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USARM Note: The featured aircheck was Gary Steven’s very first show on WMCA, Wednesday, April 8, 1965.
Gary Stevens was one of the popular “Good Guys” on WMCA in New York City during the 1960s. He joined WMCA in April 1965 after leaving Detroit’s WKNR (Keener 13). Gary was known for his engaging personality and his 7-11 PM shift, where he played hit music and interacted with listeners. He was part of the team that made WMCA one of the top-rated radio stations in New York City during that era from the time of his arrival there, through the station’s formidable Top 40 years WMCA were still tops with teen listenership in 1965, 1966 and 1967.
When Gary Stevens joined WMCA in April of 1965, the station was already well-known for its “Good Guys” format. WMCA had established itself as one of New York City’s top radio stations, playing a tight rotation of the most popular songs of the day. The station was famous for its team approach, where all the DJs worked together to promote the music, the station, and the excitement of the era.
The “Good Guys” lineup at the time included Joe O’Brien, Harry Harrison, Jack Spector, Dan Daniel, B. Mitchel Reed, and Johnny Dark. Gary Stevens joined this team and quickly became a beloved part of the station.
WMCA was known for its energetic and engaging DJs, and it played a significant role in popularizing the Beatles in New York City (along with competitor WINS and Murray the K). WMCA’s Good Guys were also featured at both of the Beatles’ concerts at Shea Stadium on August 15, 1965, and August 23, 1966. The station was also a fierce competitor with Top 40 WABC, and it consistently ranked as one of the top-rated stations in the city during the mid-1960s.
Gary Stevens’ last show on WMCA was on September 18, 1968. After leaving WMCA, Gary Stevens (and his wife) moved to Europe, where he worked in radio in Sweden for a couple of years before eventually transitioning into radio management and executive roles.
WMCA was a top 40 station from late 1960 until 1970. This era, especially from 1963 through 1965 when the legendary B. Mitchell Reed was there, those years was considered the station’s glory days, as it reached the baby boomer generation at their teenage peak and achieved high ratings.
In 1970, WMCA transitioned from its successful “Good Guys” top 40 format to a full-time talk radio format called ‘Dial-Log Radio.’ This shift marked the end of the “Good Guys” era, but the station continued to thrive with the new format. WMCA featured a variety of talk shows, including sports talk with Jack Spector, conservative talk with Bob Grant, and overnight talk with “Long John” Nebel.
In the 1980s, Gary Stevens became the President and CEO of Doubleday Broadcasting, a company he helped grow significantly. Under his leadership, Doubleday Broadcasting expanded its radio station portfolio, including the purchase of WLLZ-FM in Detroit, formerly the Christian/religous-formatted station, WBFG. Gary Stevens was instrumental in transforming WLLZ into a successful classic rock station, which became known as “Detroit’s Wheels.”
Gary Stevens’ career in radio management and executive roles showcased his ability to build and manage successful radio properties, having left a lasting impact on the broadcasting industry, at the time, while Doubleday Broadcasting was under his CEO directorship and control.
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NEW! A special THANK YOU to John Troll (owner of this Stevens WMCA aircheck) and Ted Smucker, of Cassopolis, MI., for both having contributing this fabulous, Gary Stevens, WMCA 1965 audio memory. We’ve added this aircheck to the USA Radio Museum’s aircheck repository.
AUDIO REMASTERED! This audio recording was digitally enhanced by USA Radio Museum.
