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Funny You Should Ask About a Song 

LETS ASK PILOT A QUESTION ABOUT EARLY RADIO STATIONS

Teen Idols of Yesterday 

 Joanie Sommers, a talented American singer and actress. Born Joan Drost on February 24, 1941, in Buffalo, New York, she gained fame in the 1960s and was often called "The Voice of the Sixties." Her music career began with jazz and pop standards, and she became widely recognized for her hit song "Johnny Get Angry" in 1962, which reached number seven on the charts.

Joanie Sommers also made a mark with her Pepsi-Cola jingles, including the famous "It's Pepsi, for those who think young." She continued to record and perform through the decades, occasionally stepping away from the spotlight to focus on her family.

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Sophia's Favorite Playlist 

  • "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones

  • "Help!" by The Beatles

  • "My Girl" by The Temptations

  • "Yesterday" by The Beatles

  • "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers

 

 

What happened on this day in music history from the book Eight Days a Week by Ron Smith Heights Publishing Co. On The Week in March 14-20

 

March 21, 1952 — Cleveland disc jockey Alan "Moondog" Freed holds the first rock 'n' roll concert — the Moondog Coronation Ball — an ill-fated event shut down by police after the opening song when a surge of youths breaks down the doors trying to force their way into the vastly oversold venue, leading to a riot.

                     2006 — Two years after filing suit, the family of South African Zulu musician Solomon Linda, who wrote and waxed the 1939 record "Mbube" ("Lion"), reach agreement with the song's publisher giving them partial royalties to the music that became "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Linda, who died destitute in 1962, had signed away his rights to the song for a pittance a decade earlier to the South African record company that had originally issued it.
 

March 22, 1956 — Carl Perkins is seriously injured in a Delaware car accident en route to an appearance on NBC-TV's Perry Como Show, depriving him of his first national broadcast exposure while his record "Blue Suede Shoes" is climbing the charts. From a hospital bed, he watches it sung instead on another nationwide program by an emerging Elvis Presley, who recorded a competing version. Perkins' finally appears on Como's show two months later, a few weeks after his record has peaked. Although it had reached much higher on the music charts than Presley's, he never has another major hit.

March 23, 1955 — The movie Blackboard Jungle is released, launching its theme song, "Rock Around The Clock," into a hit for Bill Haley and His Comets a year after it flopped as the B-side of a moderately successful record, "Thirteen Women." With teens dancing in the aisles to the music, the film is widely credited as a catalyst for rock 'n' roll's growth.

                       1956 — Alan Freed holds a three day "Rock 'n' Roll Stage Show" in Hartford, Connecticut with stars including Fats Domino and Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers. Although Freed denies there was a riot, eleven teenagers are arrested over the weekend. The events prompt Dr. Francis J. Braceland of the Institute of Living in Hartford to call the music a "communicable disease.... It's cannibalistic and tribalistic." His remarks prompt a published defense of Freed by three well known bandleaders of the previous generation — Sammy Kaye, Benny Goodman, and Paul Whiteman.

 

 

 

TEEN IDOLS  50's thru 70's 

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Mr. Dana W. Carlson
7 days ago

I just want to sincerely say Greetings from Minnesota. God bless you guys.

 

I came across this radio jingle from the 60's , do you have any history on this jingle.

. Certain records were played according to artist, companies and distributors?

 

Radio jingles from the 1960s have a fascinating history. One of the most influential companies in this field was PAMS (Production Advertising Merchandising Service), founded by Bill Meeks in 1951. PAMS created and syndicated jingles for radio stations across the United States. These jingles were designed to enhance the station's identity and make it more memorable to listeners1.

In the 1960s, radio stations used jingles not only to promote their own brand but also to highlight specific artists, companies, and distributors. These jingles were often catchy and reflected the musical trends of the time, making them memorable and effective in capturing the audience's attention2.

The process of creating these jingles involved recording a demo with generic lyrics, which stations could then customize with their own call letters and slogans. This allowed for a wide distribution of jingles tailored to different markets while maintaining a consistent sound1.

If you're interested in hearing some classic radio jingles from the 1960s, you can check out this YouTube video for a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The Payola scandal was a significant issue in the music industry during the 1950s and 1960s. It involved record companies paying radio stations and DJs to play specific songs without disclosing these payments, which was illegal. The scandal led to congressional hearings and stricter regulations on radio broadcasting.

 

 

While radio jingles from the 1960s were a separate aspect of the radio industry, the Payola scandal did impact the overall trust and practices within the industry. The jingles themselves were typically created and distributed by companies like PAMS to promote radio stations and their programming, rather than being directly tied to the Payola practice

 

Vintage Radio Station Photo

The Grease Cast 

 

  • Danny Zuko (John Travolta): The cool and charismatic leader of the T-Birds.

  • Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John): The sweet and innocent Australian girl who falls for Danny.

  • Rizzo (Stockard Channing): The tough and sassy leader of the Pink Ladies.

  • Kenickie (Jeff Conaway): Danny's best friend and fellow T-Bird.

  • Frenchy (Didi Conn): The bubbly and kind-hearted Pink Lady with dreams of becoming a beautician.

  • Marty (Dinah Manoff): The sophisticated and flirtatious Pink Lady.

  • Jan (Jamie Donnelly): The quirky and fun-loving Pink Lady.

  • Doody (Barry Pearl): A fun-loving T-Bird and guitar player.

  • Sonny (Michael Tucci): The mischievous T-Bird.

  • Putzie (Kelly Ward): The goofy and lovable T-Bird.


 

The Story Behind the Song 

The song "Midnight Special" performed by Paul Evans is an adaptation of a traditional folk tune that originated among prisoners in the American South. The lyrics often reflect the perspective of a prisoner, referencing the "Midnight Special" train and its "ever-loving light" as a symbol of hope and freedom1. The song has been performed by many artists over the years, each bringing their own interpretation to this poignant piece of Americana.

Paul Evans' version, released in 1960, updated the song with a country-blues style, following his earlier novelty hit "Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat". His rendition brought the song to a wider audience, blending traditional themes with a modern twist.

The song "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat" by Paul Evans is a playful and humorous novelty tune from 1959. It tells the story of a young man driving a car while seven girls are in the backseat, all enamored with his friend Fred. Despite his attempts to impress them, the girls are more interested in Fred, leaving the driver feeling a bit left out.

The song's lighthearted lyrics and catchy melody made it a hit, and its whimsical take on teenage romance and social dynamics resonated with audiences at the time. It's a fun snapshot of the carefree and quirky spirit of the late 1950s.

"El Paso" by Marty Robbins is a classic Western ballad released in 1959 as part of his album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. The song tells a gripping story of love, jealousy, and tragedy in the Wild West. It's narrated from the perspective of a cowboy in El Paso, Texas, who falls in love with a Mexican dancer named Feleena at Rosa's Cantina. Consumed by jealousy, he kills another man who shows interest in her and flees to the badlands of New Mexico.

Overcome by longing for Feleena, he returns to El Paso, knowing the danger that awaits. In the end, he's fatally shot by a posse, and Feleena holds him as he dies. The song's vivid storytelling, haunting melody, and Spanish guitar accompaniment make it a timeless piece of musical cinema.

What was the first real Rock N Roll record.

The origin of rock 'n' roll is a hotly debated topic, but many historians credit "Rocket 88", recorded by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats in 1951, as the first rock 'n' roll record. The song was produced by the legendary Sam Phillips—the founder of Sun Records—and featured Ike Turner’s band.

It blended rhythm and blues with the driving energy that would come to define rock 'n' roll. While earlier records contributed to the genre's formation, "Rocket 88" is often seen as the one that solidified the sound.

Yes, Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88," recorded in 1951, predates DJ Alan Freed's coining of the term "rock 'n' roll." Freed, a Cleveland-based radio personality, is credited with popularizing the phrase in the early 1950s to describe the music he was playing on his radio show, blending rhythm and blues with a new, youthful energy.

While Freed gave the genre its name and helped bring it into mainstream culture, the roots of rock 'n' roll, as shown by songs like "Rocket 88," were already forming in the rhythm and blues scene. This makes the history of rock 'n' roll a fascinating mix of cultural influences and innovations!

Celebrating Birthdays 

 

 

 

 

Background Singers of The 50's and 60's Thank you 

In the early 1960s, background singers played a significant role in shaping the sound of pop music. Some of the most notable groups and artists who provided background vocals during this era include:

  • The Jordanaires: They were famously known for their work with Elvis Presley, providing harmonies on many of his hits.

  • The Blossoms: This group, featuring Darlene Love, was a prominent session group that worked with artists like Sam Cooke and The Crystals.

  • The Andantes: They were a Motown girl group that provided background vocals for many of the label's artists, including The Supremes and Marvin Gaye.

  • The Sweet Inspirations: This group, which included Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston's mother), provided backing vocals for artists like Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.

  • The Wrecking Crew: While primarily known as a group of session musicians, they often provided background vocals for various artists.

These background singers and groups contributed to the rich,

What about Anita Kerr and Ray Coniff singers?

 

The Anita Kerr Singers and the Ray Conniff Singers were both highly influential vocal groups in the 1960s, known for their distinctive harmonies and contributions to the music of that era.

Anita Kerr Singers:

  • Led by Anita Kerr, this group was renowned for their lush vocal harmonies and arrangements. They worked with many country and pop artists, including Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, and Jim Reeves1. The Anita Kerr Singers won several Grammy Awards and were a key part of the Nashville Sound.

Ray Conniff Singers:

  • Led by Ray Conniff, this group was known for their unique blend of vocal harmonies and orchestral arrangements. They achieved great success in the 1960s, with numerous hit albums and singles4. The Ray Conniff Singers were famous for their smooth, easy-listening style and their ability to recreate the sound of their recordings in live performances.

Both groups played significant roles in shaping the sound of popular music during their time and left a lasting legacy in the music industry.

Yes, both the Anita Kerr Singers and the Ray Conniff Singers worked with Marty Robbins.

 

Anita Kerr Singers:

  • The Anita Kerr Singers collaborated with Marty Robbins on various recordings. They provided backing vocals for some of his songs, adding their signature harmonies to his music.

Ray Conniff Singers:

  • The Ray Conniff Singers also worked with Marty Robbins. They collaborated on several tracks, including hits like "The Story of My Life" and "A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation)"3.

These collaborations contributed to the rich, layered sound of Marty Robbins' music, enhancing his already impressive vocal performances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 
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