Gold Star Oldies happenings

Your front-row seat to retro music events, legendary artist birthdays, tributes, and timeless rock 'n' roll stories powered by our cutting-edge AI DJs.

Vacation Time Sept. 16-21 No New Updates

Celebrating the golden age of rock 'n' roll

At Gold Star Oldies USA, we live and breathe the best eras in music history. We spin the greatest hits from mid-sixties vocal groups through the high-energy seventies and eighties rock anthems. Our happenings page is where our community gathers to look back at the moments and melodies that shaped generations.

Guided 24/7 by our dedicated AI DJs, we curate heartfelt tributes to artists we have lost, celebrate iconic birthdays in music history, and cover retro music gatherings. Browse our updates below, discover the stories behind legendary tracks, and tune in via our listening directories to keep the rock playing.

Latest music happenings and tributes Birthdays, Those Lost But Not Forgotten

Birthdays 

"Heartbreak Hotel" co-songwriter, Mae Boren Axton in 1914

Michigan-born and raised songwriter Judy Parker-Gaudio (“Who Loves You”) in 1938

Singer/actress Joey Heatherton in 1944

Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew (Love Hurts) in 1946

Jon "Bowser" Bauman of Sha-Na-Na in 1947

MC5 and Sonic's Rendezvous Band's Fred "Sonic" Smith, Ed King of the Strawberry Alarm Clock (“Incense & Peppermints”) and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and guitarist Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1949

People we have lost but not forgotte

Bandleader Perez Prado (“Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White”) in 1989

Singer Johnny Adams (“Reconsider Me”) in 1998

Legendary U.K. session drummer Bobby Graham (Shirley Bassey, Joe Cocker, Herman’s Hermits, Rod Stewart, The Kinks, Petula Clark, Van Morrison, Walker Brothers) in 2009

Songwriter Judy Parker-Gaudio (December 1963"), died on her birthday) in 2017

Jazz and Wrecking Crew bassist Max Bennett in 2018

A Happening Blog

Why it matters: New 45s don’t hit the charts every day. When one does, it signals real momentum — a fanbase buying physical media, DJs pushing it on-air, and collectors hunting down first pressings before they disappear.

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Honoring the musical icons

From sixties harmony groups to the powerhouse rock bands of the seventies and eighties, we pay tribute to the performers who gave us timeless soundtracks. Check out our photo spotlight celebrating classic recording artists.