JIM BAD BOY BAADE: FLINT ROCK JOCK / ROCK FILMMAKER GUEST POSTS TODAY!

Photo: 1983 at WWCK goes to Michelle LaRose

We have a guest post today from the best looking DJ in retro rock history! Jim "Bad Boy" Baade who is also a superb Rock Radio filmmaker. 

We thought my readers and fellow retro music fans would love to see all of Jim's historic rock history films! Hopefully, many more to come!  Kick em Out Bad Boy!

Photo of Jim with Greta Van Fleet holding up a copy of Local DJ (Left to Right Sam Kiszka, Me, Jake Kiszka and Josh Kiszka. Photo Credit Sophia Baade

Flint’s Best Rock was a passion project I made while taking a filmmaking class at Mott Community College in 2012. I didn’t realize the movie would resonate with so many people, but it did and that just blew me away. The film recounts the glory days of WWCK, an Album Rock powerhouse in the ’80s that went to become the Best Rock Station in America according to Billboard Magazine!!

It wasn’t corporate radio, but true radio- when radio had a lot of power! I wanted to be as honest and intelligent as I could in telling the story about something I loved and was a big part of... and it kinda sent shockwaves both locally and nationally to an extent. It won Best Doc at the Flint Film Festival and was elected to be in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Photo Credit Sophia Baade

Local DJ was a tribute to my mentor and true Rock n’ Roll Hero - Peter C Cavanaugh!! It was my highest professional honor to have Pete endorse and love my film.

The group photo is of a small reunion of WWCK DJ’s (left to right: Jim, Randy Stephenson, Tim Siegrist, and Randy Bhirdo)

Local DJ is 101 minutes of an immersive experience connecting key elements of a half-century of radio, Rock n’ Roll and Culture featuring Michigan’s significant contributions. A microcosm of our shared experience to Rock music in American with non-stop throbbing, pulsing and pulverizing red hot Rock seen through the life and times of Rock n’ Roll Hall Fame DJ Peter C Cavanaugh.

https://vimeo.com/330236501 (Flint’s Best Rock 2012) - Password 1234

https://vimeo.com/330230347 ( Local DJ The Story of Michigan Story) - Password 1234

https://vimeo.com/331733752 (Local DJ The Story of Michigan of Rock Trailer) - Password 1234

BROADCASTER JIM BAADE WINS SILVER MEDAL AT AAF ADDY AWARDS

Documentary filmmaker: writer, producer, editor and director. Broadcast creative director & voice over talent Jim Baade was honored with a silver medal!

Silver Medal Award Winners at the 41st Annual American Advertising Federation AAF Addy Awards Ceremony at Northbank Center, Feb. 23. Pictured from left to right is newest inductee Jim Baade, Stephanie K. Confer, Chris McDonald, John Tracy, Tom Reynolds, Laurie Prochazka, Lueida Grady, Karl Olmsted and Dave Perry. (photo by Eric Dutro)

Jim Baade holds his Addy with CARS 108 Mornings Hosts Pat and AJ (left) and Dave Perry
(photo by Eric Dutro)

Jim Baade was awarded the Silver Medal Award at the 41st Annual American Advertising Federation Awards Ceremony. Established in 1959, the honor represents outstanding contributions in advertising and furthering the industry's standards of creative excellence and responsibility in social concern.

Dave Perry awards Jim Baade with the AAF Silver Medal Award.(photo by Molly Baade)

Beginning his career at the legendary album rock station: 105 FM "Flint Best Rock" when Flint radio legend Peter C. Cavanaugh hired him. 'Badboy Baade" soon was spinning vinyl on the all-night show at the number one station in America. Afterward, establishing himself with awarding winning commercials and campaigns, Baade remains one of the most recognizable voices in Greater Flint.

WATCH LOCAL DJ HERE

LOCAL DJ - THE STORY OF FLINT ROCK N' ROLL - 2016 Documentary - HD (Best Quality) from JIM BAADE on Vimeo.

FLINT'S BEST ROCK: JIM BAADE'S DOCUMENTARY

Flint's Best Rock, The Movie by Jim Baade

In Flint, Michigan in 1971, the United Methodist Church withdrew support for WMRP-AM/FM, and the radio stations were sold that year to John W. Nogaj, who changed the FM's call letters to WWCK as a nod to Windsor, Ontario's powerhouse AM top 40 radio station CKLW.

WWCK or CK as it was called back then was the biggest rock station in the US for a time.  It meant everything to it's young and very loyal listeners. In Rock's prime time CK interviewed all the biggest bands who played in Flint at the IMA Sports Arena..

When I produced the Super Sale at Flint IMA every March, we often had CK disc jockeys on hand to support the show.  We were a big advertiser and as we were a young show staff of mostly girls we loved CK Disc Jockey Jim "Bad Boy" Baade the most...He was so much fun and we thought he was so cute..

So imagine my surprise when I received an email from Jim about his new film project.  Jim had no idea that we had met years before so I was excited to work with him again. Jim created a great film documentary about WWCK's rock past and he is now working on a film about the Women rock radio jocks and their contributions to the medium...We can certainly help find the rock-jock ladies from the Detroit area!

Jim "Bad Boy" Baade

Jim's film "Flint's Best Rock" is now officially a part of American rock history as it has been accepted into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

This is a story that had to be told! "Flint's Best Rock" will not let you go and you will finish with deep sense of appreciation for this once proud radio station.

Read more about Jim Baade:

MLive Story You Felt Like a Rock Star

MLive Story Flint Documentary Archived

ABC12 WJRT Story Flint Documentary Headed for Hall of Fame