1965 Rock ‘n Pop Radio (KDWB-AM Aircheck, 7/24/1965, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN)

In this KDWB-AM (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) radio aircheck, it’s Hour One (between 12 Midnight and 1 AM) of the Don DuChene program (filling in for DJ Donald K. Martin) on Saturday morning, July 24, 1965 in the Twin Cities. This clip is chock-full of great music (at least the intros and outros!) from KDWB’s Fab 40, as well as news of the day, weather, sports reports (the Twins were having a great year in 1965 on their way to the World Series that Fall), and great local commercials (J A Gerber Jewelers was the big sponsor). All edits were made by the DJ on the night of the broadcast.
Interesting local history: This tape includes the DJ talking about three big upcoming events in the Twin Cities in that Summer of 1965:
1. The Ranger Aquatennial Aero Fair at Southport Airport at Cedar Ave. S. and C.R. 42 featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on Sat. 7/24/65. (go to 1:29)
2. The KDWB Thunder Ball dance on Sat. night 7/24/65 at the Navy Drill Hall at Wold-Chamberlain Field (talked about at 13:32, 15:02 and 20:34)
3. The KDWB Drag Racing Festival on 8/1/65 at Minnesota Dragways in Coon Rapids, MN (go to 17:20)
Examples of the cool Fab 40 tunes played on KDWB on Saturday morning, July 24, 1965 include:
- Rolling Stones (Satisfaction)
- Johnny Rivers (Memphis Tennessee)
- The Rip Chords (Hey Little Cobra)
- Barbara Mason (Yes, I’m Ready)
- Ronnie Dove
- Jan & Dean (Dead Man’s Curve)
- The Righteous Brothers (Unchained Melody)
- The Overlanders (Yesterday’s Gone)
- Bob Dylan (Like a Rolling Stone)
- Steve Lawrence (Go Away, Little Girl)
- The Strangeloves (I Want Candy)
- Jay and the Americans
- Sonny and Cher (I Got You Babe)
- The High Spirits (Turn On Your Love Light)
- Rick Nelson (String Along)
- The Kingsmen (Annie Fanny)
- The Byrds (Mr. Tambourine Man)
Don DuChene was a radio disc jockey in the Midwest U.S. from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. In the early-to-mid 1960s, Don had a popular show on KDWB (AM 630) in Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN. In the Fall of 1965, his show moved to KSTP-AM 1500 where he worked through the end of the decade. Don wrapped up his Twin Cities radio career at KQRS-AM/FM in the early 1970s. The 1960s and early 1970s were a quickly evolving time for rock n roll and pop culture. These tapes are a peek into that time and the heyday of old-school American radio.