CKLW – Page 2 – USA Radio Museum

DON ZEE! SPOTLIGHTING HIS CKLW SHOW THEME: “TARANTULA” [1960] by THE TARANTULAS

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By the close of 1963, Don Zee had garnered significant popularity among teenage radio listeners with his “All-Night Satellite Show,” broadcast overnight on WXYZ. However, by the conclusion of 1964, his presence on the airwaves had shifted primarily to weekends, airing on both Saturdays and Sundays. By July 1965, Don Zee had departed from WXYZ altogether. Nonetheless, his resonant voice continued to captivate audiences as he resumed his overnight show, now transmitted from across the river at CKLW Radio 8-0 in Windsor, Ontario.

Today we are presenting Don Zee’s CKLW show-opening theme. This one from 1960 – TARANTULA – by The Tarantulas (which incidentally, Don also played opening his overnight shows when he was at WXYZ).

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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

NEW! THE BIG 8 CKLW BACK ON THE RADIO: DUKE ROBERTS! MARCH 20, 1970

Newly restored! This selected audio recording was digitally enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

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Tom Howard, shared his comments (April 4): Jim, this 30 minutes aircheck from March 20, 1970 was sent to me from CKLW PD Paul Drew. This recording was from the master open reel to reel tape and was taped directly from a studio board feed, that’s why it sounds so good.

The late Rosalie Trombley, Tom Howard, and Jo-Jo Shutty MacGregor. *(Photo: Tom Howard)*

March 17, 1970 was on St. Patrick’s Day, and my grandmother, on some days, began recording CKLW just before 6 AM the Todd Wallace show, getting the day started, and also that of my good friend Big Jim Davis (Edwards). It was taped on a C90 cassette tapes. Later in the afternoon, it was Duke Roberts . . . also, recorded — unedited and unscoped — both the same day. It was great listening to CKLW in the late ’60’s and ’70’s. My grandmother would then mail the tapes to me here in Orange County, in Southern California. My friend, Charlie Ritenburg, a dear friend of mine living in Toronto, restored many of my recordings, including this one as well.

Enjoy this stellar, CKLW Duke Roberts memory from 1970. On the radio once again like it was only yesterday . . . 54 years ago. –T. Howard

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to our friend, Tom Howard, of Riverside, California, for this recent contribution for our Motor City Radio Flashbacks airchecks repository.

CKLW [Detroit Free Press] PRESS PHOTO: JOE GENTILE

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.

CKLW BIG 30 MOTOR CITY RECORDS: THIS WEEK! DECEMBER 12, 1967

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“The listing of records herein is the opinion of CKLW based on its survey of record sales, correlated with listener requests.”

The featured CKLW chart was digitally restored in its entirety by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over CKLW chart images. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

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A sincere thank you Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.

Above CKLW music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.

RKO CKLW 80: DECEMBER 21, 1964 [Detroit Free Press] RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

A MCRFB Note: The above ad/date also commemorates Tom Shannon’s debut broadcasting night at CKLW. Shannon transitioned to the Windsor, Ontario station from WKBW, Buffalo, New York.

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The above featured Detroit Free Press CKLW advertisement/ article was digitally re-imaged by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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 CKLW RKO General ad (December 1964) 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 provided for this site, since 2016.

Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic Detroit radio features possible. ?

ON YOUR PC? You can read this entire newsprint article/ad — the fine print — ENLARGED. For a larger detailed view click above image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

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CKLW RKO 1966 MUSIC SURVEY CHARTS: AVAILABLE FOR DEALERS ONLY, BUT . . . FOR A PRICE

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At the time this letter was circulated by management at CKLW in May of 1966, CKLW had long ceased publications of any weekly music chart surveys for some time, most notably, by the end of September 1964 (and it was partial run of the CKLW charts that year). In 1965, not one single CKLW chart was printed nor made available for retailers and for the public in general.

CKLW was a radio station owned by RKO General at the time (which they purchased outright in 1963). RKO (according to CKLW’s Charlie O’Brien) owned Essex Broadcasters, which operated CKLW AM and CKLW FM only. RKO General also owned five other radio stations in the United States.

Presumably, at CKLW RKO, the music survey sheets were, for the most part, just another unnecessary cost factor not having been appropriated in the station’s budget overall (i.e., like radio contests promotions as well).

CKLW, in the letter above, essentially put out word that the music surveys would only become available to interested music retailers and dealers if they were willing to pay for them. And in looking at the numbers CKLW attached in their letter, you will note they were all optional, yet an ‘expensive’ proposition (in monetary terms at the time) the station offered for music retailers to choose from, for this service having been offered, back in May of 1966.

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CKLW [Detroit Free Press] RADIO PRESS PHOTO: AUSTIN GRANT

RKO CKLW 80: APRIL 9, 1961 [Detroit Free Press] RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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The above featured Detroit Free Press CKLW advertisement/ article was digitally re-imaged by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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 CKLW RKO General ad (April 1961) for this site, as featured today.

Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic Detroit radio features possible. ?

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB.COM home page.

ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap on newsprint image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.