Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Detroit/Windsor Sock-Hop-Jock Robin Seymour

Robin Seymour at the height of his popularity.
Robin Henry Seymour began his career in radio as a child actor on The Lone Ranger show on WXYZ in Detroit. Eventually, he became one of the country's most popular disc-jockeys. During World War II, Seymour spent part of his enlistment as a DJ on Armed Forces Radio.

Seymour's civilian broadcasting career resumed in 1947 in Dearborn, Michigan at WKMH. The newly formed radio station played mainstream pop music with news, sports, and weather segments. Soon, Seymour became the station's top jock who appealed to many of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario listeners. Seymour championed early rock & roll artists and was one of America's first DJs to play doo-wop music and black rhythm & blues which was labeled race music in those days.

As his popularity grew, Seymour began live appearances with his "Original Rock-n-Roll Revue" at Detroit's legendary Fox Theater. Seymour's personal theme song "Bobbin' with the Robin" was recorded in 1956 by a group popular at the time--The Four Lads. They were accompanied by the Percy Faith Orchestra.

Canadian broadcaster CKLW hired Seymour to host a television teen dance show in 1963 entitled Teen Town, modeled on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Clark's show was broadcast nationally, but Seymour's regional show was wildly popular in the greater Detroit area.

With the help of rising Motown artists, the show gained popularity and was rebranded as Swingin' Time. Local teens would dance to Top 40 hits and two kids were chosen from the audience to rate new records with an "aye" or a "nay." National acts performing in Detroit or Windsor appeared on Swingin' Time to promote their live shows and records.

Seymour had the good fortune to feature virtually all the Motown artists--The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Little Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, and the list goes on. Many of them recorded on Gordy and Tamala records before the Motown label. Swingin' Time introduced white suburban teens to local black performers, helping bridge the racial divide in heavily segregated Detroit.

In addition to Motown artists, many local white rock group performers appeared on Seymour's show--people like Glenn Frey, Mitch Ryder, Ted Nugent, and Bob Seger. Because of technical limitations in those days, all of the performers lip-synced their records. The most frequently booked local group on his show was The Rationals--an Ann Arbor garage band. Seymour managed many of the early Detroit groups.


Robin Seymour shortly before his death.
When CKLW changed ownership in 1968, Robin Seymour was replaced by Tom Shannon, another popular Detroit DJ. America was undergoing drastic political and social turmoil and the music reflected that change. Ever try to dance to psychedelic music? The show dropped in the ratings and ended its run in 1969.

Robin Seymour passed away on April 17, 2020, at the age of ninety-four in San Antonio, Texas. He will be missed by thousands of Detroiters and Windsorites. Robin wrote an indie autobiography The DJ That Launched 1,000 Hits just before he died which is available on Amazon. It is a joy to read.

Robin Seymour's Bobbin' with the Robin theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJFyQuvGG8g

Early Bob Seger Swingin Time performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMUrxXwL-NM
 
The Story of Robin Seymour by Robin Seymour with Carolyn Rosenthal.

8 comments:

  1. Wow, that is sad news! When I was a youngster, Robin Seymour and Ed MacEnzie were the two most popular disc jockeys in Michigan and Ontario. I still have two LPs sponsored by WKNR and Robin. Sad day!

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  2. So sad to hear that we lost another important key figure in Detroit's music history :( I remember buying the theme song for this show "Young Man, Old Man" by Mel Taylor (1966) instrumental. It's a 45 rpm record. Swingin' Time tv show. I think it was later called, Lively Spot tv show. RIP dear Robin... we'll miss you!!!!!!! xxxoxoxox

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  3. This is very sad I would watch the show all the time on channel 9 out of Windsor. I wonder what happened to Leslie from the dance duo Lester and Leslie. This was good clean TV. I could watch it today with my little Granddaughter.

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  4. Didn't he emcee the occasional Notre Dame record hop and bring along none of his up and coming bands or a bigger band that had made it out of Detroit alresdy?

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  5. spellcheck...that was supposed to be ONE of his up and coming

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  6. Our band The Polaras played in his show at the Allen Park Chatter Box along with "Billy Lee and the Riviaras " back in 1965 or 66.
    Robin was a friend to all the upstart bands. Billy Lee became Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels.

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    1. I grew up in Allen Park. I remember the chatterbox we used to go there I think trying to pick up chicks mostly. Remember the band The satellites and they were so good

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  7. Does anyone have assess to the Swinging Time archive’s? My Dad,Billy Rose was on the show and he sang Can’t take my eyes off of you!
    He filled in for Paul Anka who cancelled.
    Love to see that show again…

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