Friday, August 31, 2012

Gordon Lightfoot's Bass Player John Stockfish Has Died

John Stockfish, a Windsor-born musician who was Gordon Lightfoot’s original bass player, will be buried today in Mississauga after dying in his hometown Aug. 20 at the age of 69.

“He had been living in North Carolina for the past few years but returned home about three years ago,” said daughter Jennifer Stockfish. “I guess it brought his life full circle and it seemed the logical place to come back to a few years ago.”

Stockfish remembered her father as a “unique and eccentric individual which is true of many artists and musicians.”

He was  a self-taught musician who received further training through the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Stockfish teamed up with Lightfoot and guitarist Red Shea in 1965 after an already extensive career which took him on tour to Europe and across North America as a bassist for Tommy Danton and the Echoes.

He was considered an influential part of the Lightfoot trio, particular with his familiar bass line on the hit single Sundown which topped the music charts in 1974.

The Guess Who paid tribute to Stockfish’s talent by naming him in their song Lightfoot.

In 1969, Stockfish moved to New York and performed with the late Jim Croce with appearances on the Mike Douglas Show and the Today Show.

Upon returning to Toronto in the early 1970s, he played with Dan Hill and Tommy Hunter, appearing on the latter’s popular television shows.

Over the years, he also collaborated with Gene MacLellan, Mel Torme, Cab Calloway and Ron Nigrini.

He was later involved in the music publishing business in Nashville.

“I lived in Nashville for a few years in my early 20s and worked as a waitress,” said Jennifer. “Whenever people saw my last name on the receipt, they knew immediately who my dad was because Nashville is such a music town. “He wasn’t charismatic in the regular sense of the word but he had a way of drawing people to him either in coffee shops or book shops,” said Jennifer.

Stockfish is survived by children Sheri, John, Jennifer and Will, grandchildren Marlee, Travis, Nathan and Mia as well as siblings George, Billy, Gordie and Darlene.

Monday, August 27, 2012

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies - Update Week of August 26, 2012


August 26th, 2012 to September 1st, 2012

As we approach the Labour Day  long weekend, here's a reminder of our Annual Labour Day, End Of Summer, Back To School Special coming your way next week. Join me for the Live show September 2nd and all week on the Archives at the Listen Page. You'll need to hurry to get your requests to me if you want to hear a song on the show. Click Requests on any page of the website or Call the Treasure Island Oldies Listener Line at 206-339-0709.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Carl Fiset in Quebec City, Quebec. If you've got a birthday coming up, send the details of your name, city and birthday date to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'd sure like to help celebrate your birthday too, by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing one of the great singers, who sadly is no longer with us. I never got a chance to see him perform in concert, so I'll have to be satisfied with seeing him in videos. It's the great Gene Pitney with 24 Hours From Tulsa. It's our Song Of The Week.

It was a really close race on Voice Your Choice when we featured Ray Charles. This week we spotlight the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice Page for either A Big Hunk Of Love or Heartbreak Hotel. I wonder if the results will be close once again like it was with Ray Charles. Whichever song is the winner, I'll play it in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Here is this week's Rock & Roll News for the Week of August 26th, 2012
And here's this week's Top 5 Countdown from 1961.


I'm so glad to hear from listeners who've been enjoying the show on their iPhone and Android. Very cool indeed! You can too. All you need is the Tune In Radio app. You can listen to the Latest Show, the Rock & Roll News Podcasts, and the Live Show as well. Just be sure that to do a search for the live show, it will have to have started in order for the show title to appear in the live stations results. Get more out of your iPhone or other smartphone with the Tune In Radio app, available at the iTunes Store.

Show the world you're a proud Islander!  Send your photo and we'll post it to the Treasure Island Oldies Listener Gallery. Send it to listenergallery@treasureislandoldies.com

Hope you have a great week. See you on next week's show.

Bye for now.

Michael

Elvis Presley - Voice Your Choice

The King of Rock And Roll is front and centre this week on Treasure Island Oldies, as Elvis Presley is the artist in the spotlight on Voice Your Choice.

Elvis was born Elvis Aron Presley on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. During his lifetime, which was sadly cut short when he died in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16, 1977, he appeared on the charts an unbelievable 153 times! Not only that, but he had 41 Top Ten hits between 1956 and 2002, including 24 Gold plus 21 Platinum Records. Here's an understatement: What an astonishing, astounding and outstanding achievement!

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice features two of the many great Elvis hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice Page for either A Big Hunk Of Love or Heartbreak Hotel. 

If last week's close race when we featured Ray Charles, I am very curious to see what happens with Elvis! I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Gene Pitney - Song Of The Week

Gene Pitney has been recognized as having one of the most distinctive male voices of the 1960s. I became a fan of his when I first heard his debut 45, (I Wanna) Love My Life Away back in 1961.

Oddly enough, I don't recall ever seeing him on the Ed Sullivan Show; additionally, I don't remember ever hearing about him putting on a concert in Montreal. And just about everybody came and performed in Montreal.

Sadly, he died April 5th, 2006 at the age of 66. We are fortunate that he did leave us with a legacy of great recordings and the odd TV appearances that were captured on film or videotape.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is pleased to play Gene Pitney and 24 Hours From Tulsa. It's our Song Of The Week.

Enjoy!

Michael


Monday, August 20, 2012

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies

August 19th, 2012 to August 25th, 2912

As we while away those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, it's great to be listening to some of the greatest summertime hits from the '50s, '60s, and '70s throughout the season. And there's sure no lack of them here on Treasure Island Oldies. You've been requesting some great summer records; thanks very much.  And we still have a couple more weeks to go before our annual Labour Day, End of Summer, Back To School Special. We'll play songs about working, songs about school, and the last of the summer hits for 2012. Join me Live Sunday, September 2nd at 6 pm Pacific and on the Archives at the Listen Page.

Happy Birthday wishes go our this week to my good friend and contributor to the show with the Hits From Across The Pond feature, Fay Greenwood, in Langley, British Columbia. All the best to you Fay. Also celebrating a birthday this week is Gerry Gaule in Albany, Oregon. His station, AM1700 Classic Car Gold, is one of our Broadcast Partner Stations. And last but not least hi and Happy Birthday to Greg Simpson in the Maillardville area of Coquitlam, British Columbia. If you've got a birthday coming up, send the details of your name, city and birthday date to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'd sure like to help celebrate your birthday too, by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is paying tribute to Scott McKenzie, who passed away at age 73 after a long illness of Guillan-Barre Syndrome, a disease that affects the nervous system. Scott McKenzie left us with the Anthem of the Summer of Love, 1967. We're playing San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In You Hair) and it's our Song Of The Week. Scott McKenzie R.I.P,

Voice Your Choice sets the spotlight on The Genius, Ray Charles. I don't know how you can make up your mind with these two songs, but you must. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice Page for either Georgia On My Mind or I Can't Stop Loving You. I can't imagine which song will win, but I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Here is this week's Rock & Roll News for the Week of August 19th, 2012



And here's the Top 5 Countdown from this week in 1964.


I'm so glad to hear from some listeners who are enjoying the show on their iPhone and Android.It's sop cool; it reminds me of listening to my handheld transistor radio as a kid. All you need is  the Tune In Radio app. You can listen to the Latest Show, the Rock & Roll News Podcasts, and the Live Show as well. Just be sure that to do a search for the live show, it will have to have started in order for the show title to appear in the live stations results. Get more out of your iPhone or other smartphone with the Tune In Radio app, available at the iTunes Store.

Show the world you're a proud Islander!  Send your photo and we'll post it to the Treasure Island Oldies Listener Gallery. Send it to listenergallery@treasureislandoldies.com

Hope you have a great week. See you on next week's show.

Bye for now.

Michael

Ray Charles - Voice Your Choice


I'm very pleased to present Ray Charles for the very first time on Voice Your Choice! Ray was born September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia and raised in Greenville, Florida. He became partially blind when he was 5 years old and completely blind two years later from glaucoma.

He studied classical piano as well as clarinet when he attended State School for Deaf and Blind Children in St. Augustine, Florida. When he moved to Seattle, Washington, in 1948, his musical career began.

Ray Charles eventually signed with Atlantic Records in New York City. He appeared on the Billboard charts a staggering 91 times between 1957 and 1993, including 11 Top Ten hits!

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice proudly spotlight The Genius, Ray Charles. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Georgia On My Mind or I Can`t Stop Loving You. This is going to be interestting. I`ll playt gthe winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Scott McKenzie - Song Of The Week

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog pays tribute to Scott McKenzie by playing the Anthem of the San Francisco hippie music scene. Here's Scott McKenzie with the Official Song of the Summer of Love, San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair). It's our Song Of The Week.

R.I.P. Scott McKenzie


Singer Scott McKenzie Has Died At Age 73

LOS ANGELES — Singer Scott McKenzie, who performed "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" – which became a hit in 1967 during the city's "Summer of Love" – has died.

A statement on McKenzie's website says the 73-year-old died on Saturday in Los Angeles. McKenzie battled Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disease that affects the nervous system, and had been in and out of the hospital since 2010.

"San Francisco" was written by John Phillips, the leader of the 1960s group The Mamas and the Papas. But McKenzie sang it and it has stood as an anthem for the 1960s counterculture movement.

McKenzie also co-wrote "Kokomo", a No. 1 hit for The Beach Boys in 1988, and toured with The Mamas and the Papas in the 1990s.

Monday, August 13, 2012

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies


August 12th, 2012 to August 18th, 2012

I heard from long time listeners and friends, Tim and Jill in Cambridge, Ontario. They've created a great new website and store that is sure to be of interest to oldies fans and nostalgia buffs. TNJPoster Creations has a wide variety of posters from vintage drag racing events, surf concerts, amusement parks, drive-in movies, and more. Have a visit. Tim and Jill, I send my best wishes for much success to you both!

As you may be aware, in my earlier days I was Vice-President A&R (Artist & Repertoire) with A&M Records Canada. This past weekend there was a reunion of the A&M Canada staff in Toronto. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but sent my love and best wishes to everyone for a great get together. During the weekend, I came across a video that we did for the A&M Canada 15th Anniversary convention. My Webmaster, Eddy Fisher, kindly posted the video for the A&Mers to watch. It was fantastic to hear from so many friends I worked with for 11 years during the peak of the music industry between 1975 and 1986. The video link was also included on the A&M official website. Now that site has a fantastic history of the company and profiles on all of its artists, and this year marks A&M Records 50th Anniversary. The label was started in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in Herb's garage in Los Angeles, and the first hit was The Lonely Bull by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. You can watch this historic music industry video here.

Mark you calendar for our next special. The week of September 2nd it's the Labour Day End Of Summer Back To School Special, Live Sunday, September 2nd at 6 pm Pacific time and on the Archive at the Listen Page. If there's a song you'd like for me to play on the special, be sure to let me know. Get in touch by either the Requests Button on any page of the website or call the Listener Line at 206-339-0709. I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Father and Son, Matt and Ken Meaney, both celebrating birthdays this week. Matt lives in Langley, British Columbia while his son lives in Washington State. Ken, you've got a good dad and he is a good friend of mine! I'd sure like to help celebrate your birthday too by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles. Send the details of your name, city and birthday date to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog pays tribute to the late Jimmy Jones this week with his smash hit, Handy Man. It's our Song Of The Week.

Voice Your Choice presents The Animals, the British blues influenced group from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice Page for either When I Was Young or It's My Life. Both songs are great and not that often played anymore. I look forward to playing the winning song in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Here is this week's Rock & Roll News for the Week of August 12th, 2012



And here's the Top 5 Countdown from this week in 1962.

Be sure to enjoy the show while you're on the go this summer with your iPhone, or other smartphone, and the Tune In Radio app. You can listen to the Latest Show, the Rock & Roll News Podcasts, and the Live Show as well. Just be sure that to do a search for the live show, it will have to have started in order for the show title to appear in the live stations results. Get more out of your iPhone or other smartphone with the Tune In Radio app, available at the iTunes Store.

Show the world you're a proud Islander!  Send your photo and we'll post it to the Treasure Island Oldies Listener Gallery. Send it to listenergallery@treasureislandoldies.com

Hope you have a great week. See you on next week's show.

Bye for now.

Michael


The Animals - Voice Your Choice

Did you know that these guys from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England were called the Alan Price Combo before they changed their name to The Animals?

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame members, The Animals had quite a the lineup of talented musicians. Eric Burdon sang lead vocals, Alan Price played keyboards, Bryan "Chas" Chandler played bass, Hilton Valentine was on guitar, with John Steel on drums.

Chas Chandler pursued a management career and discovered Jimi Hendrix in 1966. Chas died at age 57 in his sleep of an apparent heart attack in 1996.

The Animals appeared on the Hot 100 chart 20 times between 1964 and 1983, yet only had two Top Ten records, including The House Of The Rising Sun, their debut release which reached Number One.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice Spotlights The Animals. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice Page for either When I Was Young or It's My Life. I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Jimmy Jones - Song Of The Week

As a tribute to Jimmy Jones who sadly passed away this week, the Treasure Island Oldies Blog is pleased to feature one of his smash hit records.

Here is Jimmy Jones and his signature hit, Handy Man. It's Our Song Of The Week.

R.I.P. JImmy

Michael



Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Marvin Hamlisch Has Died

He was one singular musical sensation.

Marvin Hamlisch, who composed some of the most famous scores of our time - including for the film The Sting and Broadway show A Chorus Line - has died in Los Angeles. He was 68.

Family spokesman Jason Lee says Hamlisch died Monday after a brief illness, reports AP. Other details aren't being released.

Hamlisch's career included composing, conducting and arranging music from Broadway to Hollywood. His movies included The Way We Were and Sophie's Choice. He won three Academy Awards, four Emmys and a Tony.

Monday, August 06, 2012

This Week OnTreasure Island Oldies


August 5th, 2012 to August 11th, 2012

Oh my! What a great time we had on this week's Annual Instrumental Gems Wordless Wonders Special. I'd like to thank you for the many, many requests, both via the Requests Button on the website as well as the Treasure Island Oldies Listener Line at 206-339-0709. It's no wonder that this particular show, which showcases some of the greatest instrumental hits of the '50s, '60s and '70s, gets so much reaction from listeners around the world. The feedback from many folks is their top 3 favourite specials of the years are the Instrumental Gems  Wordless Wonders, Halloween Spooktacular and, of course, the Christmas Special. While I love presenting every show for you, these three are among my favourites as well.

Mark your calendar for our next special, the Annual Labour Day End Of Summer Back To School Special. It will air Live Sunday, September 2nd and the next day on the Archives at the Listen Page. I must say though, I am in no hurry whatsoever for summer to end. This is my absolute favourite time of the year with the sun and heat in full force. I just wish I could be like the teachers and have every summer off. That would be amazing!

I've been getting more enquiries from various stations around the world asking about if they can carry Treasure Island Oldies on their station. Hopefully we will be adding more stations to our Broadcast Partners Network in the near future. If you know of a station that you think should have the show on their station, be sure to get in touch with them or let me know the name and city and I'll get ion touch with them. We just keep on growing!

Having a birthday is one's very special day, focused on recognizing the unique individual you are. And I'd sure like to help celebrate your birthday by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles. Send the details of your name, city and birthday date to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is keeping up our Instrumental Gems Wordless Wonders theme this week. We're playing Booker T & The MGs in a classic, very hot live performance of Green Onions. It's our Song Of The Week. Enjoy!

We get very soulful for next week's Voice Your Choice as we feature The Chi-Lites. Cast your vote at the Voice YourChoice page for either Have You Seen Heror Oh Girl. This is going to be a close result I feel. We'll play the winning song in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Here is this week's Rock & Roll News for the Week of August 5th, 2012




And here's the Top 5 Countdown from this week in 1960.



Be sure to enjoy the show while you're on the go this summer with your iPhone, or other smartphone, and the Tune In Radio app. You can listen to the Latest Show, the Rock & Roll News Podcasts, and the Live Show as well. Just be sure that to do a search for the live show, it will have to have started in order for the show title to appear in the live stations results. Get more out of your iPhone or other smartphone with the Tune In Radio app, available at the iTunes Store.

Show the world you're a proud Islander!  Send your photo and we'll post it to the Treasure Island Oldies Listener Gallery. Send it to listenergallery@treasureislandoldies.com.

Hope you have a great week. See you on next week's show.

Bye for now.

Michael



The Chi-Lites - Voice Your Choice

Chicago is not only known for its description as the Windy City. It's also the home of many successful musicians, songwriters, performers and legendary recording studios. It's also the home of The Chi-Lites.

In this soulful R&B group were lead singer Eugene Record, tenor Robert "Squirrel" Lester, baritone Marshall Thompson and bass singer Creadel "Red" Jones. They first recorded in 1963 as the Hi-Lites but became the Chi-Lites with their first charted single in 1969, Give It Away.

In six short years between 1969 and 1975, they appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 charts 25 times, and on the R&B charts a staggering 43 times, between 1969 and 1998.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents The Chi-Lites. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice Page for either Have You Seen Her or Oh Girl. We'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Booker T & The MGs - Song Of The Week

We head to Memphis, Tennessee this week here at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. It's the home of Booker T & The MGs, which actually stood for Memphis Group.

In keeping with our theme this week on our Annual Instrumental Gems Wordless Wonders Special on Treasure Island Oldies, we're playing one of the best instrumental groups ever, that were the studio session players for Stax Records. The group consisted of  some of the best studio musicians ever assembled: keyboard whiz Booker T. Jones, bass player Donald "Duck" Dunn, Steve Cropper on guitar, and Al Jackson, Jr. on drums.

This week the Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing one of the all-time classic instrumentals by Booker T & The MGs, in a sizzling live performance of Green Onions. It's our Song Of The Week.

Enjoy!

Michael

Saturday, August 04, 2012

Handy Man Singer Jimmy Jones Has Died

Jimmy Jones, the Birmingham, Alabama native who scored two top five records in four months at the beginning of 1960, died Thursday (August 2) at the age of 75. Jimmy moved to New York as a teenager, hooking up with the Sparks of Rhythm in 1954. They recorded the original version of his composition, "Handy Man", in 1956. By then Jimmy had left, forming the Savoys and recording under that name and as the Pretenders and the Jones Boys before he struck out on his own in 1959. 

Partnering with songwriter Otis Blackwell, he re-worked "Handy Man" and recorded it for Cub Records (that's Otis whistling on the tune). The song made it to #2 and was followed by another Otis production, "Good Timin'", which got to #3. Inexplicably, the hits then dried up for Jimmy. "That's When I Cried" only got to #83 and "I Told You So" floundered at #85 in 1961. Moves to the Ro-Jac, Vee-Jay, Roulette, Parkway and Bell labels yielded no more hits, but Jimmy kept on writing and performing.