BIRTHDAYS – Singers Doris Day, Wayne Newton, Billy Joe Royal, Tony Orlando

APRIL 3 - A busy day for birthdays of singers.  Actress-singer Doris Day is 90 OR 91 , depending on which source you follow - but it doesn't matter..  Singer Wayne Newton is 71. Singer Billy Joe Royal is 71. Singer Tony Orlando is 69.  Let's start out with this nice tribute to Doris from Sampodmike, noting her All Time #1 Box Office rank  as well as her activism for animals.


 DORIS DAY personified the happy days wholesomeness of the 1950s era, to which this website is devoted. Yet, she suffered more tragedies in one life than anyone should have to deal with, including  the loss of her only son , songwriter and singer Terry Melcher and troubled marriages.  Not surprisingly, she has devoted much of her life now to her animals  and rarely makes public appearances. She continues to reside in beautiful Carmel-by the Sea, California and still owns the wonderful, pet-friendly Cypress Inn there.



 

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 Since our other business is coupons we like to cross over and let our folks know some hot deals.  FREE Stuff - You can celebrate above birthdays with a FREE Cone at Ben and Jerry's but you must wait until April 9 

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WAYNE NEWTON, 71, next to Elvis was the biggest draw in Las Vegas for many years - still may be.  He even uses the Elvis Star Wars introduction and much of Elvis's stick 'The King of the Las Vegas strip', as on this 70th birthday tribute from last year, so it is said by SJSharkWanabe. Newton's had his own problems over the years. We wish him well on this special day. Enjoy this full 2 hour show

 



  BILLY JOE ROYAL had a few excellent hits ('I Knew You When, Down in the Boondocks,' etc. in the mid 60s, very much in the tradition of Gene Pitney and Roy Orbison before being one of the first cross over artists (listen to 'Boardwalk Angel ', reminiscent of 'Under the Boardwalk' and 'Stand By Me.' ) '  In fact, I just noticed he sounds and looks very much like Pitney, as you'll see in this rare video from 1965. Royal appeared in recent years with top orbison tribute performer Larry Branson.


 



 TONY ORLANDO, 69,  has had a long , fabled caree  , first catching a break at age 17 during the Brill Building late 50s era ('Bless You,' Halfway to Paradise) , only to see his career ressurected in the '70s with Dawn and a string of fun, singalong hits ('Tie A Yellow Ribbon, Knock Three Times, etc') and continues to perform today in Branson and other places. Orlando has always been a real crowd favorite. Bless YOU , Tony. Note the song was 'arranged and conducted' by Carol King! (though written by Mann and Weil

 

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS - JERRY LEWIS, CLARENCE 'FROGMAN' HENRY, URSULA ANDRESS

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS  - JERRY LEWIS MARCH 16 


  CLARENCE 'FROGMAN' HENRY, URSULA ANDRESS - MARCH 19

HTTP://OLDIESCOUNTRY.COM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FATS DOMINO, ONE OF HANDFUL OF TRUE ROCK PIONEERS

The first musician to become a rock ‘n’ roll icon solely on the strength of his music and not as an image or novelty, Fats Domino was also part of many of the early touring rock ‘n’ roll package shows that barnstormed the country and popularized the new music. http://OldiesCountry.com Domino often found lyrical inspiration in the experiences of everyday folks. “Something that happened to someone, that’s how I write all my songs,” he said. “I used to listen to people talk every day, things would happen in real life. I used to go around different places, hear people talk. Sometimes I wasn’t expecting to hear nothin’, and my mind was very much on my music. Next thing I’d hear, I would either write it down or remember it good.” http://www.amazon.com/Fats-Domino/e/B000AP9QKA/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&tag=oldiescountry-20

Martin Luther King Might Have Admired Amos and Andy Work Ethic

JAN

21

MARTIN LUTHER KING TRIBUTE - KINGFISH, AMOS AND ANDY 

MARTIN LUTHER KING TRIBUTE - KINGFISH, AMOS AND ANDYThere was actually less violence in the 1950s than today! So there were problems, racism, etc. but outside the South Americans got along for the most part and life was good, No, Kingfish was not the most scrupulous guy, always taking advantage of Andy, but that was Kingfish. Amos had a successful taxi business and Calhoun was a lawyerand Kingfish.. well, he did whatever he did to make a buck... Have a little fun harkening back on MLK day... Let's lighten up and not be too politically correct. Fortunately, times have improved in some regard, but who knows if people are really having more fun than they did in the 1950s...

PATTY PAGE was Best Selling Female Artist of the 1950s

 

PATTY PAGE was Best Selling Female Artist of the 1950s.

Her hits included Tennessee Waltz, Old Cape Cod We recently learned of The Singing Rage's passing from friend Pat Benti, who actually performed as opening act at her last show. Patty was the biggest selling female artist in the 50s, according to Wikapedia. Patti Page Clara Ann Fowler, known by her professional name Patti Page, was an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and sold over 100 million records. Wikipedia Born: November 8, 1927 (age 85), Claremore Movies and TV shows: Elmer Gantry, Boys' Night Out, Coke Time with Eddie Fisher Awards: Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Record labels: Columbia Records, Mercury Records, Epic Records, Avco Records, Plantation Records Songs Tennessee Waltz How Much Is That Doggie in the Window 1960 That Doggie in the Window? Changing Partners 1960 Mockin' Bird Hill 1960 The Doggie in the Window I Went to Your Wedding 1960 You Belong to Me 1960 I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine 1991 Old Cape Cod 1960 Moon River Patty has a book out, 'This is my song.' PATTY PAGE VISITS 'OLD CAPE COD'  HTTP://WWW.oldiescountry.com

PATTY PAGE was Best Selling Female Artist of the 1950s

THE PLATTERS - Original Platters Paul Robi and Herb Reed Remembered

THE PLATTERS - Original Platters Paul Robi and Herb Reed Remembered

Original Platters Paul Robi and Herb Reed

Remembered

'Remember When' was just one of many classic Platters songs in the 1950s. Recently surfaced via Youtube a very interesting, enjoyable full length concert circa 1980s. What's especially interesting is that it features several groups sans original lead singers; times change, people pass or move on, yet these lead singers offer if not a better sound a nice change from the originals . For years I've tried to recapture my memories of Paul Robi's Platters from when I used to see them in the mid-'80s at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California and low and behold they're here at Little Darlin's in Florida, circa 1980s. I did earlier this year - at the fair- see an old schedule noting 1985 as one of the concert years I saw them... Paul Robi was not , technically, an original Platter - he joined them shortly after several originals left the group -  and one character and a good singer and songwriter.  However, Elmer Hopper, who would later, or earlier, do the leads in versions of Robi's '80's Patters - and in our opinion is a better lead singer for most of the songs - does not do lead hear. Still, Robi is a presence and does a formidable job. Unfortunately, due to the abbreviated nature of this cavalcade show we don't get to hear much of his humour, which was another part of his charm..But, it's just great to see and hear Robi, who had the preeminent group after original lead Tony Williams's early demise. The bass singer, Herb Reed (who we'll hear from later) and last surviving member of the group until this year also had a group in the later years. Doris Jackson was an original member of the Shirrelles and is still charming and beautiful and a great lead in this '80s version of the Shirelles. Just a nice change of pace to hear her over the equally talented origknal lead, Shirley Alston Reeves, still performing today. Sadly , Jackson, late of Sacramento, passed on at 58 in the '90s. Jackson was a fixture on the West Coast oldies circut during the '80s and '98s. Often backed by Will Porter's All Stars she appeared often at Santa Cruz boardwalk and various Bay Area fairs. She had a beautiful soul to go along the voice. She signed autographs long after shows ended. I remember when she pulled out a rare gem, Blue Holiday, during an early Christmas performance. Oh the memories... There have been a number of Diamonds groups out there and I can't tell you much about this one but they also did well. Not sure if there was even an original member in this gorup (which is usually a no-no). We generally only support groups with at least one orginal member or who have license to the name. Anyway, also appearing here at Little Darlin's it was interwsting to hear the Diamonds sing the song the theater was named after , 'Little Darlin.' Can't say for sure about other groups on the show, namely the Crystals or the Dovells - but didn't look like orginal leads, though the Crystals never really had just one. You'll also get to see the last surviving member of the Coasters (at the time), Carl Gardner, who also passed this year. The sound quality may not be up to stereo standards -it's not stereo - but enjoy nonetheless... and let us know what you think... We'll try to find some more rarities like this one... Now, let's hear the last surviving member - until this year that is - Herb Reed and his recent incarnation; Herb also reflects on the history and care taken to perform even with different members as true to the originals as possible. Reed speaks of manager Buck Ram, the mastermind behind the Platters. Ram wrote many of the songs and managed to keep filling holes as members left the group - and others tried to steal the Platter name and sound. Ram partner, Jean Stevenson(sp?) lives on today and supposedly keeps the orginal Platters name, 'The Platters.' If one looks in Google you can find a list of several other leads who weren't originals, though Sunny Turner probably had the longest run of them and continues to perform today. It was Reed who actually formed the group in 1953 and found Tony Williams for lead and Buck Ram to manage the group - a couple of great moves we'd say! It was a smart move by Buck and group to hire 15-year-old Zola Taylor to add some feminitiy to the group, after which it really skyrockeded. For a time in the 90s Taylor, Robi and Reed all had their own versions of the Platters performing around the world, along with many other less than legitamate ones ENJOY!

Original Platters Paul Robi and Herb Reed Remembered

BUDDY HOLLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - NEW HOLLY CD,LUBBOCK, CLOVIS , KDAV

    I first heard of Buddy Holly after he passed. I was in a record store in the mid-60s  in Stonestown, San Francisco and came upon 'The Buddy Holly Story'; album and became fascinated with the liner notes of this and other Holly LPs in the Holly section. I read about how this young artist wrote and sang dozens of songs with a dozen or more hits before passing at the age of 22.  I was familiar with the big hits like 'That'll Be The Day'  but never realized all the other tracks , some of which  producer Norman Petty fashioned with backing from sparse 'apartment tapes' and other odds and ends that Holly left behind.

I would learn later that Holly was still a star in in England years after he

Gary' the Buddy Holly Story movie' Busey and Holly widow,Maria Elena

passed with all these posthumous releases.  What a great version of 'Love Is Strange' with string backing from  another Petty group, the Fireballs, plus so many others...  Crying,  Waiting , Hoping... Wishing,... Fool's Paradise...  There were other full songs like 'Reminiscing' with the great sax solo, which somehow missed the top of the charts.  Then there were those beautiful New York sessions with Buddy's strings accomplished while he was still with us, early '59... Raining in My Heart, Moondreams and especially the most beautiful ballad of them all, 'True Love Ways.'  There were many more that Holly wrote and sang from the heart, not a loser among them...'mailman, bring me no more blues'... the Fats Domino tune, the Frogman tune.  the Diddly tune,  the Berry tune...Buiddy could write as well as cover...

Holly with surviving Crickets Joe B Mauldin and Ivan Allison

I would join Bill Griggs great Holly Association and have many a great discussion with him . I even made it to Clovis, New Mexico to see the place where Holly recorded 90% of his music. All very surreal for me. If there are true geniuses and other-wordly ' people Holly was one of the theose.

I always felt sad about his passing, though it was before I really knew of him. I  wished he were still around and putting out more songs. Where would he have gone with  his career? Quite far, I'm sure.  I love that Holly,  who some used to describe as atypical rocker but today somehow fits in well and is remembered and revered more than many more recent artists.

Thanks Peter Asher for putting together the latest Holly tribute, 'Listen To Me.'  If  you haven't seen or heard be sure to check out your latest TV PBS listings for live performances from several of the originals who worked Holly including tje great Phil Everly,  Paul Anka ('It Doesn't Matter Any More' ) and later artists like Asher, himself, who recorded 'True Love Ways' with partner Gordon and Graham Nash, who actually named his group, the Hollies after Holly!  Newer artists still revere the man. It's beautiful...

BUDDY HOLLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - NEW HOLLY CD,LUBBOCK, CLOVIS , KDAV 

There can't be too many tributes to Holly. His music is so good it's hard to go wrong so we welcome this new one. One day we'll have to go back and  remember all the  previous ones...

So, here are some great clips to enjoy as we celebrate Buddy Holly's birthday, today, tomorrow, always.... Well, alright!

Holly doing 'Peggy Sue,' one only three original Holly videos left to us, recording from 1968 Arthur Murray Dance Party(?)

Rare early footage of Holly along with Elvis and other artists on tour, circa 1955

New Tribute album from Peter Asher, featuring artists such as Paul Anka, Chris Isaac, Phil Everly, Brain Wilson, Jeff Lynne and newer artists

If you get a chance tune in to KDAV, the station in Lubbock where Holly cut his teeth... still going strong and playing at least a Holly song an hour... Here's some more from the new CD 'Listen To Me.' Celebrate with Holly'ls hometown Lubbock, Texas and Clovis, New Mexico , where Holly recording 95% of his music; festivals are underway in both places.

BUDDY HOLLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - NEW HOLLY CD,LUBBOCK, CLOVIS , KDAV