The Big Ron O’Brien Files, Part 2: Giant 1130 WCAR Detroit | March 16, 1972

Detroit
Areal view of Detroit





Ron O’Brien

That’s Neil Young, he’s got a Heart of Gold. I would settle for an aorta of silver…

The Big Ron O’Brien Files will eventually end up on its own page, due to the sheer number of airchecks available from the estate. Here’s Part Two of the collaboration between Big Apple Airchecks and us featuring the very best of one of America’s legendary radio dj’s! This is also the first aircheck dedicated to the station once known as WCAR. There was also another station, on 1090 in Detroit which also used the WCAR call letters. This one was known, during the early and mid-1970s, as “Giant 1130”, a 50,000 watt Top 40 station which began as a “Good Music” station earlier in the 1960s. It was known as such because the owner was not a fan of Rock music and initially programmed WCAR as a “Middle of the Road” station, staying away from anything that resembled hard rock. By 1972, however, WCAR was playing Top 40.


Back to this aircheck. The one thing that fans of Big Ron O’Brien will take away from this is the incredible consistency of his on-air persona. Big Ron sounds the same here, as he does at WPGC, WRKO, and WOGL. Upbeat, sarcastic and funny. Three characteristics which endeared him to tens of thousands of listeners across a dozen radio markets and secured his place as one of Radio’s best-loved personalities of all time! This begins around 8:30 PM and features Big Ron’s night show.