By Ian Paul (213.122.233.172) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 04:43 pm:

Do any tapes exist of his 1960's radio broadcasts?
I know his Campus ballroom on Fenkel was sold last year. A friend of mine in Detroit (I'm in UK)knew the owner and helped clean it out. It should
be turned into a museum to serve as a memory of
this great black music radio pioneer.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 04:49 pm:

ERNIE"S SHOWS AT THE 20 GRAND GOLD ROOM WERE CLASSICS DURING THE MID-60'S!!!...I PLAYED MANY OF THOSE SHOWS...AND REMEMBER ERNIE AS A KIND, FRIENDLY, AND VERY TALENTED RADIO PERSONALITY...WHICH WAS REINFORCED YEARS LATER WHEN I PURSUED A RADIO CAREER OF MY OWN!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 09:01 pm:

When I went to the 20 Grand, I couldn't get into one of the rooms because I wasn't 21. In one room, you had to be 19, and sometimes, I couldn't get in there if I didn't have ID. My sisters and I would switch ID's on occasions.

Whatever room that was there was a hugh dancing floor. Ernie Durham always had 2-3 guests upon the stage sitting in chairs. (LOL) I specifically remember one lady because she was about his complextion and was there all the time.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 09:02 pm:

Of course after I became old enough I went into the Lounge, where I saw the likes of Johnny Taylor and David Ruffin (my brother was his bassist.)

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 09:06 pm:

HEY SIS: THE GOLD ROOM CATERED TO TEENS AND UP...AND...DEPENDING ON THE SHOW...MANY ADULTS WOULD ALSO COME TO CHECK OUT THE ACTS!!!...THE DRIFTWOOD LOUNGE WAS THE MAIN SHOWROOM...WHICH WAS ADULTS ONLY...ALCOHOL WAS SERVED...NO ALCOHOL AT THE GOLD ROOM...AT LEAST NOT SERVED BY THE "GRAND"!!!...BUT EVERYTIME I PLAYED THERE...THE CROWD WAS VERY NICE...AND TREATED ME WITH A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT!!!...STU

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 08:33 am:

One of Ernie's early radio jobs, in the late 1940s, was on WDET-FM, then owned by the United Auto Workers (UAW). WDET was his last gig too.
He'd toned down a bit from his Frantic Ernie days but he had style a-plenty...he'd interject recordings of a female vocal trio singing "Ernie D!" before, after or sometimes during records. And Ernie knew music...amazing depth of knowledge.
He also worked as an investment counselor. He was a courtly, kind man who was genuinely interested in people.

By Eugene Brown (64.7.167.66) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 02:53 pm:

For the record Frantic Ernie Durham worked at radio station WAMM in my hometown of Flint, Michigan during the mid-50's. I do believe that Casey Kasem was employed at the station during the same time. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Durham during the summer of 1992 at a tribute to the memory of David Ruffin and he was the perfect gentleman. He gave me a lot of advise that I still utilize in my radio career.

By David Meikle (213.122.134.207) on Thursday, February 27, 2003 - 10:15 am:

Thanks for this info Eugene.

David

By Andy Alonzo (208.44.232.165) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 02:02 pm:

Ernie was the man, always smiling, always willing to help. We sang at a music industry trebute to Ernie, along with Stevie Wonder, Millie Scott,and Ron Banks, it was a wonderful night. Andy Alonzo

By lllegal2003 (68.42.94.183) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 03:42 pm:

Enie was a soft spoken gentlmen one of the best in the record business and we had a lot of fun together miss him dearly.

Leo

By Eugene Brown (64.7.167.66) on Wednesday, April 02, 2003 - 05:23 pm:

Hey Dave I saw your reply...You're more than welcome. If you get a chance you can email me at brownerb@iflint.com