If you grew up in New York in the 1960s, you probably were glued to the radio after school. Hoping for your favorite songs, you bounced back and forth between the city's two big Top-40 stations—WABC at 77 on the dial and WMCA, at 570, "home of the Good Guys." [Photo above of Dan Ingram]
On WABC, Dan Ingram was the afternoon DJ, six days a week. "Big Dan" began at the "all-American station with the most music" in 1961 and was known for his fast, off-beat sense of humor. Back then, New York was the country's largest and most influential AM radio market, and WABC was flush with optimistic voices of ad-libbing DJs whose banter and sense of humor clicked with kids. They were adults who spoke adolescent.
In addition to Ingram's ticklish announcing style that led into pop hits and the soda-spitting lines that sold advertiser's products, his show was my first exposure to jazz. His air-check jingles were loaded with big band brass and his closing theme was Billy May's smashing Tri-Fi Drums, which I'd later learn was written and arranged by Bill Holman.
To bring non-New Yorkers up to speed on what my AM radio experience sounded like at the height of Beatlemania, here's the silly genius of Ingram on WABC in early October 1964...
Here's Ingram's closing theme, Tri-Fi Drums, edited down by Ingram to fit the one minute or so remaining before the clock snapped to attention at 6 p.m....
Last week, I learned that Ingram was a jazz head. I had no idea but it certainly made sense, given that all of those DJs seemed a bit old for the Mad magazine culture and hook-heavy music flooding the market after 1960. Jim Eigo of Jazz Promo Services sent along a link to a jazz show hosted by Ingram just after WABC launched its FM station in 1966. There were no ads, because other than reaching a few wealthy people with cars equipped with the FM band back then, Ingram was largely broadcasting to himself. His short-lived jazz shot was called The Other Dan Ingram Show and his delivery was much more subdued than his AM show.
Here's The Other Dan Ingram Show...
For more on Dan Ingram, go here.
Bonus: Here's the complete Tri-Fi Drums from 1958, featuring drummers Stan Levey, Alvin Stoller and Irv Cottler...
