detroit radio personalities
The station management impressed the ABC brass in New York to drop many of the local shows and transcend to a more modern sound. By 1958, there was a strict playlist with a more contemporary music format to follow. The average Radio Personality salary in Detroit, MI is $48,225 as of November 23, 2022, but the salary range typically falls between $38,676 and $63,597. THE LATEST FROM MARIE OSBORNE BACK TO HOSTS PAGE >>>, WJR News Director Dick Haefneris one of the most recognizable news voices in Detroit. [1] He is the former host of the Stoney and Wojo radio show on WDFN in Detroit, Michigan until it was canceled on January 20, 2009. Speaking of a very special friend, Mr. JOEY RYAN ( Joseph Pietruska ), interned at The Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Cemetery . On top of being on air, he most recently was on the Netflix reality competition show, The Circle. Hes most known for his on the street reports not to mention his tweets at #KRonJR #kronjr, WJR News Reporter Dayna Clark is delighted to be back home on the Great Voice of the Great Lakes every weekday morning as part the of thePaul W. Smith Showteam. The native Virginian and Wayne State University graduate enjoyed a broadcast career that spanned for more than 50 years. Those days and memories will forever linger, never to be duplicated. We knew when the dance was over when Lee played Since I Fell For You by Lenny Welch. "If you grew up here you can't help it. The deal also included a share of any syndicated monies should any portion of the show go national, although that never happened. Hopefully, we can keep this website going for many years, thanks to Mr. Alans kindness. The station was then sold in 1930 to the Kunsky-Trendle Broadcasting Company who changed the calls to WXYZ. He was also the voice of the University of Michigan hockey team briefly in the 1980s. Recently Lepidi won a Gracie Award for her interviews with artists such as Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Adele and many others. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. Similar memories long before we went to Specs-8 transistor radio Zenith under the pillow from 10-12, Lees opening theme was Plink went the strings of my heart (At least thats my memory) And yes, Sinatras Cant get started to close and into Don Zee. By the Way, the original call letters before they were WXYZ, WGHP stood for George Harrison Phelps an advertising man who made his fortune working for the BBDO Agency on the Dodge account. Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) August 2, 2020 I have interviewed numerous people throughout my journalism career such as MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Spudd, and John Mason, Reggie Reg ( Detroit radio personalities) Three 6 Mafia, Russell Simmons . Add to your list of deceased Tom George of WJBK. (WWJ) -- WWJ Newsradio 950 listeners will be hearing some familiar voices in new time slots, as Detroit's top news station announced a new anchor lineup Thursday, effective immediately. August 12, 2021 10:40 am. A diehard Spartan, Valenti has been a radio commentator in Detroit since the early 2000s. The end of an era. WNIC . None to speak of. Detroit, MI 48202. A co-host of the , Mike Valenti, 97.1 The Ticket host (YouTube Screenshot). wxyz, cklw, and wknr. Free shipping for many products! In a comparatively short space you have captured a great deal of the essence of the battle for ratings that took place in the 60s. After working in the biz for 58 years, reports show that Perkins retired from radio this year. Thank you Larry and may God Bless Tarantula by the Tarantulas ( instrumental ) Martin and Howard was in, Joe Bacarella was the new program director and WXYZ was officially Sound Of The Good Life.. Lepidi made her way up the Detroit Top 40 radio ladder after her full time start at 98.7 Amp radio in 2015. It had no color line. Eighty seven-years ago, according to Wikipedia, the station spawn birth in the Detroit area under the calls WGHP on October 10, 1925. The event honored Sonny Eliot, the late Ernie Harwell, Specs Howard, Dick Purtan, and Robin Seymour. Motor City Radio Flashbacks. I believe the first televised performance of My Girl by The Temptations was done on our show. WJR News Director Dick Haefner is one of the most recognizable news voices in Detroit. It has all those voices in it for all to hear again. When WXYZ insisted that I recommend hiring Martin & Howard we all knew that with the size of that investment at stake the station would back off and drop the mainstream audience format we had going. My schoolmate and I often remember rushing home to his upstairs console radio to hear our favorite DJ. He invented the phrase: DODGE DEPEND ON IT. Detroiters also tuned in on WXYZ for the latest thrilling adventures of The Green Hornet, The Challenge of the Yukon (tailored after dog personality Rin-Tin-Tin). 1-844-BUY-RADIO; 100.3 WNIC Detroit's Variety - 80's 90's & Today Kristina. That in 1966 the listeners instead wanted more of the music. Johnson will also continue serving as the station's midday show host, weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Line-Up: Cam & Lisa 5-9, Lynn Martin 9-12, News 12-12: . In April, Alan also brought back the. Four previous reunions of current and former radio personalities have been held here since 1988, but they were largely social occasions for disc jockeys to get together, swap industry war stories, and tell each other they've never looked better. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Where can I buy Lee Alans book, Turn Your Radio On!? 26,147 talking about this. He used to golf with him at West Shore in Grosse Ile. Special programming: Don McNeill Breakfast Club 10-10:55 a.m. M-F. Lou Gordon Comments, 2-minute commentary, 6:25, 9:25 a.m., 12:05 p.m. M-W-F. Call Board-Dick Osgood, drama-critic with interviews, 9:30-10 a.m. Sun. By this time WXYZ radio had begun its fierce battle going full force head-to-head for top ratings going against Detroits top-rated WJBK 1500. Times reporters broadcast their interviews with prominent persons from the day's news. On Sept. 25, Detroit Radio Personalities, Past and Present, was held at the Crowne Plaze Hotel in Novi. Share. The show broadcasts live on Saturdays from 2p-4p EST on AM 1200 WCHB and 99.9 FM Detroit. Don Zee Was indeed The Midnight DJ At CKLW , Purtan, 83, retired a decade ago from his final job in radio at WOMC-FM (104.3). Jim McFarlin By late-summer 1965, the veteran morning-broadcaster, WXYZ, under the direction of Chuck Fritz, the 37-year old general manager at the station since 1963, was by then re-structuring the stations appeal for a younger audience. By years end, WXYZ was now a slight 24 from the previous 22% they held in 1965. and on the television side Club 1270 was gaining Detroit audience popularity asJoel SabastianandLee Alanintroduced the hottest WIXIE hits on WXYZ-TV. 6 Dr. Daddio. And we had a terrific time doing it.. Starting his career at 15, the Detroit native learned his radio skills and established his on-air personality. These historic radio broadcasts were produced locally from the stations annex-studios, located at the former Mendelson building on East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. Any idea what group, year they are from? He also seemed to stay away from the oldies from his era. Following Towers hosted a show at WXYT with Bill McAllister. Oh===thanks for the horn and its fine tone. Persistence paid! One last thing. "I gave him my two cents based on our years of planning and promoting these events, but Lee is Lee and he's always wanted to do it this way.". 5 Number 3 - Radio DJo Henderson. There are so many musical references to the city, and besides that, Detroit has had many sports radio anchors who helped pave the way for broadcast journalism. After graduating from the University of Detroit, he began a successful radio career. It is absolutely true that Brother Joel Sebastian, Dave Prince, and I went to my late friend Chuck Fritz and literally begged him to champion the cause and petition the New York Brass (Hal Neal President ABC owned and Operated Stations) to drop the old, out dated network programming. Min. There will be so many positive vibes coming in, I think that's the main thing. Management, the entire radio staff and Lee Alan, now as program director were convinced the right formula was now in place moving forward for 1966. M o r e T o p 4 0 Y e a r s T h e 6 0 s. But by late-summer of 1964, WJBK was out of the Top 40 business. My Mother listened to Fred Wolf every morning. (313) 298-9630. Eighty seven-years ago, according to, the station spawn birth in the Detroit area under the calls, WGHP was once a charter member (of 16 stations) that aired the first, program in 1927. 1 in the ratings, they became a heavy influence for record sales in Detroit. Fred Wolf was doing a special broadcast on the following Saturday morning at a shopping center in Royal Oak, at the intersection of 13 Mile Road and Woodward Ave. He was 58. In a group of items I won at an auction there was an unused round sticker for the WXYZ 1270 Batman Club. Mike Stone (radio personality) Michael Stone (born December 29, 1958) is an on-air host for 97.1 The Ticket WXYT-FM. Your email address will not be published. But pleas towards Fritz to persuade ABC in New York to drop network programming fell on deaf ears. at WXYZ was finished, over and was done. Jim McFarlin, former media and entertainment critic for the Metro Times and The Detroit News, is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in People, USA Today, Black Enterprise, HOUR Detroit, and many other publications. The following week I listened to him until I ran out of signal just this side of Des Moines, Iowa. Jay Towers In The Morning starts the day, followed by Theresa Lucas in midday and Rafferty for the ride home. I revisit this site now and then and just want to thank all who have commented about those halcyon days and of course about my colleagues and me and the shows we all loved to hear. In May 1922, the station went from being known as 8MK to WWJ. Rich in history as one of the most storied and oldest broadcasting institution in Detroit or for that matter, the entire country. 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