Dutch Documentarians Do Dearborn in search of Uncle Russ
Ahh Socialism. Holland is one of those countries where all you have to do is petition the government and you may just get your documentary project funded. That’s what Wouter van Opdorp did. Last fall Wouter wrote us in search of the Paul McCartney Death Hoax story, and the WKNR-FM jock who amplified the most famous Beatle urban legend to the international stage. Russ Gibb agreed to a rare interview on the subject and thanks to the largesse of the Dutch Government, Wouter and his team descended on Dearborn to get the scoop. (Click the image to enlarge)
Steve Schram
The co-founder of Keener13.com has a three decade love affair with broadcasting and was a key contributor to WNIC’s (Keener’s successor) return to glory in Detroit. He’s now the Director of Michigan Public Media, the umbrella organization that guides the fortunes of University of Michigan WUOM, WVGR and WFUM. In a wide ranging Spartan Podcast interview, he talks about the increasing popularity of public broadcasting, how IPods satellite radio, HD broadcasting and streaming are impacting terrestrial broadcasting, and his formative years in Detroit radio and at Michigan State University.
Nellie Knorr 1916-2006
Updated with a special podcast tribute by Scott Regen: Nellie Knorr, the visionary woman who created WKNR, passed away on August 10th, four months shy of her 90th birthday. She would have been the first to share the credit for WKNR’s groundbreaking success with the many men and women who were part of the Keener team. But in the end, it was she who took the risk that October night in 1963 and transformed Detroit radio forever.
We take it for granted today, but in the 1960s, it was still unusual for a woman to be a the helm of a major broadcasting organization. It was a role that was thrust upon Nellie after the untimely passing of her husband and she took to the challenge with an energy and grace that was an inspiration to her coworkers, her family and the industry at large.
As is the case today, broadcasters in the 60s were reluctant to break with tradition. The industry was trying to find its way as the long-form programming of the Golden Age migrated to television. There were many who still felt that “playing it safe” was the best way to preserve cash flow. Fred Knorr was aware of the groundbreaking work being done by the likes of Todd Storz and Gordon MacLendon, but even he was uncomfortable with what seemed like a radical departure from conventional wisdom. After his death, it fell to Nellie to make the decision.
She knew that her choices would profoundly impact her family and the many WKMH employees who depended on the organization for their daily bread. And after careful consideration, she decided to reinvent the definition of radio in Detroit.
Beyond her broadcasting career, she was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. In her later years, it was often hard for her youngest relatives to believe that this gentle, smiling personage was one of the most powerful forces in the history of telecommunications in Detroit. When she made her final public appearance at last year’s Detroit radio reunion, the family entourage that accompanied her were stunned at the prolonged ovation she received. “I never realized that Aunt Nellie had this other life,” said one. But to the hundreds of broadcast professionals who were there that night, Nellie was a living legend, a symbol of broadcast professionalism and class at its best.
For those who worked there, WKNR still remains the highlight of their careers. For the tens of thousands who listened, Keener was embroidered indelibly into the fabric of their existence. Even today, four decades after the last Keener broadcast has faded into history, our email boxes continue to be filled with grateful expressions of how WKNR was the central pivot of listeners lives.
All of this happened because of one woman’s courage.
Her passing is a profoundly personal loss. Yet we gratefully celebrate her extraordinary life… a life that lives on wherever broadcast excellence still exists.
Steve Schram Scott Westerman
Scott Regen recorded a special memorial Podcast tribute.
Hear the show 9 minutes 8MB MP3
The Keener 13 Podcast – Summer of 69
Where were you in the Summer of 1969? If you listened to WKNR, you heard the eclectic mix of pop, rock and soul that was Keener’s late 60s trademark. We have some of each in this week’s podcast including Keener one-hits from Clarence Reid, Shannon, The Electric Indian, Duke Baxter and the Winstons. We remember the movies of that summer and Philip Nye covers Woodstock and Neal Armstrong’s first steps on the moon. Danny Mullins of St. Johns in Wyandotte was just 18 when he entered Keeners Motor City Music Search. We have a pristine recording of his performance along with tunes that Bob Seger and Savage Grace played at an outdoor Oakland Mall concert Keener sponsored 37 years ago. For you Woodward Dream Cruisers, we have details on how you can stick an authentic WKNR Bumper Magnet on your vehicle, and we count down the top 13 Keener hits for the week ending July 24th, 1969.
Hosted by Scott Westerman
The Keener 13 Podcast – Class of 66 Reunion Special
It’s our Detroit area Class of 66 Reunion Special featuring the sights, sounds, fads, foods and music from your unforgettable senior year. Philip Nye has the news headlines, we hear a classic 66 air check from Bob Green, along with Keener commercials for Ford Mustang, Wink and Detroit Dragway. There’s a 1966 Keener contest winner, plus great senior year tunes as requested by our Keener Podcast listeners along with a countdown of the Top 13 Songs of the year. Play this one at your Class of 1966 High Shool Reunion gathering and come back with us to the 60s.
Hosted by Scott Westerman
The Keener 13 Podcast – All Request #4
Time to clear out the Keener mailbag with a program chock full of your requests. We dig into the ATCO library for a listener in Canada, play some psychedellia for Brooklyn, NY, navigate the deepest reaches of the WKNR Music Guide for the likes of Julie Monday and Flavor. In honor of Ed Wingate’s passing, we play a rare Reflections tune from the Golden World Records stable. We update you on the upcoming Can’t Forget The Motor City Reunion, and seek your input for our Class of 66 reunion special.
Hosted by Scott Westerman
Hear the show 34 minutes 35MB MP3
Note: Thanks to those of you who wrote about the error in the filename. It’s fixed now and the right show should play.
The Keener Podcast – The Instrumentals
It’s an all instrumental extravaganza, crammed full of themes from TV, the movies and songs without words from every corner of the WKNR Music Guide. We’ve got your favorites along with some rarities from Booker T. and the MGs, the Ventures, Paul Mauriat, Young Holt Unlimited, Bob Crewe, The Brass Ring and Nini Rosso. We’ll tell you the unlikely story of Whistling Jack Smith and play a double-shot that includes a 1992 cover of a 1960s instrumental hit. Test your memory with two “name that tune” tests and take a taste of your favorite orange soda, too.
Hosted by Scott Westerman
The Keener Podcast – Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney’s passing was a fitting final chapter to the legend. He died, at age 65, just hours after performing to a standing ovation in the Welsh capital, Cardiff. His four decade career included 20 chart singles (10 on WKNR) and writing credits that were amplified by the likes of Phil Spector Bobby Vee and Rick Nelson. From Bob Green’s Keener archives, we present a fascinating 1965 interview first broadcast on the Scott Regen show, along with some of the best Gene Pitney music from height of the WKNR era.
Hosted by Scott Westerman
The Keener Podcast – Classic Commercials
As much as we’d like to deny it, those commericials we saw and heard in the 60s are as much a part of our consciousness as are the rock acts we listened to on WKNR. This week we bring back some of the most memorable ad themes of the Keener era. We also answer your requests for the Radiants, the Raiders and some 1970 reflections.
Hosted by Scott Westerman
Steve Schram to lead Michigan Public Media
Congrats to Keener13.com co-founder Steve Schram on being named Interim Director of Michigan Public Media, the umbrella organization that manages the television, radio and new-media properties at the University of Michigan.
Steve is an ideal choice for this assignment. His three decade career as a well regarded leader in radio, television and the Internet is a perfect fit for the organization in this time of transition.
We at Keener13.com are big fans of Steve’s predecessor, Donovan Reynolds. It was Donovan who had the courage and the vision to guide Michigan Public Media’s rise to become one of the most respected public broadcasting organizations in the nation. Steve’s track record of achievement in the public sector, his programming expertise and his outstanding interpersonal skills are the right combination to help continue the organization’s tradition of excellence.
If you’re currently on the team at MPM, ask anybody who as ever worked with Steve about his character and you’ll soon agree with our highly biased assessment that he’s one of the finest media minds in the business today.
Scott Westerman
Curator-Keener13.com
The Keener 13 Podcast – All Request #3
Wow! Has it really been three months? Thanks to Radar at the Podcast Bunker for rattling our cages. The result is another all request show where we feature a pair of top ten national hits that never charted, but were often played on WKNR. We celebrate the bubblegum legacy of the Cowsills and dig deep into the Paul is Dead story with a rarity from Terry Knight. Bob Green provides us with a bunch of WKNR contest winners and count down the top 13 hits of 1967. Throw in Teegarden and Van Winkle and OC Smith and you have 34 minutes of non-stop Keener memories.
The Keener 13 Podcast – New Years Special with Bob Green
It’s a Keener 13 New Year’s Day Special with our special guest host, WKNR’s legendary Bob Green. We hear out-takes, call-ins, promos, radiothons and a rare Beatles interview, along with every Keener New Years Day Number One Song from 1964 through 1972.
Hosted by Bob Green and Scott Westerman.
