Month: October 2021
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Dear Abby, Buddy Knox
One of the nicest and most talented young guys in show business today has just completed three more tremendously successful appearances in B.C. It’s not too often a graduate of psychology, business administration and a Golden Gloves competitor turns to singing but a 28-year old Texan, Buddy Knox, is the exception. Buddy hails from a…
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“Tom Dooley” hits #1
On this day in 1958, The Kingston Trio‘s first hit, “Tom Dooley”, reached Number 1 on the CKWX Sensational Sixty. “Tom Dooley” sold more than six million copies, and is often credited with starting the folk music boom of the late Fifties and early Sixties. Other Kingston Trio hits include “The Tijuana Jail”, “M.T.A.”, “A…
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The Stars Come Out In Vancouver
On this day in 1957 Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, Paul Anka, Buddy Knox, the Drifters, LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, and Jimmy Bowen and the Rhythm Orchids came to Vancouver’s Georgia Auditorium for the Biggest Show of Stars. I was the show MC and spent time interviewing many of these rock’n’roll pioneers.…
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Happy Birthday, Gary Puckett!
Happy Birthday, Gary Puckett! Gary and his group The Union Gap gave us some memorable hits in the late 1960’s: “Woman, Woman”, “Young Girl”, “Lady Willpower”, “Over You”, “Don’t Give In to Him”, and “This Girl Is a Woman Now”. Did you know the Union Gap’s original bass player, Kerry Chater, is from Vancouver? That’s…
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Bobby Darin, “Mack The Knife”
On this day in 1959, Bobby Darin‘s “Mack The Knife” tops the charts! Bobby had a string of hits early in the growth of rock’n’roll, following up 1958’s “Splish Splash” and “Queen Of The Hop” with “Dream Lover” in early 1959. During Portland’s Oregon Centennial Exposition that September Bobby dropped by the KGW booth at…
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Happy Birthday, Cousin Brucie!
Just like a spinning 45rpm single, Cousin Brucie‘s birthday is coming around again! Bruce likes to joke that he listened to me when he was a kid, but he’s actually older than me! Bruce is back on heritage 77 WABC Saturdays at 6PM Eastern. Hope the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is standing by…
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“Wake Up Little Susie” Is #1
On this day in 1957, “Wake Up Little Susie” by The Everly Brothers started a six-week run in the #1 spot on the CKWX Top 50 chart! This follow-up to Don & Phil’s debut hit “Bye Bye Love” was even bigger, reaching #1 on Billboard’s sales, jukebox, and radio airplay charts. The song’s lyrics were…
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Fats Domino Sets A Record
The story has been told many times in the music business of a small label getting started from humble beginnings. Lately many record companies have climbed to the top of the heap and made millions in a very short time. The same thing is true of Imperial Records. Label founder Lew Chudd discovered Fats Domino in New…
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Duane Eddy, Titan Of Twang
I’ve been a fan of Duane Eddy‘s twangy guitar since his 1958 smash hit instrumental Rebel Rouser. I used it to open my CKWX show and it was the first song I played on my 650 CISL “Last Broadcast” almost sixty years later. That’s music with staying power! Duane was a guest on the Country…