If you ever wondered whether any of the members of that Oldies group you're about to pay money to see were ever in that group or not, wonder no more, if you live in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and now Nevada...
The state that claims to be "the entertainment capital of the world" has joined in the effort to ensure that at least one member of each group whose name they use, can claim a connection to that group or else it will be deemed to be a deceptive trade practice. Sonny Turner of the Platters watched Governor Jim Gibbons sign the bill into law. In addition to Turner, Maxine Porter, longtime manager of Bill Pinkney of the Drifters was also on hand at the bill signing. Turner, Porter, Jon "Bowzer" Bauman of Sha Na Na and Mary Wilson of the Supremes had urged Nevada lawmakers to pass the bill. Wilson went as far as suing the 5 groups claiming to be The Supremes to the tune of "a couple million dollars" in a losing cause...
Porter said that they will continue their efforts to get similar laws enacted throughout the country with a goal of 20 states by the end of the year. Oh, in case you're wondering, Sonny Turner replaced Tony Williams as lead singer of the Platters in late 1959 and Pinkney, Bauman and Wilson were original members of the Drifters, Sha Na Na and Supremes respectively and respectfully...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1813] Just say no: The Navy gains its motto as the mortally wounded commander of the frigate Chesapeake, Capt. James Lawrence says: "Don't give up the ship" in a losing battle with a British frigate...
- 1869] Plug it in, plug it in: Thomas Edison receives a patent for his electric voting machine. We're getting these in New York any day now...
- 1925] One down, 2,129 to go: Lou Gehrig pinch-hits for Yankee SS Pee Wee Wanninger and singles for the 1st of his record 2,130 consecutive games played. The next day Gehrig replaces the guy with the most famous of all headaches, Wally Pipp. Gehrig's record stands until broken in 1995 by Cal Ripken Jr...
- 1954] Security is a blanket: In the Peanuts comic strip, Linus' security blanket makes its debut...
- 1961] Both Sides Now: New York, California and Illinois radio stations debut FM multiplex stereo. One year later the FCC makes it standard...
- 1968] "Happy Trails" to author-lecturer Helen Keller, who earned a college degree despite being blind and deaf most of her life, she dies in her sleep in Westport (CT) at the age of 87...1991] David Ruffin, lead singer of the Temptations dies from a cocaine overdose in Philadelphia. Ruffin was 50 (this video clip features David and Eddie Kendricks in a Temptations medley of their hits): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbrrnzECR98&mode=related&search= ...1997] Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X is fatally burned in a fire set by her 12-year old grandson in her Yonkers apartment. Shabazz was 61...
- 1980] This is CNN: Ted Turner starts the Cable News Network...
- 1993] Ratchung: Connie Chung joins Dan Rather as co-anchor of the CBS Evening News. The trouble starts when Connie asks Dan if it's okay if Maury Povich can sit in the studio with her. This marriage made in hell ends in 1995...
- 1994] Reg-gie, Reg-gie: Reggie Miller puts on one of the greatest scoring displays in NBA playoff history when he scores 25 of his 39 points in the 4th quarter to help Indiana beat the Knicks in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference playoffs. The Knicks will come back to win the series in 7 games though...
- 2004] Partiality: A federal judge declares the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional saying the measure infringes on women's rights to choose. Still a hot-potato issue...
Music Memories:
- Hello Dolly: 1964] Dolly Parton moves to Nashville, one day after her high school graduation...
- JFK stoned: 1964] The Rolling Stones arrive at JFK for their 1st U.S. tour...
- Released on this date: 1967] "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" LP - The Beatles...
- Tupelo money: 1971] A two-room shack in Tupelo (MS) opens as a tourist attraction. It was the house Elvis Presley was born in...
- Rock & Roll replacement: 1975] On his 28th birthday, Ron Wood replaces Mick Taylor as Rolling Stone guitarist...
- Just a Gigolo: 1985] David Lee Roth crosses over from AOR to Pop with his hit "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" (DLR and the music video): http://youtube.com/watch?v=QbXPHiyE7uE ...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
One of the most famous of all Beatles LP's, "Sgt. Pepper" was released today in what turned out to be a magical year: 1967. It was also the year of "The Impossible Dream" team, the Boston Red Sox who went from 9th (in a 10-team league) in 1966 to first place, from the outhouse to the penthouse. Tonight at Fenway Park members of that team will be honored on the field prior to the Red Sox-Yankees game. They were also honored on Opening Day and you can be sure that they'll be rolled out for the playoffs and world series if and when they get there and right now it's looking very promising, so is my pick of a Red Sox-Mets World Series at the beginning of the season...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Alanis Morissette (33), Heidi Klum (34), Lisa Hartman Black (51), Ronnie (Brooks & Dunn) Dunn (54), David Berkowitz (a.k.a. Son of Sam) (54), Ron Wood (60), Morgan Freeman (70), Pat Boone (73) and Andy Griffith (81)...
Timeline Countdown: 8 days until the Belmont Stakes and 33 days until July 4th...
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Saturday, June 2, 2007...
10 Timeline Memories:
- Drying Out: 1851] Maine becomes the 1st state to enact a law prohibiting alcohol. They really know how to have fun down east...
- Wedding Bells: 1886] President Grover Cleveland Alexander becomes the 1st president to marry at the White House. His bride is Frances Folsom...
- On the Radio: 1896] Guglielmo Marconi's radio is patented. How much is that patent worth???
- Never the Twain: 1897] Responding to rumors of his death, 61-year old Mark Twain is quoted in the New York Journal as saying: "the report of my death was an exaggeration"...
- Cut the Velveeta: 1928] Kraft creates the spam of the cheese world: Velveeta (here's a commercial for the stuff): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LK8MIa9WxM&mode=related&search= ...
- The Bambino bows out: 1935] 40-year old Babe Ruth, batting just .181 is released by the Boston Braves. Ruth announces his retirement, ending his career with a .342 batting average and 714 home runs. His pitching record was a phenomenal 94-46. He also had a run of 29.2 scoreless world series innings, a record that stood for 43 years...
- "Happy Trails": 1941] Lou Gehrig dies in New York of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which will become 'Lou Gehrig's Disease'. His death falls on the 16th anniversary of his replacement of Wally Pipp as Yankees 1st baseman...
- Shooting the Moon: 1966] Surveyor I, a U.S. space probe lands on the moon and sends photos back to earth. It's the 1st soft-landing on the moon...
- Guilty as charged: 1997] Timothy McVeigh is convicted of murder and conspiracy in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that took 168 lives...
- De-regulation rules: 2003] Federal regulators vote to allow companies to buy more television/radio stations and newspaper combinations in the same city...
Music Memories:
- Cooling the King: 1958] Alan Freed joins WABC Radio and I remember sending the memo from the mail room that announced his hiring. It was made clear that Freed would not be referred to as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll". ABC was running scared over the impending payola hearings. Freed also had a weekly TV show at channel 7 and I used to watch rehearsal's from Mike Wallace's inner balcony overlooking the studio...
- Rock & Roll debut: 1964] The Rolling Stones make their U.S. debut at the Manning Bowl in Lynn (MA)...
- Reunited and it feels so good: 1972] Dion & the Belmonts reunite for the 1st time in 13 years, at Madison Square Garden (from The Dick Clark Show): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yGCbav30M ...
- #1 on this date: 1975] "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" - John Denver... 1985] "Everybody Wants to rule the World" - Tears for Fears: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOA4ixV-3jU ...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Freddy Adu (18), Wentworth ("Prison Break") Miller (35), Dana Carvey (52), Dennis Haysbert (53), Jerry ("The Beave") Mathers (59), Marvin Hamlisch (63), Stacy Keach (66), Charlie Watts (66) and Sally Kellerman (71)...
Timeline Countdown: 7 days until the Belmont Stakes and 32 days until July 4th...
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Sunday, June 3, 2007...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1621] Going Dutch: The Dutch West India Co. receives a charter for New Netherlands, which will be changed to New York City...
- 1932] 4 Jacks: Lou Gehrig becomes the 2nd player to hit 4 home runs in one game against the Philadelphia A's. The first player to do so was the immortal Bobby Lowe in 1894. Gehrig was the 1st in the modern era...
- 1937] Wedding Bells: The Duke of Windsor marries American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson in Monts, France. The Duke abdicated the British throne as a wedding present...
- 1965] Spacewalk: Astronaut Edward White becomes the 1st American to walk in space during the flight of Gemini 4...
- 1968] It must have been the pop art: Andy Warhol is shot and critically wounded in his New York City film studio by actress Valerie Solanas. Warhol will recover fully...
- 1975] "Happy Trails": Ozzie Nelson dies of cancer at 68...1989] Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini dies from cancer at 89...
- 1988] Palimony pays: Margo Adams files a palimony suit against Wade Boggs after their 4-year relationship sours. The married Boggs and Adams will settle out of court. Boggs was hitting his normal .310 when the incident become public but it did not affect his play with the Red Sox. He would finish at .380 and win his 5th batting championship...
- 2001] Tony x 12=: Mel Brooks' musical comedy "The Producers" wins a record 12 Tony Awards...
- 2003] Say it isn't Sosa: The Cubs' Sammy Sosa breaks a bat filled with cork and suddenly forgets how to speak English...
- 2004] Old man Franco: The Braves' Julio Franco (now with the Mets) becomes the oldest player to hit a grand slam. Julio was 45. You do the math...
Music Memories:
- Debuted on this date: 1964] The Rolling Stones on 'The Hollywood Palace"...1972] The Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street" tour...
- Released on this date: 1967] "Light My Fire" - The Doors...1972] "Take It Easy" - The Eagles...
- #1 on this date: 1968] "Respect" - Aretha Franklin...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Anderson Cooper (40), Dan Hill (53), Deniece Williams (56), Suzi Quatro (57) (Suzi and Chris Norman had one of the most underrated hits of all-time, "Stumblin In"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYgTAyIkpyg&mode=related&search= , Eddie Holman (61), Ian Hunter (68), Chuck Barris (78) (this clip from "The Gong Show" features The Unknown Comic): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj3Q9l9Ivng , Boots Randolph (80) and Tony Curtis (82)...
Timeline Countdown: 6 days until the Belmont Stakes and 31 days until July 4th...
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