One of the great things about the mid 60s was the eclecticism of Top 40 playlists. As the summer of 66 came upon us, Keener’s playlist had everything from “Hey Joe” by the Leaves to “Tar & Cement” by Verdelle Smith, to the Cyrkle’s pre-bubble gum smash, “Red Rubber Ball”. The tune was the brainchild of Paul Simon, working with Bruce Woodley of The Seekers. Roy Halee, who would guide Simon & Garfunkle to the top of the charts was assigned to work with the Cyrkle on a pair of singles. The result peaked at #5 on the WKNR Music guide, the week of June 26th. In this Mix Magazine Classic Track column, we hear the story of the band, how their two hit records came to be and their brief prime in the white hot rock spotlight. It’s a story where Keener played a role. The Cyrkle opened for the Beatles in Detroit that year, and even as the band feared that they might get booed off the state, Motor City Fans welcomed them with enthusiasm and class. Those were the days.