ABOUT KEY-LORE

Before they were oldies, BIll Keillor hitch-hiked to Flint to study local radio greats: Bill LambWBBC, WKMF, Mike Gaylord & Singin' Sam Williams WAMM, Bob Dell, Gary Raymond, Ted Johnson, Jimmy Collins (The Originator of The Top 40) & Ed Berryman of WeeTAC AM600. At times many area "jocks" would ask him to fill in on events they couldn't handle.

BEFORE CDS & MP3'S

To get records Keillor would find addresses of record companies from Billboard and write for "promotion copies." Many of the companies like Motown, Epic Imperial, Atlantic & Chess would send boxes of their weekly releases. Keillor would introduce the newest hits by Smokey Robinson, Barrett Strong, Mary Wells, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Johnny Rivers, Jack Scott, Ricky Nelson & Fats Domino before the radio stations put them on their play list. many times he would strike a working arrangements with local record shops to get free records in lieu of advertisements at his "gigs."

On many occasion without the money to purchase up-to-date equipment, Keillor? (the first area DJ to utilize stereo equipment) used pieced together parts for turn tables and amplifiers to perform. It wasn't uncommon for Keillor to find the light switch to turn the stage lights on & off to the beat of the music, so "the original light show" was born. The building owners would get irritated because he kept blowing the light circuits.

Upon returning from the service, he and old high school friend, radio personality DJ Tom Parrish Jr., formed a short partnership they were invited to audition/reviewed a group of young musicians at (Bob Segers, Silver Bullet Band member) Craig Frosts parents' garage to appear with them at some of their area dance "gigs." The group didn't have transportation to get themselves or equipment to the area sites, so Tom and Keillor had to pass on them. A couple years later the band tearned up with another area jock, Terry Knight and became the super rock band Grand Funk Railroad, the rest is history.

Keillor (aka "Fred Williams DJ" & "Wild Willy"), performed at hundreds of area high school dances, the very popular Wednesday Teen Dances at The Methodist Youth Fellowship Hall, that drew thousands. Teen Dances at The Community Center (now City Hall) Teen Dances at The Tennis Courts in the Park. The OLD Dawn Theater (now Edward Jones), Mt. Morris Roller Rink, Lapeer, Pine Ridge Amusement Park in Frankenmuth/Birch Run.

He helped friends Rob Stanley (now Stanley Home Builders, Flushing) & Cliff Cassabon form The Corral A-go go and The Garrett some of the original area teen night clubs.

Keillor did many events for the original Flint Singles. As a member of the Flushing Chamber, Keillor was assigned to the Flushing's Annual Fun Fest committee. As Fun Fest CO-chairman where for the first time the downtown Main St. was closed off for a street dance which drew nearly a thousand dancers and spectators.

As Fun Fest Chairman, he changed the Fun Fest name to the "THE FABULOUS FIFTIES FESTIVAL" and reorganized the festival format as it continues today, show casing well known and local live entertainment. Keillor also was instrumental for requesting the Michigan House of Representative Nate Jonker to get the designation of Flushing as the "CRUISE CAPITAL OF MICHIGAN."

He, Kelly Sanders (Ads Plus/PostalPointe of Flushing) and partner Sharon, organized the largest single show ever to be performed in the City of Flushing, the World Famous Drifters Concert at Cherry & Main. The show drew reported estimated crowd of 12,000 plus along with over 300 cars at the A&W Cruise, "no one has done it since."

While they still were active, Keillor worked with the JayCees operating the chamber sound equipment providing many scary sound effects during the Haunted Trail & MCing the JC Concert & Fireworks projects.

The 50s Festival almost turned into a major disaster because of a rain storm during the performance by Motown Group, Street Corner. Quick thinking Keillor approached local tavern owner and friend Al Prosser of Duffy's Tavern about running a set at the back of the bar. The group performed an a c pella set for 45 minutes on the pool table. When it had quit raining a the crews dried the stage, the concert finished on the outdoor stage.

For several of it's formative years Keillor was Vice President of the Concerts in the Park series assisting in selecting groups, MCing and introducing many of the groups on stage.

"KEY-LORE" will provide music for all occasions; dances, parties, wedding receptions and special events where music is required. With a background of using old style un-synchronized equipment: reel to reel tape and vinyl recordings, with 20 years use of IMacs, iTunes, iPod & CDs, & DVDs he is able to customize a special music mix and video images on request. As an addition, "KEY-LORE" will be able to offer video projection DVD, VHS, MP3 formats as well. If prior requests are agreed, he will provide live video images on screen with wireless cameras stationed around the dance floor & record your event. Advance special request for bubbles or snow & confetti cannons are available. Karaoke is available as well.