USA Radio Museum – Page 10 – Where Radio History Lives On

LIGHT, AND LIVELY: ANITA KERR SINGS ‘THE DETROIT SOUND’ FOR WXYZ, 1966

Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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In 1965, the Anita Kerr Singers achieved a major milestone by winning two Grammy Awards. They were honored with the ‘Best Performance By A Vocal Group’ award for their RCA album ‘We Dig Mancini’, triumphing over The Beatles’ ‘Help!’ in that category. Additionally, they received the ‘Best Gospel Album’ award for their collaboration with George Beverly Shea on the 1964 RCA album ‘Southland Favorites.’

*Click on (PC) or tap over and stretch image (Moble devices) for largest view.*

Later that year, a brief article in the October 16, 1965, edition of Billboard magazine reported that Anita Kerr had relocated from Nashville to Hollywood. There, she established Anita Kerr Enterprises to explore opportunities in commercial radio and the jingle industry. Partnering with former RCA Victor European sales administrator Alexandre Grob, they also enlisted Charlie Williams, a former songwriter and personal manager from RCA Records. While based on the West Coast, Anita Kerr continued to work with her Nashville-based group, intending to bring them to California for jingle recordings. According to the Billboard article, the group was to remain an act under the RCA label.

By 1967, Anita Kerr Enterprises had crafted jingles for a range of radio stations across the country, including KMPC AM 710 in Los Angeles, WLS AM 890 in Chicago, WGH AM 1310 in Newport News (Virginia), and WXYZ AM in Detroit.

At WXYZ AM 1270 in Detroit, Lee Alan served as the program director. In late 1965, as part of the station’s preparations for 1966, Lee Alan composed the “Personality Plus” jingle series for the new upcoming “Detroit Sound” programming, geared in a new direction and with anticipated excitement. WXYZ-AM, at the time, was an ABC Radio Network affiliate based in New York.

Once ABC approved the “Personality Plus” jingle package, General Manager Chuck Fritz authorized Lee Alan to hire Dick Marx Productions from Chicago to finalize the arrangements and contract Anita Kerr for the vocal work. Lee Alan noted, “Years earlier, Dick Marx had produced jingles for our sister station WLS-AM in Chicago.”

Lee Alan explained, “The jingles were meticulously crafted to refresh and elevate WXYZ’s sound. I produced the package with Dick Marx, and we brought in Anita Kerr and her singers for two recording sessions over two days.”

He further added, “I was later asked to create another jingle series for WXYZ-FM, which was broadcast separately from AM due to FCC regulations. At the same time, I composed and produced opening jingles for the new ‘Martin and Howard’ show starting in 1967, again working with Dick Marx and Anita Kerr” (Lee Alan’s comments, July 2, 2012).

In conclusion, take a moment to listen to those classic jingles Anita Kerr recorded for WXYZ radio in 1966. It’s clear that this custom package remains one of the most beautifully arranged sets of jingles ever produced for Detroit radio in the 1960s.

A special thanks is due to Lee Alan for making this remarkable WXYZ custom series possible in 1966.

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MOTOWN MONDAY! A Detroit Free Press NEWSPRINT BACK-PAGE . . . SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPREMES!

**DETROIT FREE PRESS** Sunday, January 30, 1966 [A]

**DETROIT FREE PRESS** Sunday, January 30, 1966 [B]

**DETROIT FREE PRESS** Sunday, January 30, 1966 [C]

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The above featured ‘Motown’ newspaper article (Detroit Free Press) was clipped, saved, and was digitally re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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**DETROIT FREE PRESS** Sunday, January 30, 1966 [D]

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FROM THE ARCHIVE: WHND RECALLED! RICHARD D’s TOP 12 ON THE RADIO

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

This WHND Richard D audio file, in it’s archived, original and unrestored form was selected for today’s special aircheck “restoration” presentation.

THIS WEEK IN 1964: THE WJBK RADIO 15 RECORD REVIEW . . . JULY 17

**WJBK RADIO 15 RECORD REVIEW** July 17, 1964

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This official Record Review survey was tabulated overall by each record’s popularity and its appeal, sales, listener requests and record air plays based on the judgement of WJBK Radio 1500 (1964)

The above WJBK chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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A sincere thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.

Above WJBK music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.

WHERE DID ED McKENZIE’S MONIKER ‘JACK the BELLBOY’ ORIGINATED FROM? NOW WE KNOW

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The featured Detroit Free Press article (August 31, 1951) was digitally re-imaged and was entirely restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

Missed any of our previous ‘Detroit Radio Back-Pages‘ features? GO HERE

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Jack the Bellboy.

There were five WJBK personalities who used the JTB moniker in the 1950s and in the 1960s. Ed McKenzie (1951). Tom Clay (1958). Dave Shafer (1962). Terry Knight (1963). Robin Walker (1964).

One other fact: When Ed McKenzie left WJBK for WXYZ in 1952, WJBK retained legal rights to the moniker. Nobody else at WJBK would use the title until Tom Clay was hired in late 1957, when Casey Kasem left Detroit for Buffalo that year. In 1956-57, Casey Kasem had the same late-evening hours as Ed McKenzie, on WJBK. Offered the JTB title by the station, Kasem once stated he simply declined assuming the moniker during the short time while he was there.

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A special thank you to senior MCRFB consultant Greg Innis, of Livonia, MI., for contributing the Newspapers.com archives (Detroit radio related) articles, ads, and images we have provide for this site since 2016.

Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic Detroit radio features possible. ?

THE VOICE OF SUMMER REMEMBERED: ERNIE HARWELL and PAUL CAREY on WJR, MAY 24, 1977

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DETROIT FREE PRESS Wednesday, May 25, 1977 — Believe it or not, one of the reasons Ralph Houk temporarily turned John Hiller into a starting pitcher was to try to build the veteran’s confidence back up.

If nothing else, the Tiger’s accomplished that much Tuesday night at Tiger Stadium.

Although Hiller was no match for California’s record-setting Nolan Ryan, he certainly had nothing to be ashamed of as the Angels stopped the Tiger’s three-game winning streak, 2-1.

**Angels 2-Tigers 1** *(Click on box score for largest detailed view)*.

Ryan was his customary over-powering self, permitting three singles and striking out 12 to set an American League record for such feats. It marked the 75th time since joining the Angels in 1972, that Ryan had struck out 10 or more batters in a ball game.

THE ANGELS’ fireballing right-hander has enjoyed 89 such games in his major-league career, dating back to his days with the New York Mets, which leaves him just 8 shy of the major league record, held by Sandy Koufax.

But let the record show, John Hiller struck out five himself while only allowing five hits in his most impressing nine-inning effort against the Angels.

[See Detroit Free Press article below for more. Click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read].

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WJR served as the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers Radio Network, with Paul Carey producing broadcasts for the network from 1964 to 1971.

When Ray Lane transitioned to television, Carey teamed up with Ernie Harwell as a play-by-play announcer for the 1973 season, a role he held for 19 seasons. Except for his last three seasons, he also took on engineering duties for the broadcasts.

In early 1991, Carey announced his retirement at the end of the season, with his final Tigers broadcast taking place on the last day of the 1991 season—marking the final baseball game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. In 2012, Carey was honored as the third recipient of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association’s Harwell Lifetime Contribution Award, following Harwell and John Fountain.

Carey passed away on April 12, 2016, in Rochester, Michigan, due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the age of 88.

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BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete California Angels vs Detroit Tigers May 24, 1977 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

**THE VOICE OF THE DETROIT TIGERS** Ernie Harwell with Paul Carey.

WKQI 95 FM: BACK ON THE RADIO! DICK PURTAN with SOUPY SALES, JULY 13, 1992

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Newly restored! From the MCRFB collection. This selected audio recording was digitally remastered for this feature presentation by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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Motor City Radio Flashbacks extends warm, Birthday wishes to Dick Purtan. Happy Birthday, Dick! We hope your day was truly special. And thank you again, for all those great D.P. radio memories you shared with us for well over four decades on both sides of the Detroit radio dial. ?

CKLW! THE ‘FUN RADIO 8’ HIT PARADE: JULY 11, 1967

**CKLW FUN RADIO 8 HIT PARADE** July 11, 1967 [A]

**CKLW FUN RADIO 8 HIT PARADE** July 11, 1967 [B]

**CKLW FUN RADIO 8 HIT PARADE** July 11, 1967 [C]

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The CKLW HIT PARADE represents the judgement of CKLW’s record selection committee as to the relative popularity of of current recordings in the Motor City area and is conditioned by such factors as industry tabulations, local record sales, and telephone requests.

The featured CKLW 07/11/1967 chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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**CKLW FUN RADIO 8 HIT PARADE** July 11, 1967 [D]

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A sincere thank you Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.

Above CKLW music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.

PROGRAMMING: THE DETROIT AM RADIO DIAL, TUESDAY RADIO, JULY 9, 1968

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In July 1968, eight months had passed since the two major newspaper temporarily ceased its daily publications on Saturday, November 18, 1967. Both newspapers were shut down by a major union strike.

**Detroit Free Press** Friday, November 17, 1967. Detroit was without their two newspaper dailies for nine months in 1967-1968.

In lieu of the two newspaper’s shutdown, Detroiters found themselves without their two daily newspapers, again, for the second time in four years. The previous newspaper strike/shutdowns was back in July 1964. In substitution, the Detroit American expanded its publication for a greater outreach in the metro-Detroit area throughout the remainder of the strike during this period.

Both newspapers, the Detroit Free Press, and the Detroit News, resumed daily publications after both papers reached a tentative settlement to end the strike on Friday, August 9. Both papers were back in circulation on Saturday, August 10, 1968.

The Detroit Free Press archives includes the Detroit American newspaper publications, covering the months of May, June, and July of 1968.

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The above featured Detroit radio guide was clipped, saved, and digitally re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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