… where we start ’em and chart ’em …
The stations that played Top 40 in Detroit in the late 50’s and early 60’s were
“low power” stations, so most of the country missed the experience of these smaller stations.But Detroit was right there at the beginning, and my first recollection of a Top 40 station in Detroit was WJBK, owned by Storer. It was one of the great Top 40 stations, home of the legendary Tom Clay who did nights as Jack The Bellboy.
“low power” stations, so most of the country missed the experience of these smaller stations.But Detroit was right there at the beginning, and my first recollection of a Top 40 station in Detroit was WJBK, owned by Storer. It was one of the great Top 40 stations, home of the legendary Tom Clay who did nights as Jack The Bellboy.
Dave Shafer, courtesy The Detroit News.
Storer owned the rights to the “Bellboy” name, and over the history of WJBK as Top 40,
a number of different jocks appeared as “Jack the Bellboy”. This aircheck, from April 25, 1962, features Dave Shafer in the Bellboy role. Shafer passed away May 7th, 2006 from complications following sinus surgery.
Considering the age of this aircheck, the technical quality is outstanding, and you will hear lots of early PAMS jingles; “A WJBK News Flashback”, with the headlines from April 25, 1945; a promo for the NAB and “sister station” promos for WHN in New York and WJW in Cleveland – also Storer stations at the time.
