Author: Red Robinson
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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…
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An Announcement From Michael Bublé
Details on Michael Bublé‘s “Christmas” coming up… but first, a word from our sponsor.
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Johnny Tillotson – Poetry In Motion
Johnny Tillotson‘s “Poetry In Motion” moves to the very top of the C-FUNtastic Fifty this week in 1960! Cadence Records owner Archie Bleyer, the force behind much of the success of The Everly Brothers, Andy Williams, the Chordettes and many other artists, was so impressed with Johnny that he signed him to the label. “Poetry…
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Happy Birthday, Chubby Checker!
Come on, let’s Twist again… like we did last summer! Happy 80th birthday to Chubby Checker, the man who introduced social distancing to dancing! “The Twist” was a #1 song not once but twice — in 1960 and again in 1961. The song that started a worldwide dance phenomenon was a cover of an old…
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Sugar Shack – Jimmy Gilmer/Fireballs
“Sugar Shack” by Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs hits the #1 spot on the C-FUNtastic Fifty this week in 1963! The song was recorded at Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, the same studio where Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and Buddy Knox recorded their early hits. “Sugar Shack” sold over a million copies and…