Flint documentary heading to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(03/12/13) - A piece of Flint's rich radio history is heading to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

"It blows me away, because that's my religion. That's what I grew up loving, was rock 'n' roll," said Jim Baade, "Flint's Best Rock" filmmaker.

Baade's documentary, "Flint's Best Rock", chronicles the rise and demise of the old 105 FM. It was his final project for a film class at Mott College. After wrapping production last year, he got the idea to ask the Hall of Fame to add it to its archives.

"When I was thinking of entering it, I wrote the letter and thought, maybe I have a shot at it, I'll give them a good argument. It came back the next day and said 'you're in.' Quite incredible," he said.

Baade was part of a star-studded group of disk jockeys, which included Peter Cavanaugh and Jeff Holbrook. The rock 'n' roll and hairstyles defined the era.

"Why didn't somebody tell me that I looked a little bit like a yak, ya know," Holbrook said.

105 FM's ratings were nothing to laugh at - and curators at the Hall agreed.

"In 1982, we were Billboard Magazine's top rated station of the year, and in 1984 and 85, we had the highest ratings of any rock station in the country. So yeah, we went to the top of the hill," Baade said.

But all good things must come to an end. The station was sold in 1988, the staff let go, and the rock 'n' roll soon disappeared.

"We went from the Doors to Michael Jackson at midnight and a lot of listeners weren't too happy about that," Holbrook said.

The old 105 FM's studios on Lapeer Road closed back in 1999. Now there's a big effort in place to help preserve the sign.

"It's a part of rock history now. We're in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so now the sign is symbolic of that."

Baade hopes to enter his documentary in the Traverse City Film Festival this summer.

If you'd like to watch "Flint's Best Rock", click HERE.