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WXYZ-AM 1270 Top 40 personality Danny Taylor in a press photograph from 1965.
WXYZ-AM Radio 1270 Danny Taylor 1966
We recently found this photograph of Danny Taylor. It was listed for auction on eBay (2012).
Lee Alan, WXYZ great and former program director at WXYZ-AM 1270 in 1966, recently wrote comments on Motor City Radio Flashbacks in regards to his friend and former WXYZ radio personality Danny Taylor:
“The big mystery here is: Whatever happened to Danny Taylor (not his real name)? We have all been searching for him for years. If anyone knows his name or anything of his whereabouts we would appreciate a heads up.
Danny was a great voice and talent. So great in fact that his was the voice on all the WXYZ – “Personality-Plus” IDs and intros in the mid 1960s.”
By the way, anyone who could provide information on Danny Taylor, or of his whereabouts today, let us know on MCRFB.COM or contact jim@mcrfb.com. Anyone who has any airchecks you are willing to share of Danny Taylor, and anybody else who was on WXYZ-AM from the 1960s, contact: jim@mcrfb.com.
UPDATE RE: DANNY TAYLOR
“The big mystery here is: Whatever happened to Danny Taylor (not his real name)? — Lee Alan (January 24, 2014)
Motor City Radio Flashbacks received information (10:08 p.m.; May 09, 2014) regarding WXYZ radio personality Danny Taylor. You may view Neal Tenhulzen’s comments here.
Lee Alan, if you wish to contact Mr. Tenhulzen further regarding Danny Taylor, let us know. We can provide you a contact email address. MCRFB.COM (May 10, 2014).
ADDENDUM: 1/30/2013: Special THANKS once again to our friend Jim Heddle from Arizona for sharing with us this *rare* Danny Taylor aircheck audio clip!
“Scott Regen was a phenomenon, and I just went along for the ride.” — Scottie Regen, legendary “Keener 13” and “Big 8” Detroit radio personality in the ’60s
“This is John Lennon, you’re probably listening to Scott Regen now and if you’re not, well you can’t hear what we’re sayin,’ tuh duh. . . .”
“Hello this is Paul McCartney, talking to a gentleman called Scott Regen who does his best to keep you happy.”
“Hi, this is Scott Regen of the Miracles and you’re listening to the Smokey Robinson show.” — Smokey Robinson
“Hi. This is Stevie Wonder and I’ll be visiting the Scott Regen Show. I hope that you’re with me when I do… I like to thank all of you for your cards and letters asking for me to be on the Scott Regen Show, you know I was coming. . . . so, until I’m on I’ll see ‘ya later.”
“Hi, this Johnny Rivers reminding you that you’re listening to the Scott Regen Show, that’s where it’s happening.”
“Hello Regen my ole’ friend, I’ve come to talk to you again. . . .” — Simon and Garfunkel
Do you understand the history you’re holding in your hands? –Johnny Randell, former WXYZ radio personality, Detroit, 1965 –1975
(Notes below from CD liner insert, as written by Johnny Randell, 2002).
Scott Regen, a phenomenon of the 60’s, was a legendary DJ on Detroit radio stations WKNR and CKLW. Scottie at one point had a 25 (share) rating on WKNR from 7 – 10 PM compared with the 7 and 8 of his two competitors. And WKNR could only be heard in half of the city! At one point on CKLW, Scott was No. 1 not only in Detroit, but in Toledo and Cleveland as well!
I was a deejay on a competing station. Scott was the most innovative and powerful force on rock radio. He was light years ahead of his time, instinctively marketing himself via what I call “Audience Directed Programming.” A concept no one even thought of back then.
Scott Regen used research, music mix, and the audience itself to create “Scott Regen.” And all from the heart. The history he made, his creative influence, is still copied today by radio programmers and DJ’s. Hearing Scott is hearing the evolution of rock radio.
WKNR’s Scottie Regen with the Beatles, August 13, 1966, at Detroit’s Olympia Stadium (photo courtesy Scott Westerman and Keener13.com)
Scottie says the ’60’s were a phenomenon and he just went along fro the ride. Listening to his CD shows otherwise. Scott didn’t just play ’60’s music. He was the ’60’s. He was a gift. His is the voice we remember. Now, remember it all again with this historic CD. Or hear it all for the first time. Either way you’ll see why Scottie is “radio king of the ’60’s.”
Scottie has lived in New York for the past 23 years (as of 2002 when this CD was released). He has worked for Atlantic Records, New York Newsday, and has appeared on several New York stations including 92KTU, Z100, WXRK, WYNY, and LITE-FM. He currently owns his own Manhattan based marketing-advertising company. His music tastes range from Billie Holiday to Benny Goodman to Chuck Berry, to Sinatra to Bach, and lots in-between. His favorite music however, is of the ’60’s. Particularly Motown and of course, the Beatles.
In 1999, the Temptations requested Scottie write their liner notes for their historic CD re-issue, “Temptations Live.” Scott introduces the Temps on the original album, as well as on this CD.
And he never stopped believing that “… in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”*
— Johnny Randell
* Lyric line from Beatles' Abbey Road
None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Bob Green.
WKNR’s Bob Green.“The Voice of Keener 13”
“When I auditioned for the job at WKNR, Bob Green (now Bob Green Productions, Houston) still the best radio production person on the planet, was on the air from 3 – 7 PM. He was also the station Production Director. And he was the one who created the admired, unique, “on air” sound of WKNR.
None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Bob. He got me the job at WKNR. Not many people know this but I was turned down twice. Even so, Bob still went to bat for me! He believed I had it in me and put himself on the line with then GM Frank Maruca. He coached me. And I submitted a third audition tape. Then Frank heard what he needed to hear and I was hired.
There’s something as important as believing in yourself. Believing in others. Thank you BG.”
— S. R.
Thank You. Thank You. Thank you. Thank you. . . .
Konstantine and Joanne. WK Studios, New York. Frank Maruca, GM, WKNR, Detroit. Paul Drew, Program Director, CKLW, Windsor-Detroit. The most skilled and “feeling” Producer-engineers of all time, Bob Lusk, Greg Hallup, and Colin Kennedy, CKLW. Jacquie Simo, St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. Johnny Randell. Alan Freed and William B. Williams. Barney Ales. Al Valente. Phil Jones. Ken Sands and Ralph Seltzer. HDH. Lawrence Horn. Norman Whitfield. Pat Coleman. R. Dean Taylor. Larry Kane. Cliff (Remember the night with Bobby Darin at Lafayette Coney Island) Gorov. Tom Geraldi. Kalvin Ventura. Ron Alexanberg. Irv Biegel. Tom DeAngelo and Tim Tam. The Shy Guys. Bob Jamieson. Peter Gideon. Sammy Kaplan. Edwin Starr. The Fantastic Four. The Parliament-Funkadelics. Michael Stevens. Pat St. John. Steve Schram. Jim Harper. Harry Weinger. “Smokey.” Stevie Wonder. The Four Tops. The Supremes. Berry Gordy, Jr. THE ARTISTS AND ALL THE LISTENERS.ALL OF YOU ANDEACHOFYOU. I apologize if I have forgotten anyone. And finally, thank you to my closest WKNR helper, warm hearted confidant and Lafayette Coney Island eating partner, Vaughn (Santa Claus to my daughter Laura) Trafaleaine. Vaugh was known and loved by our listeners as the “Big V.”
Liner notes from CD back cover:
Scott Regen, seen here, introduced, emceed the Beatles concert for WKNR at the Olympia on August 13, 1966. Scott followed the Beatles across cities in the U. S. during half of their concert tour in 1966. He would later say in a recorded interview with Tim Nixon (WHND) in 1983, his experience with the Beatles in the 1960s “… was astonishing to me. Although I knew all these things were happening to me, I was WATCHING all these things happening to me.” (Photo credit: Bob Benyas)
Scott Regen, a phenomenon of the ’60’s, was a legendary DJ on Detroit area radio stations WKNR and CKLW. On this CD you’ll hear on-air highlights with: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Marvin Gaye, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., Herman’s Hermits, The Righteous Brothers, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Simon and Garfunkel, Martha and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and more. (Back cover; CD liner notes).
From the MCRFB Aircheck Library, featuring Scott Regen:
Scott Regen – Radio King Of The ’60s – On Air Highlights 1965 – 1970 (38:44 audio)
Scott Regen (cutout; bottom) from a WKNR Music Guide, 1970
Addendum:For a comprehensive interview with Scott Regen, his thoughts, comments on his career during his years in Detroit radio and thereafter, read Scott Westerman’s insightful interview with Scottie at Keener13.com.
Thank you, Bob Green. Throughout the years, since I first contacted you in 1999, you’ve provided me with three reels of WKNR production tapes, four Keener 13 CDs including this Scott Regen CD — and for only the asking — through the kindness of your heart. Today, all those materials you provided us is today deposited and archived on this website. Bob Green, you are truly a class act. George Griggs, Scott Westerman and I cannot thank you enough for your contributions, materials, comments, and of your selfless time you’ve provided us with all things that was ever ‘Keener’ for this website.
On behalf of George Griggs, Scott Westerman, our friend Greg Innis, I, and from everyone who grew up in Detroit listening to you on WKNR and CKLW, we thank you, Scottie Regen. For all those wonderful radio memories you shared with us during the time you were sitting high on top at No. 1 in Detroit. Hearing you on the radio, not only were you just on. You were there for us. Your audience. And if only just for that reason, we can say your radio listeners loved Scottie Regen all the more in return.
Today, Scott Regen, MCRFB remembers as we salute you.
(The Scott Regen and Bob Green photographs above courtesy George Griggs).
A 23-year old Scottie Regen on WKNR in 1965. When this picture was taken, evidently this photo did not reveal the legacy early-on that would become synonymous with his name and the station he worked for during the ’60’s in Detroit — WKNR Keener 13.
WKNR Flashback: WKNR Music Guide December 24, 1964(click on image for larger view)
DETROIT— The impact of the newly formed WKNR (formerly WKMH) is being felt in the Detroit market with the station less than two months into its new Top 30 fare.
The station–long associated with soft instrumental music–was reformatted and reorganized to a Top 30 plus-one sound by consultantMike Joseph (newly-appointed vice-president, NBC-owned stations)and is staffed by Sam Holman (formerly of WABC), Mort Crowley (a KHJ, Hollywood alumnus), Robin Seymour, (veteran Detroit radio stalwart) and Gary Stevens, among others.
The station, which was in 9th or 10th place in the market several months ago, is now reporting that its morning ratings have doubled while the afternoon number have tripled. It was also revealed by WKNR that it is now tied for third place in the market during weekdays and has moved into second place on Saturdays.
Detroit is perhaps the only city in the country where there is a four-way battle among pop-music formatted stations in the market. Leading giants of the area are Storer-owned WJBK (Radio 1500); ABC-owned WXYZ (Radio 1270), and RKO’s 50,000-watter CKLW (Radio 800), located just across the border in Windsor, Ontario.
WKNR Flashback: WKNR Music Guide December 31, 1964 (click on image for larger view)
WKNR has launched a major promotional campaign in conjunction with its new programming. One hundred and five thousand two-color school book jackets are being distributed through local drive in restaurant and doughnut shop chains. A (WKNR) pop music list entitled, “Music Guide,” is being handled by 130 retailers of phonograph records (majority record shops) with 50,000 surveys printed each week. Ninety-seven Cunningham Drug Stores are distributing two and a half million serialized match books which are tied in with a WKNR on-the-air contest which has a basic $13 jackpot with $1 being added each hour the prize is not claimed. The station also effected a link with the 77 Kroger food markets in the area for a forthcoming giveaway of Top Value Stamps.
On January 31, the station will co-sponsor with the Ford Motor Company, the 17th annual March of Dimes to take place at the Light Guard Armory, located on 4400 E. Eight Mile in Detroit. Ford will be displaying several of their custom and experimental car products during the two-day benefit event ending Feb., 1st. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 11, 1964)
A MCRFB Note
During the two-day WKNR March Of Dimes event at The Eight Mile Armory, dance and entertainment was also provided by WKNR and Ford Motor Company, attended by some of the top record acts of that time, hit-makers and recognized popular artists both on the national and local level here in 1963 – 1964.
On the billing during the two Keener 13 March Of Dimes dates: Johnny Nash; The Riveras; Santo and Johnny; Jamie Coe and the Gigolos; Eddie Holland; Timmy Shaw; Tony Clarke; Gino Washington; Tommy Frontera; The Coronados; Timmy Shaw; The Adorables; Dee Edwards; Chris Peterson and more . . . to be there, what a memorable event that must have been! — MCRFB.COM
A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1964
Mort Crowley Laments Quitting WKNR In 1964
WKNR-AM * Mort Crowley Quits Keener 13 * FEBRUARY 1964
CHICAGO — Detroit’s “Bad Boy” Mort Crowley who hit the front pages by quitting on the air at WKNR has since become the model of deportment. Mort joined Storz-owned WDGY, Minneapolis, in July 1964 and moved to St. Louis with Storz’s KXOG last January (1965). Mort told Billboard by phone he hopes to regain the ground he lost by his mistake and noted: “Thank God, I have an opportunity to do it.”END
___
(Information and news source: Billboard; July 17, 1965)
Addendum: Here’s the WKNR “Key Men of Music” line-up for January, 1964: Mort Crowley, 5 AM – 9 AM; Robin Seymour, 9 AM – 12 Noon; Jerry Goodwin, Noon – 3 PM; Gary Stevens, 3 PM – 7 PM; Bob Green, 7 PM – 12 Midnight; Bill Phillips, 12 Midnight – 5 AM.
Frank (Swingin’) Sweeney, formerly program director and air personality at WKBN, Youngstown, Ohio, replaced Mort Crowley for the morning-drive at WKNR in February, 1964. Besides doing mornings on Keener 13, Sweeney was music director at WKNR from August, 1964 through August, 1965, terminated when he abruptly quit on WKNR — as did Crowley — whom he replaced. When Sweeney left in August of ’65, Dick Purtan immediately became the new morning rise on Keener 13 through December, 1967. Purtan left WKNR in January, 1968 for WBAL-AM in Baltimore. Just two months later he would return back to Detroit radio on WXYZ-AM, March, 1968.
Mort Crowley — According to an obit-article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch dated April 2, 1995, Mort Crowley passed away at his home in Miquon, Wisconsin, Thursday, March 30, 1995. He died after a lengthy bout battling prostate cancer. Mort Crowley was 63.
Scott Regen Host Motown At Detroit’s Roostertail Club For WKNR
. . .The Upper Deck of The Roostertail, is proud to present . . . .
— From the MCRFB Aircheck Library featuring WKNR-AM
Motown Monday LIVE at The Roostertail (w/Scott Regen) 1966
DETROIT — The “Motown Mondays” at Detroit’s Roostertail Supper Club are now being broadcast on WKNR, Detroit, each Saturday at 11 P.M. Scott Regen is host. Artists of Motown Records appearing on the show include the Four Tops, Junior Walker & The All-Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes and The Temptations. This marks the first time in memory that “live” entertainment and music will have been broadcast on WKNR exclusively from the location for the nightly popular Scott Regen Show. END
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Addendum: In 1967, Scott Regen, heard nightly 7 to 10 p.m. on WKNR at the time, wrote the liner notes for “The Supremes Sings Holland – Dozier – Holland” Motown LP. Scott also wrote the liner notes for “The Four Tops Live At The Roostertail” and can be heard singing along side with the Four Tops on “Reach Out.” Scott Regen also introduced the Temptations on their 1967 album “The Temptations Live At The Roostertail” as well. On ‘Keener 13,’ Scott Regen became the highest-rated night-time deejay in Detroit – No. 1 — in 1965, 1966 and 1967. Truly, Scott Regen was “Detroit Radio King Of The ’60s!“
___
(Information and news source: Billboard; September 17, 1966)
The Roostertail, 100 Marquette Drive, Detroit, MI. 48214Inside the spectacular Roostertail Supper Club as it looked in the 1960s. Besides showcasing Detroit Motown artists during that era, many, many other great acts performed here since its opening in 1958.The Roostertail Upper Deck bar and lounge area circa 1967.
NEW YORK — The ‘Monkey,’ the newest teen dance, is a mighty hot one, with three records of monkey tunes really moving this week. Hottest of all three is “The Monkey Time” by Major Lance on Okeh Records. And just to add to the scene the label has issued an LP by the same title. “The Monkey Time” jumped to No. 12 on the Hot 100 this week.
Second hottest of the Monkey hits is “Mickey’s Monkey,” by the Miracles on the Motown Records Tamla label, which is the No. 39 most popular hit on the Billboard chart for the week. And the third most popular “Monkey” tune on the chart is “Everybody’s Monkey” by Freddie Cannon listed on the chart.
There is a fourth monkey hit making the new dance scene as well, pushing forward slowly on the chart, and it is King Curtis’“Do The Monkey,” on the Capitol record label. And there have probably been a half a dozen other monkey dance-themed recordings issued in the past few weeks. On the same kick as well, there have been other related animal-dances like the ‘gorilla,’ and the ‘frog.’ END
(Information and news source: Billboard; August 31, 1963).
MAJOR LANCE * “The Monkey Time” * OKEH RECORDS (1963)
WKNR SIGNED OFF INTO HISTORY TODAY, APRIL 25, FORTY-YEARS AGO
DETROIT (April 25, 2012) — WKNR-AM, once the dominate radio station in Detroit during the 1960s, signed-off the 1310 AM frequency for the last time on this day, April 25, 1972.
The WKNR AM and FM studio facility at 15001 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, in the 1960s. (Photo courtesy Keener13.com)
Formerly WKMH-AM, the station made the switch to “the new Radio 13” on October 31, 1963.By early 1964, WKNR was by then the most popular radio station in Detroit and remained No. 1 in the market, still holding that status throughout the first six months through 1967.
WKNR, affectionately known as “Keener 13,” began it’s eventual slide from Detroit radio dominance in April, 1967. It was during this timeWKNR saw their challenge met head-onby their other rival located across the Detroit river, CKLW.
WKNR No. 1 in 1965, according to this published trade article. (Click on image for larger view).
CKLW, during that time, was totally being restructured into a formidable radio powerhouse the Canadian station would become by year’s end.
RKO radio consultant Bill Drake and Paul Drew were the two people responsible for the major changes at the “Big 8.” Paul Drew, the newly-appointed program director at CKLW, patterned the same “Boss Radio” format Bill Drake and Ron Jacobs had programmed on 93 KHJ in Los Angeles. By 1965’s end, Jacob’s KHJ was by then the No. 1 radio station in L.A.
But WKNR would not easily go down without a fight. While going against the “Big 8” giant, the legendary Detroit radio station’s ratings were found inside a downward decline, all the while battling against two major fronts.
CKLW officially became the No. 1 radio station in Detroit by November, 1967, according to a Radio Response Survey published inBillboard on November 4.
CKLW, with it’s massive 50,000-watts of transmitted radio power covered 3 Canadian provinces and at times, their night-time signal spanned across 28 States. In contrast, after sundown, WKNR’s 5,000-watt signal was commonly known to be absent from the radio dial in areas east of Detroit and, more so, deficient in night-time coverage and strength.
By now, major changes had begun at WKNR both in the management and personnel level. In January of 1968, J. Michael Wilson was by then doing mornings on Keener. Dick Purtan had left WKNR for Baltimore. By the first week of April 1968, WKNR radio greats Bob Green, Jerry Goodwin, Ted Clark and Scott Regen were no longer there. Sean Conrad, Edward Alan Busch, Tony Randolph, Ron Sherwood, and Dan Henderson were to be the new voices on Keener 13.
WKNR survey guide from February 07, 1972. (Click image for larger view).
Despite the many changes in the Detroit radio market scene at the time, WKNR’s battle for survival against CKLW and FM’s “free-form” radio would drag on for five years.
Near the end of 1971, according to a Detroit Arbitron radio rating for the period Oct./Nov., WKNR-AM had a 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. cume of 377,300 in total listenership during a given broadcast day. For WKNR, those numbers represented a reduction down to a 15 to 12 total market share. In comparison, WABX-FM ranked just under in total rank, with a cume of 330,000 during those same hours.
WKNR, who by then revamped its playlist to include some album-oriented tracks, also made much of their attempt to pull away from the “same as” CKLW all-pop music format. No longer were the top 31 songs part of the playlist rotation. Slashed in half, WKNR’s new playlist focused primarily on the top 15 hits instead, while “previewing” the other 16 songs or so for the week.
By late 1971 and early 1972, WKNR now was promoting itself as the new “American Rock and Roll” radio station. An obvious affront towards the dominance that was CKLW located in Windsor, Ontario.
On the 100.3 FM side, the album rock-oriented ‘underground” format that was WKNR-FM was dropped after an unsuccessful run against WABX-FM. In it’s place, Stereo Island, an easy-listening music format, now found it’s place competing against WLDM-FM in Detroit.
MCRFB jingle audio: WKNR “Stereo Island” 1970
But the changes were not enough, and ultimately, it was not to be.
In the end, WKNR became the former on a brisk, chilly but sunny morning that was Tuesday, April 25, 1972. Just before 8:00 a.m., WKNR deejay John McCrae’s voice breaks but regains composure as he announced the inevitable —
MCRFB aircheck audio: John McCraeLast Moments of Keener 13 April 25, 1972
(This original audio source is property, courtesy of Scott Westerman andkeener13.com)
“…This is John McCrae, I’d like to take it upon my, myself to speak on behalf of all the people who made Keener what it, was and is. You know, Pete Seeger, with a little help from his cosmic friend, wrote it much better than I could, and the Byrds sing it, much better than I, could ever say it. So this time Detroit, we’d like to thank you, for making nearly a decade — a Keener season.”
Signing-off, the last WKNR Keener 13 Top 30 hit WKNR would ever play — before the 8:00 hour on the morning of April 25, 1972.
As the last few bars of the Byrd’s “Turn, Turn, Turn” began to fade, the magic that was once WKNR faded away with the song. But the memories, the events, the music, the great names, the faces and voices who crafted the Keener legacy a long time ago, remain in many a hearts and minds yet even still, to this day.
In 2002, thirty years since WKNR was last on the air, Scott Westerman and Steve Schram decided it was time someone gave WKNR it’s long due, with honors. Working together they packaged an incredibly amazing WKNR tribute site, aptly named,keener13.com.
This coming June, 2012, will mark a decade since the website’s creation. And the phenomenal story about this greatDetroit radio legacyis still being told, remembered, and celebrated there on the world-wide web.
WKNR ‘Together’ logo from 1970 – 1971.(Click image for larger view).
“Keener” was a radio station that went on to impact nearly a decade the many lives of a community it once served.It knew its listeners. And if only but for a short time, WKNR also was the station that, in all essence,knew the city of Detroit wellby way of its prestigious award-winning news department informing and staying “on top of the news” during the station’s Top 40 reign here during the the 1960s and early-1970s.
As Bob Green previously commentedto Scott Westerman on keener13.com, quote, “The WKNR experience provided some of my happiest radio memories.”
We agree.
As to a generation who grew up listening to top 40 radio in Detroit during the 1960s, one may actually say many of those “happiest radio memories” we recall having heard on Keener 13 — belongs to many of us today just the same.
WKNR. Those call letters would come to embody one sensational story. A story of a Detroit radio station’s historic top 40 run to number one status (in short-order all within 9 weeks) after having signed on in October 1963.
And it is a story still remembered to this day. Forty years after signing-off into Detroit radio history one April morning, on this day, in 1972.
A MCRFB NOTE: For a more comprehensive search in our MCRFB archives on WKNR to date, you may GO HERE.
