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.