If you grew up in New York in the 1960s, you often found yourself glued to the radio after school. Hoping for your favorite songs, you bounced back and forth between the city's two big Top-40 stations—WABC at 77 on the dial and WMCA, at 520, “home of the Good Guys."
On WABC, Dan Ingram was the afternoon DJ. “Big Dan" began at the “all-American station" with “the most music" in 1961 and was known for his fast, off-beat sense of humor. Back then, New York was the country's largest and most influential AM radio market, and WABC was flush with optimistic voices of ad-libbing DJs whose banter and sens of humor clicked with kids.
In addition to Ingram's ticklish announcing style that set up pop hits and sold advertiser's products, his show was my first exposure to jazz. Not only were his air-check jingles loaded with big band brass, his closing theme was Billy May's smashing Tri-Fi Drums, which I'd later learn was written and arranged by Bill Holman.
To bring non-New Yorkers up to speed on what AM radio sounded like at the height of Beatlemania, here's the silly genius of Ingram on WABC in early Octber 1964...
Here's Ingram's edit of his closing theme, Tri-Fi Drums...
Last week, I learned that Ingram was a jazz head. Jim Eigo of Jazz Promo Services sent along a link to a jazz show hosted by Ingram just after WABC launched its FM station in 1966. There were no ads, because other than reaching a few wealthy people with cars equipped with the FM band back then, Ingram was largely broadcasting to himself. His short-lived jazz shot was called The Other Dan Ingram Show and his delivery was much more subdued than his AM show.
Here's The Other Dan Ingram Show...
Bonus: Here's the complete Tri-Fi Drums from 1958, featuring drummers Stan Levey, Alvin Stoller and Irv Cottler...
On WABC, Dan Ingram was the afternoon DJ. “Big Dan" began at the “all-American station" with “the most music" in 1961 and was known for his fast, off-beat sense of humor. Back then, New York was the country's largest and most influential AM radio market, and WABC was flush with optimistic voices of ad-libbing DJs whose banter and sens of humor clicked with kids.
In addition to Ingram's ticklish announcing style that set up pop hits and sold advertiser's products, his show was my first exposure to jazz. Not only were his air-check jingles loaded with big band brass, his closing theme was Billy May's smashing Tri-Fi Drums, which I'd later learn was written and arranged by Bill Holman.
To bring non-New Yorkers up to speed on what AM radio sounded like at the height of Beatlemania, here's the silly genius of Ingram on WABC in early Octber 1964...
Here's Ingram's edit of his closing theme, Tri-Fi Drums...
Last week, I learned that Ingram was a jazz head. Jim Eigo of Jazz Promo Services sent along a link to a jazz show hosted by Ingram just after WABC launched its FM station in 1966. There were no ads, because other than reaching a few wealthy people with cars equipped with the FM band back then, Ingram was largely broadcasting to himself. His short-lived jazz shot was called The Other Dan Ingram Show and his delivery was much more subdued than his AM show.
Here's The Other Dan Ingram Show...
Bonus: Here's the complete Tri-Fi Drums from 1958, featuring drummers Stan Levey, Alvin Stoller and Irv Cottler...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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