By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 08:05 am:

I wonder if anyone remembers listening to John Richborough on the radio in Detroit during the 1960s?
Although his station was based down in Nashvile it had serious amounts of Watts and could be heard in Deroit. Some people have told me that they listened to his station once local stations WJLB and WCHB started to fade in the evenings. He was white, but sounded black and he played lot of R n' B.
John had a record label called RICH and released some early "Motown" songs which James Hendrix was involved with; he had the Carrie label. The songs were by Cornell Blakely and there was also one RICH 45 by J.J. Barnes.
Graham

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 09:08 am:

His name is actually John R. Richbourg. He also produced Joe Simon's "The Chokin' Kind".

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 10:57 am:

"John R"(Richbourg) was one of the south's most powerful and popular R&B DJs. He broadcast from WLAC-AM, a powerful 50,000 station that can be heard on a clear night as far up as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois and, sometimes, New York State.

John was well known among record label folks during his prime and managed Joe Simon during the singer's Sound Stage 7 period (1965-1970).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Dick Gamble (216.93.11.42) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 11:02 am:

The Nashville radio station you are referring to is WLAC 1510 kcs AM. In the 50's John Richbourg (John R) along with Gene Nobles,Bill "Hoss" Allen and Herman Gizzard were the jocks to listen to after the sun went down. WLAC was a 50,000 watt clear channel radio station and the music was Tops.

Sponsors were Randy's Record Mart, Ernie's record Mart and Buckley's Record Shop. All mail order companys.

I listened to WLAC while cruising late at night in my 50 Merc and listened to some of the greatest R&B and Blues ever played While all the Local stations played middle of the road....

Many good memories of WLAC and all the Jocks who played all the great "Race" music.. though,they are all dead now, they will always have a warm spot in my heart...


Dick

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 11:06 am:

I remember listening to "RANDY'S" anywhere on the highway.

By TonyRussi (68.18.49.69) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 12:10 pm:

I fell asleep many nights with the ear plug in my ear & transitor tuned to WLAC-Nashville,Tn.on listening to John R. & Hoss Allen.John R. produced alot of those Sound Stage 7 Records like Ella Washington & I think Joe Simon.I think most of the R & B artists of the 60's liked John R.

By Eli (151.197.41.254) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 12:28 pm:

Throughout my traveling days on the road with the Vibrations and Len Barry, John R. was my radio companion and I have many fond memories of listening to WLAC deep in the night on many a lonesome highway.
I used to love the mail order adverts.
I believe that Randy's or Ernies was a division of the Nashboro/Nasco label out of Nashville.

By Lynn Bruce (65.60.200.153) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 12:38 pm:

I was glued to the radio in the 50,s when Hoss Allen,Gene Nobles,and John R. were on in the late evening. I can remember when Gene Nobles would tell the guys to "go ahead and open up your glove compartment and show your girl your "White Rose Petroleum Jelly". They were one of his sponsors.Other sponsors were Royal Crown Pomade for men. Naturally I would use nothing but Royal Crown.Randys Record Mart,Gallatin,Tenn was another sponsor that I sent to for great records.

Before WCHB this was THE radio station in Detroit late at night for the kind of music we love on Soulful Detroit.
Lynn

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 01:02 pm:

Randy's was owned by Randall Wood who later on
formed the Dot label and gave the world Pat Boone.

Ernie's was owned by the guy who owned Excello /
Nashboro - can't recall his surname at this minute
- yes I can, Ernie Young : -)

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 10:34 pm:

Many thanks for putting me right regarding his surname.
I note he was called "John R" and now wonder about the 45 I scanned on another thread (Instrumentals) that was credited to "John R" ... with Tony Newton on bass. Perhaps Mike Hanks was hoping this would help sales...or maybe I'm just putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5.
Thanks again for sharing your memories.
Graham

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

Graham sends in this scan from one of John Richbourg's