Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of December 18, 2011
Weekly issue #660

Talent: JOE O'BRIEN
Station: WMCA New York
Date: December 21, 1960 (Pt. 2)
Time: 15:39

(The first WMCA "Good Guys," circa 1963)

It was Christmas 1960 and radio's exciting new team was at WMCA.

WMCA began a Top 40 format in 1958 but the "team concept" for its deejays didn't come about until late 1960. The team concept - highlighted by use of the term "Good Guys" beginning in 1963 - had been used before but WMCA program director Ruth Meyer perfected it and made it a success. Everything at WMCA was about "team" - the jocks had the same haircuts, wore the same suits and did record hops and other personal appearances. They even recorded a record album, "The Good Guys Sing," and the WMCA theme song "We're The Good Guys" was sung by the jocks themselves.

In late 1960, the WMCA "team" consisted of Joe O'Brien (6-10 a.m.,) Harry Harrison (10 a.m.-1 p.m.,) Don Davis (1-4 p.m.,) Johnny Dark (4-7 p.m.,) Bob Callan (7-10:30 p.m.) and Burt Sherwood (1-6 a.m.) with Barry Gray doing a talk show from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.  The morning show was especially a delight - a mixture of information, easy chatter and the top hits of the day tied together by the personable O'Brien, with help from his sidekick Benny. On this aircheck, we hear plenty of traditional Christmas music, some classic WMCA jingles, two complete newscasts and learn the story of a particularly unfortunate "Handicapped Person of the Day."

Hear Part Two of Joe O'Brien on WMCA from December 21, 1960 here.

(The Don Shuttleworth Collection)

More 1960 airchecks here!

Talent: KEVIN NELSON
Station: CKSL London, Ont.
Date: January 8, 1980
Time: 2:25

Like his father, Kevin Nelson died way too young.

The long-time morning host on Ottawa's Majic 100 passed away December 13, 2011, a year after contracting a virus while on holidays in St. Lucia. The virus, combined with pre-existing liver problems, caused complications too difficult for him to overcome. He was 52.

It was Nelson's father, Jay, who inspired Kevin to get into radio at the age of 17. Kevin Nelson jocked at CKAR Oshawa, Ont., CKSL London, Ont., and CHFM Calgary before launching Majic 100 in 1991. He also did television in Ottawa as a weather announcer at CBOT-TV and a video countdown host at CHRO-TV.

Kevin Nelson died nearly 18 years after his father - the long-time morning host at CHUM, passed away in February, 1994.

"He had a way with making people laugh," long-time friend Alana Kainz told the Ottawa Citizen. "I would just laugh. I wouldn't even converse with him, I would just laugh. Even during his darkest hours he still kept that humour."

Enjoy Kevin Nelson on CKSL here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

More 1980 airchecks here!
 

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