Collector shares rare rock'n'roll postcards

Postcard collecting can be addictive. Just ask Wally Jung of Lansing, who recently added a cache of rock ‘n’ roll cards to his already impressive hoard of postcards.

For years Jung has been collecting postcards from Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Lansing and many other Michigan cities he’s called home.

Jung was first drawn to a postcard issued by a southwest Michigan radio station WHFB and then one from WKZO advertising the country band Rem Wall & the Green Valley Boys.

“I never liked country that much, but I picked it up for my mother who listened to the program,” Jung said.

That one postcard led to another and soon he was building a collection of music themed postcards. Jung eventually added a card from the rock group the Vogues which had several hits in the ‘60s including, “You’re the One” and “Five O’clock World.”

Then Jung picked up a card featuring The New Christy Minstrels, a large-ensemble folk group whose alumni includes Kenny Rogers and Gene Clark. He also has numerous postcards from local radio stations.

“Now I have a whole box of cards,” Jung said.

“I had two requirements: the cards Courtesy photo had to be of groups that I liked and I had to like the graphics.”

This past November, Jung bought a large collection of postcards from a Las Vegas dealer. The trove included many cards from the legendary Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, featuring art by renowned psychedelic artists.

Since then Jung has added similar postcards from the Grande Ballroom in Detroit. Russ Gibb, impresario of the Grande Ballroom, produced about 80 cards to promote his concerts.

Today, some of those cards by legendary artists Gary Grimshaw and Carl Lundgren sell for more than $150.

“My favorite music cards are the psychedelic ones, they are cool,” Jung said.

He also has numerous Coral-Lee postcards from the ‘80s which were commercially produced and feature popular musicians like Elvis Presley and Diana Ross.

“Music of the sixties and seventies tells the story of my life,” Jung said. “I couldn’t tell you where I was three weeks ago, but I can tell you where I was when I first heard ‘Ferry Across the Mersey’ by Gerry and the Pacemakers.”

Jung will take guests on a rock ‘n’ roll tour at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at the Delta Township Library. His presentation includes music from several eras.

Jung will showcase a couple hundred rock postcards accompanied with music.

Exhibition of Rare Rock Art

Postcards Tuesday, January 9, 6 p.m. Delta Township Library 5130 Davenport Dr., Lansing Admission: Free