Motor City Radio Flashbacks

WGPR STATION ON THE MOVE, HAS 36 REMOTES A WEEK . . . JULY 17, 1965

WGPR Making Waves in Detroit with Increased Remote Broadcasting

DETROIT — A radio station that’s “kinda movin’ ” gets listeners and WGPR-FM is a station constantly on the move. Floyd M. Jones (aka Sporty J), station manager, said the station is “No. 1 among FM stations and No. 3 among stations – period.”

WGPR (Floyd M. Jones) Disc Jockey Lounge billing, mid-1960s. *(Click on ad for largest PC view; or tap image, stretch image across MOBILE device screen for detailed view).*

Probably the strongest example of how this station moves, however, is a countdown of its remotes – 36 a week. Jones handles a two-hour daily, three – hour Saturday evening jazz record show from the Disk Jockey Lounge. Dan (Bull Frog) Harrison does an rhythm and blues record show from the Chit Chat Lounge. DJ Larry Dixon may handle a random remote broadcast, but nothing steady at the moment; however, he does have a weekly record hop.

The 50,000-watt FM station broadcasts about 20 hours a day covering a radius of 75 miles. One reason for the tremendous success enjoyed by the station, Jones said, is that some 87 per cent of Detroit’s Negro element has FM radios. “But it’s more than that. We’re creating the image here that FM is more than just a background medium. We’re putting out a new sound.”

While the station programs record shows for Detroit populace such as Greeks, Italians, Polish and Mexican, the main portion of each day is used with rhythm and blues programs – a total of three programs a day for a total of seven hours. Jazz takes up about four hours each day. Gospel music is played early in the morning. Sunday is devoted to remote broadcasts most of the day from local churches. The station employs about 40 people. Bob Longwell is the station’s general manager.

Another reason the station is moving, according to Jones, is that programming and air personalities aims at three important and large audience segments. “I take care of the jazz fans,” Jones said. “Larry Dixon is a teen-oriented personality. And Bullfrog is for the rhythm and blues fans.” END

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Information, credit, and news source: Billboard, July 17, 1965

NEW! WGPR 107.5 FM BACK ON THE RADIO! “SPORTY J.”

NEW! A special THANK YOU to our friend, Jim Nuznoff, of Port Charlotte, Florida, for this featured and rare WGPR aircheck contribution (he recorded 55 years ago) for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks aircheck repository.

Jim writes (01/09/2024): “Remote broadcast of the Sporty J. Show, live from the Disc Jockey Lounge, 15509 Livernois. A unique taste of Detroit radio.”

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Audio remastered! This selected audio recording was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

JANUARY 1958: THE NATION’S TOP 30 RECORDS! WEEK-ENDING, FEBRUARY 3

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The Honor Roll of Hits comprises the nation’s top tunes according to record sales and sheet sales, disk jockey and jukebox performances as determined by The Billboard’s weekly nationwide sales.

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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

The above Honor Roll Of Hits music chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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WHNE FM 95! A 1973 ‘HONEY RADIO DRAKE/CHENAULT JINGLE PACKAGE

Audio digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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When WHNE AM-FM intially signed on in 1973, the jingle package for the station’s automated format was first created by Drake/Chenault. It was Bill Drake who did the voice over — “This is WHNE Birmingham, WHND Monroe“– one of three Greater Media stations advancing their new “all oldies” format, likewise, heard in Pasadena (KRLA 1110) and in Philadelphia (WPEN 950).

In the early 70s with AM and FM stations in all market sizes coming under the FCC rule and following the large market model, Drake-Chenault entered the radio syndication business in earnest, making taped formats available to non-RKO stations. Drake-Chenault syndication established a studio at 8399 Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Canoga Park, CA. Among the early format offerings were Classic Gold, created for KHJ-FM (which became KRTH), Solid Gold, Hit Parade and Great American Country. The original 48-hour History of Rock and Roll, which had been created for KHJ, was made available nationwide, and was followed by other syndicated “special” programs.

James Kefford, who became the company’s President, joined the firm in 1973 and teamed up with the automation suppliers to visit radio station owners and detail the benefits of using the automation system and the Drake Chenault programmers. Bill Drake and Gene Chenault tapped Kefford to spearhead the next growth phase for the company in 1977.

By the late 70’s, with a staff of regional managers, programming consultants, production engineers and administrative personnel the Drake Chenault format client list grew to over 300, with many of the consulted stations number one in their markets.

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Source information (portions): Drake-Chenault [Wikipedia]

NEW! BACK ON THE RADIO: CKLW 20 20 NEWS! RANDALL CARLISLE, APRIL 1972

NEW! A special THANK YOU to Randall Carlisle and Charlie O’Brien for recently contributing this featured CKLW 20 20 News audio memory, from April 1972, for our airchecks repository.

BROADCASTING | DETROIT WWJ RADIO AD: JUNE 21, 1965

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BROADCASTING | DETROIT WWJ RADIO AD: DECEMBER 5, 1960

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WKMH RADIO 1310: FEBRUARY 20, 1963 [Detroit Free Press] RADIO BACK-PAGE ADS

**DETROIT FREE PRESS** February 20, 1963 *(Section C)*

DETROIT FREE PRESS February 20, 1963 (Section D)

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

MCRFB Note: Special THANKS to our friend, John Bartony (a.k.a. Jukebox John) St. Clair Shores, Michigan, for providing the above Detroit Free Press WKMH 1310 ads (February 1963) for this site, as featured today.

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. 🙂

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