From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1968

Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1968

DETROIT — (02/1968) — Janis Ian appeared in concert Friday (26) at the Masonic Auditorium . . . . The Sam and Dave Revue opened Friday (2) at Cobo Hall, including an 18-piece orchestra and other acts from the Stax/Volt stable of artists. . . . Rhetta Hughes appeared in the Roostertail’s main dining room during the week of Jan. 18-24 . . . . Red Buttons headlined at the Roostertail for 10 days through Feb. 3, and the Four Tops are scheduled to open there Monday (12) . . . . MGM Records will present the Every Mother’s Son as part of a promotional campaign at the Roostertail’s Upper Deck for Robin Seymour‘s celebrity night on Wednesday (14) . . . . Bob Harper is the new disk jockey at WKNR, filling the all-night spot . . . . The all-night spot at WCHB is now being filled by Ron White, and Leon Ivan is the new early afternoon disk jockey for WJLB.

Dave Shafer, formerly with CKLW, is now head promotion man for Record Distributors here . . . . Tom Shannon, top disk jockey at CKLW, has scheduled his second TV production with WJBK Channel 2 for Friday (16). The format of the show will consist of a discussion about radio with other Detroit area disk jockeys. Representing the other stations in the area for Shannon’s discussion will be Ernie Durham for WJLB, Dick Purtan for WKNR, Hank O’Neal for WJBK, and Bill Williams for WCHB. Video tapes will be shown of performances by the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Every Mother’s Son . . . . Laura Lee is currently performing at the Phelps Cocktail Lounge, and James Carr has just closed there . . . . CKLW Channel 9 plans to begin a weekly taping of live, nightclub type shows at the 20 Grand Driftwood Lounge, to be telecast on Thursdays. Aretha Franklin will perform her first Detroit concert Friday (16) at the Cobo Hall Arena. With her will be Erma Franklin and the Young-Holt Unlimited . . . .  Al Williams will present the “Memphis sounds Show” at the Riviera Theater for seven days, Feb. 23-29. This show will include Eddie Floyd, Barbara Merger, Pat Lewis, J. J. Barnes, the Holidays, Pig Meat Markham, the Casanovas, Dusty Williams, Denis Thomas, Ruby Andrews and Timmy Willis . . . . Don Davis, formerly the music director for Solid Hitbound Productions here, has set out to start his own operation under the name of Groovesville Records.
One of the first acts signed on WCHB, has been appointed production manager for that station . . . . Motown Record Co. has filed suit for $1 million against a theater here which recently opened, calling itself the “Beverly Motown Theater.” Motown Records contends the name is a fraud on the public and an “unlawful infringement” on the Motown trade name . . . . MGM’s Orpheus is set for the Chessmate through Sunday (11) . . . . Philip’s 4 Seasons are scheduled for a Detroit concert, Friday (23).

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(Information and news source: Billboard: February 10, 1968)