McCarthy has a 20.9 in the morning slot over CKLW, who holds a very close second during that same time-frame at 20.1. McCarthy is undoubtedly one of the best morning air personalities anywhere because there are few men indeed who could beat the Drake-consulted formula anywhere in the RKO radio chain. McCarthy, incidentally, is one of the speakers slated to make a presentation at the Billboard Radio Programming Forum to be held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel June 18 – 20 in New York. END.
(Information and news source: Billboard; June 6, 1970).
J. P. McCARTHY NO. 1 IN MORNINGS; WDEE NO. 3 IN DETROIT: PULSE REPORT APRIL/JUNE 1971
DETROIT — Country music seems to be doing well in Detroit where WDEE is third in the market 6 A.M. through midnight in the April/June Pulse. CKLW and the Paul Drew pack isNo. 1 with 19, WJR comes in with a 17 and nobody touches J. P. McCarthy in the mornings: this guy has a 21 from 6-10. Across the board, WDEE, programmed by John Mazur, has a 7, 8, 6, and 3 (through hours 6-10 A.M.) Breaking the other stations down CKLW has 17, 20, 21 and 14. WABX-FM has 2, 3, 4, 6. WKNR has 3, 3, 6, 5. WRIF-FM has 0, 1, 2, 3. WCHB was pulsed with 4, 4, 5, 10. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 18, 1971)
Herman’ Hermits “Look’s Who’s On First!” year-end trade publication ad for 1965.(Click on image for larger view).
NEW YORK — Herman’s Hermits, the hottest record-selling act today, have set a precedent by having their latest single release, “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” break into the Hot 100 chart at the No. 12 position this week. This is the highest jump of any record, thus far, that has ever hit the chart. The previous high was the Beatles’ release of their single “A Hard Day’s Night,” on Capitol Records, which vaulted at the No. 21 spot last year.
Herman’s Hermitscurrently have three singles ranked within the top 20 of the Hot 100 chart, with their “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat” at No. 6,“Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” at No. 12 and “Silhouettes”“at No. 19 after only three weeks on the charts.
Herman (Peter Noone) with WKNR’s J. Michael Wilson, Bob Green and Paul Cannon along with Hermit Derek “Lek” Leckenby in 1965.(Click on photo for larger view; photo courtesy Scott Westerman and Keener13.com).
Just last month, WKNR, the number one top 40 radio station in Detroit, confirmed “Can’t You Heart My Heartbeat” as having been the most popular hit in record sales, through the station’s own influence with its listeners. “Heartbeat,” recently was the No. 1 song onWKNRfor three consecutive weeks in the Motor City. The song hit the No. 13 position at the station onFebruary 25after debuting there (at No. 28) the previous week. It jumped all the way to the No. 1 spot on WKNR the following week, beginningMarch 3, and it stayed at the top there through March 24, when it dropped down to the No. 4 spot on Keener 13.
Herman’s Hermit’s “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” was finally released as a single in the U.S. on MGM in late-April, 1965. (Click on image for larger view).
But the latest tune, from the British band’s latest LP, has received what is considered the heaviest airplay of any record not released as a single to date.
Disk jockeys were playing the track from the group’s smash LP, “Introducing Herman’s Hermits,” which is currently at No. 3 this week on the Top LP’s chart in Billboard.
While “Silhouettes” was just released three weeks ago, MGM were forced to release “Mrs. Brown” due to popularity and demand and to date has found there has been no effect in the sale of the other two singles by the same group.
The advanced airplay on this tune has obviously helped the sales of this LP tremendously, since demand has forced consumers to buy the package to obtain “Mrs. Brown.”
The group is scheduled to arrive in this country Monday, April 19, for a month of one-nighters with the Dick Clark tour starting April 30. Prior to thatHerman’s Hermitswill make several personal appearances upon their arrival here. They are slated to appear on ABC-TV’s “Shindig” on May 4.END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; April 17, 1965)
BILLBOARD APRIL 17, 1965
HERMAN’S HERMITS
“Mrs Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” eventually went on to become the nation’s No. 1 song for three consecutive weeks — May 1, May 8, May 15, before dropping down to No. 2 on May 22, 1965 — according to the Billboard charts for May 1965.
Gary Stevens, WKNR (Detroit) afternoon deejay, is currently on tour in Europe and England along with his wife Peggy. Tour will include stops along the way to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Stockholm.
Plans includes a visit with the Beatles in the U.K. as well. During the trip, Stevens will be shooting film for his daily WKBD-TV dance show on Detroit’s channel 50.
(Information and news source: Billboard; January 23, 1965).
2004 – 2005 – Producer, writer, interviewer for Black History Month television features for Cadillac and Chevrolet. Identified subjects to be profiled within the African-American community, conducted interviews, wrote scripts for profiles and voiced the segments. Aired on CBS 11 and channel 21 in Dallas/Fort Worth.
1992 – 2003 – Voice, writer/producer of audio newsletters for Frito-Lay, Interstate Batteries and La Quinta Inns. This consisted of interviews with the public, experts, authors and employees.
1986 – 1993 KLIF-AM Dallas. Talk show host and fill-in host.
1986 – 1988 Consultant to KLIF-AM Dallas. Responsible for helping change the station from a country music format to a talk format.
1984 – 1986 Host/producer of the “Ed Busch Talk Show” national call-in talk show in joint venture with the Associated Press and carried by their network.
1982 – 1983 “America Overnight” programmer/host of national call-in talk show. Joint venture with RKO Networks and carried on 100+ stations.
1976-1982 WFAA-AM Dallas Talk Show Host
1975-1976 KNBR (NBC O/O) San Francisco Talk Show Host
1980s – 1990s freelance work: Talk program consultant to WPLP-AM Tampa, WCKY Cincinnati, KFJZ –AM Fort Worth, KTBB-AM Tyler and KOA-AM Denver. Hosted daily mid-day movie on Channel 27 (“Ed Busch and the Movies”) and a weekly TV version of my radio show on WFAA-TV Channel 8 with audience.
Recognition/Civic Highlights: San Francisco Bar Association media award for staging a trial on my program with the audience as the jury. Dallas Independent School District award for swapping jobs with the Superintendent. Dallas Observer voted Best Talk-Show Host. Elected on the first-ever ballot to Texas Radio Hall of Fame. Two-term president SPCA of Texas. Mabank ISD bond committee member.
So adding to the earlier line up, it brings us to early 1968: WTTO-AM Toledo
1968 WKNR FM
1969 WKNR-AM
1970, 1971: WCAR
1972 WWWW-FM
1973 (my first talk gig) WERE-AM Cleveland
And then to WFAA-AM…
Okay, I think that’s my whole life George.
Ed
PS, Dick Purtan once told me I was talented but my problem was I’d go across the street for another $50 a week. I guess he was right.
A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1966
DETROIT — The “Motown Mondays” at Detroit’s Roostertail Supper Club are now being broadcast on WKNR, Detroit, each Saturday at 11 P.M. Scott Regen is host. Artists of Motown Records appearing on the show include the Four Tops, Junior Walker & The All-Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes and The Temptations. This marks the first time in memory that “live” entertainment and music will have been broadcast on WKNR exclusively from the location for the nightly popular Scott Regen Show. END
Addendum: In 1967, Scott Regen, heard nightly 7 to 10 p.m. on WKNR at the time, wrote the liner notes for “The Supremes Sings Holland – Dozier – Holland” Motown LP. Scott also wrote the liner notes for “The Four Tops Live At The Roostertail” and can be heard singing along side with the Four Tops on “Reach Out.” Scott Regen also introduced the Temptations on their 1967 album “The Temptations Live At The Roostertail” as well. On ‘Keener 13,’ Scott Regen became the highest-rated night-time deejay in Detroit – No. 1 — in 1965, 1966 and 1967. Truly, Scott Regen was “Detroit Radio King Of The ’60s!“
