A Friday The 13th Reminder

I hope you had a chance to listen to last weekend’s salute to WCFL on Rewound Radio.  They did an EXCELLENT job of putting this together … and I was absolutely blown away by the sound quality of these vintage programs, recorded right off the radio at the time.  Heavy on the ‘60’s, it showed again just how adventurous WCFL was when it came to programming ideas … not only featuring mini-spins, twin-spins, oldies (I sure don’t remember them playing THIS many oldies during a program, but obviously they did … and some pretty obscure stuff that certainly didn’t fit the “groovy” sounds of 1966, 1967 and 1968) as well as taking a chance on so many unproven hits, giving them at least a spin or two to see if any of them caught on with their listeners.  (WCLF really took listener opinion to heart – every night they would play back the most requested songs of the day … and often would pit songs against each other, battle of the bands style, to see which tracks the listeners really liked.

This Saturday they’ll do it again, focusing on the end of the era as WCFL signed off as a Top 40 rock station on March 15, 1976 … exactly fifty years ago.  You’ll get to hear Larry Lujack’s final broadcast as a “rock jock” … and even a snippet of him playing “The World’s Most Beautiful Music” after the format change went through.  You’ll also get Bob Dearborn as well as a WCFL DJ Montage, featuring nearly ever jock who ever graced their airwaves.

Be sure to be listening to Rewound Radio this Saturday, March 14^th, as they salute the great Chicago Radio Station, WCFL.

This is Part Two of their two week salute and falls just one day shy of the 50^th anniversary of the day the great Top 40 rocker switched over to an all Beautiful Music format and will air from Noon – 3 pm (Eastern) / 11 am – 2 pm (Central)

WCFL (supported by the Chicago Federation of Labor, hence their call letters) switched over to a Top 40 rock station in 1965 and almost immediately began to give WLS a run for their money.  It was an exciting time for Chicago radio as these two huge 50,000 watt powerhouse radio stations battled it out for listeners and radio exclusives.  Every one of us living here at the time would spend most of their days and nights flipping the dial back and forth from 890 to AM 1000 to see and hear what the other would be playing next.  Both stations (in addition to the latest Beatles and Monkees “exclusives,” also broke the ice for many of Chicagoland’s hottest new rock band like The Buckinghams, The Cryan’ Shames, The New Colony Six, The Ides of March, Chicago and Styx.  (Just this past year, the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 inducted WCFL into their Radio Station Hall of Fame, a recognition that is well deserved and long overdue.  WLS was honored with this award the week before.)

By 1976, however, WCFL decided to throw in the towel … and switched over to an all Beautiful Music format.  Larry Lujack, previously the city’s hottest jock, was contractually obligated to stay with the station … and did so until terms could be worked out to break him free to move back to WLS again.  Lujack’s was the last voice you heard playing rock and roll music on the station … and that broadcast will be part of this weekend’s salute. 

You’ll also hear a program produced in 2009 by Jim Hampton from the USA Radio Museum.  ‘Radio Recall’ will dig deep into the behind the scenes events of building WCFL, as Jim interviews legendary program director Ken Draper on how he put this innovative station on the air in the mid-60s.  After that, Rewound Radio will feature Bob Dearborn’s final words and Larry Lujack’s last DJ show for the station. 

And then, this special two-part salute will wrap up with a DJ montage of virtually all the air personalities who left their mark on WCFL from the mid-60s to the mid-70s. (You’ll need to be listening with both ears as it goes fast!)

Here’s how you can listen.

1.    Go to www.rewoundradio.com and click on the Cell Phone Icon

2.    Go to I-Heart Radio and search ‘Rewound Radio’

3.    Go to Tune-In and search ‘Rewound Radio’

4.    Ask your Alexa device to play ‘Rewound Radio’

Remember, it all takes place this Saturday, March 14^th from Noon – 3 pm (Eastern) / 11 am – 2 pm (Central) on Rewound Radio (rewoundradio.com)

VERY SPECIAL THANKS to Ted Gorden Smucker, Executive Producer, and Bill Shannon, Technical Producer, for putting together this very special tribute to Super ‘CFL!  (kk)

More from Ted …

Hi Kent, 

With WCFL being recognized this month on the Rewound Radio DJ Hall of Fame, I thought it might be fitting to acknowledge another HOF presentation from September 14, 2025.

This last fall WCFL received a special award from The Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66. They were inducted into their Radio Station Hall of Fame in Joliet, IL. 

I introduced the DJ team members who were excited to be representing WCFL to the audience at the Rialto Square Theatre. They included (L-R) DJs Steve York, Chuck Knapp and Bill Taylor, who are all pictured with me (second from left) holding the Trophy.  

This was a rewarding experience for all of us, and we accepted this award in honor of all of those people who built this legendary station in 1965 and continued to make it a part of the Chicago culture for over a decade.

Catch Part Two of our WCFL salute this Saturday from 11 am – 2 pm Central Time on RewoundRadio.com

Ted Gorden Smucker

Producer of WCFL Rewound, a 50 Year Anniversary Salute

Hello -
I know that there are many Chicago radio fans that read this site, and I hope you are excited about the upcoming Part Two of the WCFL Rewound Radio special produced by Ted Smucker and friends.  It can be heard this Saturday on Rewound Radio beginning at Noon Eastern.

In addition to that, if you'd like even more Chicago radio memories, I just wanted to remind you that in May, 2021, I devoted my live show on Rewound to the rich jingle history of WLS.  It also included some station history, as well as an interview with our special guest, John Gehron.  An aircheck of that show can be found on the JAM website here:  http://www.jingles.com/jam/fans/wlshistory.php

And for additional jingle fun, I also did a history for WABC New York, which you can listen to here:  http://www.jingles.com/jam/fans/wabchistory.html

I hope you'll join us for more live radio fun every weekend on Rewound Radio!

Best,
Jon
Jonathan Wolfert
President
JAM Creative Productions, Inc.  (www.jingles.com)
PAMS Productions, Inc.  (www.pams.com)

And then this ... 

Part 1 of our WCFL Salute aired last Saturday on Rewound Radio, and it was very well received.  Since we have announced our two-part special, we have heard from fans all over North America, many of them well known to us all.  Here is what a number of them have had to say.

VERY COOL!  Is it just me, or does that 'CFL team seem to have had a tougher paper route than the WLS crew? Cannot wait for more!!! – Kipper McGee, former WLS PD and Digital Content Consultant

 

I’m glad to know the station's format change anniversary is not being overlooked. I was fortunate to enjoy WCFL during its heyday as a Top 40 outlet beginning in 1970. It really was the best station. Jocks were great, including Casey Kasem and AT40. - Pete Battistini, Author of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem (The 1970s and 1980s)

Ted, the strangest part about that transition was Lujack sat there for awhile and played beautiful music. Very weird. Never understood how his contract wouldn't have had language to avoid that fugazi.- Garry Meier, Chicago Radio Personality

 

One day, a UPS guy comes to the WLS door on a Saturday. He hands me a box. It was addressed to WCFL, Marina Towers.  The UPS guy not only had delivered it to the wrong address, but the wrong station. In the box were 50 Carpenters albums. John Landecker said, “What do you want to do?” I said, to tell your listeners Gil Gross is at the corner of Wacker and Michigan handing out 50 Carpenters albums. It took maybe three minutes for me to shove them through 50 open car windows. - Gil Gross, retired WLS News

 

WOW!. This is absolutely incredible sound quality, so crisp…and the DJs are fantastic. What a treat and labor of love. Many thanks to your team. – Bob Herring

 

Thanks for reminding me of how old I am. – Brent Bahler

 

Join us this Saturday, March 14^th, for Part 2 of our WCFL Salute from 12 noon - 3 pm Eastern / 11 am - 2 pm Central. This week we will feature an in-depth interview from Jim Hampton from the USA Radio Museum as he talks with Ken Draper, legendary WCFL Programmer.  You’ll also hear a bit of Bob Dearborn and a whole lot of Larry Lujack on the last day of Rock Music, 50 years ago this weekend.  We will cap it off with an 18 minute montage of the jocks that graced the airwaves of “The Voice of Labor”.  This Saturday on the DJ Hall of Fame, heard exclusively on RewoundRadio.com.

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

3/13/66 – Pink Floyd perform in concert for the very first time.  The venue is The Marquee Club in London

March 12th, 1966

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

3/12/66 – There he is again ...

Bobby Hull (of The Chicago Blackhawks)’s 51^st goal of the season sets a new NHL record

Also 3/12, Jockey Johnny Longden retires after 40 years (and 6,032 wins)

Also 3/12, Love’s first album (simply titled “Love”) is released

 

You can add Love to the list of artists that many feel belong in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  (Some feel they led the way for the West Coat Rock Sound of the mid-1960's - only to have their thunder stolen by groups like The Doors and Jefferson Airplane.)

Their first chart hit, "My Little Red Book" was written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach (!) ... and used in the Peter Sellers film "What's New Pussycat."

More Of Your Mid-Week Comments

With heartfelt gratitude to the many amazing people who made this dream possible — The Voice That Rocked America – The Dick Biondi Story is now streaming worldwide! Many of you in this email played pivotal roles. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! On March 29th, Ron Onesti is rolling out the red carpet at the Des Plaines Theatre for our Movie Premier. I hope you’ll join us. Doors open 3:30 pm for a special day that celebrates Dick Biondi, Chicago radio, and all of you.

Pam Enzweiler-Pulice

David Brigati, older brother of Rascal Eddie Brigati, passed away on March 7th.  He was 85 years old.

David was also a singer and it was he who was first tabbed by Joey Dee for The Starliters ... and it was David's voice that graced the band's first single, "Face Of An Angel."  (It failed to chart.)

The group became the house band at The Peppermint Lounge and hit it big with their chart-topper "Peppermint Twist," which went all the way to #1 in early 1962 as the twist craze rocked the nation.  David left the band in 1964 to pursue other interests and was replaced by his brother Eddie,  Also present in the band at that time were Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish.  (For a VERY brief period of time, their guitarist was a guy by the name of Jimi Hendrix ... although he wasn't using that name yet ... the other Starliters knew him as Jimmy James.)

In late 1964 / early 1965, Eddie, Felix and Gene left Joey Dee's band to form their own combo, adding drummer Dino Danelli.  Although they hated the name, they were ultimately called The Young Rascals.  

David Brigati sang background on several Rascals cuts but was never formally a member of the band.  He DID perform with the band when they were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  (He also went back and did a few shows with Joey Dee and the Starliters in the early 2010's.)  kk 

Also leaving us this past week was Country Joe McDonald, who grabbed ALL of our attention with his "Fixin' To Die Rag" performed at Woodstock following the Fish Chant of "Give Me An F, Give Me A U ... well you know the rest.)  Joe was 84.  Complications from Parkinson's Disease was given as the cause of death.  (kk) 

Here's Country Joe McDonald in front of The Whisky A Go Go Anniversary party. I heard his band from outside the Whisky in 1967!  

Jim Roup

Jim also gave us this news ... 

Remembering keyboard player Augie Meyers who passed away at 85. He was the sound of Tex-Mex music 🎵🎶! 

Here is Augie and Sir Doug Sahm arriving for a gig at The House of Blues in West Hollywood.  

Jim Roup

Augie was a founding member of The Sir Douglas Quintet, who recorded TWO smash hits in the '60's ... "She's About A Mover" (#13, 1965) and "Mendocino" (#14, 1969).  It was Augie who provided that very distinctive organ sound on these hits ... it was really unlike any other at the time.  (Mike Nesmith was a fan ... and later copied that sound for his Monkees recording "Salesman.")  He and leader Doug Sahm later formed The Texas Tornadoes and continued to play together thru Sahm's death in 1999.  (kk) 

Also leaving us this past week was Tommy DeCarlo, long time (get it?) lead singer of the rock group Boston.  Tommy took over lead vocals after original lead singer Brad Delp died in 2007.  Incredibly, BOTH singers died on March 9th, 19 years apart.)

DeCarlo got the gig after he recorded a tribute to Delp and posted it along with covers of several Boston songs, on his MySpace page.  Boston leader Tom Schotz, who wrote all of the band's hits, heard these and offered DeCarlo an audition.  In his own words, Schotz said, “He came up and sang ‘Don’t Look Back’ and just blew our socks off.  He had never been in a band before."

Tommy died after a brief battle with brain cancer.  He was 60 years old.  (kk) 

Tom Cuddy sent us this shot of The Guess Who (featuring Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings) performing on The Rock Legends Cruise.  (Maybe they should have invited The Association along for this trip so they could sing “Everyone knows it’s Windy!!!)  Love Burton's shirt!  (kk)

There's a GREAT interview with Randy and Burton running on Sirius XM's '60's Channel ... put together by Lou Simon ... definitely worth seeking out.  (kk) 

John Fogerty and Steve Winwood just announced that they will be doing a number of dates together throughout the month of September.  (What a show THAT'S going to be!!!)

It all kicks off right here in Chicago on September 3rd.  Other confirmed dates are:

September 3rd – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre 

September 5th – Canandaigua, NY – Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center 

September 6th – Lenox, MA – Tanglewood Music Center 

September 8th – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion

September 9th – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater

September 11th – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort

September 12th – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

September 13th – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Event Gallery

September 15th – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts – Filene Center

September 16th – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre

September 18th – St. Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre

September 19th – Clearwater, FL – Coachman Park – The BayCare Sound

September 20th – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

And, on a local note, our buddies The New Colony Six will be doing a fund-raiser at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville on May 30th.  More information (including how and where to buy tickets) can be found here:

https://northcentral.vbotickets.com/event/Alive_and_Well_Starring_Chicagos_Original_Garage_Band_New_Colony_Six/186813 

HI KENT –

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THAT BANNER FOR MY NEW SINGLE.

CAN YOU ASK SOME OF YOUR READERS TO VOTE FOR MY SONG IN THE UK?

“EVERYBODY’S ROCKIN’ TONGHT” ON HERITAGE CHART RADIO …

YOU CAN VOTE HERE:  https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/522BLGP

THANK YOU

FREDDY CANNON

Shakira played to a record breaking 400,000+ fans in Mexico City on March 1^st and yet she’s way down in 12^th place on the leaderboard for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction as part of The Class of 2026.  When I checked this morning, she had only received around 177,000 votes … and that’s just wrong!

Phil Collins still leads the pack with about 390,000 votes.  Meanwhile, New Edition is now in 2^nd place with a little over 370,000 votes.  (WHY?!?!?  What revolutionary contribution did THEY make to the advancement of Rock and Roll?  And how did they amass so many votes so quickly … they didn’t even make our list last time!), 

Pink moves up to 3^rd place with about 365,000 votes and Luther Vandross is 4^th with around 295,000 votes.  Rounding out the Top Five is INXS with 265,000, jumping ahead of Billy Idol, who now has around 263,000.  Also breaking 200,000 votes are Sade with 253,000, Wu-Tang Clan (just shy of 230,000 ... seriously?), Mariah Carey (220,000) and Lauryn Hill (200,000).

More Micky touring news and reviews …

https://www.nuvo.net/music/micky-dolenz-is-still-monkeying-around-60-years-later/collection_9284a867-e7f1-4f50-b0e4-1111d302034b.html#3 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2026/03/06/monkees-60th-anniversary-oral-history-micky-dolenz/88994069007/ 

Highlights from some Harvey Kubernik interviews with Micky Dolenz over the years ...

https://bestclassicbands.com/micky-dolenz-interview-monkees-1-15-222/?

Shelley sent us this clip of "Man On The Run" director Morgan Neville talking about putting this film together with Paul McCartney ... Man on the Run director says Paul McCartney got emotional watching the new movie

The excellent documentary "Becoming Led Zeppelin" is being released on BluRay home video on April 14th.  (kk)

kk …

Danny Hutton Was Cousin Brucie’s Guest On Saturday Night.  He Started By Telling Cousin Brucie He Loves His Theme Song.

It Was Written By Frankie Valli & Bob Gaudio & Given To Him As A Gift.

Cousin Brucie Started By Telling Danny To Write A Book.

Danny Hutton Grew Up In The Boston Area.

Danny Worked For Hanna-Barbera. He Became A Cartoon, "DANNY HAT ON ROCK."

Danny Produced a Corey Wells Album & Had Known Chuck Negron For A Long Time.

He Had An Idea For A Three Man Group. Danny Said That He Was A Studio Rat & That Corey & Chuck Were Better Singers.

He Explained About The Name ... Nothing To Do With Music. On A Cold Night Natives Huddled Around Three Dogs.

Their Manager Got A Few Labels To Listen To Them. DUNHILL Signed Them.

From 1969 – 1975, They Had 21 Top 40 Hits In A Row.

They Always Looked For The Best Material ... Didn't Care If It Was Pop, Country Or R&B.

FB

Frank B also tells us about a very special Facebook Group …

kk …

Check Out This Group. 

You Are Flashing Back 60 Years. The Frankie Avalon Group Flashes Back Every Day.

They Flashback On A Daily Basis To A Previous Frankie Avalon Appearance ….

Dick Clark Show, Boys Of Bandstand, Ed Sullivan, Solo Concerts, Etc.

FB

And here's more from Wild Wayne's Memory Machine ...

kk ...

2/27/26 = Neil Sedaka Died; 3/13/1939 = Neil Sedaka Born.

Came From The Brighton Beach Section Of Brooklyn.

His First Group Was The Linc-Tones From Lincoln High School. 

They Later Became The Tokens.

1956 = Linc-Tones First Recording -- "WHILE I DREAM" With Neil Singing Lead.

1958 = Neil Left The Group For A Solo Career And Recorded "RING A ROCKIN'"

1953 = Neil Sedaka And His Neighbor Howie Greenfield Became A Songwriting Team That Lasted For 20 Years.

1958 = They Met Connie Francis, Who Was Looking For New Material.

She Listened To All Their Songs. She Said They Were Good -- But Not What She Was Looking For.

They Had One More Song That Howie Wanted To Play For Connie And Neil Didn't Want To Play It For Her.

Howie Said, "What Do We Have To Lose?"  They Played "STUPID CUPID." 

Connie Jumped Up And Said, "That's My Next Recording."  Neil Played Piano At The Recording Session.

Connie Kept Writing Notes In A little Book. They Asked Her What She Was Doing And Connie Replied, "Writing In My Diary."

Neil And Howie Asked Her If They Could Read Her Diary And Maybe Get Some Song Ideas But Connie Said No.

They Wrote The Song "THE DIARY" For Little Anthony & The Imperials. Neil & Howie Didn't Like It.

It Became Neil Sedaka's First Hit Recording.

FB

One more ...

kk ...

Wild Wayne Also Played A 50th Anniversary Flashback Interview Clip From 1982 With Cleve Duncan, Lead Singer Of Penguins, An L.A. Group.

They Got Their Name From Willie -- The Penguin On The Kool Cigarettes Pack.

He Talked About Recording "EARTH ANGEL."

The Song Was Recorded In A Garage. They Had To Do It A Few Times Because Of The Neighbor's Barking Dog.

You Know The Story -- "EARTH ANGEL" Was The B-Side & "HEY SENORITA"  Was A- Side ... Until A DJ Flipped It Over,

The Story I Heard Was That After The Recording Session Cleve Duncan Went To His Girlfriends House.

He Told Her It Was A Waste Of Time And Crumbled Up The Paper With Lyrics On It.

I Guess When The Song Became Popular He Changed His Mind.

FB

Good stuff, Frank ... you and Wild Wayne are on a roll tonight!!!  (kk) 

 

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

3/11/66 – Tonight’s episode of “Ready Steady Go” is completely devoted to the music of and performances by James Brown