The first United Auto Workers strike since 2019 hit The Big Three automakers last night. More than 12,900 workers walked off the job at Ford’s Bronco plant in Wayne, Stellantis NV’s Jeep Wrangler plant in Toledo and a General Motors Co. plant in Missouri.In September 2019, almost 50,000 hourly workers, including temporary staff, went on strike at 31 GM factories and 21 other sites in nine states. After nearly six weeks of striking, negotiators from the union and the company reached a labor contract in October 2019. GM CEO Mary Barra is hopeful for a quick resolution to the current walkout.
Meanwhile, the North American International Auto Show continues in Detroit through September 24. After three days of forums and pressers, The “Public” show kicks off tomorrow at Huntington Place convention center, the former Cobo Hall. Here’s what you’ll see.
This weekend in 1964…
A rare week with no Beatle tunes on the survey. They released 9 US singles that year, all of which charted. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You” were numbers one and two on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100.
Keener fan Michael Jetchick says, “#28 was basically a one hit wonder that still sounds good today. Surprisingly a lot of titles I don’t recognize”
You’re right, Michael, The Honeycombs formed in 1963 in North London, Michael. Honey Lantree, a rare female drummer in the early days of pop, inspired the band’s name. They couldn’t match the success of “Have I the Right,” and disbanded in 1967.
The Four Seasons earned their first Hot 100 chart topper with “Sherry.” today in 1962.
Bob Gaudio wrote it and originally envisioned the tune as “Jackie Baby” (in honor of then-First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy). At the studio, it became “Terri Baby”, and eventually to “Sherry”, in honor of Cheri Spector, the daughter of Gaudio’s best friend, New York DJ Jack Spector. The Seasons had 11 Top 10 hits, including classics like “Rag Doll,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “December 1963.”
Heavenly Keener Birthdays include Motown songwriter Sylvia Moy.
Born in Detroit today in 1938, she is credited by Berry Gordy as the woman who saved Stevie Wonder’s career after puberty changed his voice and Gordy considered dropping him from the label. Moy intervened, proposing that if she could create a hit for Stevie, Gordy should reconsider. He agreed. “Uptight” was the result.
Sylvia co-wrote and produced many Motown hits, including “My Cherie Amour” and “I Was Made to Love Her” for Stevie, “Honey Chile” and “Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone” for Martha and the Vandellas, “It Takes Two” with William “Mickey” Stevenson for Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, and “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You),” a collab with Holland-Dozier-Holland for the Isley Brothers. Sylvia Moy passed away in 2017.
Remember your first 8-track tape?
Today in 1965, the Ford Motor Company introduced the first-ever 8-track tape player as an optional feature across their entire range of new vehicles. At the time, 8-track tapes were exclusively found in Detroit area after market operations like Mickey Schorr and Michigan Mobile Radio. Home 8-track equipment wouldn’t become available for another year.
Short takes:
Ringo his All-Star Band hit the Masonic Temple on October 7. Michigan’s first telephone directory was issued on this date in 1878 in Detroit. It was 8 pages in length with subscriber’s names listed alphabetically. Advertisers got space on the remaining pages. 58 years ago, Green Acres debuted on WJBK-CBS. The story of Oliver Wendell Douglas and his Hungarian wife, Lisa, as New York fish out of water in a small country town ran until April 27, 1971. It earned solid ratings but was killed along with shows like “Hee Haw” and “The Beverly Hillbillies” in CBS’s “rural purge.”
On September 15th 1965, Kim Weston introduced “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” on Keener. Eventually covered by the Doobie Brothers, it became Kim’s biggest hit, thanks to the Motown magic of Holland/Dozier/Holland. Although it was intended to be the title track of her album, the LP itself was never released. Peaking nationally at #50, it reached #14 on the WKNR Music Guide.
