Rock Radio Scrapbook

Airchecks: 1963

Talent: MURRAY "The K" KAUFMAN
Station: WINS New York
Date: 1963
Time: 3:01

While he is best associated with New York radio, Murray "The K" Kaufman did have a Canadian connection.

The Manhattan-born Kaufman, who made a lasting mark in New York radio in the 1950s and '60s, was part of the original progressive rock lineup of Toronto's CHUM-FM in 1968. Kaufman held down the 6-8 p.m. shift and lived in Toronto in the summer of '68 before moving on.

Kaufman was one of New York's hottest deejays from the late '50s to the mid-'60s. His Swingin' Soiree show, which originally aired in the overnight period, skyrocketed to popularity after he succeeded scandal-tainted Alan Freed in 1959 in the evening spot on 1010 WINS. Kaufman increased his profile by hosting rock 'n' roll shows four times a year at Brooklyn's Fox Theatre. His penchant for playing all kinds of music - from pop to R&B to Sinatra - boosted his listenership into the stratosphere. Kaufman's stock was further raised when the Beatles sought him out and let him be their unofficial spokesman in America during their historic first tours of America in 1964. He quickly became known as the Fifth Beatle.

After WINS switched to all-news in 1965, Kaufman moved to WOR-FM, which became North America's first progressive rock station in 1966. Already a Top 40 pioneer, Murray "The K" became a driving force in the fledgling album rock format.

In the '70s - his place in rock radio history secure - Kaufman moved on to stints at New York stations WNBC and WKTU and served as a consultant on the production of Beatlemania. He also appeared on NBC's Monitor.

Murray "The K" gained international exposure in the early '80s with his syndicated program Soundtrack of the '60s. But he had to withdraw from the show after a year because he was ill with cancer. The six-time married Kaufman died February 21, 1982, shortly after his 60th birthday.

Kaufman was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1997.

Enjoy Murray "The K" on WINS here.

(Man From Mars Productions)

Talent: JIM SOUTHERN
Station: KTEO San Angelo, Tex.
Date: February 19, 1963
Time: 6:24

Veteran deejay and frequent Rock Radio Scrapbook contributor Jim Southern remembers his time at KTEO.

"It was actually a great little station to work at, a great jingle package, lots of musical  variety. I did remotes at drive-ins and our amusement park. I earned $1.35 an hour, I was actually in the Air Force at the time, so I had plenty of money and a car ('58 Chevy).

It was fun, just having a ball every night. Play the music, be cool, tell jokes, boy, I'd love to do it again just like that. You know, as I drove around in those days, it seems that every town in Texas had a bunch of real good DJ's, even out in the sticks. Something about Texas seemed to be good to the microphone, and the Texas accent blends well on the radio."

This all-too-brief aircheck captures all that was great about radio in the pre-satellite, pre-cookie cutter format age. It's what we celebrate!

Enjoy Jim Southern here.

(The Jim Southern Collection)

Talent: DICK CLARK with DAVE JOHNSON
Station: CHUM Toronto
Date: May 27, 1963
Times: 29:58/23:10

In the summer of 1963, CHUM Toronto pulled off a real coup, getting Dick Clark to host a series of on-air shows.

The shows ran on CHUM from 7-9 p.m. weeknights. While fronted by Clark, the shows were co-hosted by Dave Johnson whose own program followed from 9-10:30 p.m. Clark introduces and interviews the artists, while Johnson does the time and temperature and keeps things rolling. But here's something most people don't know - the shows were taped. For the story behind the story, read this from CHUM's Doug Thompson:

"Here's the deal with Dick Clark. I started at 1331 Yonge Street in 1965 replacing a board op named Claude Deschamps. Claude was being promoted into production, partly because of his incredible work op-ing the Dave Johnson/Dick Clark show. Claude has told me many times how most people had no idea that Dick wasn't actually there in the studio with Dave. Dick came into Toronto a few times (I'm not sure how many) and recorded time checks for every minute of his shift - It's 8:01, CHUM time 8:02, etc; temperature checks for every conceivable temp and all kinds of other so-called live liners.

All of these individual Dick Clark elements were put on carts. It was Claude's job to marry Dick Clark's voicetracks and Dave Johnson live in-studio seamlessly. I also recall him telling me that they ran a party sound effects cart under all the Dick and Dave banter so that probably helped any differences."

This first Clark show purportedly came from the Terrace, a long-since demolished facility in downtown Toronto. It's interesting to hear commercials from long defunct local firms like Mann and Martel, a major Toronto realtor at the time.

Enjoy Hour One of the first Dick Clark show on CHUM here. (29:58)

Enjoy Hour Two of the first Dick Clark show on CHUM here. (23:10)

(The Aaron Mintz Collection)

Talent: DAVID JELL
Subject: RADIO LUXEMBOURG
Date: May, 1963 (re-creation)
Time: 10:52

Radio Luxembourg, "The Station of the Stars," first signed on in 1933 and entertained millions before leaving the airwaves on December 30, 1992. In the 1950s and '60s, Radio Luxembourg was the only radio station on the European continent to broadcast entirely in English. And for a time, Alan Freed's taped WINS show appeared on Radio Luxembourg every Saturday night. Much of the history and background of the station can be found at this tribute site.

Canadian-born David Jell got his start at Calgary's CFAC right out of high school, eventually becoming that station's Paris correspondent. In 1955, he moved to Radio Luxembourg as a summer replacement deejay and eventually became a full-time.

Enjoy this aircheck of Jell - which we understand is a re-creation - here.

(The Doc Phillips Collection)

Talent: DAVE MICKIE
Station: CKEY Toronto
Date: June 17, 1963
Time: 19:09

(Logo courtesy Bill Dulmage)

For many Canadian baby boomers, Dave Mickie/Marsden has been a big part of the soundtrack of their lives.

From his early days as legendary CKEY nighttime jock Dave Mickie, to his metamorphosis into FM rock announcer-programmer extraordinaire David Marsden, this radio legend has entertained a generation and while blazing a trail for the next.

But even legends have to start somewhere. We asked Marsden about his beginnings in the radio business and he was kind enough to respond...

"After a year and a half of banging on radio station doors and sending out scores of tapes I got my first job - CFCO  Chatham. Operator for the morning show, typing out music playlists and literally sweeping the floor. Three months. Jack Beardall, the station owner and the only person seemingly willing to hire me, had sold the station to Hildebrand who brought his own team. The new Program Director was named Sandy Hoyt and he fired everyone at the station except Frank Proctor.

At that point I had a big three months experience and went looking for a new gig. After a couple of months I found it. CHLO - St. Thomas. I was hired as a newsperson. After a few months I was offered the evening shift as a DJ. At the time CHLO played what was termed as Beautiful Music. Ray Conniff, Percy Faith etc.

After a few months of playing this music I became bored. I liked Rock and Roll!! One night I brought my own 45s in and started playing them. In attempt to match the Rock music David Mickie was born. (I was a fan of Biondi, therefore he was my influence)

I got away with that performance for about three weeks. Then John L. Moore - the owner - tuned in and almost had a cardiac. He fired me the next day. About a week later he called me at my little apartment in St. Thomas and asked me to come to a meeting. Turns out there had been significant phone calls and letters about 'where had Mickie disappeared to' - he hired me back. But this time he promised I could do whatever I wanted. ;-)
 
That was the turning point for CHLO. A station who later became a major rocker in the London/St. Thomas market. During that time a goofy young kid named Paul Skirownski (sp?) answered my phones and helped around the studio. When I left to go to CKEY I suggested to John L. Moore that he keep Paul around. Something about him said - radio. Today he is known as Paul Ski.

About a year after being hired back at CHLO - Walt Grealis (then a promo man for London Records) was in London working the promo at station level. He tuned in and had a listen. He visited the station and asked if I had ever thought about being in Toronto radio.

Two weeks later I got the big call from Gene Kirby, PD for CKEY. My dream had always been to work at CKEY. At first I thought Gene's call was a hoax. After three calls I finally took the bait and called him back. It really was HIM. Walt Grealis became my manager and a few weeks later I did my first show at CKEY.

Yep - with less than two years experience I made it to Davenport Road and CKEY. Back then one counted on having to have a minimum of seven years. I got lucky! ;-) "

Hear Dave Mickie on CKEY here.

(Scrapbook archives)

Talent: STAN ROBERTS
Station: WTRY Troy, N.Y.
Date: July 30, 1963
Time: 19:28

He made his mark in Buffalo radio, at stations like WKBW, WGR, WBUF and WECK. But just prior to his days in the Queen City, Stan Roberts plied his trade in Central New York, at WTRY in Troy to be exact. The easy-going style and cornball humour that made him one of Buffalo's all-time favourite morning men is quite evident on this aircheck.

Hear Stan Roberts on WTRY here.

(Man From Mars Productions)

Talent: MAD DADDY
Station: WINS New York
Date: October 5, 1963
Time: 9:12

He was one of rock radio's earliest screamers, a man whose time came and went far too quickly.

In 1957, Pete Meyers introduced the wild character of Mad Daddy to the air on WHKK in Akron, Ohio. His legend began to grow after he moved his rhyming, fast-paced patter to WJW Cleveland in 1958. After a stop at WHK in Cleveland, it was on to New York. But his screaming and spooky laugh did not initially play well in the Big Apple when he did his first show on WNEW-AM in 1959. He lasted exactly one shift at 'NEW as Mad Daddy but continued on that station as the soft-spoken Pete Meyers. In 1963, he revived his Mad Daddy personna at WINS and continued there until that station went to an all-news format in 1965.

Pete Meyers, an excellent middle-of-the-road announcer in his own right, returned to that style at WNEW-AM from 1965 to 1968. He took his own life on Oct. 4, 1968 after learning that his shift had been moved from afternoons to evenings.

Hear Mad Daddy on WINS here.

(Scrapbook archives)

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