Friday, January 29, 2016

Paul Kantner of The Jefferson Airplane Has Died At Age 74

Paul Kantner, one of the giants of the San Francisco music scene, died Thursday, January 28, 2016. Mr. Kantner, a founding member of the Jefferson Airplane, was 74 and had suffered a heart attack this week. His death was confirmed by longtime publicist and friend, Cynthia Bowman, who said he died of multiple organ failure and septic shock. Mr. Kantner had a string of health problems in recent years, including a heart attack in March.

With Jefferson Airplane, Mr. Kantner pioneered what became known as the San Francisco sound in the mid-1960s, with such hits as “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.” The Airplane was renowned for thrilling vocal gymnastics by singers Marty Balin, Grace Slick and Mr. Kantner, the psychedelic blues-rock sound developed by guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bass player Jack Casady and the LSD-spiked, ’60s-era revolutionary fervor of its lyrics.

The band was formed in 1965 in a Union Street bar called the Drinking Gourd, when Balin met Mr. Kantner and expressed his interest in creating a “folk-rock” band. It didn’t take long for the Airplane to attract a sizable local following, enough so that when fledgling promoter Bill Graham opened his legendary Fillmore Auditorium, the Jefferson Airplane served as the first headliner.

The Airplane was the first of the so-called “San Francisco sound” bands to sign a recording contract with a major label, and in August of 1966, its debut album, “Jefferson Airplane Takes Off,” was released. Slick joined the band a year later and songs like “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit” became national hits as the love children came streaming into San Francisco.

Mr. Kantner is survived by three children; sons Gareth and Alexander, and daughter China.

Monday, January 25, 2016

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of January 24th, 2016

January 24th to January 30th, 2016

This week on Treasure Island Oldies I paid tribute to the founding member of The Eagles, Glenn Frey who passed away January 18th as a result of complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. Man this has been a terrible start to the New Year so far with the loss of such great talent. Thank you for your requests, specifically for songs by Glenn as a solo artist or as songs he sang the lead vocal on with The Eagles. Speaking of tributes, be sure to listen next week for the annual salute to the music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. The entire fourth hour of the show you'll hear interviews and new clips along with lots of great music in recognition of The Day The Music Died.

I'd like to extend my thanks and appreciation to our webmaster, Eddy Fisher, for working so diligently to get the backbone of the website up and running again, and retrieving complete control of the website. I'm so glad it is fully functional again.

I’d like to wish Fred Waterer in Ste. Catharines, Ontario, and Wendy McDougall in Newton, South Australia a very Happy Birthday this week. If you have a birthday coming up, please be sure to let me know so that I can celebrate your special day on the show. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I’ll wish you Happy Birthday on the air and also play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is also paying tribute to Glenn Frey. From a live concert performance by The Eagles, it's their first major hit, Take It Easy. It’s our Song of the week. R.I.P. Glenn Frey.

Voice Your Choice spotlights The Guess Who with their first hit and also their biggest. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Shakin' All Over or American Woman. I’ll play the winner on next week’s show.

Here’s this week’s Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1965.

Please remember to join me next week for the Annual Day the Music Died tribute in the 4th hour of the show.

Take care and have a good week.

Bye for now.

Michael

The Guess Who - Voice Your Choice



The Guess Who formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the mid-'60s. The original group was named Chad Allen & The Expressions and consisted of Chad Allen (lead vocals and guitar), Randy Bachman (guitar), Bob Ashley (piano), Jim Kale (bass), and Garry Peterson (drums). From that line-up came one of the best rock and roll records ever to come out of Canada, Shakin' All Over, originally recorded by England's Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. But in my opinion, Chad Allen's riveting vocals and the entire band's electric performance completely outshone the original UK single. Two interesting notes about this record: 1 - this song was recorded in a TV studio, CKY in Winnipeg; and 2 - when released in the United States by Scepter Records in New York City, the label felt it had a real "British Invasion" sound and so decided to not reveal the name of the group, but simply printed "Guess Who" on the label. Well the name obviously stuck!

Burton Cummings joined the band in 1966, replacing Bob Ashley on piano. Shortly thereafter Chad Allen left, and Burton became the new lead singer. It took four years and a great record producer, Jack Richardson (who by the way also produced the Bob Seger classic Night Moves at Toronto's Nimbus 9 Studios), but the end result was their first Gold record, the chart smash These Eyes.

The hits kept on coming for the next five years until the end of 1974, including six Top Ten songs and three Gold Records.

Treasure Island Oldies presents The Guess Who on Voice Your Choice. Cast you vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Shakin' All Over or American Woman. I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

The Eagles - Take It Easy - Song of the Week

As part of the tribute that I paid to Glenn Frey, founding member of The Eagles, on this week's Treasure Island Oldies show, I thought you'd enjoy seeing and hearing the band in concert.

Here then is Take It Easy by The Eagles. It's our Song of the Week.

R.I.P. Glenn Frey

Michael



Monday, January 18, 2016

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of January 17th 2016


January 17th to January 23rd, 2016

This week on Treasure Island Oldies I paid tribute to David Bowie, who passed away at age 69 after a battle with cancer. His music resonated with so many people around the world and it was so good to play some of his songs for you on the show. Last week on the encore presentation of the feature Hits From Across The Pond with Fay Greenwood, the spotlight was on David Bowie, and so coincidentally a few short hours after the live show ended came word that he had died. So I decided it would be fitting to replay the same feature on this week’s show to end the tribute. As I am writing this update, I found out that the founding member of The Eagles, Glenn Frey passed away today (January 18th)  as a result of complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. Man this has been a terrible start to the New Year so far with the loss of such great talent. Naturally I will yet again be paying tribute on the show next week and will play some of the great songs by The Eagles that featured Glenn Frey on lead vocals.

Your patience is being asked as our webmaster, Eddy Fisher, tries to fix the backbone of the website. Several things are not functioning properly, including not being able to change the background images on the site from Christmas decorations to our regular colour. The issues are still being diagnosed and you’ll be kept up to date on how things are developing.

I’d like to wish Cora Quinn in Peoria, Illinois a very Happy Birthday this week. If you have a birthday coming up, please be sure to let me know so that I can celebrate your special day on the show. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I’ll wish you Happy Birthday on the air and also play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing Bobby Darin with a live version of Beyond The Sea. It’s our Song of the week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice spotlights another music family, this time it’s The Cowsills. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either The Rain, The Park & Other Things or Hair. I’ll play the winner on next week’s show.

Here’s this week’s Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1968.

Please join me next week for another four hours of some of the greatest music ever recorded.

Bye for now.

Michael

The Cowsills - Voice Your Choice

The Cowsills were a real family pop group from Newport, Rhode Island that became the inspiration for TV's The Partridge Family. The group consisted of brothers Billy, Bob, Paul, Barry and John, along with their younger sister Susan and mother Barbara.

In two years between 1967 and 1969 they appeared on the Hot 100 chart eight times, had 3 Top Ten hits and 2 Gold Records!

After the group broke up in the mid-70s, Billy Cowsill moved to  Canada, and specifically Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, later Calgary and finally settled in Vancouver joining Blue Northern and later co-lead singer of The Blue Shadows with Jeffrey Hatcher. They became popular for their Everly Brothers-like vocal harmonies. Sadly his health declined and he passed away in 2006. But he and his family members left a nice collection of music we still enjoy today.

Treasure Island Oldies presents The Cowsills on Voice Your Choice. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either The Rain, The Park & Other Things or Hair. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea - Song of the Week

I had a request to play Bobby Darin and specifically Beyond The Sea on this week's Treasure island Oldies show. It's such a great song that I decided to play an entertaining live version for you here at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. His easy going manner with the audience is good fun.

Here's Bobby Darin and Beyond The Sea. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael


Glenn Frey, Eagles Founder, Has Died At Age 67

Glenn Frey, Eagles guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, passed away Monday. He was 67. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016. Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia," the Eagles wrote in a statement Monday, January 18, 2016.

"The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery," the statement continued. "Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide."

In a separate statement, Don Henley said of Frey, "He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction.  But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved.  We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream:  to make our mark in the music industry — and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed.  But, Glenn was the one who started it all.  He was the spark plug, the man with the plan."

Henley continued, "He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit.  He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven.  He loved is wife and kids more than anything.  We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow.

We brought our two-year History of the Eagles Tour to a triumphant close at the end of July and now he is gone.  I'm not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet.  It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it.  But, I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life.  Rest in peace, my brother.  You did what you set out to do, and then some."

Monday, January 11, 2016

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of January 10th, 2016

January 10th to January 16th, 2016

This week on Treasure Island Oldies I paid tribute to Troy Shondell, who passed away a few days ago in Picayune, Mississippi, from complications resulting from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. While many think he was a one hit wonder with This Time (We’re Really Breaking Up), he had two other records on the Top 100 and I was pleased to also play both Tears From An Angel and Island In The Sky. I will also pay tribute to David Bowie on next week’s show. We’ve lost so many great talents already this year!

By the way, I’m pleased to advise you that thanks to Eddy Fisher, our webmaster,  both the 24/7 Stream as well as the Christmas Special are back online and available at the Listen page.

I’d like to wish Judy Covington in Canton, Ohio a very Happy Birthday. If you have a birthday coming up, please be sure to let me know so that I can celebrate your special day on the show. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I’ll wish you Happy Birthday on the air and also play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is paying tribute to Troy Shondell with a live performance of This Time. It’s our Song of the Week. R.I.P. Troy Shondell. 

Voice Your Choice spotlights the “Bubblegum Music” era with 1910 Fruitgum Company. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either 1 2 3 Red Light or Simon Says. I’ll play the winner on next week’s show.

Here’s this week’s Rock and Roll News Podcast

Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1961

Take care and please join me next week.

Bye for now.
Michael

1910 Fruitgum Company - Voice Your Choice

The 1910 Fruitgum Co. were at the forefront of the "bubblegum movement". I say that with tongue firmly planted in cheek; however they were among the first bubblegum groups to score big on the charts.

The core of the group was lead singer Mark Gutkowski from New Jersey. Their producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz, used the original line-up of Floyd Marcus, Pat Karwan, Steve Mortkowitz and Frank Jeckell, and of course, Mark Gutkowski, on their first two singles, Simon Says and May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart). All of their additional hits were played by a revolving door of various studio musicians.

As a side note, that same production team also had their own hit with Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run) under the name of Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus in 1968.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents  the 1910 Fruitgum Co. with two of their hit records. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either 1 2 3 Red Light or Simon Says. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Troy Shondell - This Tme - Song of the Week

I paid tribute to Troy Shondell on this week's show, as a result of hearing the news of his passing at age 76. Sadly he died due to complications from both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases.

It's my pleasure to play for you a nice live performance from Rock and Roll Graffiti of Troy Shondell and This Time, his Top Ten smash. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy.

R.I.P. Troy Shondell



Davie Bowie Has Died At Age 69

by Mike Barnes, Shirley Halperin, Billboard

The singer-songwriter and producer excelled at glam rock, art rock, soul, hard rock, dance pop, punk and electronica during an eclectic 40-plus-year career.

David Bowie has died after a battle with cancer, his rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 69.

"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief," read a statement posted on the artist's official social media accounts.

The influential singer-songwriter and producer excelled at glam rock, art rock, soul, hard rock, dance pop, punk and electronica during his eclectic 40-plus-year career. He just released his 25th album, Blackstar, Jan. 8, which was his birthday.

Bowie’s artistic breakthrough came with 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, an album that fostered the notion of rock star as space alien. Fusing British mod with Japanese kabuki styles and rock with theater, Bowie created the flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust.

Three years later, Bowie achieved his first major American crossover success with the No. 1 single “Fame” off the top 10 album Young Americans, then followed with the 1976 avant-garde art rock LP Station to Station, which made it to No. 3 on the charts and featured top 10 hit “Golden Years.”
Other memorable songs included 1983’s “Let’s Dance” — his only other No. 1 U.S. hit — “Space Oddity,” “Heroes,” “Changes,” “Under Pressure,” “China Girl,” “Modern Love,” “Rebel, Rebel,” “All the Young Dudes,” “Panic in Detroit,” “Fashion,” “Life on Mars,” “Suffragette City” and a 1977 Christmas medley with Bing Crosby.

With his different-colored eyes (the result of a schoolyard fight) and needlelike frame, Bowie was a natural to segue from music into curious movie roles, and he starred as an alien seeking help for his dying planet in Nicolas Roeg’s surreal The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). Critics later applauded his three-month Broadway stint as the misshapen lead in 1980’s The Elephant Man.

Three years later, Bowie achieved his first major American crossover success with the No. 1 single “Fame” off the top 10 album Young Americans, then followed with the 1976 avant-garde art rock LP Station to Station, which made it to No. 3 on the charts and featured top 10 hit “Golden Years.”
Other memorable songs included 1983’s “Let’s Dance” — his only other No. 1 U.S. hit — “Space Oddity,” “Heroes,” “Changes,” “Under Pressure,” “China Girl,” “Modern Love,” “Rebel, Rebel,” “All the Young Dudes,” “Panic in Detroit,” “Fashion,” “Life on Mars,” “Suffragette City” and a 1977 Christmas medley with Bing Crosby.

Survivors include his wife, the model Iman, whom he married in 1992; his son, director Duncan Jones; and daughter Alexandria.