Posted by Mark P (markp) on May 7, 2008, 2:58 pm, in reply to "A related question on Alan Freed and WJW"
24.36.25.218
I'm thinking of what David said, and to not dis the memory of Phil Stone, this is a very interesting topic.
I've always read that Red Robinson was the first radio person to spin RNR in Canada.
Years before Norman B passed we had a simular conversation. Actually I think it was about RNR penetrating Canada. First Norm brought up that to watch Elvis on the Dorsey Bros. TV show, as a kid he had to fool with the antenna, still he had a snowy picture. RNR was hardly profiled in the newspapers. Billboard/Downbeat etc was a rarity too. He did mentioned of a Kitchener station(can't remember the call letters) played RNR in '54 weekdays at 4pm. Of course this would be for the teens on the way home from school.
Another thing that made me think about Elvis'
vers. of Good Rocking Tonight. We know that, that was the 2nd SUN Rec single in '54. I highly doubt SUN had distribution in Canada. Later Quality Rec was the Distribution with Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash Sun singles. After the RCA signing with Elvis, RCA re-pressed the 5 Sun singles which would mean the RCA record plant in Montreal might've pressed Good Rocking Tonight too. Was that note from the Colonel for the RCA pressing? Was this all before Heartbreak Hotel or maybe just a notch after.
Indeed with the US account, Buffalo radio always gave credit to the Hound (George Lorenz) for spining RNR first. The Hound did work with Alan Freed at WJM in Cleveland too. Think about it Moondog, Hound Dog? Of course the Big Mama Thornton record came out in '53 and there's pics and proof of the famous first RNR concert with Freed from '52. No way am I getting caught up in this as the truth, but this is what I've read, heard and wondered about.
This is just like the topic of who played the first Beatles record in Canada. We give credit to CFRB, but the late Jim Paulson stated it was Winnipeg radio. Cliff Richard was huge in Canada and he always has been, bigger than in the US. With the early British Invasion did Canada/Winnipeg play the Beatles even before the US. This also gives theory to Randy Bachman of the very early days of Chad Allan & The Reflections.
The later term "Guess Who?" was stamped on the record label to confuse the public in thinking that maybe they were buying a Beatle recording rather than a Canadian group from Winnipeg.
Maybe Winnipeg radio played the Beatles first.
Let that arguement start.
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