Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Frankie "Sea Cruise" Ford Has Died At Age 76

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Frankie Ford, a rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues singer whose 1959 hit "Sea Cruise" brought him international fame when he was 19, is dead at the age of 76.
Ford died Monday of natural causes, according to the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office.
"He was a great guy. He had the best voice in rock and roll," said Mike Shepherd, a friend of Ford's and head of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, which inducted Ford in 2010.

In addition to "Sea Cruise," Billboard magazine's No. 14 overall and No. 11 in rhythm and blues in 1959, Ford's hits included "Roberta," ''Time after Time" and "You Talk Too Much." His version of "You Talk Too Much" aired while Joe Jones' recordings of the song were tied up in court. Jones' recording eventually reached No. 3, while none of Ford's after "Sea Cruise" made it higher than 72, the mark set by "Seventeen" in 1961.

Shepherd said Ford had been ill for some time, and had been unable to walk since he was hit by a car in Memphis several years ago.

Ford had sung since childhood. His adopted parents, Vincent and Anna Guzzo of Gretna, brought him to New York when he was five to perform on the "Ted Mack Amateur Hour." His stage name was suggested, in a nod to hot rods, by Ace Records owner Johnny Vincent, according to his biography on the hall of fame website. Shepherd said Ford was called to Cosimo Matassa's New Orleans studio in the late 1950s to cover songs by local black musicians whose records got limited airtime because of racial discrimination. Lenny Capello and Jimmy Clanton, both from Baton Rouge, were brought in at the same time, he said.

"All the music was coming from New Orleans, yet people like Pat Boone were covering people like Little Richard and Fats Domino and getting hits. It was a black-white thing," Shepherd said.
He said all three were auditioned in one day. "The producers understood the point: This is our music, this is Louisiana's music, yet we're letting them take it out of here and making a fortune with — I've got to say it — white guys," Shepherd said.

A different producer took each singer, he said. Capello had a hit with "Cotton Candy," which he previously had recorded with his own band, but this time backed with New Orleans professionals, according to his biography on the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame website. Clanton became a teen idol with "Just a Dream," ''Go Jimmy Go" and, in 1962, "Venus in Blue Jeans."

Ford's last performance was at the 2013 Gretna Heritage Festival.

Shepherd said he last saw Ford a couple of months ago when he visited to get items for the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame museum. He said Ford, no longer able to walk, told him, "Son, you go up and take whatever you want, because I'm never wearing any of it again." His choices included a sequined jacket — dark red except for a piano keyboard in cream and black sequins. He said Ford "put one hand on the sleeve of the jacket ... and he said, 'My mama made this for me.'"

Monday, September 28, 2015

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of September 27th, 2015

September 20th, 2015 to October 3rd 2015
Treasure Island Oldies and TNJ Poster Creations are pleased to announce the winner for September in the Treasure Island Oldies 18th Anniversary Contest. Congratulations to Elizabeth Towers in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She has chosen the Artistic Music poster as her prize. Congratulations!

There's still time for you to enter the contest, as we still have three more winners before the end of the year in October, November and December. Click the 18th Anniversary Contest logo to get more info and a chance to win the poster of your choice from TNJ Poster Creations.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Ed Sanderson in Toronto, Ontario. Is your birthday coming up soon? Please let me know so I can help celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you and wish you Happy Birthday on the air.

I'm pleased to welcome another new radio station to the Broadcast Partners Network, Retro Radio at 100.1 FM is in Ector, Texas. They will be simulcasting the Live show every Sunday night. Welcome!

As summer fades away and the summer crops are being harvested, it's time to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving together. Join me for the Live show, Sunday, October 11th. It's a time for giving and sharing and we'll be sharing great memories together as we enjoy some of the greatest music of all-time.

Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing the song that started off this week's show. It's Dusty Springfield with I Only Want To Be With You. It's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!


Voice Your Choice presents ABBA. Cast your vote at the voice Your Choice page for either Take A Chance On Me or Knowing Me Knowing You. I'll play the winner during next week's show.

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast for the week of September 27th.

It's the Top 5 Countdown from 1965.

Have a great week. Take care.
Bye for now.
Michael

ABBA - Voice Your Choice

ABBA formed in Stockholm, Sweden and their name is an acronym of the members' first initials: Anni-Frid (Frida), Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Anderson, and Agnetha Fältskog. Except for Frida who was born in Norway, everyone else was born in Sweden. 

Between 1974 and 1982, they appeared on the Billboard charts twenty times, had 4 Top Tens hits and two Gold Records. Quite the outstanding career. And they were the biggest "industry" in Sweden, beyond automakers and aeronautical manufacturers.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice offers you two songs by Abba from which to choose. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Take A Chance On Me or Knowing Me Knowing You. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Dusty Springfield - I Only Want To Be With You - Song of the Week

Here's the great Dusty Springfield with a really good live performance of the song that started off this week's Treasure Island Oldies show.

The clip is from the the TV show Aspen and Company from 1989. Here's Dusty Springfield and I Only Want To Be With You. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael



Monday, September 21, 2015

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - September 20th to 26th, 2015

September 20th, 2015 to September 26th 2015

Well, another week and another four hours together to share some of the greatest music of all time with you. As always, thanks for your requests, whether via email, the Treasure Island Oldies Listener Line or via my Facebook page. It was fun to hear from Daryl in Jacksonville, Illinois and to play his request by Round Robin, Do The Slauson, a regional record that was popular in the Los Angeles and Southern California area in 1963/1964. I'd love to hear from you too. Call the Listener Line at 206-339-0709 and record your request message. You can also click on the "email your request" button on the left column of the website. Keep those requests coming. Oh yeah, follow me on Facebook.

Remember to enter the 18th Anniversary Contest. We have October, November and December winners still to come. Click the 18th Anniversary Contest logo to get more info and a chance to win the poster of your choice from TNJ Poster Creations.

Is your birthday coming up soon? Please let me know so I can help celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you and wish you Happy Birthday on the air.

Did you hear that the North American portion of The Who Hits 50! world tour has had to be postponed due to lead singer being diagnosed with viral Meningitis. Get better soon, Roger. In the meantime, the Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing The Who from 1967 and Pictures Of Lily. It's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents the Classics IV. Cast your vote at the voice Your Choice page for either Traces or Everyday With You Girl. I'll play the winner during next week's show. 

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast for the week of September 20th. 

It's the Top 5 Countdown from 1959.

Have a great week. Take care.

Bye for now.
Michael



Classics IV - Voice Your Choice

The Classics IV got their start in Jacksonville, Fla., where Dennis Yost, a native of Detroit, was raised. Their hit recordings were produced in Atlanta under the supervision of producer Buddy Buie and Bill Lowery, founder of Lowery Music Inc.

While they didn't have a mountain of hits, they were all genuine big hits that have had a lasting impact.

Treasure Island Oldies presents the Classics IV on Voice Your Choice. Cast you vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Traces or Everyday With You Girl. I'll play the winner during next week's show.

The Who - Pictures Of Lily - Song of the Week




The Who are in the midst of their "The Who Hits 50!" world tour. Unfortunately, the remaining dates of the North American portion have had to be postponed. Lead singer Roger Daltry has been diagnosed with having viral Meningitis and has been forced to rest.

As a "get better soon" to Roger Daltry, here are The Who back in 1967 with Pictures Of Lily. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael


Monday, September 14, 2015

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of September 13th, 2015

September 13th, 2015 to September 19th 2015

It was great to be back with you this week for our Story Songs Special. And I'd also like to thank you for your requests and suggestions. They are always appreciated. When I prepare in advance of an upcoming special, it always surprises me with just how many songs fits into a particular theme, whether it be names, colours, summer, or stories. And what I also really enjoy is not just playing a few songs within a given theme and calling it a special. Nope, it's great to devote an entire show to a particular theme. So thanks again for your comments about the various specials we have already had this year as we celebrate the 18th Anniversary of Treasure Island Oldies. And there's still more to come with the Canadian Thanksgiving Special October 11th, the Halloween Spooktacular October 25th, Music By Numbers November 15th and my favourite show of the entire year, the Annual Christmas Special, this year on December 20th. It's been quite a year of celebrating.

And don't forget that the celebrating continues with the 18th Anniversary Contest. We still have October, November and December winners to come. Click the 18th Anniversary Contest logo to get more info on how to enter the contest and a chance to win the poster of your choice from TNJ Poster Creations.

As I mentioned on the show this week, it is generally listeners that we recognize and help them to celebrate their birthday. This week though I am pleased to wish Happy Birthday to two friends from our Broadcast Network Partners Network stations. Best wishes to Jony Cole at RAG-FM in Raglan, New Zealand and also to Lemoyne Westerbeck at KWQQ Double Q 106.3 FM in Farmington, Iowa. Is your birthday coming up soon? Please let me know so I can help celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you and wish you Happy Birthday on the air.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is continuing with the Story Songs theme by playing Creedence Clearwater Revival in a clip from Woodstock, Born On A Bayou. It's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents British Invasion era music from Gerry & The Pacemakers. Cast your vote at the voice Your Choice page for either I'm The One or I Like It. I'll play the winner during next week's show.  

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast for the week of September 13th.

It's the Top 5 Countdown from 1970.

We can now "close the book" for this week's Story Songs special and update. Looking forward to your company next Sunday for the Live show beginning at 6 pm Pacific. 

Hope you have a great week. Take care.

Bye for now.

Michael

Gerry and the Pacemakers - Voice Your Choice

Gerry and the Pacemakers were a pop-rock Merseybeat band from Liverpool. Apart from group leader Gerry Marsden on vocals, the Pacemakers were Leslie Maguire (piano), John Chadwick (bass), and brother Freddie Marsden (drums).

In late 1962, Gerry and the Pacemakers were the second band to be signed up by Brian Epstein - the Beatles were the first. When the Beatles rejected Mitch Murray's light-hearted "How Do You Do It", Epstein told the record producer George Martin that he had just the group to do it. On 22 January 1963, Gerry and the Pacemakers traveled from Liverpool to London to record the song.

The single went to No l, as did its cheeky follow-up, "I Like It". Having seen Paul McCartney's success around the Liverpool clubs with "Over the Rainbow", Gerry and the Pacemakers wanted a similar, emotional show-stopper and they picked "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. With George Martin's arrangement, they became the first UK beat group to record with strings. They also became the first act to reach No l with their first three singles. "You'll Never Walk Alone" was subsequently adopted by Liverpool football club and became the Kop anthem.

The group was featured on scooters for the film Ferry Cross The Mersey (1965), which was written by the creator of Coronation Street, Tony Warren. Although the plot is trite, the film offers invaluable views of Merseyside sights and clubs of the Sixties. The title song, written by Gerry Marsden, charted for the group in 1965. "There were lots of songs about Chicago, Broadway and London," said Freddie, "but nobody had mentioned Liverpool until then."

Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents Gerry And The Pacemakers. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I'm The One or I Like It. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Born On A Bayou - Song of the Week

This week on Treasure Island Oldies it was the Story Songs Special, as part of the 18th Anniversary series of specials. Here at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog we're continuing with that theme as we present CCR with a great story song.

Here's Creedence Clearwater Revival in a clip from Woodstock with Born On A Bayou. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael



Monday, September 07, 2015

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - September 6th to September 12th, 2015

September 6th, 2015 to September 12th 2015

Well well well. Resolve one issue and another surfaces. Last week we weren't able to bring you the show as a result of the severe wind storm knocking out power to over 710,000 homes and businesses in Greater Vancouver. That caused the power supply for the main computer that feeds the show audio to the network for re-distribution to be fried. Got that fixed and thought all would be well for this week's show. About two hours before the start of the show, Netfirms, the company that hosts this website and all of its links, went down. As they are a huge company, it would have affected in tens of thousands of websites to be down. Nonetheless, I began the show at the usual 6 pm Pacific time and hoped for the best. Fortunately some of the Broadcast Partners Network radio stations that simulcast the live show were still able to acquire the show stream, including The Legend in Indianapolis, Indiana. Just before the end of the 2nd hour, the website was back up and running and things started hopping. More folks placed their votes for Voice Your Choice. And the Chat Room regulars as well as new visitors were able to log in. It was really nice to have Scott return for a long overdue visit, after being away for several years. Phew! Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Don't forget to gather around your speakers next week for our Story Songs Special. Whether it's the story about being in down in El Paso, or taking a trip to MacArthur Park, you're be enthralled with the great stories throughout the show. It'll be just like the old days when the family gathered around the radio set in the living room to hear the latest installment of their favour radio show. :-)

I'd like to extend warm birthday greetings and best wishes to Cindy Williams in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Scott Harmon in Phenix City, Alabama. Happy Birthday! If your birthday is coming up soon, the listeners and I would like to help celebrate your birthday with you. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you and wish you Happy Birthday on the air.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing The Beach Boys with a live performance of Be True To Your School. Check out their teacher being interviewed at the beginning. Good fun. It's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents The O'Jays, the pride of Clanton, Ohio. Cast your vote at the voice Your Choice page for either Love Train or Back Stabbers. I'll play the winner during next week's show.  

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast for the week of September 6th.

It's the Top 5 Countdown from 1962.  

That's a wrap for this week. Looking forward to your company next Sunday, September 13th for the Live show and the Story Songs Special.

Hope you have a great week. Take care.

Bye for now.

Michael

The O'Jays - Voice Your Choice

The O'Jays were from Canton, Ohio and their original line-up included Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. They were first known at The Triumphs and later The Mascots when they recorded for King Records in 1962, and later had record deals with Imperial, Bell and Neptune Records. They were renamed The O'Jays by Cleveland disc jockey Eddie O'Jay.

Although they appeared on the Billboard charts ten times between 1963 and 1970, it wasn't until they signed with Philadelphia International Records in 1972, owned by producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, that they hit their stride. They also became a trio with Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell. From that point on, they hit the charts and scored six Top Ten hits and five Gold Records.

Treasure Island Oldies is pleased to present The O'Jays. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Love Train or Back Stabbers.

I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Beach Boys - Be True To Your School - Song of the Week

The Beach Boys became part of summer with fun fun fun in the sun, driving around till her daddy takes the T-Bird away, and surfin'.

They also had a smash with a pride-building song, Be True To Your School. This week the Treasure Island Oldies Blog reflects the Labour Day Back To School End Of Summer Special on Treasure Island Oldies.

Here are The Beach Boys with a live performance of Be True To Your School. It's our Song of the Week. Be sure to catch the beginning of the video as it includes one of their teachers talking about them in class!

Enjoy!

Michael