Robin Henry Seymour (March 9, 1926 – April 17, 2020) was an American radio personality and disc jockey who worked at CKLW and WKMH. He was also the host of the television series Teen Town and Swingin' Time in Detroit.[1] He started in radio as a child actor on the Lone Ranger Show and eventually became one of the country's longest-serving disc jockeys.[2][3]
Seymour was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1947, after a stint with the Armed Forces Radio Network during World War II, Seymour began an 18-year run with WKMH (now WDTW) in Dearborn, Michigan. He quickly became its most popular on-air personality. His disc jockey style appealed to audiences of different ages and ethnicities in the Detroit area.
Seymour's afternoon "Bobbin' with Robin Show" featured all the top records on the music press sales charts. He pioneered rock-and-roll on the Detroit airwaves before the Top 40 format emerged. In the mid-50s, Seymour was among the first of the nation's DJs to ask his listeners what they thought about new records. He was also one of the first white DJs in the city to play songs performed by African-American rhythm-and-blues and doo-wop artists. Seymour hosted "sock hops" and initiated commercial tie-ins with local record stores. He frequently hosted the "Robin Seymour's Original Rock 'n' Roll Revue" at the Fox Theater in Detroit.
In 1956, The Four Lads, accompanied by the Percy Faith Orchestra, recorded Seymour's theme song. Seymour helped introduce many artists via radio or stage. In 1953, Seymour was named "Disc Jockey of the Year" by Billboard magazine. The following year, he was given the same title by Hit Parader. In 1960, Seymour's show moved to the morning slot.
Teen Townedit
In 1963, Seymour and three business partners, including co-producer Art Cervi (Bozo The Clown), created Teen Town, a dance-party format similar to American Bandstand, with each show focusing on a different Detroit area high school. They secured advertisers and were eventually picked up by CKLW. A year and a half later, Teen Town morphed into Swingin' Time.[4] The 30-minute weekday shows were broadcast live and the hour-long Saturday show was taped early in the day and aired at 3:00 pm.
Swingin' Timeedit
Seymour continued his radio gig at WKMH through its transition to WKNR; however, after being given an ultimatum by WKMH to choose between his DJ job or his television appearances, he left the station to devote himself full-time to Swingin' Time. For a brief period at the end of 1965, Seymour was given radio slot on CKLW radio which he used to help promote Swingin' Time. He was the highest paid DJ in the US, with a then unheard of $100,000 per year.[citation needed]
When Seymour left Swingin' Time, he was replaced by another popular DJ, Tom Shannon. The show ended in 1969. Seymour left both broadcasting and Detroit in 1980 and moved to the Los Angeles area where he owned a video production company until 2013. He later worked part-time from his home in Phoenix, Arizona, and attended Detroit disc jockey reunions.
robin, seymour, robin, henry, seymour, march, 1926, april, 2020, american, radio, personality, disc, jockey, worked, cklw, wkmh, also, host, television, series, teen, town, swingin, time, detroit, started, radio, child, actor, lone, ranger, show, eventually, b. Robin Henry Seymour March 9 1926 April 17 2020 was an American radio personality and disc jockey who worked at CKLW and WKMH He was also the host of the television series Teen Town and Swingin Time in Detroit 1 He started in radio as a child actor on the Lone Ranger Show and eventually became one of the country s longest serving disc jockeys 2 3 Seymour in 2015 Contents 1 Career 1 1 Early years 1 2 Teen Town 1 3 Swingin Time 1 4 Promoting local bands 2 Later career 3 References 4 External linksCareer editEarly years edit Seymour was born in Detroit Michigan In 1947 after a stint with the Armed Forces Radio Network during World War II Seymour began an 18 year run with WKMH now WDTW in Dearborn Michigan He quickly became its most popular on air personality His disc jockey style appealed to audiences of different ages and ethnicities in the Detroit area Seymour s afternoon Bobbin with Robin Show featured all the top records on the music press sales charts He pioneered rock and roll on the Detroit airwaves before the Top 40 format emerged In the mid 50s Seymour was among the first of the nation s DJs to ask his listeners what they thought about new records He was also one of the first white DJs in the city to play songs performed by African American rhythm and blues and doo wop artists Seymour hosted sock hops and initiated commercial tie ins with local record stores He frequently hosted the Robin Seymour s Original Rock n Roll Revue at the Fox Theater in Detroit In 1956 The Four Lads accompanied by the Percy Faith Orchestra recorded Seymour s theme song Seymour helped introduce many artists via radio or stage In 1953 Seymour was named Disc Jockey of the Year by Billboard magazine The following year he was given the same title by Hit Parader In 1960 Seymour s show moved to the morning slot Teen Town edit In 1963 Seymour and three business partners including co producer Art Cervi Bozo The Clown created Teen Town a dance party format similar to American Bandstand with each show focusing on a different Detroit area high school They secured advertisers and were eventually picked up by CKLW A year and a half later Teen Town morphed into Swingin Time 4 The 30 minute weekday shows were broadcast live and the hour long Saturday show was taped early in the day and aired at 3 00 pm Swingin Time edit Seymour continued his radio gig at WKMH through its transition to WKNR however after being given an ultimatum by WKMH to choose between his DJ job or his television appearances he left the station to devote himself full time to Swingin Time For a brief period at the end of 1965 Seymour was given radio slot on CKLW radio which he used to help promote Swingin Time He was the highest paid DJ in the US with a then unheard of 100 000 per year citation needed Promoting local bands edit Seymour featured several established artists on his show including Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention James Brown Dionne Warwick and Wayne Cochran He also introduced artists including Stevie Wonder The Four Tops Martha and the Vandellas and The Supremes Seymour launched beautification projects around Detroit with a kickoff concert at Detroit s Cobo Arena 5 6 Later career editWhen Seymour left Swingin Time he was replaced by another popular DJ Tom Shannon The show ended in 1969 Seymour left both broadcasting and Detroit in 1980 and moved to the Los Angeles area where he owned a video production company until 2013 He later worked part time from his home in Phoenix Arizona and attended Detroit disc jockey reunions Seymour died in San Antonio Texas on April 17 2020 at the age of 94 7 References edit Inc Nielsen Business Media 1966 10 22 Billboard Nielsen Business Media Inc a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a last has generic name help Seymour Robin Rosenthal Carolyn 2019 THE DJ THAT LAUNCHED1000 HITS ISBN 9781792059100 Miller Billy Hurtt Michael 2020 Mind over Matter pp 445 455 ISBN 9781940157146 Detroit Windsor broadcasters mourn loss of legends CBC News April 20 2020 Muskovitz Alan Robin Seymour A Radio Legend Detroit Jewish News Retrieved 2022 03 08 Hicks Mark Robin Seymour iconic radio DJ TV host dies at 94 The Detroit News Retrieved 2022 03 08 Detroit radio TV personality Robin Seymour dies at 94 WDIV April 17 2020External links editRobin Seymour Keener13 History Keener13 How It All Began Robin Seymour discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robin Seymour DJ amp oldid 1106326382, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
