Robin Henry Seymour (March 9, 1926 – April 17, 2020) was an American radio personality anddisc jockey who worked atCKLW andWKMH. He was also the host of the television seriesTeen Town andSwingin' Time in Detroit.[1] He started in radio as a child actor on theLone Ranger Show and eventually became one of the country's longest-serving disc jockeys.[2][3]
Seymour was born inDetroit, Michigan. In 1947, after a stint with theArmed Forces Radio Network during World War II, Seymour began an 18-year run with WKMH (nowWDTW) inDearborn, 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 theTop 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 anddoo-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 theFox Theater in Detroit.
In 1956,The Four Lads, accompanied by thePercy 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" byBillboard magazine. The following year, he was given the same title by Hit Parader. In 1960, Seymour's show moved to the morning slot.
In 1963, Seymour and three business partners, including co-producerArt Cervi (Bozo The Clown), createdTeen Town, a dance-party format similar toAmerican 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 intoSwingin' 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.
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 toSwingin' Time. For a brief period at the end of 1965, Seymour was given radio slot on CKLW radio which he used to help promoteSwingin' Time. He was the highest paid DJ in the US, with a then unheard of $100,000 per year.[citation needed]
Seymour featured several established artists on his show, includingFrank Zappa andthe Mothers of Invention,James Brown,Dionne Warwick, andWayne Cochran. He also introduced artists includingStevie Wonder,The Four Tops,Martha and the Vandellas, andThe Supremes. Seymour launched beautification projects around Detroit with a kickoff concert at Detroit'sCobo Arena.[5][6]
When Seymour leftSwingin' 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 theLos Angeles area where he owned a video production company until 2013. He later worked part-time from his home inPhoenix, Arizona, and attended Detroit disc jockey reunions.
Seymour died inSan Antonio, Texas on April 17, 2020, at the age of 94.[7]