60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
The whole radio landscape changed here in Chicago in 1966 ...
All of a sudden, we had TWO major AM Top 40 / 50,000 watt giants competing for listenership ... and everybody upped their game to be the FIRST station to play the latest hits by the era's biggest artists.
But even more importantly, both stations (WLS 890 and WCFL 1000) began campaigns to salute and honor LOCAL artists who were bursting with talent and anxious to gain pop music fame and fortune.
The first out of the gate to cash in were The New Colony Six ...
(As you can see, their first release, "I Confess," was already the #2 Record here in Chicago by this time.)
All of a sudden, there they were ... playing side-by-side with the likes of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Herb Alpert, Petula Clark, Simon and Garfunkel, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Dave Clark Five and more!
The movement was ON!!!
("I Confess" may have only reached #80 on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles chart ... but it was a bona fide SMASH here in Chi-Town!)
Other local acts would follow ...
In 1966 alone, The Shadows Of Knight, The Buckinghams, The Cryan' Shames and The Ides Of March would ALSO enjoy Top Ten Hits on our local countdowns! (Look for more local charts spread out throughout this year's 60 YEARS AGO TODAY flashbacks!) kk
