PETER CAVANAUGH LEGENDARY RADIO EXEC/PROMOTER HAS DIED

Sad news today we learned yesterday that National Radio Legend Peter C. Cavanaugh has passed away at the age of 79. Peter C. Cavanaugh, a Flint radio icon at WTAC from the sixties to the early eighties and the man who organized the Sherwood Forest concert series in Davison, is often credited with introducing Michigan and the rest of the country to the likes of The Who, Ted Nugent, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, and The MC5.  

In addition to his career with WTAC-AM and WWCK-FM, Peter was the author of the book 'Local DJ.' The novel explores the culture of rock 'n roll, local radio, and highlights the author's personal spin on producing/promoting hundreds of rock concerts throughout the Midwest.

Peter was also the subject of a great film of his life also called Local DJ by DJ/Filmmaker Jim Baade a very close friend of Peter C.

“Local DJ - The Story of Flint Rock n' Roll” looks at the lesser-known, yet significant contributions Flint made to music. Lesser known to the rest of the world maybe, but in Michigan, we knew that this was a story that had to be made into a film by any means necessary -- and the only person to tell it was Peter C. Cavanaugh -- a Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame DJ and Promoter. 

The stories are legendary and the film's riveting look at 50 years of music and culture flow within this 141-minute documentary. However, keep in mind, this is more than a story about a man and his city, but a motion picture for a generation of baby boomers who were coming of age everywhere. - Jim Baade

View LOCAL DJ here:  

https://vimeo.com/330230347 

use the password 1234

Read the Book Local DJ HERE

Pete Cavanaugh was born to be in radio! He was the most joy-filled man when speaking of his love of rock and radio. He was not only a disc jockey but also a program/general manager, PR man extraordinaire, and a prolific concert promoter. Famous for producing the famous concerts at Mt. Holly Michigan. Read the list of bands from these shows HERE

Peter C. Cavanaugh on the air at WNDR in Syracuse, New York. 1959

At the age of sixteen in 1957, Peter C. Cavanaugh enjoyed a fifty-eight percent total audience share on his hometown station, WNDR in Syracuse, New York. Decades later, he’s written a book about his adventures ever since, promoting and producing literally hundreds of early concerts with the likes of Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Kiss, and so on, as well as running a seven-station radio group which included the top-rated Rock ‘n’ Roll stations in America. 

“Of all who had a major influence on me while growing up in the Midwest, none matched the audaciousness, tenacity, and gonzo-like behavior of Peter Cavanaugh. He was more than just the rock ‘n roll guru who gave America its first encounters with The Who, Bob Seger, and all the great Detroit bands (Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, MC5, etc.) He was the one who taught me how to go up against the powers-that-be and live to tell all.

Thank you, Peter Cavanaugh, for saving a generation of Flint kids from the likes of Pat Boone”

MICHAEL MOORE -"Stupid White Men", "Bowling For Columbine", "Fahrenheit 9/11"/"SiCKO"

In 2011 Peter was honored by the Cleveland Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

Former local radio exec spotlighted in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Peter Cavanaugh lived life to the very fullest and will be missed by his wife, daughters, and legions of friends and fans. We end with that last quote from Peter's Blog:

I now take leave with these closing words from “Local DJ” – a memoir recounting my sordid days in early Rock & Roll Radio.

These are troubled times.

Love your family.

Support local radio friends.

Play your music loud and hard.

Trust yourself any time you choose.

Peter Cavanaugh

BEST ROCK DOCUMENTARY EVER: LOCAL DJ THE STORY OF FLINT ROCK

This is one of the very best rock documentaries I have ever seen.  The true story of Michigan Rock n Roll. I loved Peter Cavanaugh's autobiography and now we have a film that brings the book to life!

Buy the book click icon below

Watch the full film (free) below from Jim Baade.

https://vimeo.com/330230347 Password is 1234

FLINT MUSIC PROMOTER DAVE WEST HAS DIED

 Dave West (RIP)

Sad news just in....Flint Sherwood Forest music promoter Dave West died at 6:29pm last night.

Dave West played a prominent role in supporting and promoting Flint area musicians during the early days of Michigan Rock & Roll and was particularly involved in our Sherwood Forest concerts.

Dave is best known as the inventor and developer of West Amplifiers, building and maintaining equipment for Grand Funk Railroad, which they used exclusively for many years, and supplying heavy duty sound systems for almost all of the major Michigan bands, including Bob Seger, Dick Wagner, Alice Cooper and the like, as well as dozens of local bands just getting it together. Services pending....

68,400 SQUARE FEET AND ALL ROCK N ROLL

Peter Cavanaugh:

My old friend Ron Bearup has some farmland in upstate Michigan and just went wild – creating the largest tractor-mowed book title in the history of literacy. This “Local DJ” covers 68,400 square feet with letters 80 feet wide and 60 across with 20 feet of spacing in between. It lies directly in the flight path to Harbor Springs Municipal Airport on Lake Michigan. When asked why he did such a thing, Ron said, “I liked the book!”

Buy Local DJ