Bud Davies began his career at CKLW in 1942, starting in the mailroom before taking on additional roles as a transcription operator and staff announcer. After serving in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, Davies returned to CKLW, where he began hosting early “Platter and Chatter” shows and quickly gained a following among younger listeners.
By the early 1950s, Davies had become one of the station’s most popular personalities with his two shows, Good Neighbor Club and Your Boy Bud. His midday programs, featuring “Battles of the Bands” and “Singers’ Choices,” allowed fans to vote on their favorite records, solidifying his appeal with the youth audience.
By the mid-1950s, Davies had developed a strong teen following, becoming one of CKLW’s biggest stars. In 1956, he was hosting split shifts—two hours in the afternoon (1:30–3:30 p.m.) and an additional hour and a half in the evening (7:30–9 p.m.). During the break between shifts, he also hosted Top Ten Dance Party on CKLW-TV 9. That year, he introduced Elvis Presley on stage at the Fox Theater when the King of Rock first performed in Detroit.
By early 1961, Davies had moved to the late afternoon slot at CKLW, attracting a more mature, crossover audience with his mix of current hits and his popular Shafer Bread Quickie Quiz segments. At the time, CKLW aired a country music program, Sounds Like Nashville, in the evening. In May 1963, Davies replaced Toby David as the station’s new morning host, with David transitioning to a full-time role at TV 9. Dave Shafer took over the afternoon shift previously held by Davies.
After 29 years at CKLW, Bud Davies was unexpectedly let go in August 1966, though the reasons behind his departure were never fully explained. After retiring from radio and relocating to Florida, Davies (b. March 25, 1928) passed away on October 20, 2006. Davies was 78.
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A USARM Note: Much of the above information source provided here, in part, is credited to David Carson. He is the renown Detroit radio historian who authored the book, “Rockin’ Down The Dial,” published in 2000 by Momentum Books LTD. Thank you, David! 🙂
This article/advertisement courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2025. Newspapers.com
Originally printed in black and white, the featured Detroit Free Press ad was digitally re-imaged, colorized, and was entirely restored by USA Radio Museum.
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