Remembering Detroit Icon Lee Alan
• Legendary longtime Detroit radio personality, marketer and promoter Lee Alan, known to his legions of fans as “Lee Alan On The Horn,” passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, just shy of his 90th birthday. Industry veteran Jim Hampton, whose first big on-air break was given to him by Alan, posted a wonderful remembrance on his Facebook page, some of which we are using here in edited form with his permission.
Alan’s broadcasting career began at WJLB and WJBK, and it was at WKMH (later WKNR) where he first resonated with the city’s younger listeners. His impact grew further at ABC’s WXYZ, where he held the coveted 7-midnight slot, captivating Detroit’s teens playing Top 40 hits. Known for his magnetic voice and dynamic on-air presence, Lee’s show was the soundtrack to Detroit, with his voice echoing through car radios citywide. He was also one of the first jocks in America to interview The Beatles.
A master promoter, Alan helped revive the famed Walled Lake Casino, hosting legendary live broadcasts that featured top acts such as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Stevie Wonder, and other Motown icons. On his radio show, he famously played Chuck Berry‘s music while Berry was incarcerated, reigniting the singer’s popularity and even assisting in his parole. The night Chuck Berry performed at Walled Lake, the excitement was so high that traffic stretched for miles as fans flocked to see him.
Alan also co-hosted CLUB 1270 on WXYZ-TV with Joel Sebastian, leading the dance show to top ratings and further cementing his role as a Detroit media icon. Alan also launched The Lee Alan School of Broadcasting, which was later sold to Specs Howard and became the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, which helped thousands of young people start a career in broadcasting. He later transitioned into advertising, where his memorable car commercials became a hallmark of Detroit’s ad industry. Pictured, during a Detroit radio reunion, (l-r): Jim Kerr, Jim Hampton, Joey Reynolds, and Lee Alan.
Although he had offers to leave Detroit, Alan chose to remain in the city he loved. Eventually, he moved to Florida and became a pioneer in audiobook production, narrating over a thousand titles, and authored a memoir, Turn Your Radio On.
Hampton added, “On a personal note, Lee was a mentor of mine. He took a chance on a 19-year-old DJ and gave me an on-air slot at WXYZ radio. I will never forget that gesture.”
Alan is survived by his wife, Nancy, stepson, Kenneth, and countless fans who fondly remember him as “Lee Alan On The Horn.”
• Yesterday afternoon, Pat St. John on SiriusXM’s 60’s Gold paid tribute on-air to Lee Alan, who he idolized as a young kid growing up in the Detroit area. Art Vuolo has graciously made a link to the tribute available HERE. Well worth a few minutes of your time. [Thanks to Jim Hampton and Art Vuolo]
