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This Is The Place To Reflect Your Memories Of The Big 8 CKLW And Old School AM Top 40 Radio In General.

18/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 18
Those born on this date include: Animals bassist/Jimi Hendrix manager Chas Chandler in 1938
Big Brother & Holding Company founder Sam Andrew in 1941
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, and Rolling Stones sax man Bobby Keys in 1943
Elliot Easton of the Cars (“Just What I Needed”) in 1953
***Folks we lost on this day were jazz percussionist Ralph McDonald in 2011
Singer/songwriter Larry Henley of the Newbeats (“Bread and Butter”) (Writer: “Wind Beneath My Wings”) in 2014

18/12/2024

Good news! We tracked down ALL the wacky Christmas request songs for this week. No, really - you're welcome. Catch the Friday Request Show Friday at Noon at www.big8radio.com

17/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 17
Those born on this date include: composer/conductor Arthur Fiedler (“Sleigh Ride”) in 1894
Battle Creek born composer/bandleader Sy Oliver (“Yes Indeed”, “Opus One”) in 1910
Art Neville in 1937
Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations (“Just My Imagination”, “Keep on Truckin'”) and Originals member Hank Dixon (“Baby I'm for Real”) in 1939
Dave Dee (“Zabadak”) in 1941
Blues harmonica man Paul Butterfield in 1942
Bar-Kays bass guitarist James Alexander in 1948
Paul Rogers of Free and Bad Company in 1949
Wanda Hutchinson of the Emotions (“Best of My Love”) in 1951
***People we lost on this day were Delta Blues singer Big Joe Williams in 1982
Rex Allen, and Grover Washington, Jr (“Just the Two of Us”) in 1999
Dave Clark 5 sax man Denis Payton in 2006
Captain Beefheart in 2010
Montreal born composer Galt McDermott (Hair) in 2018
Singer Charlie Gracie (“Butterfly”) in 2022

16/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 16
Those born on this date include: Jim Glaser, American singer (Glaser Bros-“Getting to Me Again”) in 1937
Tony Hicks, British rock guitarist (The Hollies – “Bus Stop”) in 1945
Benny Andersson Swedish pop composer and musician (ABBA) in 1946
Billy Gibbons, American blues-rock guitarist (Moving Sidewalks; ZZ Top - "Cheap Sunglasses"; "Legs") and Sugar Blue [Jimmie Whiting], American touring and session blues harmonica player (Louisiana Red; Rolling Stones) in 1949
Stephen Irvine, Scottish rock drummer (Lloyd Cole & The Commotions) in 1959
***People we lost on this day were: Nicolette Larson (“Lotta Love“) in 1997
Stuart Adamson, Scottish rock vocalist and guitarist (The Skids, Big Country) in 2001
Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelburg (“Longer”, “Same Old Lang Syne”) in 2007
Bassist Terry Uttley (Smokie - “Living Next Door To Alice”) in 2021
Bassist Rick Anderson of The Tubes in 2022
Bassist Colin Burgess of AC/DC in 2023

16/12/2024

Tuesday's Top 10 at 10 Show features the hits from this week in December 1977. It's CKLW Big 30 Chart issue #490 from Dec. 20, 1977 (with Johnny Williams on the cover.)
Streaming Tuesday 10am/10pm at www.big8radio.com

15/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 15
Those born on this date include: talent scout John Hammond in 1910
Bandleader Stan Kenton in 1911
Jazz pianist Buddy Cole in 1916
Jerry Wallace (Primrose Lane), country singer Ernest Ashworth (“Talk Back Trembling Lips”) in 1928
Jesse Belvin (“Goodnight My Love”) in 1932
Cindy Birdsong (Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles / The Supremes 1967-76) and drummer Dave Clark in 1939
Bossmen drummer Pete Woodman in 1941
Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice (“You Keep Me Hangin' On”) and Harry Ray of the Moments (“Love On a Two-Way Street”) / Goodman, Ray & Brown in 1946
***People we lost on this day were Fats Waller (“Ain't Misbehavin'”) in 1943
Glenn Miller in 1944
Jackie Brenston (“Rocket 88”) in 1979
Rufus Thomas (“Walkin' the Dog”) in 2001
Count 5 singer John Byrne (“Psychotic Reaction”) in 2008
Marvelettes co-lead singer Wanda Young (“Don't Mess with Bill”) in 2021
Drummer Dino Danelli (The Rascals / Bulldog) in 2022
Guitarist Bob Johnson of Steeleye Span in 2023

14/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 14
Those born on this date include: Spike Jones in 1911
Jazz trumpet great Clark Terry in 1920
Charlie Rich (“Behind Closed Doors”) in 1932
Singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist Dick Wagner in 1942
Detroiter Joyce Vincent Wilson of Dawn (“Tie a Yellow Ribbon”), singer/actress Patty Duke, and singer Jane Birkin in 1946
AC/DC bassist Cliff Williamson in 1949
Ronnie McNeir of the 4 Tops in 1951
***People we lost on this day were Dinah Washington (“What a Diff'rence a Day Makes”) in 1963
Guess Who guitarist Kurt Winter in 1997
Atlantic Records head Ahmet Ertegun in 2001
Country singer Billie Joe Spears in 2011
Wrecking Crew/Nashville A-Team/Ricky Nelson band bassist Joe Osborn in 2018
"We Are the World" producer Ken Kragen, and Jeff Beck/Rod Stewart/Donovan bassist Phil Chen in 2021
Canadian singer Shirley Eikhard in 2022

13/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 13
Those born on this date include: Dick Van D**e in 1925
Funk Brothers guitarist Joe Messina in 1928
Music producer Lou Adler in 1932
Trombonist/ arranger/composer Russ Little of Lighthouse in 1941.
Drummer/singer/songwriter Skip Prokop of The Paupers {“Think I Care”) / Lighthouse (“Pretty Lady”) in 1943
Ted Nugent, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan in 1948
Alabama lead singer Randy Owen in 1949
Knack lead guitarist Berton Averre (“My Sharona”) in 1953
Steve Forbert (“Romeo's Tune”) in 1954
***People we lost on this day were Midland-born singer Nancy LaMott in 1995
Zal Yanovsky of the Lovin' Spoonful (“Nashville Cats”) in 2002
Stuart Wolstenholme of Barclay James Harvest in 2010
Raul Cita of the Harptones in 2014
Music producer Luigi Creatore in 2015
Jazz singer Nancy Wilson (“How Glad I Am”) in 2018
Singer Joe Simon (“The Chokin' Kind”) in 2021
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown in 2022

12/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 12
Those born on this date include: Frank Sinatra in 1915
Count Basie singer Joe Williams in 1918
Connie Francis in 1937
Dionne Warwick in 1940
Terry Kirkman of the Association and Tim Hauser of the Manhattan Transfer in 1941
Grover Washington (“Just the Two of Us”) and Dickie Betts of the Allman Brothers in 1943
MC5 frontman Rob Tyner (“Kick Out the Jams”) in 1944
Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock drummer Tony Williams in 1945
Blues Magoos keyboardist Ralph Scala (“We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet”) in 1947
***People we lost on this day were Rolling Stones keyboardist Ian Stewart in 1985
Dottie Todd (“Chanson D'Amour”) in 2000
Guitarist/singer Ike Turner (Ike & Tina Turner) in 2007
Detroit blues guitarist Eddie Guitar Burns in 2012
DJ/singer Jim Lowe (“Green Door”) in 2016
Guitarist Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens in 2017
Detroiter Jack Scott (“Burning Bridges”) in 2019
Country superstar Charley Pride in 2020.

11/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 11
Those born on this date include: Perez Prado (“Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White”) in 1916
Big Mama Thornton (the original "Hound Dog") in 1926
Curtis Williams of the Penguins (“Earth Angel”) in 1934
Jazz pianist McCoy Tyner in 1938
Songwriter and Bread lead singer David Gates (“Make It with You”) in 1940
J. Frank Wilson (“Last Kiss”) in 1941
Brenda Lee (“Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree”) in 1944
Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson in 1954
Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx in 1958.
***People we lost on this day were Sam Cooke (shot & killed) in 1964
Detroit singer Little Daddy Walton in 2000
World renowned sitar player Ravi Shankar in 2012
Country singer Dawn Sears in 2014
Joe Ligon of the Mighty Clouds of Joy in 2016
Beach Boys/Brian Wilson touring guitarist Jeffrey Foskett in 2023

10/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 10
Those born on this date include: 4 Freshmen co-front man Ken Albers in 1924
Bluesman Guitar Slim in 1926
Chad Stuart of Chad & Jeremy (“A Summer Song”) and Kyu Sakamoto (“Sukiyaki”) in 1941
Walter Orange of the Commodores (“Brick House”) in 1946
Jessica Cleaves of the Friends of Distinction (“Grazing In the Grass”) in 1948
Johnny Rodriguez (“Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico”) in 1951
***People we lost on this day were Otis Redding and most members of the Bar-Kays in 1967
Folk singer Kate Wolf (“Here In California”) in 1986
Violinist Jascha Heifetz in 1987
Country singer Faron Young (“Hello Walls”) in 1996
Rick Danko of The Band (“Up On Cripple Creek”) in 1999
Bandleader/keyboardist Bill Deal of Bill Deal & The Rhondells (“May I”) in 2003
Michael Nesmith of the Monkees, and Staccatos/Five Man Electrical Band lead singer Les Emmerson (“Signs”) in 2021
Detroit singer J.J. Barnes (“Baby Please Come Home”) in 2022

09/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 9
Those born on this date include: bandleader Freddy Martin in 1906
Don Rea of the Gaylords in 1928
Jessie Hill (“Ooh Poo Pa Doo”) and Detroit jazz great Donald Byrd (The Blackbyrds) in 1931
Blues harmonica player Junior Wells (“Messin' with the Kid”) in 1934
Country singer David Houston (“Almost Persuaded”) in 1935
Kenny Vance of Jay & the Americans in 1943
Shirley Brickley of the Orlons (“Don't Hang Up”) in 1944
Dennis Dunaway, Alice Cooper bassist / songwriter (“I’m Eighteen”,“School’s Out) in 1946
BTO guitarist Randy Murray in 1955
Donny Osmond in 1957.
***People we lost on this day were Sonny Til (“Crying in the Chapel”) in 1981
Patty Donahue of the Waitresses in 1996
Bread drummer Mike Botts in 2005
Georgia Gibbs (“Dance with Me Henry”) in 2006
Manhattans bass singer Winfred ‘Blue’ Lovett (“Kiss and Say Goodbye”) in 2014
Marie Fredriksson (Roxette) in 2019
Michigan born singer David Lasley (“If I Had My Wish Tonight”) and keyboardist Steve Bronski of The Bronski Beat in 2021

08/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 8
Those born on this date include: jazz organist Jimmy Smith, and Sammy Davis, Jr. in 1925
The "Ice Man", Jerry Butler, and Irish flute player James Galway in 1939
Hollies drummer Bobby Elliott in 1941
Doors frontman Jim Morrison and Marmalade bassist & singer Graham Knight (Reflections of My Life) in 1943
Gregg Allman, and Blues Magoos drummer Geoff Daking in 1947
Dan Hartman (I Can Dream about You) and guitarist Melvin "Wah-Wah" Watson (Papa Was a Rolling Stone) in 1950
Jazz drummer Richie Morales in 1952
***People we lost on this day were John Lennon (shot & killed) in 1980
Marty Robbins (El Paso) in 1982
Brazilian composer and the "Father of Bossa Nova", Antonio Carlos Jobim (Girl from Ipanema) in 1994
John Wyker of Sailcat (Motorcycle Mama) in 2013
Rockabilly singer Bonnie Lou in 2015
Rare Earth sax man Gil Bridges, Ralph Tavares (It Only Takes a Minute) and Detroit-born jazz pianist Barry Harris in 2021.

07/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 7
Those born on this date include: bandleader Louis Prima in 1910
Singer/songwriter Boyd Bennett (Boyd Bennett & The Rockets) (“Seventeen”) and Dutch pianist Bent Fabric (“Alley Cat”) in 1924
Singer/storyteller Harry Chapin (“Cat's In the Cradle”) in 1942
Tom Waits in 1949
Detroiter Brenda Jones of the Jones Girls in 1954
Atlantic Starr co-lead singer Barbara Weathers (“Always”) in 1963.
***Folks we lost on this day were Dee Clark (“Raindrops”) in 1990
Country singer Jerry Scoggins (Beverly Hillbillies theme) in 2004
Classics 4 lead singer, Detroit-born Dennis Yost (“Traces”) in 2008
Greg Lake (Emmerson, Lake & Palmer) in 2016
Cherry Slush keyboardist Brian Bennett in 2017
Cleftones lead singer Herb Cox (“Heart and Soul”, “Little Girl of Mine”) in 2019
Rockabilly singer Roddy Jackson (“I’ve Got My Sights On Someone New”) in 2022

06/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 6
Folks born on this date include: Ira Gershwin (“I Got Rhythm”) in 1896
Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck (“Take 5”) in 1920 – died Dec 5, one day before his 92nd birthday.
Entertainer Bobby Van in 1928
Singer/songwriter Steve Alaimo (“Everyday I Have to Cry”) in 1939
Country singer Helen Cornelius in 1941
Dave Clark 5 lead singer Mike Smith (“Over and Over”) in 1943
Motown songwriter Willie Hutch (“I'll Be There”) and British singer Jonathan King (“Everyone's Gone to the Moon”) in 1944
Songwriter/producer Linda Creed (“Stop, Look and Listen”,”Betcha By Golly Wow”, “You Are Everything”,”Rubberband Man”, “Greatest Love of All”) in 1948
R.E.M. lead guitarist Peter Buck (“Losing My Religion”) in 1952.
***People we lost on this day were Delta blues singer Lead Belly in 1949
Roy Orbison (“Pretty Woman”) and Clovers lead singer Bill Harris (“Love Potion #9”) in 1988
Songwriter Sammy Fain (“Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing”) in 1989
Singer Danny Williams (“White on White”) in 2005
Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy (“I Got A Line On You”) in 2012
Dobie Gray (“In Crowd”, “Drift Away”), Hi Records sax man Ace Cannon (“Tuff”), and Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks in 2018
Guitar George Baker (Marvin Gaye Touring Band / George Baker Experience) in 2019
Punk rock drummer Brian John Duffy of The Stranglers in 2022

05/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 5
Those born on this date include: blues harmonica man Sonny Boy Williamson in 1912
Singer/songwriter Don Robertson (“The Happy Whistler”) in 1922
Soul icon Little Richard in 1932
Chad Mitchell (“Marvelous Toy”) in 1936
Singer/songwriter J.J. Cale (“After Midnight”) in 1938
Motown songwriter Frank Wilson (“Still Water”, “Keep On Truckin'”) in 1940
Mysterians drummer Eddie Serrato in 1945
Andy Kim (“Rock Me Gently”) in 1946
Jim Messina (“Your Mama Don't Dance”) in 1947
***People we lost on this day were Mozart in 1891
Fat Larry James (“Center City”) in 1987
Doug Hopkins of the Gin Blossoms in 1993
Jazz great Dave Brubeck (“Take Five”) in 2012
Motown singer Chico Leverette of the Satintones in 2013
Albeth Paris of the Paris Sisters (“I Love How You Love Me”) in 2014
Jerry Naylor of the Crickets in 2019
Record producer Jim Stewart (STAX Records co-founder) in 2022
Guitarist Denny Laine (Moody Blues / Wings) in 2023

05/12/2024

Singer Lou Rawls birthday was earlier this week (Dec 1.) I found this pic of Lou and Charlie O'Brien from 1976 when Lou visited CKLW. I brought my camera that day and was taking photos - but Pat Holiday must have snapped this with my camera.

04/12/2024

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Dec 4
Those born on this date include: jazz pianist Eddie Haywood (“Soft Summer Breeze”) in 1925
DJ/recording artist/Game Show host, Wink Martindale (“Deck of Cards”) in 1933
Freddy Cannon (“Palisades Park”, “Action”) in 1940
Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson (“Do You Want To Dance”) and Byrds guitarist Chris Hillman in 1944
Southside Johnny Lyon in 1948
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington in 1951
*** People we lost on this day were Tommy Bolin of the James Gang and Deep Purple in 1976
Frank Zappa in 1993
Soul Survivors lead singer Kenny Jeremiah (“Expressway To Your Heart”) in 2020
Country singer Stonewall Jackson (“Waterloo”) in 2021

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A brand new Big 8 Break - Episode #480 featuring 20/20 News and Randall Carlisle from July 1971. Take note The Doors fans of the first story of the newscast. A daily dose of the Classic CKLW Radio!!

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The Big 8 - A Legend.

Over 50 years ago the Drake Format debuted on what was already a powerhouse radio station in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This 50,000 watt station’s signal travelled not just up and down the East Coast of Canada and the USA, but into the mid-west and even skipping across the ocean to Europe. The memories of growing up listening to The Big 8 in The Motor City remain strong in thousands of radio fans. Thank you for voting CKLW The Big the “Best Top 40 Radio Station of All-Time” (Inside Radio 2017 poll).

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Hits Just Keep On Comin’!