Thursday, June 30-Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Through the years...

July 4th has been an explosive date packed with a number of memorable events throughout the years starting with the gaining of our independence in 1776. We would celebrate that independence 200 years later. July 4th also saw a military academy open, a future president and boss were born, a baseball hero retired and our 49th and 50th states were added...But there was more, much more. See "July 4th Memories". Also check out some July 4th stats that might surprise you in my commentary...

June 30 Memories...

1962) Dodger great, Sandy Koufax no-hits the Mets...

1966) The Supremes record "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...

1971) Voting age lowered to 18...

1974) "Rock the Boat"-Hues Corporation is #1...

1974) Mikhail Baryshnikov defects...

1975) Cher marries Gregg Allman 4 days after divorcing Sonny Bono...

1982) New Jersey fans vote for "Devils" for the name of their new NHL team...

1986) Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald top the charts with "On My Own"...

1994) Tonya Harding is banned for life...

Happy Birthday to...

1917) Lena Horne...

1951) Bass player Stanley Clarke...

1955) Comedian David Alan Grier...

1959) "Law and Order:Criminal Intent" star, Vincent D'Onofrio...

1966) Mike Tyson...

July 1 Memories...

1956) Elvis Presley sings "Hound Dog" to a basset hound on "The Steve Allen Show"...

1963) The Zone Improvement Plan (zip code) is born...

1966) Medicare goes into effect...

1972) "Hair" closes on Broadway...

1973) "Jesus Christ Superstar" closes, too...

1980) "O Canada" proclaimed the national anthem of our friends to the north...

1982) Cal Ripken starts record breaking streak by playing in his first game...

1987) WFAN, the first all-sports station is born as country music goes to WYNY...

1995) Disc jockey Wolfman Jack howls for last time at 57...

1997) UK returns Hong Kong to China...

2000) Walter Matthau takes his final bow at 79...

Happy Birthday to...

1916) Olivia de Havilland...

1925) Farley Granger...

1931) Leslie Caron...

1934) Jamie Farr...

1936) Wally ("Famous") Amos...

1941) Hockey Hall of Famer, Rod Gilbert...

1941) Twyla Tharp...

1942) Karen Black...

1945) Deborah Harry...

1952) Dan Aykroyd...

1961) Carl Lewis...

1967) Pamela Anderson...

1977) Liv Tyler...

July 2 Memories...

1961) Author Ernest Hemingway writes his final chapter...

1964) LBJ signs into law, a new, sweeping civil rights bill...

1997) Jimmy Stewart plays his final scene at 89...

Happy Birthday to...

1929) Imelda Marcos...

1930) Jazz great, Ahmad Jamal...

1946) Actor Ron Silver...

1947) Luci Baines Johnson...

1956) Jerry Hall...

1986) Lindsay Lohan...

July 3 Memories...

1947) Cleveland purchases Larry Doby, 1st black player in American League...

1971) Jim Morrison of The Doors sings last note at 27...

1976) After 12 years, Brian Wilson performs with the Beach Boys...

1978) Supreme Court rules that FCC has a right to reprimand WBAI for George Carlin's "filthy words"...

1986) President Reagan relights the renovated Statue of Liberty...

Happy Birthday to...

1940) Fontella ("Rescue Me") Bass...

1947) Humor writer, Dave Barry...

1956) Montel Williams...

1962) Tom Cruise...

July 4 Memories...

1776) The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence...

1802) The U.S. Military Academy opens at West Point...

1872) Future President Calvin Coolidge is born...

1939) Lou Gehrig, afflicted with a fatal illness, gives his tearful "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech at Yankee Stadium...

1959) Alaska becomes our 49th state...

1960) Hawaii becomes our 50th state...

1960) Connie Francis is #1 with "Everybody's Somebody's Fool"...

1969) 140,000 attend Atlanta Pop Festival featuring Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin...

1970) Casey Kasem's "American Top 40" debuts...

1976) Bicentennial celebrated...

1983) Yankee Dave Righetti no-hits the Red Sox...

1993) Pizza Hut delivers their blimp to a rooftop in Manhattan...

1996) Hot Mail service begins...

Happy Birthday to...

1911) Mitch Miller...

1924) Eva Marie Saint...

1927) Neil Simon...

1930) George Steinbrenner...

1938) Bill Withers...

1943) Geraldo Rivera...

July 5 Memories...

1946) The bikini makes its debut in Paris...

1956) Elvis Presley makes his recording debut at Sun Records with "That's All Right"...

1965) The Four Seasons perform at the White House...

1968) Future NBA Hall of Famer, Wilt Chamberlain is traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles...

2002) Ted Williams takes his final swing at 83...

Happy Birthday to...

1936) Shirley Knight...

1943) Robbie (The Band) Robertson...

1948) Julie Nixon Eisenhower...

1950) Huey Lewis...

1963) Carmela from the Soprano's, Edie Falco...

Commentary...

We hear the "dire" July 4th statistics every year but to set the record straight, crunch these numbers:

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 6 in 10 Americans will see some sort of fireworks display...

About 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 will ignite their own fireworks...but how dangerous is it ? Only about 1 in 40,000 are injured yearly...

Now to the "dire" driving statistics:

According to the National Highway Safety Board, the greatest chance of an auto accident occurs in July but only 1 in 10 do and most take place in California, this is also a yearly statistic...

But do heed this statistic, more than 5,000 lives are saved yearly by the use of seat belts...

Have a safe and happy July 4th...

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Tiptoeing...

June of 1968 was "a time for joy, a time for tears, a time for".....Tiny Tim ? The campy singer with the long, straggly mane and ever present ukelele, born Herbert Buckingham Khaury became a one-hit wonder on this date in 1968 when he reached the top 20 (at #17) with "Tip-Toe Through The Tulips"...

At the peak of his popularity, Tiny Tim was earning $60,000 a week in Las Vegas, made numerous appearances on "Laugh-In", Johnny Carson (where he married "Miss Vicki" live) and other talk shows and was the hottest act in show business in the summer of '68. Read my personal view of Tiny Tim in my commentary but first, join me in this sing-along:

"And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight, will you pardon me ? Come tiptoe through the tulips with me"...

More June 29 Memories...

1967) Jayne Mansfield in fatal auto crash...

1990) A's pitcher Dave Stewart and the Dodger's Fernando Valenzuela pitch no-hitters...

2002) Rosemary Clooney sings her last note at 74...

2003) Katharine Hepburn takes her final curtain at 96...

Happy Birthday to...

1930) Eccentric movie producer, Robert Evans...

1936) Baseball Hall of Famer, Harmon Killebrew...

1944) Gary Busey...

1947) Comedian Richard Lewis...

1948) Actor turned U.S. Representative, Fred ("Love Boat") Gandy...

1953) Men at Work singer, Colin Hay...

1960) Evelyn "Champagne" King...

1961) "NYPD Blue" actress, Sharon Lawrence...

1962) "LA Law" actress, Amanda Donohoe

Commentary...

I met Tiny Tim in 1968 in Boston during the height of his fleeting career. He was in town for an appearance in Framingham where he was performing at an outdoor arena. My immediate impression of "Mister" Khaury was how polite he was, referring to me as "Mister Mel". He had a vast knowledge of music from the 20's and 30's but was not entirely enthralled by his hit, "Tip-toe Through the Tulips", feeling there were better songs he could have had a hit with. Tiny Tim had a tiny voice and I found myself straining several times just to hear him. The accent was pure New York, more Queens or Bronx than anywhere else. I promised him I would see his concert, did and wasn't disappointed. He proved to be quite the campy showman, delighting the crowd with a vast assortment of ukelele driven standards from his favorite era, the twenties and thirties. By the way, in one of the most bizarre pairings I've ever witnessed, the opening act on that show were the Amboy Dukes, led by Ted Nugent...

Tiny Tim strummed his ukelele for the last time at a Minneapolis fund-raiser in November of 1996...

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Beach Boys first chart topper...

The Beach Boys reached the top of the charts for the first time on this date in 1964 with the summer escapist anthem, "I Get Around". America's most important and successful band began their chart climb with their first single, "Surfin'" in 1962 and two years later ruled the charts despite the emerging presence of The Beatles...

With both Brian Wilson (6/20) and Bruce Johnston (6/27) recently celebrating birthdays, what better time to celebrate the Beach Boys and their first #1 hit ?

The Beach Boys would top the charts 3 more times with "Help Me Rhonda" (1965), "Good Vibrations" (1966) and "Kokomo" (1988)...

More June 28 Memories...

1957) Reds' fans stuff the All-Star game ballot box, electing 8 Reds as starters, baseball commissioner Ford Frick overrules, adding Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron to team...

1964) Beach Boys top the charts for the first time...

1968) Daniel Ellsberg indicted for leaking Pentagon Papers...

1969) #1 "Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet" - Henry Mancini...

1971) Phillies pitcher Rick Wise belts 2 home runs and oh, by the way, pitches a no-hitter...

1974) Gordon Lightfoot tops the charts with "Sundown"...

1975) David Bowie releases "Fame"...

1977) Bill Conti is #1 with "Gonna Fly Now" (from movie "Rocky")...

1996) The Citadel votes to admit women...

1997) Mike Tyson is disqualified for biting off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear...

2000) Elian Gonzalez is returned to his native Cuba...

Happy Birthday to:

1926) Mel Brooks...

1932) Pat Morita...

1948) Kathy Bates...

1960) John Elway...

1964) Mark Grace...

1966) John Cusack...

Commentary...

No group represents the music of summer more than The Beach Boys. We've been listening to their music for over 40 summer's and with July 4th coming up this weekend, this blog will officially give The Beach Boys the nickname they have deservedly earned, "The Boys of Summer"...

Monday, June 27, 2005

Fillmore least...

Flushed with the success of his San Francisco rock arenas, promoter Bill Graham opened The Fillmore East in New York City on March 3, 1968. The small, funky, former movie theater on second avenue, featured Rock and Roll's elite acts for 3 years before bowing out on this date in 1971...

The first show featured Big Brother and The Holding Company with Janis Joplin, Tim Buckley and Albert King. The final show headlined The Allman Brothers, J. Geils Band and Albert King...

Some of the acts that played The Fillmore East include: B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Doors, Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Buddy Miles, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Ike & Tina Turner, Jethro Tull, Fats Domino, The Who, Santana, James Taylor, Led Zeppelin, Steppenwolf, Sam & Dave, Jefferson Airplane, Chuck Berry, Chicago, Sly & the Family Stone and Fleetwood Mac...All for the admission price of $1.50...

For more information about The Fillmore East, there is an excellent website hosted by the Fillmore East Preservation Society at http://www.fillmore-east.com

More June 27 Memories...

1964) Jan and Dean release "Little Old Lady From Pasadena"...

1965) #1 "A World Without Love" - Peter & Gordon...

1965) "Where the Action Is" premieres...

1966) Frank Sinatra tops the charts with "Strangers in the Night"...

1971) The Fillmore East closes...

1972) "Song Sung Blue" is #1 for Neil Diamond...

1973) James Bond movie, "Live and Let Die" premieres...

1979) Muhammad Ali retires as boxing champ...

1981) "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes is #1...

1988) Mike Tyson KOs Michael Spinks for the unified heavyweight championship...

1993) Met pitcher Anthony Young loses his record 24th straight game...

2002) Who bass player, John Entwistle checks out...

Happy Birthday...

1930) Ross Perot...

1942) Beach Boy Bruce Johnston...

1951) Actress Julia Duffy...

1975) Tobey Maguire...

Commentary...

William O'Shaughnessy, owner of WVOX and WRTN in Westchester is not letting satellite radio and the like run him out of town. Taking up the cause for terrestrial radio, Mr. O'Shaughnessy is the major force behind a movement by the New York State Broadcasters Association in their fight and right to defend terrestrial radio. This story was brought to light by David Hinckley in today's Daily News. For more on the story, click on http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story

We applaud Mr. O'Shaughnessy and wish him well...

Fri-Sat-Sunday, June 24-26, 2005

Music History Made...

There are two anniversary dates over the weekend to note. The two events, separated by 10 years and 5,000 miles occurred in England and Indianapolis, Indiana...

This Saturday, June 25th marks the 38th anniversary of The Beatles historic introduction of the single "All You Need Is Love". What made it historic was the live tv satellite feed to 26 countries around the world, reaching an audience of 400 million viewers. The Beatles were ably assisted by a chorus of some singers you might recognize: Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards...

The second event took place in Indianapolis 10 years later. That date in 1977 marked the final appearance of Elvis Presley. The venue was Market Square Arena. The last song Elvis sang ? "Can't Help Falling In Love"...

June 24 Memories...

1957) "I Love Lucy" bows out...

1970) "Catch 22" premieres...

1972) "The Candyman" is #1...

1992) Billy Joel gets his diploma from Hicksville High School...

1992) "Crazy Eddie" is captured and arrested in Israel on U.S. fraud charges...

1995) The Devils make New Jersey proud by winning the Stanley Cup in a four-game sweep...

Happy Birthday...

1923) Comedian Jack Carter...

1935) Writer Pete Hamill...

1942) Mick Fleetwood...
1942) Actress Michelle Lee...

1944) Jeff Beck...
1944) Arthur Brown...

1945) New York Governor George Pataki...
1945) Original Zombie Colin Blunstone...

1967) ER's Sherry Stringfield...

June 25 Memories...

1951) CBS-TV broadcasts first color show ("Arthur Godfrey")...

1966) Beatles are #1 with "Paperback Writer"...

1967) Beatles reach 400 million in satellite broadcast...

Happy Birthday...

1925) June Lockhart...

1935) Eddie Floyd...

1942) Willis Reed...

1945) Carly Simon...

1947) Comedian Jimmie Walker...

1949) Phyllis George...

1963) George Michael...

June 26 Memories...

1919) New York Daily News is published...

1948) U.S. begins "Berlin Airlift" bringing supplies to the city's western sector...

1961) Gary U.S. Bonds tops the charts with "Quarter To Three"...

1963) JFK makes famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in Berlin...

1964) Beatles release the LP "A Hard Day's Night"...

1974) Liz Taylor chalks up her 5th divorce (to Richard Burton)...

1975) Must be something in the water...Cher divorces Sonny Bono...

1977) Elvis bows out in Indianapolis...

1993) "Late Night with David Letterman" ends its NBC-TV run...

Happy Birthday...

1940) Billy Davis, Jr...

1955) Mick Jones (The Clash)...

1956) Chris Isaak...

1957) Patty Smyth...

1974) Derek Jeter...

1976) Chad Pennington...

1980) Michael Vick...

Commentary...

A must-read for the summer is "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner and I highly recommend it. Whether you're a research freak like me or not, it places the proper perspective on all things involving numbers but also does more, exposing the hidden side of everything. It also teaches us a good lesson that there's a reason for everything that happens and that reason many times is unpredictable. Like "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, another book I recommend, you'll learn how little things can make a big difference...

Thursday, June 23, 2005

The Caped Crusader...

While there had been "Batman" movies based on the hit TV series as far back as 1966, the first blockbuster, full-length film not starring the cast of the TV series, debuted on this date in 1989. Michael Keaton played the lead role, the villainous Joker was Jack Nicholson. Most critics agree that this was the best of the four summer blockbuster "Batman" films. The movie would gross over $250 million, more than $400 million worldwide...the 5th installment in this series, "Batman Begins" is in theaters now and stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Others in the cast include Katie Holmes, who we can only hope does not tell us how much she loves Tom Cruise...

Flashing back to 1989:

Our President: The first George Bush...

Cost of a new home: $148,800...

A gallon of gas: $1.12...

#1 TV show: "Roseanne"...

#1 Song: "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" - Boston's own New Kids on the Block...

Hot: Frozen yogurt, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Michelob Dry...

Not: Leona Helmsley, Oliver North and Salman Rushdie...

More June 23 Memories...

1958) Bobby Darin's "Splish, Splash" debuts on the charts...

1963) Troubled Met outfielder Jimmy Piersall circles the bases backwards to celebrate his 100th home run...

1970) The Jackson Five top the charts with "The Love You Save"...

1979) The Knack releases "My Sharona"...

1979) #1 song is "Hot Stuff" - Donna Summer...

1980) David Letterman debuts on NBC-TV...

1982) Mary Hart joins "Entertainment Tonight"...

1988) Yankee Manager Billy Martin's 5th term ends. He's replaced by Lou Piniella...

1989) "Batman" premieres...

1992) Godfather John Gotti is sentenced to life in prison...

1993) Lorena Bobbitt does her famous "slice and dice" act on husband John...

Happy Birthday...

1925) Art Modell (owner of the Baltimore Ravens and Modell Stores, former owner of the Cleveland Browns)...The city of Cleveland will not be celebrating...

1946) Ted Shackelford ("Dallas", "Knots Landing")...

1948) Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas...(no jokes, please)...

1957) Frances McDormand ("Fargo")...

Commentary...

WRKO, my alma mater, has just announced a multiyear deal to carry the Celtics games starting next season. While carrying play-by-play is risky at best with little or no revenue gain, there are some advantages which include the exposure of your call letters in signage at games and the hope that your team has a winning season and boosts your ratings. Today's press release brings to mind my early days at WRKO...

In 1966 the then "Boston" Patriots were coached by Mike Holovak who had a daily sports show on WNAC (soon to be WRKO the following year). Although he was a good coach, Holovak had a rather lackluster personality which was not conducive to "good" radio. There were many occasions that required someone, anyone, to call the coach with a question relating to the Patriots and I was game to contribute when called upon by Program Director, Bob Henabery. While I'll always consider Boston my adopted hometown, not being a native, I do not speak "New England" but did manage to put on the phoniest accent that would make even a "Vinnie from Dorchester" or "Frankie from Framingham" proud. Come to think of it, I, I mean, "they" were proud...

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

The Boy Wonder...

Little Stevie Wonder was barely 13 when Motown released "Fingertips" on this date in 1963. Signed by the legendary label at the age of 11, Stevie would top the charts with "Fingertips", giving us the summer's biggest hit of '63...

Stevie would become one of Motown's biggest Superstars and one of the greatest artists of all-time but little is known of the singer's songwriting ability. Here's a partial list of songs that Stevie has co-written: "I Was Made To Love Her", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", the Spinners hit, "It's A Shame" and the Miracles hit, "Tears Of A Clown"...

I've included one or two other things you may not know about Stevie Wonder in today's commentary...

More June 22 Memories...

1963) Motown releases "Fingertips"...

1969) Cleveland's Cuyahoga River catches fire...

1970) Voting age lowered to 18...

1979) Little Richard quits Rock and Roll for the ministry...

1981) Mark David Chapman pleads quilty in killing of John Lennon...

1982) Manhattan institutes bus-only lanes...

1987) Mets "franchise" Tom Seaver retires...

1990) Bobby Cox takes over as manager of the Atlanta Braves...

1990) Billy Joel rocks Yankee Stadium...

1994) Houston beats the Knicks in 7 games to win NBA title...

2004) "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" tops the list of all-time movie songs...

Happy Birthday...

1936) Kris Kristofferson...

1941) Ed ("60 Minutes") Bradley...

1944) Peter Asher...

1947) Howard (Turtles, Eddie of Flo and Eddie) Kaylan...

1948) Todd Rundgren...

1949) Meryl Streep...

1964) Amy ("Judging Amy") Brenneman...

1973) Carson Daly...

Commentary...

I met Stevie Wonder in 1977 when I was program director at WNBC. Stevie was on a promotional tour of New York radio stations at the time and we were lucky enough to get Stevie to sit in with afternoon drive jock, Walt "Baby" Love. Having an opportunity to spend some time with Stevie, I found him not only knowledgable and engaging but possessing a great sense of humor. In the middle of our conversation, Stevie broke into a top 40 jock rap that was so good I was tempted to hold him hostage so he could follow Walt on the air. Turning that down, Stevie did agree to play top 40 jock in his on-air interview, not only surprising Walt but doing one of the best interviews ever heard on New York radio...

Story #2 about Stevie...

Minnie Riperton, who would top the charts with "Loving You" in the mid-70s, would often sing backup vocals at Stevie Wonder recording sessions before starting a career with the group Rotary Connection and then going solo. Minnie would often mention Stevie Wonder's great sense of humor regarding his blindness and how she would ask Stevie to hold her hand and follow her. Those walks would lead into a wall. No problem for Stevie who would double over in laughter...

In today's transitory world of recording artists, we can safely assume that we will not see the like of artists like Stevie Wonder again...

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Happy Solstice...

Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh

Chh chh-chh, uh, chh chh-chh, uh

In the summertime when the weather is high

You can stretch right up and touch the sky...

Lyrics compliments of the immortal group, yes, group, Mungo Jerry...Other songs with "summer" in the title: "A Summer Song", "Summer in the City", "Summertime Blues", "Here Comes Summer", "The Boys of Summer", "Summer", "(Theme from) A Summer Place", "Summer Nights", "Summer of '69" and how can we ever forget New England's own Jamies who gave us "Summertime, Summertime" ?

For the purists, here's a list of #1 hits on the first day of Summer over a 25 year span (1960-1985):

(1960) "Cathy's Clown" - Everly Brothers

(1961) "Moody River" - Pat Boone

(1962) "I Can't Stop Loving You" - Ray Charles

(1963) "Sukiyaki" - Kyu Sakamoto

(1964) "Chapel of Love" - Dixie Cups

(1965) "I Can't Help Myself" - Four Tops

(1966) "Paint It Black" - Rolling Stones

(1967) "Respect" - Aretha Franklin

(1968) "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel

(1969) "Get Back" - Beatles

(1970) "The Long and Winding Road" - Beatles

(1971) "It's Too Late" - Carole King

(1972) "The Candy Man" - Sammy Davis, Jr.

(1973) "My Love" - Paul McCartney and Wings

(1974) "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" - Bo Donaldson & Heywoods

(1975) "Love Will Keep Us Together" - The Captain and Tennille

(1976) "Love Hangover" - Diana Ross

(1977) "Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac

(1978) "Shadow Dancing" - Andy Gibb

(1979) "Hot Stuff" - Donna Summer

(1980) "Funkytown" - Lipps, Inc

(1981) "Medley" - Stars on 45

(1982) "Ebony and Ivory" - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

(1983) "Flashdance...What a Feeling" - Irene Cara

(1984) "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper

(1985) "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - Tears For Fears

More June 21 Memories...

(1964) Phillies pitcher (and future Kentucky Senator) Jim Bunning pitches a perfect game on Father's Day against, who else ? The Mets...

(1969) Zager and Evans release "In The Year 2525"...

(1975) "Jaws" premieres...

(1975) Elton John, The Eagles and Beach Boys play before 72,000 at Wembley Stadium...

(1982) A jury finds John Hinckley, Jr. innocent by insanity in his attempted assassination of President Reagan...

(2001) We lose "Archie" actor, Carroll O'Connor at 76...

Happy Birthday

1921) Jane Russell...

1925) Maureen Stapleton...

1933) "Love Boat" actor, Bernie Kopell...

1940) Mariette Hartley...

1944) Ray (Kinks) Davies...

1947) "Family Ties" actress, Meredith Baxter...

1947) "Family Ties" actor, Michael Gross...

1982) Prince William...

Commentary...

Congratulations to Tommy Noonan for another successful CBS Records Alumni Association Luncheon recently held at the Novotel Hotel in Manhattan. Emcee Jim Scully welcomed back former CBS Records alumni from all corners of the country. Among the other speakers were former CBS Records President, Irwin Segelstein, former Epic Records head, Ron Alexenburg and former Columbia and Epic A&R and Promotion chief, Steve Popovich.

What makes this luncheon special is the continuation of the family atmosphere always present whenever former CBS Records employees gather. There have been many sad occasions when we said goodbye to one of our own but this was not the case. There's a reason that CBS Records was known as "The Family of Music Labels" and I am happy to be part of that family...

Monday, June 20, 2005

"Toast of the Town"...

If you were lucky enough to be alive and have a television on this date 57 years ago, you would have witnessed the debut of a nervous, stoic, stone-faced newspaper reporter who would become a TV icon. Ed Sullivan opened his first "really big shew" with a potpourri of talent in the wings. His initial offering of guests on "Toast of the Town" numbered songwriters Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein, the top comedy team in America, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, some plate twirlers, acrobats, unicyclists and of course, the June Taylor Dancers. The only change made on the show that dominated TV on Sunday nights for 23 years was its name which would change to "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1955.

Throughout the years we laughed with Ed and his marionette mouse, Topo Gigio, ventriloquist Senor Wences (who made 20 appearances) and stared in amazement at the host of jugglers, plate twirlers, knife throwers, acrobats and animal acts but oh what guests...Elvis Presley made 3 appearances as did The Beatles. It didn't matter if you were an opera singer or a baseball player, if you were famous, you were on. Ed Sullivan loved comedians and our research shows that Canadian comics Wayne & Shuster made 58 appearances followed by Jack Carter with 49, Myron Cohen (47) and Alan King (37). Diva Roberta Peters made 41 appearances and Pearl Bailey, 23.

Ed Sullivan exposed more talent than any other host in TV history. If you were alive from June 20, 1948 through June 6, 1971, you were watching Ed Sullivan every Sunday night at 8. Read my commentary for a personal view of Mr. Sullivan...

When Ed Sullivan debuted in 1948:

Cars cost $1,550...

Gas was 26 cents a gallon...

You could buy a house for $13,500...

Bread was 14 cents a loaf...

Milk was 86 cents a gallon...

Minimum wage was 40 cents an hour...

Average annual salary was $3,600...

Only one in ten Americans owned a television...

More June 20 Memories...

1948) "Toast of the Town" debuts...

1960) Floyd Patterson regains heavyweight crown by knocking out Ingemar Johansson...

1963) U.S. and Russia agree to set up a hot line...

1963) The Mets beat the Yankees in their first Mayor's Trophy game...

1964) The Dixie Cups are #1 with "Chapel of Love"...

1965) #1 song: "Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds...

1977) Marvin Gaye tops the charts with "Got to Give It Up"...

1980) Roberto Duran wins welterweight title from Sugar Ray Leonard...

Happy Birthday...

1931) Olympia Dukakis...

1940) John ("Frazier") Mahoney...

1942) Brian Wilson...

1946) Anne Murray...

1946) Bob ("This Old House") Vila...

1949) Lionel Richie...

1952) John Goodman...

1953) Cyndi Lauper...

1967) Nicole Kidman...

Commentary...

I met Ed Sullivan when I came back to New York City in 1972 as Program Director of WOR-FM. Little did I know that Ed and his wife Sylvia had an apartment in the Delmonico Hotel, where I was staying before bringing my family to New York from Boston. To my shock I stood in awe as the elevator door opened in the lobby and there, dressed to the nines were Ed and Sylvia Sullivan. I blocked their exit, standing there mesmerized before muttering a feeble introduction. They were unimpressed but polite and went on their way. I would run into Ed Sullivan on two other occasions when he spoke at radio luncheons that I attended and found him to be an unassuming and humble person. In short, he was just a regular guy, this icon of television. When he spoke publically he was surprisingly a potty mouth with lots of funny jokes. Ed Sullivan rose from obscure newspaper columnist to the "Toast of The Town" and it all started on this date, June 20, 1948...

Beau Raines was a name I ommitted from the list of people who had some kind words about this blog, forgive me Beau and of course I remember you playing a hand in the early days of WRKO's history...

The original News Director of WRKO and best News Director I ever had the fortune of having as Program Director is doing a one-hour block on WNTK, Lebanon, NH, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:05pm to 7pm. Check out Roger Allan on WNTK @ www.wntk.com

Friday, Sat, Sun, June 17-19, 2005

Rookie defeats "Army"...

With another U.S. Open underway let's turn the calendar back to June 17, 1962 when one of the biggest upsets in Open history took place. For the first time, a golfer won the U.S. Open in his initial season as a pro. It happened on this date at the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.

22-year old Jack Nicklaus attacked and defeated Arnie's Army, led by the number one seeded golfer in the land, Arnold Palmer. The Golden Bear would win the tournament by 3 strokes in an 18-hole playoff despite one of Palmer's characteristic rallies.

Despite the encouragement of the highly partisan gallery of 11,000, Arnold Palmer would get no closer than 1 stroke to Nicklaus who would hole out on his final putt to finish with a par 71 to Palmer's 74.

What music were we listening to on this date in 1962 ? The top 5 songs:

1) I Can't Stop Loving You-Ray Charles

2) Playboy-Marvelettes

3) The One Who Really Loves You-Mary Wells

4) The Stripper-David Rose

5) I Love You-Volumes

More June 17 Memories...

1963) "Sukiyaki" becomes the only Japanese tune to top the charts...

1967) Barbra Streisand performs in Central Park...

1968) "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" goes gold...

1972) Looking Glass releases "Brandy"...

1972) Democratic Party HQ buglarized at Watergate...

1972) "The Candy Man" is #1...

1994) O.J. Simpson's Ford Bronco chased (very slowly) by LAPD...

Happy Birthday...

1946) Barry Manilow...

1951) Joe Piscopo...

1964) Greg Kinnear...

1980) Venus Williams...

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Memories...

1948) Columbia Records unveils the 33 1/3 LP...

1960) Arnold Palmer comes from 7 strokes behind to win the U.S. Open...

1977) Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson square off in Yankee dugout...

1979) Billy Martin becomes Yankee manager for the 2nd time...

1979) Carter and Brezhnev sign Salt II strategic arms agreement...

1983) Sally Ride becomes 1st U.S. woman in space...

2000) Tiger Woods wins the U.S. Open by 15 strokes...

Happy Birthday...

1939) Lou Brock...

1942) Paul McCartney...

1952) Carol Kane...

1952) Isabella Rossellini...

Sunday, June 19, 2005...

Memories...

1846) First baseball game is played in Hoboken, N.J...

1910) Father's Day celebrated for the first time...

1934) The FCC is created...

1956) Martin and Lewis break up...

1964) Civil Rights Act is passed...

1970) Jim Bouton's controversial "Ball Four" is published...

2000) Phil Jackson coaches the Lakers to his 7th NBA title in 9 seasons...

Happy Birthday...

1936) Gena Rowlands...

1942) Singer Spanky MacFarlane...

1948) Phylicia Rashad...

1950) Ann ("Heart") Wilson...

1954) Kathleen Turner...

1962) Paula Abdul...

1974) Met first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz...

Commentary...

There are 3 things mentioned earlier in the report that have profoundly affected me. They are, in order:

1) The celebration of Father's Day. No Father could ever be more proud of their children as I am. Lynn and Robert Phillips have brought a lot of joy into my life and seeing them today as successful adults is the ultimate gift any Dad can receive for Father's Day...

2) The founding of the FCC created guidelines, rules and regulations that I discovered for the first time when I received my third class operator's license, required at the time to take transmitter readings. It was much like prepping yourself for your first driver's test. You looked at the booklet for 5 minutes, took the test and got your license. If you didn't have your "third-class ticket" back then, you didn't have a radio job...

3) The unveiling of the first 33 1/3 LP, done by the innovative, best in the business record company around, Columbia Records. I spent some of the best years of my life at subsidiary Epic, and later CBS International Records...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE DADS...

Thursday, June 16, 2005

The Summer of Love...

With the Vietnam War escalating and demonstrations mounting throughout the country, Mamas & Papas' founder John Phillips and record mogul Lou Adler organized the first pop music festival of its kind in the summer of '67. The predecessor of the grand daddy of all festivals, Woodstock, was an event featuring 32 acts and was billed as a "three-day celebration of music, peace, flower-power and love"...

Officially named The First Annual Monterey International Pop Music Festival, the gathering of over 200,000 and music's biggest stars would grow into an historic event of epic proportions. Appearing at the festival were:

The Mamas and The Papas, The Association, Scott McKenzie, Canned Heat, Big Brother with Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Byrds, Country Joe and The Fish, Lou Rawls, Laura Nyro, Otis Redding, Booker T. and the MG's with the Mar-Keys, Ravi Shankar, Grateful Dead, Steve Miller Band, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Electric Flag, Hugh Masakela, Buffalo Springfield, Johnny Rivers, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Eric Burdon & Animals, Moby Grape, Simon and Garfunkel, The Group With No Name, Paupers, Beverly, Al Kooper, The Blues Project...

Most of the performers appeared for free with only lodging and travel expenses provided. If the Summer of Love had a beginning, it was appropriately right here in Northern California on the night of June 16, 1967. Funds raised by the festival and subsequent film and CD sales went to the Monterey Pop Foundation which is still in existence today and providing help to worthwhile causes such as the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic...

More June 16 Memories...

1960) "Psycho" premieres in New York City...

1961) Today Show host Dave ("peace") Garroway is fired...

1967) The Monterey Pop Festival makes history...

1976) "The Jacksons" summer variety show begins...

1978) Former Met Tom Seaver pitches a no-hitter...

1978) The Yankees' Ron Guidry strikes out 18...

1980) "The Blues Brothers" premieres in Chicago...

1987) Subway vigilante Bernhard Goetz is acquitted of the 1984 subway shooting of four attackers...

Happy Birthday...

1941) Songwriter Lamont Dozier...

1942) Eddie (O'Jays) Levert...

1951) Robert ("No mas") Duran...

1970) Golfer Phil Mickelson...

1977) Cub Pitcher Kerry Wood...

Commentary...

The Pop Music Festival in Monterey was the forerunner of everything else that followed, including Woodstock. The question remains, would there have been a Woodstock if not for Monterey ? Whenever you attend an open-air concert remember where and when it all started, Monterey, California, June 16, 1967...

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Genesis in greatness...

Let's throw out one of my least favorite words, arguably, in reference to the greatest songwriters of our generation. That songwriting team, inarguably (a more apt word) was and always will be, Lennon-McCartney (sorry Paul but that's the way it appeared on all your songs and that's the order it will stay in)...

This collaboration of greatness began with a simple meeting between 15-year old John Lennon and 13-year old Paul McCartney. It happened on this date in 1956 when Paul watched John and his Quarrymen perform at a church dinner in Liverpool...

Whatever your favorite Lennon-McCartney song might be, you're part of a world has been enriched forever by their music and penmanship. If you're looking for the genesis behind their greatness, it can be found in their first meeting, June 15, 1956...

More June 15 Memories...

1938) The Dodgers celebrate their first Ebbets Field night game by getting no-hit. Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer celebrates with his second consecutive no-hitter, a record that still stands, a record that will never be broken...

1956) John & Paul meet...

1965) Bob Dylan records "Like a Rolling Stone"...

1969) TV viewers I.Q.'s plummet as "Hee Haw" debuts...

1973) "American Graffiti" premieres in New York City...

1974) Ray Stevens tops the charts with "The Streak"...

1977) The Mets do the unthinkable, they trade "The Franchise", Tom Seaver...

1984) Tommy Hearns wins one of 5 crowns he would own with a second round KO of Roberto Duran...

1987) Michael Spinks wins heavyweight title with a TKO of Gerry Cooney...

1992) VP Dan Quayle misspells potato, as potatoe, flunks elementary school spelling bee...

Happy Birthday...

1932) Mario Cuomo...

1948) Mike Holmgren...

1958) Wade Boggs...

1963) Helen Hunt...

1964) Courteney Cox Arquette...

1968) Ice Cube...

1970) Leah (Queen of 'King of Queens') Remini...

Commentary...

Writing this blog is comparable to being on the air for the first time, not knowing if anyone is actually listening to you. You're really operating in a vacuum until that first phone call or in this case, your first compliment. At the risk of using the much-hackneyed "labor of love" in describing why I decided to do this, it's exactly that labor of love that keeps me going. I'm not quite sure what direction this blog will go in, but I'd like to thank those who've given me the encouragement to continue. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated in keeping this effort interesting enough to be included in your "bookmarks" or "favorites". My thanks to the following believers (alphabetical order, no relatives): Jeff Allen, Corinne Baldassano, Dick Bartley, Gene Bolan, Jim Carnegie, George Chaltas, Jay Clark, Joe D'Ambrosio, Joel Denver, Dennis Falcone, Monique Fortune, Jim Gallagher, Mickey Gensler, John Gorman, Dave Hemenway, Bob Henabery, David Hinckley, J.J. Jordan, Joe McCoy, Harvey Mednick, Peter Mollica, Tommy Noonan, Marty Ostrow, Paul Power, Mary Regel, Barry Resnick, Bill Rock, Ira Sherman, Len Zola...

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

"Now I can die in peace..."

That was the sign a fan held up after 54 years of frustration was wiped away by the Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers' exciting 3-2 win at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 1994. The Broadway Blues, led by their captain Mark Messier were cheered mightily by the capacity crowd of 18,200 screaming Ranger fanatics who would no longer endure chants of "1940, 1940" representing the last time the Rangers won the Stanley Cup.

After getting phone congratulations from President Clinton, Ranger Brian Leetch, not believing that the president actually called, asked innocently, "Was that Dana Carvey?"

The 54 year vigil was over on the night of June 14, 1994...

More June 14 Memories...

1777) The Continental Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes as the national flag...

1964) "Chapel of Love" by the Dixie Cups is #1...

1965) "Beatles VI" is released...

1974) "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" tops the charts...

1980) Frank Sinatra has a hit with "New York, New York"...

1989) Zsa Zsa Gabor is arrested for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer...

1987) "A Team" ends its 4-year run...

1994) The Rangers are Stanley Cup Champions...

1998) Michael Jordan & the Bulls score their second "three-peat" and 6th NBA championship of the decade...

Happy Birthday...

1945) Rod Argent (Zombies, Argent)...

1946) Donald Trump...

1958) Olympic hero Eric Heiden...

1961) Boy George...

1968) Yasmine Bleeth...

1969) Steffi Graf...

Commentary...

What happened to displaying the American flag ? The rampant patriotism displayed following 911 was a heartwarming sight but it's faded like the first Stars and Stripes displayed in 1777. The Continental Congress in Philadelphia gave us that flag as well as the right to display the pride we have in our country. I hope we'll all remember that on this Flag Day...

His number's up... It was a day that even the skies wept. 49,641 sat in the damp discomfort of an unseasonably raw and unpleasant June day. The Yankee Stadium crowd swallowed hard in unison as "Auld Lang Syne" brought the great Bambino, Babe Ruth to the microphone at home plate. There in sincere and simple words the greatest player to play the game of baseball bid his fans goodbye. The Sultan of Swat was not only tired, he was dying. Throat cancer would claim The Babe just two months later. Babe Ruth's number 3 uniform was retired for good that day, becoming the first uniform to be retired in professional sports. It happened on this date in 1948... More June 13th Memories... 1970) The Beatles' "Long and Winding Road" single reaches the top of the charts for the first of 2 weeks... 1970) The Beatles' "Let It Be" LP is #1 for the first of 4 weeks... 1971) The New York Times begins publishing the "Pentagon Papers"... 1980) Billy Joel's "Glass Houses" LP tops the charts... 1990) Nelson and Winnie Mandela are welcomed to New York City... 1995) The New Jersey Devils beat the Philadelphia Flyers to reach their 1st Stanley Cup finals... 2003) Roger Clemens reaches 300 wins and becomes the third pitcher with 4,000 strikeouts... Happy Birthday... 1913) Ralph Edwards... 1940) Bobby Freeman... 1949) Dennis Locorriere a.k.a. Dr. Hook... 1951) Richard (John Boy) Thomas... 1953) Tim Allen... 1962) Hannah Storm... 1986) Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen... Commentary... It was a win-win day at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and as Afleet Alex ran by the rest of the field, this was the call of Alex's dominating win: "It was as if the other horses were standing still..." Afleet Alex proved to be the best 3-year old thoroughbred in the country by winning 2 legs of racing's triple crown. In 12 races Alex has won 8 and finished in the money in 11. Also finishing in the money on Saturday was "Alex's Lemonade Stand" which collected some $30,000 at Belmont. All for children's cancer. Little Alex Scott was looking down at the results with a big smile on her face...

Friday, June 10, Sat, June 11, Sun, June 12, 2005

Elvis takes Gotham... While there were always rumours that Elvis would visit New York dating as far back as the fifties, the only appearances The King would make were those he made on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" TV show... That all changed on June 10, 1972 when Elvis Presley took New York by storm, appearing in 4 sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden. I was lucky enough to witness one of those shows and while I would see Elvis in concert a total of 3 times, this was by far the most electric and dynamic performance of all... Bathed in a white spot light accenting his white spangled suit, Elvis hit the stage accompanied by Also Sprach Zarathustra (the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey). The sold-out Garden crowd erupted in the loudest ovation and flash-bulb bursting hysteria I've ever witnessed at a concert. The Apple having waited patiently for 2 decades would wait no more. They didn't have to... While Elvis regaled the close to 20,000 screaming fans with almost all of his hits including his first release, "That's All Right", some would be full versions, some would be included in medleys. Elvis put a comical lyric spin on several of his hits, playing with the crowd who didn't seem to mind one bit but what surprised me the most were The King's versions of hits by other singers: "The Impossible Dream", "Polk Salad Annie", "Never Been To Spain", "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling". Elvis then did what would become a signature song of his later career, "American Trilogy" which he would include in every performance. All of the above mentioned songs are included in the RCA album, "Elvis: As Recorded At Madison Square Garden", released in 1997. I had a chance to chat with Elvis backstage twice in Las Vegas and will give you some feedback on those meetings in a future report. In addition to the 4 shows that Elvis performed in June of 1972, there was a press conference prior to those shows which I'll discuss in my commentary... More June 10 Memories... 1935) Alcoholics Anonymous is formed (and not a minute too soon for some)... 1966) Mamas and Papas pick up a gold record for "Monday, Monday"... 1966) Janis Joplin's first live concert, Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco... 1972) Elvis debuts in New York City... 1978) Affirmed with jockey phenom Steve Cauthen wraps up the Triple Crown with another win (the third) over rival Alydar (Belmont Stakes)... 1984) The Celtics do it again, beating the Lakers for another NBA title... 1991) Desert storm troops are welcomed home with ticker tape in New York City... 2002) John Gotti is silenced forever... 2004) Ray Charles bows out... Birthdays... 1921) England's Prince Philip... 1933) Attorney F. Lee Bailey... 1941) Shirelle Shirley Alston Reeves... 1943) Media maven Jeff Greenfield... 1965) Elizabeth Hurley... Commentary... Just a day or two prior to the Elvis concert in New York I attended a press conference with other members of the media (radio, tv, print, etc.) that featured Elvis at a long desk, accompanied by some of the people involved in producing and promoting the show. I remember Elvis being extremely polite at the Q&A, "Yes sir, no sir, yes mam, no mam", The King was not a man of many words but he didn't have to be because he had Colonel Tom Parker, his legendary, P.T. Barnum of a manager. Colonel Tom didn't disappoint many at that press conference as he grabbed a mike and commented after every Elvis comment. The Colonel walked up and down the aisle leading to the desk and totally dominated the press conference. I remember thinking that this man could sell ice water to Eskimos. I left that press conference wishing that I could go directly into Madison Square Garden to see Elvis perform that second, why wait ? The Colonel worked the room so brilliantly he made you feel that way, why wait ? I did wait but was not disappointed on June 10, 1972, the day The King held court... Saturday, June 11, 2005... Memories... 1963) Gov. George Wallace blocks blacks from University of Alabama... 1964) Manfred Mann record "Do Wah Diddy Diddy"... 1966) The Rolling Stones top the charts with "Paint it Black"... 1969) David Bowie releases "Space Oddity"... 1977) Seattle Slew captures the Triple Crown, winning the Belmont Stakes... 1978) "Grease", the movie, opens... 1982) "ET" opens and sets record breaking numbers at the box office... 1982) Heavyweight champ Larry Holmes defends his title with a 13 round TKO of Long Island's Gerry Cooney... 1990) Nolan Ryan pitches his 6th no-hitter... 2001) Timothy McVeigh is executed for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing... 2002) Paul McCartney and Heather Mills are married... Birthdays... 1933) Gene Wilder... 1940) Joey Dee... 1956) Joe Montana... 1959) Hugh ("House") Laurie... 1982) WNBA star Diana Taurasi... Sunday, June 12, 2005 Memories... 1939) The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opens... 1965) Sonny & Cher make their tv debut on "American Bandstand"... 1971) A White House wedding for Tricia Nixon and Edward Cox... 1978) Son of Sam killer, David Berkowitz, is sentenced to 25 to life... 1981) Baseball on strike for the third time... 1981) "Raiders of the Lost Ark" premieres... 1987) President Reagan says "tear down this wall Mr. Gorbachev"... 1997) Baseball begins inter-league play... 2002) The Nets get swept in 4 games by the Lakers... Birthdays... 1924) George H.W. Bush... 1928) Vic Damone... 1930) Jim ("well golllly") Nabors... 1941) Marv ("yes") Albert... Coming Monday, June 13th... Ever wonder what famous uniform was the first in history to be retired ? You'll find out Monday... Have a good weekend everybody...

Thursday, June 9, 2005

Big Red remembered...

Numerologists will forever remember the day that the numbers 31, 2 and 24 made sports history. It was 32 years ago today (sound familiar ?) that the horse known as Big Red became legendary.

The setting was Elmont, Long Island. The Belmont Stakes would prove if Secretariat was merely a very good thoroughbred or a horse for the ages. While breaking track records in the first two legs of racing's Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, they didn't call the Belmont Stakes, "The Test of Champions" for nothing. Big Red would have to prove if he was truly a champ by winning his last big test.

Jockey Ron Turcotte went to the front from the start with Secretariat breaking from the inside post. Half the distance of this historic race was run in record times and then Turcotte put Big Red on cruise control. 7 lengths turned into 20, 20 into 28 and 28 into a record 31 length victory. Secretariat had done something no horse has ever done before or since at the Belmont Stakes. Here are the record breaking numbers: 31 (lengths), 2 (minutes) and 24 (seconds)...

(answer to yesterday's "Name That Year" was 1976, the year that Boz Scaggs "Silk Purse" LP and singles "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" were released)

More June 9 Memories...

1963) "Cleopatra" opens in New York...

1971) McCartney's "Ram" LP goes gold...

1972) Bruce Springsteen signs with Columbia Records...

1973) Secretariat completes racing's Triple Crown by winning the Belmont...

1980) Richard Pryor "lights up"...

1984) Cyndi Lauper is #1 with "Time After Time"...

1991) The Boss marries backup singer Patty Scialfa...

Birthdays...

1915) Les Paul...

1936) Jackie Mason...

1939) Dick Vitale...

1961) Michael J. Fox...

1963) Johnny Depp...

1973) Tedy Bruschi...

1981) Natalie Portman...

Commentary...

While the 137th running of the Belmont Stakes this Saturday doesn't have the excitement nor drama of 1973's record breaking run of the great Secretariat, it does have a terrific story.

This is the rubber match between odds-on favorite Afleet Alex and Giacomo, owned by A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss. But that's only half the story. Afleet Alex was named for his owner's son but there's another Alex, a young girl from Philadelphia who would lose her battle with childhood cancer.

Afleet Alex owner Chuck Zacney took notice of the young girl who opened a lemonade stand to raise money for cancer research to help other children suffering from her disease. The owner pledged $5,000 to the fund and continues to support Alex's Lemonade Stand by donating part of the winning proceeds of every race won by Afleet Alex.

This running of the Belmont Stakes is about more than winning a race. It's also about passion and for life itself. 8 year old Alexandra "Alex" Scott lost her battle with cancer last summer but her mission in life continues. Alex's Lemonade Stand has raised close to $2,000,000. On Saturday Alex's parents will once again be behind "Alex's Lemonade Stand" at the Belmont Stakes. Whether or not you follow racing or have an interest in who wins this year's Belmont Stakes, we hope, like most of America, you'll be rooting for the 9 horse...

To find out more about Alex's dream: http://www.alexslemonade.com