..."The Milt Grant Show," the teen-oriented dance program aired six evenings a week on WTTG (Channel 5), from the top floor of the Harrington Hotel (no relation) at the time...I was a little too young to appreciate some of the special guests -- Chuck Berry, Jimmy Clanton, Fabian, Chubby Checker, Bobby Darin, the Everly Brothers -- I instinctively knew this was something special. Later I learned just how special: All the stars of the day made it a point to stop by "The Milt Grant Show," which predated Dick Clark's nationally syndicated "American Bandstand" by a year.
In Washington, Milt Grant was king. He created and hosted Washington's most popular program, which was especially a favorite among the youngsters who either rushed home after school to tune in, or who aspired to become regulars on a show that began like class:
"Hi, kids!"
"Hi, Milt!" (in loud unison).
And like many popular DJs in that era, Grant also hosted record hops, including regular summertime Miss Teen Queen contests at Glen Echo Park.
Another of Grant's dances produced a rock-and-roll classic. In 1958, the show's occasional house band, the Wraymen, played at a "Milt Grant Record Hop" in Fredericksburg. The Wraymen were backing the Diamonds when Grant asked them to play a stroll ("The Stroll" being one of the Diamonds' biggest hits at the time). Guitarist Link Wray insisted he didn't know how, then improvised after his brother Doug started playing a stroll beat on the drums...When Wray finally recorded it, he called it "Rumble."
"American Bandstand" began its long run in 1957; by 1961, "The Milt Grant Show" was off the air, replaced by "Robin Hood" reruns. The station's new owner, Metromedia, did not approve of rock-and-roll...Milt Grant passed away this past week at 85. ...Read article here...
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