Thursday, February 28, 2008

Mike Smith Dave Clark Five Singer Dead At 64

I am very sorry to have to pass on this very sad news to you. Mike Smith, the lead singer of The Dave Clark Five, has died.

Join me this Sunday, March 2nd, for this week's Treasure Island Oldies Show when we'll play LOTS of Dave Clark Five songs throughout the show.

Reuters

LOS ANGELES–Mike Smith, the lead singer of British band the Dave Clark Five, died Thursday of pneumonia at an English hospital, his U.S. agent said.
Smith, 64, was admitted to a hospital outside London Wednesday morning with a chest infection resulting from complications of a 2003 spinal cord injury that had left him paralyzed from the waist down, his New York agent, Margo Lewis, said in a statement.
His death came just two weeks before the Dave Clark Five – one of the leading bands of the 1960s British invasion – was due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Dave Clark Five, whose hits included "Glad All Over" and "Bits and Pieces," were one of the first British bands to find major success in the United States after the Beatles.

Here is a clip of the Dave Clark Five being interviewed during their first visit to the United States.



And a Tribute to the Dave Clark Five



And one of their all time popular songs, Because.



And a rare Pathe Newsreel...

A Hard Day's Night Hotel

LIVERPOOL, England - What could be better after a hard day's sightseeing?

Visitors to Liverpool, birthplace of the Beatles, can rest their heads in the Lennon or McCartney suites at the Fab Four-themed Hard Days Night Hotel that opened Friday.

More than 45 years after John, Paul, George and Ringo emerged from Liverpool's tiny, sweaty clubs to conquer the world, the Beatles industry is key to this battered-but-proud city's attempt to transform itself from fading commercial hub to thriving cultural hotbed.

The 110-room Hard Days Night Hotel hopes to be its newest attraction.

"It's stunning, spectacular," said Julia Baird, John Lennon's half-sister, after being shown around the $1,300-a-night penthouse suite named for her brother. "It's like Liverpool. Outside it hasn't changed, but inside there's rocketing change."

A smart, four-star establishment housed within a 19th century mercantile building, the hotel aims to provide everything a Beatles fan could desire - from the Yellow Submarine jukebox in the lobby to the rare photographs on the walls - while also catering to corporate travelers and tourists on a weekend break.

"That was a very important part of the whole concept, to get the balance," said Jonathan Davies, director of the developer that stepped in three years ago to
revive stalled plans for the hotel. "People who don't particularly like the Beatles - we want them to come to the hotel. And we're sure they will come." The overall impression is more classy than kitsch. In many ways it's a typical upmarket hotel, decorated in cream, black and chocolate brown. There's a stylish bar, and a "modern European" restaurant serving organic salmon, free-range chicken and English lamb.

Downstairs are Hari's basement bar, decorated with pictures of the bearded Beatles in their Maharishi-following days, and "The Two of Us," a wedding chapel adorned with pictures of the Fab Four and their spouses.

The guest rooms, which start at $340 a night, are decorated with artwork by American painter Shannon, "The World's Greatest Beatles Artist" - a title officially bestowed on her by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

Most luxurious are the two suites. The centerpiece of Lennon's is a white baby grand piano, while McCartney's contains a real suit of armor. Sir Paul is a knight, after all. Beatles music plays at an unobtrusive volume in the lobby, the restaurant, even the restrooms. So will the hotel offer a nonstop Beatles soundtrack? "No," said general manager Mike Dewey. "That would drive me mad."

The Beatles are never far away in Liverpool, a city of half a million about 200 miles northwest of London. Just around the corner from the hotel on narrow, bar-lined Mathew Street is the Cavern Club - a reconstruction, on the original site, of the basement dive where The Beatles honed their skills. Down the street is the Cavern Walks shopping mall -or "boutique emporium" - complete with Beatles shop and Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds restaurant. Visitors can take Magical Mystery bus tours to Penny Lane, or visit the Beatles Story museum down on the city docks. Some of it may verge on the tacky, but even on a blustery winter day a steady stream of tourists stop to have their picture taken beside the John Lennon statue at the end of the street. In the summer, it's packed.

Liverpool has remade itself in other ways, too, with new art galleries, a thriving music scene and the title of European Capital of Culture for 2008, a status that is expected to bring thousands of extra tourists to a city long afflicted by a reputation for poverty and violence.

The visitors from across Europe checking in to the Hard Days Night Hotel on Friday suggest Liverpool's attempt to improve its image may be working. Most were going on the inevitable Beatles tours, but also found plenty of other things to attract them.

Eddy Anselmi from Bologna, Italy, said he planned to visit the Tate Liverpool art gallery and attend a Liverpool Football Club soccer game. He said he chose the hotel for "the idea of being the first customer of a place that will shape the new
Liverpool. This place will be here in 10 or 20 years, and I can say I was here."

General manager Dewey says the hotel's backers have had no direct contact with the surviving Beatles, although Ringo Starr was quoted as saying he would have stayed at the hotel on a recent visit to the city, had it been open.

Baird is certain her brother and his bandmates would approve.

"In the middle of Liverpool? Around the corner from the Cavern? Of course they would."
http://www.harddaysnighthotel.com/home.aspx

Larry Norman - The People - R.I.P.

Larry Norman, former lead singer of People and with their hit I Love You, and who also had a brief solo recording career in the early seventies, has passed away of heart failure at age 60 in Salem, Oregon.

Christian rock pioneer Larry Norman died Sunday after years of ill health. He was 60. News of Norman's death was announced at his official Web site by his brother, Charles, who said that Norman's "heart finally slowed to a stop." Norman had been semi-invalided following a severe heart attack in 1992. Dubbed by the media as "the father of Christian rock," Norman recorded three albums for Capitol Records in the 1960s, including the seminal Upon This Rock. He later signed with MGM Records for Only Visiting This Planet and So Long Ago the Garden. He founded his own label, Solid Rock Records, in 1975 and went on to release more than 50 other recordings, though his output was affected for more than a decade by partial brain damage suffered in a 1978 airplane accident. Norman was also instrumental in nurturing the early careers of musicians Steve Camp, Keith Green, Mark Heard and Randy Stonehill. Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2001 for his music that was recognized as "an unlikely mix of love songs, the Gospel message, and wry commentary on American culture" that "exemplified the goals, ideals and standards of everything the original architects of contemporary Christian music intended for it to be." In a personal message dictated to his brother for his Web site shortly before he died, Norman said that he felt like "a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up... I am ready to fly home." He thanked people for their prayers and support, ending with, "Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet gain/Somewhere
beyond the sky/I Pray that you will stay with God/Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.

Buddy Miles - R.I.P.

Buddy Miles, born September 5th, 1947 in Omaha Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, peacefully on February 26, 2008, 10:09 p.m. in his home; at (60) sixty years old. He is survived by spouse Sherrilae Chambers -Miles, and soul sister Connie; who stood by his side with other close family and friends. There will be multiple Memorial/Tribute services across the United States beginning in Austin, Texas on March 30th at Threadgill's on Riverside. He is survived by his step-daughter Chealsea, step-son Asa, grandson Brenden and granddaughter Mia, Niece's Shalis, and Suquett, Nephew's, Jay and Tony, great nieces, Brianna and Miracle, great nephew's, Calvin and Jay, and Gino Parsons of Omaha. Buddy also leaves Randy Pavlock and a few others from Austin, whom he considered his own sons. He leaves many close friends and fans and a great musical legacy that will live on forever.

In lieu of flowers; the family has asked to please make donations to the Jazz Foundation of America specifically in Buddy Miles' name to assist with funeral, and other expenses at www.jazzfoundation.org ; The Jazz Foundation of America, at 322 West 48th Street, New York, NY, 10036, Attn.: Amy Cusma.

He performed with some of the greatest names in musical history such as: Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Michael Bloomfield, Wilson Pickett, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, David Crosby, Jack Bruce, Eric Burden, Peter Torque, Billy Gibbons, Prince, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan, Rick James, Kool and the Gang, Jr. Brown, Ike Turner, Pinetop Perkins, Jr. Wells, Koko Taylor, Johnny Taylor, Barry White, Aretha Franklin, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Lockwood, Jr.,
Billy Cox, David Bowie and so many others; the list is shorter of whom he did not play with, than who he did.

Buddy Miles spent over (50) fifty years in the music world recording over 70 albums and performing for numerous world tours, television commercials, videos and charity events.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Dobie Gray - Voice Your Choice

Dobie Gray was born Lawrence Darrow Brown on July 26, 1940 in Brookshire, Texas. He had a respectable eight songs that hit the Billboard charts between 1963 and 1978, including one Top Ten and A Gold Record.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Dobie Gray with two of his signature tunes for your votes: The "In Crowd" and Drift Away. Which song do you prefer? Cast you vote at the Voice Your Choice page. We'll play the winning song in Hour 3 of next week's show.

Shirley Matthews - Song Of The Week

In celebration of the return of Ian Chapman's Girl Groups, a feature exclusive to Treasure Island Oldies, this week I thought I would feature the first song in the series for our Song Of The Week. It's Big Town Boy by Shirley Matthews. While not a video clip per se, this clip shows the original 45 on Atlantic Records playing on a record player. Enjoy!

And be sure to listen to Ian Chapman's Girl Groups in Hour 1 of Treasure Island Oldies. If you missed the debut, you can catch it on the Archive.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Ian Chapman's Girl Groups Series Exclusive To Treasure Island Oldies

Ian Chapman is one of the world's foremost experts on the Girl Groups music of the 60s. He has written liner notes for ACE Records in the UK for many of their compilation albums.

I am pleased to let you know that Ian Chapman's Girl Groups, a series that was on Treasure Island Oldies several years ago is returning to the show for a weekly feature. We begin Ian Chapman's Girl Groups this Sunday, February 28th in Hour 1. Don't miss the background, the insight and the music of the Girl Groups.

Ian Chapman's Girl Groups is presented exclusively on Treasure Island Oldies.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Martha And The Vandellas - Voice Your Choice

Martha And The Vandellas were a vocal trio from Detroit, Michigan, signed to Motown Records and released on their Gordy label. They were Martha Reeves, Annette Beard and Rosalind Ashford. Martha was a secretary in the A&R department at Motown and also sang backup vocals in the studio. They all sang backups on several of Marvin Gaye's hits.

Between 1963 until they left Motown in 1971, they charted 23 times, including 6 Top Ten hits and one Gold Record for Dancing In The Street.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Martha And The Vandellas and two of their Top Ten hits: Jimmy Mack and I'm Ready For Love. Which song would you like to hear? Come to the Voice Your Choice page and cast your vote for the song you prefer. We'll play the winner in Hour 3 of next week's show.

J.B. And The Playboys - Song of the Week

J.B. And The Playboys hailed from Montreal and became a very popular band. They developed their reputation in the early 1960s in the local club scene performing cover versions of Beatles songs, before The Beatles broke in North America. This was due to the fact that the leader of the band, Allan Nichols, had an aunt who lived in England and she sent him all the latest releases. They later signed with RCA Victor Records in Montreal and had several hits including My Delight, Chances, I'm Not Satisfied, Summer Love and others.

I found this clip of some rare footage of J.B. And The Playboys in concert performing Leave My Woman Alone. It's our Song of the Week. Enjoy this rare video clip.

Michael


Sunday, February 17, 2008

Chad Allan Live in Studio On Treasure Island Oldies

I'm very pleased to let you know that Chad Allan, the original lead singer of The Expressions, later The Reflections and then The Guess Who, will be joining me live in the studio tonight on Treasure Island Oldies during the first hour of the show from 6 to 7 p.m. Pacific time. Chad did the scorching vocal on Shakin' All Over, the #1 hit in Canada and Top 25 in the USA.

A while ago some long lost early recordings of The Guess Who were found and meticulously restored for release. Chad will talk about that new 'old' album and we'll play some songs from this exciting new release.

Be sure to join me today at 6 p.m. Pacific time or later on the Archive for this rare opportunity to hear Chad Allan live on the air.

Bye for now,
Michael

Freddie Bell - R.I.P.

by Associated Press
February 16, 2008

Las Vegas - Freddie Bell, a forerunner in the 1950s
rock 'n' roll era whose toe-tapping versions of
"Giddy Up A Ding Dong" and "Hound Dog" inspired
Elvis Presley to cover the songs, has died. He was
76. Mr. Bell died late Sunday in a Las Vegas
hospital of complications from cancer, said his
publicist Norm Johnson.

Mr. Bell was performing at the Sands casino-hotel
on the Las Vegas Strip in the mid-1950s when
Presley was just an opening act across the street
at the New Frontier. Bell's upbeat covers, and
perhaps his knee-wiggling dance moves, inspired
Presley, Johnson said. "He loved Freddie's version,"
Johnson said. "He added new words and a better
beat." Mr. Bell went to Las Vegas in 1953 from his
hometown of Philadelphia and was considered one of
the great lounge acts of the time, alongside the
trio of Sam Butera, Louis Prima, and Keely Smith,
Johnson said. He was good friends with some of the
most popular performers of the era. Mr. Bell also
appeared in a number of films, including 1956's
"Rock Around the Clock," starring Bill Haley.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Ultimate Valentine's Song: A Lover's Concerto

One of the Ultimate Valentine's Day songs is, without a doubt, A Lover's Concerto by The Toys. As part of our 11th Annual Valentine's Day Special, here are The Toys, Barbara Harris, June Montiero and Barbara Parritt, with their classic Girl Group hit, A Lover's Concerto.

By the way, the music was adapted from Bach's Minuet From The Anna Magdalena Notebook. So this is a REAL oldie!

Enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day.

Michael

Happy Valentine's Day Music For You

Happy Valentine's Day! In celebration of this "Day of Love', be sure to include our 11th Annual Valentine's Day Special in your special celebration with your loved one.

You'll hear some of the Greatest Love Songs of all Time, including some rarely heard and hard-to-find oldies.

I sure hope you enjoy this special edition of Treasure Island Oldies. Click here to go to the Archive page.

And once again, Happy Valentine's Day and see Sunday, February 17th for the next live show.

Michael

Monday, February 11, 2008

Miss Toni Fisher - Voice Your Choice

Miss Toni Fisher hailed from Los Angeles, California, where she was born in 1931. She died of a heart attack on February 19, 1999 at age 67. She had three songs on the Billboard chart between 1959 and 1962. Despite such a short career on the charts, two of her songs have made lasting impressions. Her first hit, The Big Hurt was the first hit record to feature "phasing", an electronic gimmick that bends and distorts the sound waves. Her third hit single, West Of the Wall was inspired by the Berlin Wall crisis in August of 1962.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights those two songs by Miss Toni Fisher: The Big Hurt and West Of The Wall. Which song would you like me to play? Cast your vote by coming to the Voice Your Choice page and selecting the song you prefer. We'll play the winner in Hour 3 of next week's show.

Click here for more information on Miss Toni Fisher.

The Beatles - Valentine's Day Song of the Week

What a perfect song for Valentine's Day, All You Need Is Love by The Beatles. It's our Song of the Week and I know you will enjoy this! Happy Valentine's Day.

Michael

Friday, February 08, 2008

New Entry Page Treasure Island Oldies

I am very pleased to let you know that a brand new Entry Page for Treasure Island Oldies is now live. This new page is what you will see when you go to www.treasureislandoldies.com

You can now select a specific page of the website to navigate to directly from the Entry Page. For example, if you want to listen to the show, either live Sundays or the Archives, just click Listen on the Record Label.

As Treasure Island Oldies is a radio show featuring great records of the 50s, 60s and 70s, we decided to have the Entry Page reflect that by having a record coming out of the Treasure Island Oldies "album cover", and to enable you to select the menu by clicking on the titles on the label.

My sincere thanks to our webmaster, Eddy Fisher, for his great work in creating this new image, and to Tom Locke for the cool suggestion.

I hope you enjoy the new look of our Entry Page.

Michael

Monday, February 04, 2008

The Lettermen - Voice Your Choice

The Lettermen, Tony Butala, Jim Pike and Bob Engemann, formed as a vocal trio in Los Angeles in 1958. They became the #1 Adult Contemporary vocal group of the 1960s.

They scored an impressive twenty singles on the Billboard chart between 1961 and 1971, including two Top Ten hits. This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights the first two hits for you to choose from: The Way You Look Tonight and When I Fall In Love, both perfect songs for our Valentine's Day Special next week on the show.

Come to the Voice Your Choice page and cast your vote for your favourite song by The Lettermen. We'll play the winning song in Hour 3 of next week's Valentine's Day Special on Treasure Island Oldies.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

The Moonglows - Song of the Week

The Moonglows were one of the greatest Doo Wop groups ever. Here they are with Over And Over Again, our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael