Friday, July 29, 2005

Fri-Sunday, July 29-July 31, 2005

Through the years...

We end the month of July with a look back at 3 days that were filled with interesting events, some that helped shape history, some that would never shape history but were nevertheless amusing or noteworthy, all will be memorable...

We welcomed a new host of the "Tonight Show", saw a royal wedding, lost our "Mama", almost lost a pop icon, gained a new ice cream flavor, got "Help" and witnessed a future president send a future superstar packing. And that was just July 29th...now to the headlines...

July 29 Memories...

1957) The new host of the "Tonight Show" was Jack Paar...

1959) The Isley Brothers recorded "Shout"...

1961) Dick Clark premieres his summer stage show, "The Dick Clark Caravan of Stars" on Atlantic City's Steel Pier...

1963) Peter, Paul and Mary release "Blowin' In The Wind"...

1965) The Beatles "Help" premieres in London with the queen in attendance...

1966) Bob Dylan crashes his motorcycle in Woodstock, breaking his neck...

1967) Motown releases "You're My Everything" by the Temptations...

1974) We lose Mama Cass Elliot not to a ham sandwich but a heart attack...

1978) Kenny Loggins releases "Whenever I Call You Friend" with help from friend, Stevie Nicks...

1981) England's Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer tie the royal knot...

1987) Ben & Jerry introduce a new flavor, "Cherry Garcia"...

1989) Texas Rangers owner George W. Bush makes what he describes as his "worst trade" sending Sammy Sosa packing...

1998) Miramax buys the rights to the Beatles film, "A Hard Day's Night"...

Happy Birthday to...

1924) Lloyd Bochner...

1924) Robert Horton...

1936) Senator Elizabeth Dole...

1938) Peter Jennings...

1944) Gary Busey...

1953) Ken Burns...

1953) Rush lead singer, Geddy Lee...

1956) Patti Scialfa...

1966) Martina McBride...

July 30 Memories...

1954) Elvis makes his professional debut in Memphis opening for Slim Whitman...

1956) "In God We Trust" becomes our national motto...

1960) In the 1st AFL preseason game the Boston Patriots defeat the Buffalo Bills, 28-7...

1965) President Johnson signs into law, the Social Security Act establishing Medicare and Medicaid...

1966) The Beatles "Yesterday...and Today" tops the LP charts for the first of 5 weeks...

1970) The Rolling Stones fire Allen Klein as their manager...

1971) George Harrison releases "Bangladesh"...

1975) Jimmy Hoffa gets lost on the way to a diner, never returns...

1984) Soap Opera "Santa Barbara" premieres...

1990) George Steinbrenner is forced to resign as principal owner of the Yankees...

1998) Buffalo Bob, Howdy Doody's daddy dies at 80...

2000) Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt walk down the aisle...

2001) Lance Armstrong chalks up Tour de France title #3...

2003) Sun Records founder, Sam Phillips, who discovered Elvis Presley dies at 80...

2003) The last original-style Volkwagon rolls off the assembly line in Mexico...

Happy Birthday to...

1933) Edd "Kookie" Byrnes...

1936) Blues guitarist Buddy Guy...

1939) Peter Bogdanovich...

1941) Paul Anka...

1945) David Sanborn...

1947) California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger...

1956) Delta Burke...

1956) Anita Hill...

1961) Laurence Fishburne...

1961) Neal McCoy...

1963) Lisa Kudrow...

1974) Hilary Swank...

July 31 Memories...

1948) President Truman helps dedicate Idlewild International Airport (later changed to JFK)...

1968) The Beatles recording of "Hey Jude" is completed at Trident Studios, London...

1970) Chet Huntley says "Goodnight David", retiring...

1972) Thomas Eagleton withdraws as Democratic VP candidate...

1973) ABA Virginia Squires trade Dr. J., Julius Erving to the New York Nets...

1976) Blue Oyster Cult releases "Don't Fear The Reaper"...

1976) Orleans' "Still The One" is released...

1976) The U.S. wins 5 gold medals in boxing at the Olympics...

1979) James Taylor plays a free concert in Central Park to help restore the Sheep Meadow...

1981) The seven-week baseball players' strike ends...

1990) Nolan Ryan becomes the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games...

1995) The Walt Disney Company buys Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion...

1995) Selena ("Dreaming of You") becomes the first Latin artist to debut at #1...

Happy Birthday to...

1919) Curt Gowdy...

1923) Ahmet Ertegun...

1929) Don Murray...

1943) Lobo...

1944) Geraldine Chaplin...

1944) Sherry Lansing...

1945) William Weld...

1946) Gary Lewis...

1946) Bob ("Fleetwood Mac") Welch...

1951) Evonne Goolagong Cawley...

1962) Wesley Snipes...

1965) J.K. Rowling ("Harry Potter")...

1966) Dean Cain...

Commentary...

Yesterday we mentioned two of the more famous lawsuits (Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles) in recent years and today the New York Daily News has an article covering bands or artists who've sued for the right to use their own names. Those mentioned include The Doors, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Shangri-las, Marvelettes, Drifters, Platters and Creedence Clearwater Revival. For the complete story, click on this website and go to Lance Gould's article:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story


Thursday, July 28, 2005

Thursday, July 28, 2005

A litany of litigation...

The next time you're thinking of using either the music or likeness of someone famous without paying for it, think again...

The families of Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy and many countless others throughout the years have sued sponsors for making a profit from the fruits of their loved ones labors without permission or payment for that use. Two of the bigger cases in recent history happened on this date...

In 1995 a settlement returned the rights to Jimi Hendrix's estate to his father. The ruling included all unmastered tapes, concert recordings, photographs and other personal possessions...

In 1987 you might say The Beatles and Yoko Ono were fit to be tied. On July 28th, the remaining members of the Fab Four and John Lennon's wife, sued Nike from using "Revolution" in it's sneaker ads. While no official record of the conclusion of this lawsuit is available you can be sure that it ended in a hefty out-of-court payment to the litigants and rightfully so...

More July 28 Memories...

1956) Elvis Presley reaches the top of the charts for the second time with "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You."

1957) Jerry Lee Lewis makes his TV debut on the "Steve Allen Show"...

1970) Mick Jagger makes his movie debut in "Ned Kelly"...

1973) Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett tie the knot...

1973) Grand Funk Railroad releases "We're An American Band"...

1973) A crowd of 600,000 gathers at Watkins Glen, NY for the "Summer Jam" festival starring the Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead...

1978) At Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium it's announced that Billy Martin will return as Yankee Manager in 1979...

1979) The World Series of Rock is held at Cleveland Stadium with Journey, Ted Nugent and Thin Lizzy...

1987) Beatles sue Nike (feature story)...

1991) The Expos Dennis Martinez pitches a perfect game...

1994) Three years later to the date, Texas Ranger pitcher Kenny Rogers pitches the next perfect game...

1995) James Al Hendrix gets his son's estate (feature story)...

1999) Future Hall of Fame running back, Barry Sanders hangs up his cleats...

2000) Kathie Lee Gifford makes her final appearance as co-host of "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee."

2002) Lance Armstrong wins his 4th consecutive Tour de France...

Happy Birthday to...

1937) Bandleader Peter Duchin...

1943) Former Knick and U.S. Senator, Bill Bradley...

1945) Garfield cartoonist, Jim Davis...

1946) Jonathan ("Sunshine") Edwards...

1948) Georgia ("Mary Tyler Moore Show") Engel...

1948) Sally ("All in the Family") Struthers...

Commentary...

Apparently the recent investigations on payola have just scratched the surface of what could be a sweeping attempt to "clean up" the shenanigans used to get music played on the radio. Having been on both sides of the radio and records fences I'm an interested on-looker who can't help feeling an overwhelming amount of skepticism that anything substantial will be done to clean up this mess...

I can only hope that the quilty pay for their crimes and let's move on with it. Neither wrist-slapping or a witch-hunt is in order. Present the evidence, fine, suspend or fire the quilty and enact or ammend laws...

As with everything else that's overblown in the media, this is the exception rather than the rule. We all know that an overwhelming majority of radio and record people are honest, hard working people. For those that are not, "If you do the crime, you pay the time", end of story...


Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

The Walrus finds a home...

On the heels of yesterday's feature story about "Hey Jude" comes another event in the life of Beatle John Lennon. On this date in 1977, Lennon was granted permanent residence in the U.S. This followed years of deportation warnings given to John by the U.S. State Department...

The fight to keep John Lennon in the U.S. went as high as the White House. President Richard Nixon who would enlist Elvis Presley in his war against drugs, was the deciding factor in Lennon's successful fight to remain in the U.S...

It's well documented that Lennon mis-used drugs, which cannot be condoned but the greater good he contributed to society, far out-weighed his self-abuse. He simply did not deserve to be deported. He would remain in the land he loved, America, until that fateful day in 1980...

More July 27 Memories...

1940) Bugs Bunny makes his debut in the WB animated cartoon, "A Wild Hare."

1959) Attorney William Shea announces the formation of the Continental League and the promise of bringing a baseball team to New York by 1961...

1965) Health warnings on cigarette packages agreed upon by the U.S...

1974) Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" is released...

1976) Tina Turner files for divorce from Ike...

1977) John Lennon granted permanent residency (feature story)...

1980) The deposed Shah of Iran dies in Egypt at 60...

1983) Madonna's self-titled LP is released...

1986) Greg Lemond is 1st American to win Tour de France...

1988) Yankee pitcher Tommy John commits 3 errors on 1 play...

1992) 27-year old Boston Celtic star, Reggie Lewis, dies after practice...

1996) A bomb kills 1, injures 110 at Atlanta Olympic Park during the Olympic games...

2003) Lance Armstrong wins his record-tying fifth straight Tour de France title...

2003) Comedian Bob Hope tells his last joke, at age 100...

Happy Birthday to...

1922) TV producer, Norman Lear...

1929) Harvey (Moonglows) Fuqua...

1931) Jerry Van Dyke...

1933) The Kingston Trio's Nick Reynolds...

1937) Chuck ("Any Day Now") Jackson...

1939) Sportscaster Irv Cross...

1944) Bobbie Gentry...

1948) Figure skater, Peggy Fleming...

1949) Maureen McGovern...

1972) SNL's Maya Rudolph...

1975) A-Rod...

Commentary...

While I had spoken to Ringo Starr on the phone, calling from Australia at the time, I had never met a Beatle in the flesh, until meeting John Lennon. John was seated next to WABC's Rick Sklar on the dais at a radio luncheon I attended. Rick introduced me to John, a rather quiet, pleasant bloke. I would run into John one more time and once again Uncle Rick accompanied the former Beatle and this time Rick actually said, "you know John, don't you ?" To which I replied, "sure". Wow, this was heady company I was in now. John Lennon and I were on a first-name basis. Did John remember me ? Probably not, but at least he said he did. It didn't matter. I was impressed anyway...

I remember the concerted effort there was among those of us in the radio community to keep John in this country. Most of that was led by Beatle promo man, Pete Bennett who had entree to President Nixon. Pete probably had more to do with keeping John Lennon in this country then anyone else...


Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

"Hey Jules"...

Somehow it doesn't have the same ring as "Hey Jude", does it ? Although Paul McCartney's tribute to Julian Lennon was originally called "Hey Jules", Sir Paul thought better of it and changed it to "Hey Jude" which was "easier to sing". That explanation, compliments of Paul himself. Mostly, the song was written by Paul, driving alone in his car with thoughts of John's son going through his parents nasty divorce. Officially, the song was completed on this date, July 26, 1968 at Paul's home with finishing touches supplied by John Lennon...

"Hey Jude" would be recorded at Trident Studios in London on July 31st and released in the U.S. on August 26th. The single entered the charts on September 14th and went to #1 two weeks later. The original version of the single was 7 minutes, 11 seconds but there was a shortened version also available for radio airplay, both were used. "Hey Jude" would become the Beatles' best-selling single...

Just last month, "Hey Jude" was performed by Paul McCartney as the finale of the main Live 8 event in London...

More July 26 Memories...

1948) Babe Ruth is seen by the public for the last time, attending the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story"...

1963) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles release "Mickey's Monkey"...

1968) "Hey Jude" is completed (feature story)...

1969) The Rolling Stones release "Beggar's Banquet"...

1972) Gilbert O'Sullivan tops the charts with "Alone Again (Naturally)"...

1984) Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends pitcher Vida Blue for the remainder of the season for cocaine possession...

1984) Prince's movie "Purple Rain" premieres in Hollywood...

1987) Catfish Hunter, Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge are inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame...

1992) The voice of Mary Wells is stilled by cancer...

1997) Giants owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula are inducted into the Football Hall of Fame...

Happy Birthday to...

1922) Movie director, Blake Edwards...

1941) Bobby ("Sunny") Hebb...

1941) Darlene Love...

1941) Brenton Wood...

1942) Dobie Gray...

1943) Mick Jagger...

1956) Figure skater, Dorothy Hamill...

1959) Kevin Spacey...

1964) Sandra Bullock...

1973) Kate Beckinsale...

Commentary...

Listening to "Hey Jude" is like eating too much of your favorite ice cream. You may get sick of it, but you keep coming back for more. Paul McCartney closes out every show with the Beatle anthem and as popular as he still is, would probably get booed if he didn't. The song will go down as one of the all-time top 3 "Battle of the Bands" tunes, along with "A Day In The Life" and "Colour My World". Those 3 would show up everytime we did a "Battle of the Bands" on the radio, what ever market I worked in. That meant that you listened to that song up against a new challenger for as many times as it got the most listener votes. Talk about brain-washing !

Like many of you, I was saddened by the tragic auto accident that took the life of Joe O'Brien over the weekend in Lenox, Mass. You just don't expect to hear that someone reaching the age of 90 will meet such a horrible end. Joe's ex-program director, Ruth Meyer, a passenger in the car, was not injured. When Joe did the morning show on WMCA in the 60s, he was joined by his friend, Benny and while Joe wasn't the first or last disc jockey to use an alter-ego as a sidekick, he was the best. Corny or not, Joe and Benny put a smile on your face, every time. The radio world will miss Joe O'Brien. David Hinckley profiles Joe in today's Daily News:

www.nydailynews.com/entertainment


Monday, July 25, 2005

Monday, July 25, 2005

"Vive le Tour"...

With that toast Lance Armstrong put a period and exclamation point to his 7th consecutive Tour de France championship yesterday. He won his first Tour de France on this date in 1999...

It's well documented that this genetically superior athlete whose capacity for using oxygen more efficiently than anyone else alive, had defeated a wide-spread testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. For that feat alone, he is to be applauded.

The 33-year-old Texan put things in the right perspective just prior to cycling down the Champs-Elysees when he said, "I'm lucky just to be here." More on Lance Armstrong in my commentary...

More July 25 Memories...

1946) Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debut at Club 500 in Atlantic City...

1952) Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing commonwealth of the U.S...

1956) 51 people go down with the Italian liner, Andrea Doria off the New England coast...

1960) The Republican's say "Nixon's the one" at their convention...

1965) Bob Dylan does his first non-acoustic set to a chorus of boos at the Newport Jazz Festival...

1966) The Supremes release "You Can't Hurry Love"...

1966) Casey Stengel is elected to baseball's Hall of Fame...

1969) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young debut at Fillmore East...

1970) Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4" is released...

1971) The Beach Boys release their "Surf's Up" album...

1975) "A Chorus Line" debuts on Broadway...

1978) Bob Lemon replaces Billy Martin as Yankee manager...

1978) Louise Joy Brown, the first test-tube baby, is born in England...

1990) Rosanne Barr is booed for her tacky National Anthem performance in San Diego...

Happy Birthday to...

1924) Estelle ("The Golden Girls") Getty...

1935) Barbara Harris...

1951) Earth, Wind and Fire's Verdine White...

1955) Iman...

1965) Illeana Douglas...

1967) Matt LeBlanc...

Commentary...

You might consider Lance Armstrong self-assured and brash. Some might even feel that the doping allegations against him for using a body cream in 1999 were valid. You may be one of those that the 33-year-old Texan considers a "cynic" or "skeptic" or even dislike him for leaving his wife and family and taking up with Sheryl Crow but be very clear about what Lance Armstrong has accomplished. In addition to his phenomenal record breaking 7 consecutive Tour de France victories, he has overcome astronomical odds in surviving cancer and has established a successful cancer foundation which will save countless number of lives...

He has devoted his life to help defeat this dreaded disease. To date, his yellow wristbands have sales of over 50,000,000 with part of the proceeds going to his cancer foundation. Vive le Tour ? Oui. Vive le Lance too...


Friday, July 22, 2005

Friday-Sunday, July 22-24, 2005

Baseball dominates headlines...

There were 3 big stories in baseball, all occurring on the same day from July 22nd to July 24th through the years. Two managers bowed out and the infamous "pine tar" game all happened on July 24th...

In 1965, at age 75 and nursing a broken hip, Casey Stengel decided to call it quits, retiring as manager of the New York Mets. Although the Mets labeled this an "interim" move, the world knew better and one of the greatest and certainly, most colorful managers of all time, was gone forever...

On the same date in 1978, Billy Martin, with tears in his eyes, gave his famous, "One is a born liar, the other a convict" speech. The born liar was Reggie Jackson, the convict, Boss George Steinbrenner. With that statement made, Billy Martin "retired" as Yankee manager...

Once again, same date, different year for the "pine tar" game. The year was 1983 when a homerun was taken away from Kansas City slugger George Brett for having too much pine tar on his bat. The same aforementioned Billy Martin, back as Yankee manager, pointed the excess pine tar out to umpire crew chief Joe Brinkman...More on that game which I attended, in my commentary...

July 22 Memories...

1963) Sonny Liston KOs Floyd Patterson in one round for the heavyweight boxing title...

1967) Vanilla Fudge make their concert debut in New York City...

1974) "Annie's Song" tops the charts for John Denver...

1977) Tony Orlando leaves Dawn while appearing in Cohasset, Massachusetts, announces retirement...

1979) Reverend Richard Penniman, a.k.a. Little Richard, warns his congregation about the evils of Rock and Roll...

1986) #1 song: "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel...

1991) Jeffrey Dahmer is captured, confesses to killing 17 in 1978...

1994) O.J. Simpson pleads "absolutely 100% not quilty" of murder...

1995) Susan Smith found quilty of drowning her 2 children...

2003) Private first class, Jessica Lynch returns home to a hero's welcome...

2003) Saddam Hussein's sons Odai and Qusai killed by U.S. forces...

Happy Birthday to:

1923) Bob Dole...

1924) Margaret Whiting...

1928) Orson Bean...

1932) Oscar de la Renta...

1934) Louise Fletcher...

1939) Terence Stamp...

1940) Alex Trebek...

1941) Secretariat jockey, Ron Turcotte...

1943) Bobby Sherman...

1944) The Ronettes Estelle Bennett...

1947) Danny Glover...

1947) Eagles' Don Henley...

1947) Albert Brooks...

1955) Willem Dafoe...

1964) David Spade...

1965) John Leguizamo...

July 23 Memories...

1904) The ice cream cone is invented in St. Louis...

1966) Napoleon XIV releases "They're Coming to Take Me Away"...

1976) Wings release "Let 'Em In"...

1977) Foreigner's "Cold As Ice" was released...

1984) Vanessa Williams, first black Miss America loses her crown for posing nude in Penthouse, Suzette Charles (Miss New Jersey) replaces her...

1986) Britain's Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson tie the royal knot...

1997) Body of Gianni Versace's murderer, Andrew Cunanan, found...

2000) At age 24, Tiger Woods becomes youngest pro to win a career Grand Slam, in the British Open...

2000) Lance Armstrong wins his second Tour de France...

Happy Birthday to...

1925) Gloria DeHaven...

1928) Calvert (Larry Bud Melman) DeForest...

1938) Ronny Cox...

1940) Don Imus...

1943) Tony Joe White...

1947) David Essex...

1961) Woody Harrelson...

1965) Slash (Guns 'n' Roses)...

1967) Philip Seymour Hoffman...

1973) Nomar Garciaparra...

1974) Law and Order's" Stephanie March...

July 24 Memories...

1956) Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis end their partnership...

1965) The Beach Boys release "California Girls"...

1965) Casey Stengel retires (feature story)...

1969) Apollo 11 astronauts return safely...

1974) Supreme Court rules that Richard Nixon must turn over White House tapes...

1976) Hall and Oates release "She's Gone"...

1978) The movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" premieres in New York City...

1978) Yankee manager Billy Martin bows out (feature story)...

1983) Pine tar game (feature story)...

1987) "La Bamba", the movie biography of Richie Valens, premieres...

1993) Met Vince Coleman throws cherry bomb, injuring 3...

1993) Met Anthony Young loses a record 27th straight game...

1995) Frank Sinatra celebrates his 80th year with 3 nights at Carnegie Hall...

Happy Birthday to...

1936) Ruth Buzzi...

1940) Dan Hedaya...

1949) Michael (Kramer) Richards...

1951) "Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter...

1963) Karl (The Mailman) Malone...

1969) Jennifer Lopez...

1970) Kristin Chenoweth...

Commentary...

I and my son, Rob, were at the infamous "pine tar" game in 1983. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the Yankees were playing Kansas City with a lead of 4-3 when George Brett stepped to the plate and lost a Goose Gossage fastball in the upper deck in right field to put the Royals ahead 5-4, right ? Well that's what we thought but why was Billy Martin holding up George Brett's bat in his discussion with the umpires. Wait a second, the home plate umpire just ruled Brett out, he took his homerun away, what's going on ? What was going on was that 2 runs were taken away and the score reverted back to 4-3 Yankees...

What followed that decision was a raging, irate George Brett storming out of the Kansas City dugout only to be restrained by his teammates before ripping off home plate umpire, Tim McClelland's head...

Rob and I left that game not knowing that the ruling of too much pine tar on Brett's bat, took away his 2-run homerun. The game would be picked up in the 9th inning and completed on August 24th...


Thursday, July 21, 2005

Thursday, July 21, 2005

"Stop in the name of love"...

That's what Diana Ross shouted to the heavens on the night of July 21, 1983 but even the great diva couldn't stop the downpour that put a damper on her free concert in Central Park. The former Supreme lead singer braved 40 minutes of torrential rain, thunder, lightning and gale force winds before calling it quits. Over a quarter of a million fans rushed for the park exits, soaked to the bone, on their hands and knees in the mud...(http://www.dailynews.com/city_life/big_town/v-bigtown_archive/ )

Central Park's Great Lawn registered rain-made lakes as deep as 6 inches by dawn but the weather cleared for the rain-date event and when a beautiful summer evening awaited the return of Diana Ross, no one could predict what would follow...

In the closing minutes of the diva's performance, gangs of unruly youths snatched chains, grabbed pocketbooks and a rampage ensued that spilled from Central Park to as far south as Times Square. Hundreds were beaten and stabbed, hundreds arrested. It was not New York's finest hour. City officials even considered ending all free concerts in the future...

There is an aftermath to this story. Diana Ross, in atonement for the melee, donated a generous monetary gift to the city, taken from her profits on tee-shirt and merchandise sales and in turn the city would use that money for a playground at Central Park West and West 81st Street. It's called "The Diana Ross Playground"...

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow". Gilbert K. Chesterton...

More July 21 Memories...

1957) Althea Gibson becomes the first black woman to win a major U.S. tennis title...

1961) Gus Grissom becomes the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth...

1969) Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren blast off from the moon...

1970) The Carpenters top the charts with "(They Long to Be) Close To You"...

1975) The Mets Joe Torre hits into 4 double-plays...

1975) #1 song: "The Hustle" by Van McCoy...

1976) 1st outbreak of "Legionnaire's Disease" reported in Philadelphia...

1979) Robert Palmer's "Bad Case Of Loving You" is released...

1983) The skies open up on Diana Ross (feature story)...

1985) Paul Young is #1 with "Everytime You Go Away"...

1987) ET's Mary Hart has Lloyd's of London insure her legs for $2 million...

1990) Pink Floyd's Roger Waters stages a production of "The Wall" where the Berlin Wall once stood...

Happy Birthday to...

1922) 50's singer, Kay Starr...

1924) Don Knotts...

1938) Janet Reno...

1943) Edward Herrmann...

1947) Jon Lovitz...

1948) Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam...

1951) Robin Williams...

1968) Soccer star and part-time stripper, Brandi Chastain...

Commentary...

Like many unseemly events that have occurred in New York City, the 1983 rampage in Central Park passed into history with little or no repercussions. I remember how frightening that night was, how the city considered banning all future free concerts in the park, but robbing the people of these historic shows was not the answer. Cooler heads prevailed, the police and parks departments were more vigilant and the concerts continued. As a post-script, there has not been a similar such occurrence since that show...


Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

"That's one small step for man..."

The complete quote by Neil Armstrong on this date in 1969 was: "That's one small step for man, one great leap for mankind". With those words, the astronaut fulfilled JFK's pledge of getting a man to the moon before the end of the decade. We all stared in awe as we watched Neil and fellow astronaut, Buzz Aldren plant the stars and stripes on the surface of the moon as they roamed around in slow motion steps, finally hitting a golf ball into eternity for good measure...

I hate to disappoint the skeptics who thought the whole event was staged in a TV studio but we really did go to the moon. There have been 6 other moon landings since man first set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969...

More July 20 Memories...

1940) Billboard Magazine publishes 1st listing of top 10 best-selling singles...

1965) Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" is released...
1965) The Lovin' Spoonful debut with "Do You Believe In Magic"...

1968) Heavy metal makes the pop charts as Iron Butterfly and "In-a-gadda-da-vida" debuts...

1975) Little Steven (Van Zandt) performs for the first time in concert as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band...

1976) Hank Aaron hits 755th and last home run...

1988) Boston's Michael Dukakis is chosen Democratic presidential nominee...

Happy Birthday to...

1930) Sally Ann Howes...

1933) NBA Hall of Fame coach, Chuck Daly...

1938) Diana ("Avengers") Rigg...

1943) John ("Moody Blues") Lodge...

1946) Kim Carnes...

1957) Donna ("Bosom Buddies") Dixon...

1969) Josh ("Lost") Holloway...

Commentary...

When we touched down on the moon, 8 years had passed since JFK presented his "special message on urgent national needs" to Congress...

In his address, he covered several subjects including the space race. He believed that "we possessed all the resources and talent necessary to win that race". He also added, "I believe we should go to the moon"...

While America applauded our new President's enthusiasm, few believed we could achieve that lofty goal until Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren accomplished what many thought to be impossible. It happened on July 20, 1969. It's just too bad JFK was not around to see it...

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Golden memories...

Although separated by some 20 years, there were 2 events that occurred on this date that are worthy of today's feature story. Both of them took place at the Olympics...

The Manhattans topped the charts with "Kiss and Say Goodbye" when tiny 14-year old Romanian, Nadia Comaneci took her turn at the parallel bars in 1976 at the Montreal Olympics. All Nadia did was score a perfect 10 and become an overnight sensation in the blink of an eye...

20 years later, in 1996 the city of Atlanta hosted the XXVI Olympic games. While there were medals to be won in another exciting Olympiad, the highlight of the games took place on opening night as Muhammad Ali ignited the Olympic flame...

Both events took place on July 19...

More July 19 Memories...

1954) Sun Records releases "That's All Right Mama" by Elvis Presley...

1958) The Drifters manager fires the entire group, replacing them with members of The Crowns whose lead singer is Ben E. King...

1961) TWA shows the 1st in-flight movie...

1966) 50-year old Frank Sinatra marries 21-year old Mia Farrow...

1967) The 1st air conditioned New York City subway (the "F") rolls down the tracks...

1968) Hugh Masekela tops the charts with the instrumental version of "Grazing in the Grass"...

1975) "Dance With Me" by Orleans is released...

1976) Montreal Olympics (feature story)...

1976) Deep Purple breaks up...

1976) The Manhattans are #1 with "Kiss and Say Goodbye"...

1980) Billy Joel goes gold with "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me"...

1982) Future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn makes his ML debut with 2 hits...

1986) Caroline Kennedy (28) marries Edwin Schlossberg (41)...

1996) Muhammad Ali lights the Olympic flame (feature story)...

Happy Birthday to...

1922) George McGovern...

1924) Pat Hingle...

1926) Sue ("Norman") Thompson...

1937) George ("A Rose and a Baby Ruth") Hamilton IV...

1940) Dennis Cole...

1941) Vikki Carr...

1946) Ilie Nastase...

1947) The Eagles' Bernie Leadon...

1962) Anthony ("ER") Edwards...

Commentary...

The first thing that struck me about meeting Muhammad Ali was his size. The man is big. He's also very shy. He was quick to offer his hand, didn't say much but he oozed self-assurance and confidence in his handshake. We briefly chatted about his version of "Stand By Me" in the 60s, a very credible cover of the Ben E. King hit if you've never heard it...

The meeting was brief and before Ali started showing signs of his Parkinson's Disease. I would later have the occasion to run into him again, this time Ali who could "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" was standing by himself in a corner of the room, alone with his thoughts. We exchanged greetings before Ali's entourage took him away to shake some hands and work the room...

I walked away from that meeting with another opinion of Muhammad Ali. In addition to being big, shy, self-assured and confident, this was a terribly lonely man. Whatever your feelings might be about Ali tossing his medals in the Detroit River, his refusal to serve his country, if you ever get the chance to meet him, you will come away liking him...


Monday, July 18, 2005

Monday, July 18, 2005

Chappaquiddick tragedy...

There was no bigger story in 1969 than the tragic drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne. Mary Jo, 28, was the former Ted Kennedy campaign worker who lost her life when a car driven by the Massachusetts Senator plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, near Martha's Vineyard...

Just hours after the tragedy Ted Kennedy went before TV cameras, live, to tell us, in detail of the tragic events. I can remember staring in disbelief as the story unfolded of the car careening out of control off the bridge and of Kennedy's attempt to save Mary Jo's life. The senator had a neck brace on, the result of an injury suffered in his attempt to rescue Mary Jo...

A TV poll was taken in Boston and results were overwhelmingly in favor of Ted Kennedy's version of the tragedy. Whether you believed Ted's story or not, a young life was lost forever on this date, July 18,1969...

More July 18 Memories...

1960) Hank Ballard & The Midnighters release the original version of "The Twist"...
1960) "It's Now Or Never" by Elvis Presley is released...

1964) The Beatles release the LP, "A Hard Days Night"...

1969) Tragedy at Chappaquiddick (lead story)...
1969) Joe Namath agrees to sell his interest in Bachelor's 3, to stay in NFL...

1977) #1 song: "Looks Like We Made It" by Barry Manilow...

1980) Billy Joel's "Glass Houses" tops LP charts...

1985) Jack Nicklaus II, 23, makes his pro debut...

1987) Yankee Don Mattingly ties record for home runs in 8 straight games...

1992) Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown marry...

1994) Crayola introduces scented crayons...

1999) Yankee David Cone pitches a perfect game...

2003) Kobe Bryant is charged with sexual assault...
2003) Barry White sings last note...

Happy Birthday to...

1913) Former MLB player's attorney, Marvin Miller...

1918) Nelson Mandela...

1921) John Glenn...

1929) Dick Button...

1939) Dion DiMucci...

1940) Joe Torre...
1940) James Brolin...

1941) Lonnie ("Memphis") Mack...
1941) Martha Reeves...

1961) Elizabeth McGovern...

1967) Vin Diesel...

Commentary...

Congratulations to Joe McCoy who made his debut as co-host of a new sports show on WFAN last night. Joe, paired with Rich Marazzi on the two-hour show that combined baseball's past and present. The show was informative without being overwhelmingly nostalgic and maintained a contemporary feel with phone participation about the present. Here's to a long run for a radio pro I've had the pleasure of knowing for over 30 years. Well done, Joe...

On a rather somber note, the legendary former New York Post columnist who befriended both Bob Dylan, the Beatles and a world of record company friends, Al Aronowitz is fighting for his life at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Al is a fighter and if anyone can pull through this fight, I know Al can. Al and son Joel told me that you can leave messages at Al's home (908.289.8776) or by sending an e-mail to: blacklistedjournalist@yahoo.com. Al will receive every phone call and e-mail message. Al would appreciate your prayers and thoughts as we all would...



Friday, July 15, 2005

Fri-Sun, July 15-17, 2005

Nothing weak about this weekend...

There were so many momentous and memorable events we witnessed thoughout the years that it was tough deciding on what to pick as my lead story. July 15, 16 and 17 were packed with headlines but I decided that the biggest story, by far, was the JFK, Jr. tragedy, one of those events that make you remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news...

When John Kennedy, Jr., or if you're old enough to remember, "John-John", took off from Essex County Airport in New Jersey on July 16th, 1999, he had 300 hours of flying experience and this trip to Hyannis, by way of Martha's Vineyard was familiar to him, having done it several times before. What JFK, Jr. didn't anticipate were the dark, hazy conditions and confusion he experienced while attempting to land on Martha's Vineyard. The single-engine, Piper Saratoga aircraft plummeted far short of the island, ending not only his life but those of his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette...

What followed was the ensuing but vain search for survivors and the wall-to-wall TV coverage that weekend 6 years ago. It ended on July 21st with the discovery of all 3 bodies...

Read about my chance encounter with JFK, Jr. in today's commentary...

July 15 Memories...

1963) Jan & Dean top the charts with "Surf City"...

1964) Barry M. Goldwater is nominated for president at Republican convention...

1965) Mariner IV sends back the first closeup pictures of Mars...

1968) The soap "One Life To Live" premieres...

1968) The New Jersey Americans move to Commack, L.I. and become the New York Nets...

1970) #1: "Mama Told Me Not To Come" by Three Dog Night...

1973) Paul Getty III is kidnapped...

1973) Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher in 2 decades to win 2 no-hitters in a season...

1992) Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem as Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton is nominated for the presidency by the Democrats...

1996) MSNBC debuts...

1997) Gianni Versace is gunned down...

Happy Birthday to...

1925) "One Life To Live" actor, Philip Carey...

1935) Alex ("Webster") Karras...

1944) R&B singer, Millie Jackson...

1946) Linda Ronstadt...

1952) Terry ("Lost") O'Quinn...

1960) Model, Kim Alexis...

1963) Actress, Brigitte Nielsen...

July 16 Memories...

1935) The first parking meters are installed, in Oklahoma City...

1951) "Catcher In Rye" by J.D. Salinger is published...

1957) Marine Major John Glenn sets a transcontinental speed record flying from California to New York in 3 hours, 23 minutes, 8 seconds...

1959) The Coasters record "Poison Ivy" in New York...

1966) Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker form Cream...

1966) The Lovin' Spoonful release "Summer In The City"...

1972) Smokey Robinson makes final appearance with The Miracles...

1976) Loggins and Messina split up...

1979) Saddam Hussein becomes President of Iraq...

1980) Republicans nominate Ronald Reagan for President...

1981) Harry Chapin has fatal auto crash on Long Island Expressway. He was on his way to a benefit concert...

1985) The All-Star game on NBC-TV is first stereo network show...

1988) Michael J. Fox marries Tracy Pollan...

1994) Anna Nicole Smith (26) marries billionaire J. Howard Marshall II (89)...

1999) America loses JFK, Jr. (see lead story)...

2004) Martha Stewart is sentenced to 5 months in prison for lying about a stock sale...

Happy Birthday to...

1915) Actor Barnard Hughes...

1924) Bess Myerson...

1939) R&B singer, William Bell...

1943) NFL sportscaster, Jimmy Johnson...

1948) Ruben Blades...

1952) Police drummer Stewart Copeland...

1953) Mickey Rourke...

1958) Dancer Michael Flatley...

1963) Phoebe Cates...

1967) Will Ferrell...

1968) NFL Hall of Famer, Barry Sanders

1971) Corey Feldman...

July 17 Memories...

1941) Baseball's longest hitting streak, Joe DiMaggio's 56 games, ends in Cleveland...

1954) The first Newport Jazz Festival is held...

1955) Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California...

1959) Billie Holiday sings her last note...

1965) The Miracle's release "Tracks of My Tears"...

1967) The Jimi Hendrix Experience open for The Monkees in Forest Hills...

1968) The Beatles' feature-length, animated movie, "Yellow Submarine" premieres in London...

1974) John Lennon is ordered to leave America in 60 days...

1975) An Apollo spaceship and Soyuz spacecraft dock in orbit, the first superpower linkup of its kind...

1978) Yankee manager Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson duke it out during game at Fenway Park in Boston...

1996) TWA Flight 800 crashes off Long Island, all 230 people perish...

1997) Woolworth Corp. closes its last 400 five-and-ten stores...

Happy Birthday to...

1912) Art Linkletter...

1917) Phyllis Diller...

1934) Donald Sutherland...

1935) Diahann Carroll...

1951) Lucie Arnaz...

1952) David Hasselhoff...

1952) Phoebe Snow...

1956) Islander hero, Bryan Trottier...

1961) "Survivor", etc. producer, Mark Burnett...

1967) Susan Anton...

Commentary...

Recalling the day America lost JFK, Jr. brings back two vivid memories for me. I can honestly say I rubbed elbows with John. About 2 months before his death, I had a chance encounter with America's son of royalty on, of all things, a number 9 train headed for Penn Station. I hadn't noticed the blur on roller blades that sat down next to me. Out of curiosity I looked to my right and there with turned back cap, sleeveless tee-shirt and shorts, was none other than John Kennedy, Jr. While we exchanged glances, neither one of us spoke. Other straphangers simply stared in disbelief but no one acknowledged John. John stared innocently above at the subway ads. When he got off the train I noticed a woman nudge her small daughter and whisper in her ear while following John's exit...

I also recall being on the cliffs overlooking the beach and ocean at Martha's Vineyard on July 4th weekend in 1999. I was looking out at what would become John Kennedy, Jr.'s destination at dusk on July 16th...


Thursday, July 14, 2005

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Born to be wild...

"Get your motor runnin', head out on the highway, lookin' for adventure...."

The final year of any decade is a transition into the unknown. The expectations of things to come in the new decade are filled with optimism but in reality, a crap-shoot at best. 1969 was no different. In January, Richard Milhous Nixon was sworn in as our new president, in March we saw 2 Beatles (Paul McCartney & John Lennon) walk down the aisle, June saw an original Rolling Stone (Brian Jones) laid to rest and the world lost Judy Garland. While July (18) was about to bring more tragedy at Chappaquiddick, there was also abounding optimism as we would realize JFK's dream of putting a man on the moon, on the 20th. Tragedy and optimism stepped aside for freedom on this date, July 14, 1969, the day that "Easy Rider" premiered...

"Easy Rider" was a road movie that embodied the hippie lifestyle of the 60s but was so much more. The actors was perfectly typecast with Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson, even Phil Spector had a bit part. You didn't have to be a hippie to enjoy this movie, a film of freedom personified by its soundtrack and theme song.

"Like a true nature's child, we were born, born to be wild...we can climb so high, I never wanna die...."

Read about the lead singer of "Born To Be Wild", John Kay of Steppenwolf in my commentary...

More July 14 Memories...

1950) Nat King Cole and "Mona Lisa" top the charts...

1960) #1: "I'm Sorry" by Brenda Lee...

1966) 8 student nurses victimized by serial killer, Richard Speck...

1967) The Who make their U.S. debut opening for Herman's Hermits...

1970) Pete Rose bowls over catcher Ray Fosse in the All-Star game...

1972) 1st brother umpire and pitcher (umpire Bill, pitcher Tom Haller) combination in same game...

1973) The Everly Brothers break up on stage...

1976) Georgia peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter wins Democratic presidential nomination...

1987) Greyhound buys Trailways ($80 million)...

1992) 1st time a father (Ken Griffey) and son (Ken Griffey, Jr.) hit homeruns in the same game...

1992) A very pregnant Demi Moore appears nude on the cover of "Vanity Fair"...

1999) Race-based school busing in Boston ends after 25 years

Happy Birthday to...

1913) President Gerald R. Ford...

1918) Movie director, Ingmar Bergman...

1923) Dale Robertson...

1926) Harry Dean Stanton...

1930) Polly Bergen...

1932) Rosey Grier...

1941) Spencer Davis...

Commentary...

I had the pleasure of working with John Kay, lead singer of Steppenwolf. Not only is he likeable but he also possesses an unpretentious air about him. He does not consider himself a star by any means...

John was born Joachim Fritz Krauledat in the section of Germany then known as East Prussia. John Kay of "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", a wild guy who owns a dozen motorcycles and perhaps several racing cars, right ? Wrong. John's eyesight is so poor, he's considered legally blind. He's never had a driver's license...

In the words of the legendary, Paul Harvey: "And now you know....the rest of the story"...


Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Where were you when the lights went out ???

A lightning strike brought darkness to the 5 boroughs of New York City and Westchester County at 9:34pm on this date in 1977. If you survived that blackout, you will always remember where you were when it happened. My memories are contained in my commentary at the close of this blog...

Flashlights became fashionable long into the night as thousands were stranded on the subways and in apartment building elevators. The Mets-Cubs game came to a halt in the 6th inning at Shea Stadium and Boz Scaggs cut short his concert. The group NRBQ was more inventive, taping flighlights to their microphone stands and playing an accoustic set...

To hear actual radio coverage of the blackout, click: http://airchexx.com. For New York Times coverage: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/.

More July 13 Memories...

1959) The Shirelles release "Dedicated To The One I Love"...

1964) "Rag Doll" by the 4 Seasons is #1...

1966) Jim Brown quits football for the movies...

1968) #1: "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf...

1972) The owners of the Baltimore Colts and LA Rams swap teams...

1974) Eric Clapton releases "I Shot The Sheriff"...

1975) Paul McCartney & Wings top the charts with "Listen To What The Man Said"...

1985) "Live Aid" is viewed by 1.5 billion, raising $70 million for famine relief in Africa...

1985) Duran Duran are #1 with "A View To A Kill"...

1985) The Yankees retire uniform #9 (Roger Maris) & #32 (Elston Howard)...

1990) "Ghost" premieres...

1994) Tonya Harding's ex, Jeff Gillooly sentenced to 2 years in prison for his role in attack on Nancy Kerrigan...

1998) A jury rules Reverend Al Sharpton defamed a former prosecutor in Tawana Brawley case...

Happy Birthday to...

1935) Former football player/congressman Jack Kemp...

1942) Harrison Ford...

1942) The Byrds' Roger McGuinn...

1946) Actor/comedian Cheech Marin...

1951) Didi ("Grease") Conn...

Commentary...

What I remember most about the blackout in 1977 was how helpful people were. We were in the middle of a typical July heatwave when the lights went out, making sleep difficult, if not impossible. Little rays of light were visible throughout the night in every neighborhood as flashlights moved traffic through better than traffic lights ever could and with much less beeping.

I remember walking up 16 flights of stairs, a little winded but not minding it at all. It was quiet that night and when the New York Times put their July 14th issue to bed at 1am, only 309 arrests were reported, almost all for looting. The city, once again survived with no panic. There was never any panic...

The blackout lasted 25 hours and those of us who survived it were all the better for it because New York City gave us the best it has to offer...


Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

A 'Bad Boys' beginning...

There was never a more appropriate nickname ever given to a group than "The Bad Boys of Rock & Roll". The Rolling Stones, the anti-Beatles were that and more. They wore their hair long and grungy, looked like they slept in their clothes and their music was rougher and more R&B than the Fab Four. Add to that the drug-related arrests that would follow and viola, you had 'The Bad Boys of Rock & Roll'...

The longest continuous, running live show in history began on this date in 1962 at the Marquee Club in London. The first edition of the Rolling Stones contained names you might know, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones. Some names you might not know, Dick Taylor and Mick Avory, were also Rolling Stones. A year later they would be replaced by Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts...

43 years have gone by since the Rolling Stones made their debut in London. Is it possible 'The Bad Boys of Rock & Roll" will still be doing live shows 43 years from now or does it just seem like they will ? One thing for sure, their music will still be played but not on cell phones, iPods or MP3s. More likely it'll be through sound waves transmitted to our teeth...

More July 12 Memories...

1954) Elvis Presley quits his 'day job', driving a truck, to sign his first recording contract with Sun Records...

1959) Alan Freed begins a 13-week Rock & Roll show on ABC-TV...

1960) The first Etch-A-Sketch goes on sale...

1975) K.C. and the Sunshine Band make their pop chart debut with "Get Down Tonight"...

1979) Minnie ("Lovin' You") Riperton leaves us much too soon, at 30...

1979) WLUP disc jockeys, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier nearly blow up Comiskey Park in Chicago on "Disco Demolition Night"...(more on that event at): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/disco_demolition_night

1982) "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" breaks all box office records...

1984) Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale chooses U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro as his running mate creating the "Fritz and T--s" ticket. Ferraro is the first woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket...

1989) "Louisiana Lightning", Yankee Ron Guidry retires...

1990) The Top 20 cult favorite, "Northern Exposure" debuts. Show runs for 5 years...

1996) NBC network news anchor, John Chancellor says "Good Night" for the last time, at 68...

2000) "X-Men" premieres...

2001) Abner Louima agrees to an $8.7 million settlement in police brutality case...

Happy Birthday to...

1934) Pianist Van Cliburn...

1937) Bill Cosby...

1943) Fleetwood Mac's Christy McVie...

1948) Richard Simmons...

1948) Jay Thomas...

1951) Cheryl Ladd...

1971) Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi...

1978) Topher ("That 70s Show") Grace...

Commentary...

Prior to Alan Freed's ABC-TV Network show (see 1959 Memory), I was lucky enough to witness rehearsals of his earlier TV show on channel 7 in New York. My first fulltime job in the ABC mailroom gave me access to some legendary TV names: Mike Wallace, John ('What's My Line') Daly, Howard Cosell and yes, even Joe Franklin...

Mike Wallace had an office on the second floor, overlooking the studio that housed the Alan Freed Show and I would often stand outside Wallace's office to watch rehearsals for the show...

I also remember when Alan was hired by ABC radio in 1958 there was a corporate memo that stated that he was not to be referred to as "The King of Rock & Roll". With pending litigation involving payola, ABC wanted to avoid the issue entirely. Alan Freed's stay at ABC, brief as it was, gave me a chance to watch my idol in action but believe it or not, I never met the man...


Monday, July 11, 2005

Monday, July 11, 2005

Cleveland Rocks...

Mark July 11th as the day Rock 'N Roll" was conceived. It was on this date in 1951 that Alan Freed got his first taste of R&B. The disc jockey who would later coin the phrase "Rock and Roll" started spinning Rhythm & Blues records in Cleveland, Ohio, 54 years ago today. It is not a coincidence that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame resides in Cleveland...

New York was Alan Freed's next destination in 1954 and when faced with a court battle over his self-proclaimed title, "King of the Moondoger's", found a new identity for his show, calling it "Alan Freed's Rock and Roll Party". Rock and Roll, an outgrowth of Rhythm and Blues was born...

Alan Freed, legendary music mogul Morris Levy, veteran promoter Lew Platt and WINS copyrighted the phrase "Rock and Roll" but the tidal wave of the new genre of music soon made the copyright virtually useless...

I was profoundly influenced by Alan Freed, pursuing a career in radio, determined to be the next "Alan Freed". While falling short of that goal, I did manage to have a successful career, much of that, thanks in no small part to the real "King of Rock and Roll", Alan Freed...

In my commentary, some personal comments on Alan Freed...

More July 11 Memories...

1914) Babe Ruth makes his major league debut as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox...

1955) The U.S. Air Force Academy is dedicated...

1959) Paul Anka topped the charts with "Lonely Boy"...

1962) Telstar I delivers the first transatlantic TV transmission...

1964) The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go?" is released...

1969) The Rolling Stones release "Honky Tonk Woman"...

1969) "In the Year 2525" is #1 for Zager & Evans...

1970) Three Dog Night and "Mama Told Me Not To Come" is #1...

1970) The Who's "Summertime Blues" is released...

1979) Donna Summer tops the charts with "Bad Girls"...

1985) Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher in major league history with 4,000 strikeouts...

1989) #1 song: "If You Don't Know Me By Now"-Simply Red...

1995) Mickey Mantle makes final public appearance to increase awareness of organ donation programs...

Happy Birthday to...

1931) Tab Hunter...

1934) Giorgio Armani...

1951) Bonnie Pointer...

1953) Leon Spinks...

1956) Sela Ward...

1959) Suzanne Vega...

1960) Richie Sambora...

1975) Lil' Kim...

Commentary...

The closest I got to meeting Alan Freed was the day I paid a visit to WINS only to discover that Mr. Freed was out sick, which would happen quite often I would later discover. Little did the legions of Freed fans know that their hero had a drinking problem. Meeting and getting an autographed photo of Paul Sherman was little consolation even though he substituted for Freed, calling himself "The Crown Prince of Rock and Roll"...

While I didn't meet my idol, there were many times that "The King of Rock and Roll" would read every one of the names on the postcards sent to him for song requests. He didn't always play the song I requested but he always read every name. My idol made me a hero in my neighborhood...

My congratulations to Norm N. Nite, recently signed by Sirius Radio. Norm is known as the "keeper of the Alan Freed flame" and was instrumental in getting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to the city of Cleveland...

...For those who would like to receive daily blog updates, I will personally send them to you. If you're interested, just give me your e-mail address in "Comments"....
Thanks, Mel...



Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Wednesday, July 6, 2005-Sunday, July 10, 2005

The reign begins...

July 7th marks the 51st anniversary of listening to Elvis Presley music. It was on that date in 1954 that disc jockey Dewey Phillips of WHBQ introduced "The King" to his Memphis subjects, the world was next for the taking.

"That's All Right" was premiered that night in Memphis and for the first time anywhere, Elvis spoke in an interview conducted by the disc jockey. My commentary will give you some insights into Elvis, the person, from one of Elvises closest friends...

July 6th Memories...

1933) Baseball's first All-Star game is played in Chicago with the American League on top of the National League 4-2...(see 1983 Memory)

1957) Althea Gibson becomes the first black person to win at Wimbledon, winning the women's singles title...

1963) #1 "Easier Said Than Done"-The Essex...

1965) The Jefferson Airplane is formed...

1971) Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong plays his final note...

1971) Karen and Richard Carpenter host their own summer TV series, "Make Your Own Kind of Music"...

1975) In a classic match race between Foolish Pleasure and Ruffian, the filly Ruffian breaks down and is destroyed...

1978) Eddie Mahoney changes his name to Eddie Money...

1980) Giant great Willie McCovey plays his last game (he'll be elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1986)...

1983) The AL beats the NL 13-3 in Chicago to mark the 50th anniversary of the All-Star game...

1998) Happy Trails to the King of the Cowboys, Roy Rogers, 86...

2001) Former FBI agent, Robert Hansen pleads quilty to spying for Russia...

Happy Birthday to...

1921) Nancy Reagan...

1925) Merv Griffin...

1931) Della Reese...

1935) Dalai Lama (Lhama Dhondrub Tenzin Gyatso)...

1937) Gene (Duke of Earl) Chandler...

1946) Sylvester Stallone...

1946) Burt Ward...

1954) Willie Randolph...

1976) 50 Cent...

July 7th Memories...

1954) First Elvis record airs (see lead story and commentary)...

1964) Shea Stadium hosts 35th All-Star game, a 7-4 win for the National League...

1965) Otis Redding records "Respect"...

1967) The Doors top the charts with "Light My Fire"...

1968) The Yardbirds break up. Guitarist Jimmy Page will form Led Zeppelin...

1987) Oliver North begins his testimony at Iran-Contra hearings...

2000) A record 400,000 copies of "Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire" are sold on Amazon.com...

Happy Birthday to...

1922) Pierre Cardin...

1927) Doc Severinsen...

1940) Ringo Starr...

1946) Joe Spano...

1949) Shelley Duvall...

1950) David Hondo (Village People construction guy)...

1963) Vonda Shepard ("Ally McBeal")...

1968) C.S.I.'s Jorja Fox...

July 8 Memories...

1889) The Wall Street Journal is published...

1947) Ground is broken in Manhattan for the UN...

1969) U.S. troop withdrawal begins in Vietnam...

1970) The Everly Brothers TV summer series begins and runs through September...

1981) The Senate confirms Sandra Day O'Conner as Supreme Court Justice...

1985) Madonna poses nude in "Playboy" and "Penthouse"...

2000) Roger Clemens beans Mike Piazza...

Happy Birthday to...

1931) Roone Arledge...

1932) Jerry Vale...

1935) Steve Lawrence...

1944) Jeffrey Tambor...

1949) Wolfgang Puck...

1951) Anjelica Huston...

1958) Kevin Bacon...

1961) Toby Keith...

1970) Beck...

July 9 Memories...

1953) New York Airways begins first commuter passenger service by helicopter...

1956) Dick Clark makes his debut as host of "Bandstand" on a local Philadelphia TV station...

1968) The first indoor (Astrodome in Houston) All-Star game is played...

1968) The Temptations appear minus David Ruffin for first time...

1971) The U.S. turns demilitarized zone over to South Vietnam units...

1972) Paul McCartney begins his first tour since Beatle breakup, with Wings...

1975) After 9 days of marriage, Cher serves papers on Gregg Allman...

1985) Herschel Walker of the New Jersey Generals is named MVP in USFL...

1992) Mick Jagger becomes a grandfather...

1997) Mike Tyson is banned from boxing and fined $3 million for making a snack of Evander Holyfield's ear

Happy Birthday to...

1927) Ed Ames...

1929) Lee Hazlewood...

1932) Donald Rumsfeld...

1938) Brian Dennehy...

1942) Richard Roundtree...

1947) O.J. Simpson...

1954) Sister Debbie Sledge...

1955) Jimmy Smits...

1956) Tom Hanks...

1957) Kelly McGillis...

1964) Courtney Love...

1976) Fred (The Wonder Year's) Savage...

July 10 Memories...

1962) Telstar communications satellite is launched, relays TV and telephone signals between Europe and the U.S...

1965) "Satisfaction" is #1 for Rolling Stones...

1965) "Beatles VI" LP goes #1 and stays #1 for 6 weeks...

1967) Bobbie Gentry records "Ode to Billie Joe"...

1968) Eric Clapton announces break-up of Cream...

1969) The National League breaks up into 2 divisions...

1984) Doc Gooden of the Mets becomes youngest player (at 19.7) to appear in an All-Star game...

1985) Coca-Cola cans old formula, renames it "Coca-Cola Classic" and continues to sell "New" Coke...

1989) The voices of Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig are stilled when Mel Blanc checks out at 81...

1992) Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega is sentenced to 40 years in the slammer...

2000) Diana Ross cancels "The Supremes Reunion Tour" in a huff...

Happy Birthday to...

1921) Jake Lamotta...

1921) Eunice Kennedy Shriver...

1927) David N. Dinkins...

1933) Jerry (Hello Dolly) Herman...

1939) Mavis Staples...

1947) Arlo Guthrie...

1980) Jessica Simpson...

Commentary...

Whenever the RKO Program Directors got together for meetings, fellow PD George Klein would always regale us with his gifts from good friend, Elvis Presley who was loyal to a fault with those that he had befriended. George was there from the beginning with Elvis, often describing to us the rather odd way his friend would dress, many times in clothes bought from a Memphis retail outlet that specialized in clothing preferred by blacks. Elvis loved the color purple and always wore his shirts with the collar up. The King did not have many friends in school but he remained steadfast and loyal to those who accepted him and never forgot them at Christmas time or on birthdays...

George Klein is often a spokesman for his late friend and I'll never forget the many times the ex-Memphis PD would flash his latest ring from The King and give us every detail of the new Caddy Elvis just deposited in his driveway. I would later meet Elvis backstage in Las Vegas, thanks to a meeting set up by George and was amazed by the low-key personality and candor of George's friend...

Since starting this blog, now renamed "Mel Phillips Remembers", Elvis Presley has more mentions, stories and commentaries than anyone else. There's bound to be many more and I'll provide my insight whenever possible...