Monday, February 29, 2016

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of February 29th, 2016

February 29th to March 6th, 2016

It sure hits home when my own listeners are starting to pass away. Last week it was Island Regular, Rich Howe in Pittsburgh, and now it's another long time listener and regular in the Chat Room. George Mooth died in Edwardsburg, Michigan. I am gratified with the number of comments that were made after I did a post to my Facebook page. Linda in California knew that one of his favourite songs was Lost In The '50s Tonight by Ronnie Milsap and she asked me to play it in memory of George. I also went into my request audio recordings and found a phone call from George when he called to wish me and the show a happy 10th annniversary, and he also requested his all-time favourite, Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum. I was so pleased to play it in his memory. Thanks for the fun conversations, George!

We're just a couple of weeks away from the next special, The Name Game, Live Sunday, March 13th. Every song I play during the show will have the name of a person in the song title, like Sheila, Tommy, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, and so many more. You'll be surprised with just how many songs have the name of a girl or a guy in the title. Be sure to listen; it's always a fun special.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Linda Russell Johnson in West Plains, Missouri. If your birthday is 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 the Number One song from this week's Top 5 Countdown from 1970. Simon and Garfunkel performed at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert which took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City and it's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice spotlights the tremendously talented Darlene Love. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either A Fine Fine Boy or Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry. 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 1970

Take care and have a good week.

Bye for now.
Michael

Darlene Love - Voice Your Choice

Darlene Love was born Darlene Wright on July 26, 1938 in Los Angeles, California. Not only was she the lead singer of The Blossoms, a great group of backup singers, she also sang lead vocal on two songs credited to The Crystals but actually Darlene with The Blossoms - He's A Rebel and He's Sure The Boy I Love. She also sang with Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans.

Her voice is synonymous with the sound of the Girl Groups of the 1960s and her annual appearances on Late Night With David Letterman performing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) became legendary.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents the amazing Darlene Love. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either A Fine Fine Boy or Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Simon And Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Song of the Week

Simon and Garfunkel performed together at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Here they are performing the Number One song this week on the Treasure Island Oldies Top 5 Countdown, Bridge Over Troubled Water. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael



Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Country Legend Sonny James Has Died

NASHVILLE — Country singer Sonny James, whose music went from rural Alabama to the moon, died Monday afternoon, February 22, 2016, according to longtime friend Gary Robble. He was 87.

James was “an artist who really dominated his time in history,” Kix Brooks said in 2006, the year the singer was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His smooth 1956 recording of Young Love came before the rise of the Nashville sound, and in the late 1960s and early 1970s, James released 16 consecutive chart-topping singles.

Born James Hugh Loden on May 1, 1928, in Hackleburg, Ala. The child, whose nickname was "Sonny Boy," performed with his family. At age 3, he received his first mandolin, which his father made by hand from a molasses bucket. The child soon would learn to play the guitar and fiddle as well and won fiddle championships as a teen.

The Loden family played on radio stations and in schoolhouses across the South. During their travels, James met a young musician named Chet Atkins, who also would go on to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The two men later crossed paths once again in Music City.

In September 1950, James’ Alabama National Guard unit was sent to Korea. While he was stationed there, he began writing songs seriously.
After leaving the service, he came to Nashville to pursue a career in music. He met with Atkins, who introduced him to Ken Nelson of Capitol Records.
Nelson suggested that he adopt the stage name Sonny James, which was easier for disc jockeys and fans to remember.

The singer soon would get the nickname “the Southern Gentleman.” As a soft-spoken and humble man with impeccable manners, he lived up to that description on stage and off. "He was the ultimate gentleman," said Robble, whose vocal quartet, The Southern Gentlemen, recorded and toured with James from 1964 to 1971. "He knew a lot of people, but when you were talking to him, the only person he knew was you."
Brenda Lee, who toured with James and the duo Mickey and Sylvia, said she really got to know the Young Love singer when they starred on a country music television show, The Ozark Jubilee, in the 1950s. The two became dear friends.

She was 9 or 10 years old and he was an established star more than twice her age, but he was always unfailingly kind to the young singer. "I didn't know that his nickname was the Southern Gentleman. I just knew that he was one of the nicest, sweetest, most down-to-earth people that I had ever met," Lee said. "Family was always first with him, and the career was second," she said. "I loved him for that."

In early 1953, James released his debut single, That’s Me Without You, which would hit No. 9 on the charts. The music he released in the next three years, for the most part, was unsuccessful, but in late 1956, James recorded his breakthrough hit, the dreamy ballad Young Love. The sweet, earnest single spent nine weeks atop the country charts and crossed over to pop radio in early 1957. With its polished production and crooning vocals, Young Love would help open the door for the smoother Nashville sound of the late 1950s and 1960s that supplemented a more honky-tonk country genre.


Monday, February 22, 2016

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of February 21st, 2016

February 21st to February 28th, 2016

Well another four hours flew by on this week's show. Someone must speed up the clock. LOL By the way, thanks for your requests and emails again this week. I always try my best to play as many of your requests as possible. The only thing I ask of you when making a request, either via email of by calling the Listener Line at 206-339-0709, is that it appeared on the Top 100 charts from the '50s, '60s, or '70s. Thanks very much.

Mark your calendar for the next special, The Name Game, Live Sunday, March 13th. Every song played during the show will have the name of a person in the song title. You'll be surprised with just how many songs have the name of a girl or a guy in the title.

If your birthday is coming up, please be sure to let me know so that I can celebrate your special day on the show. Send the details to birthday@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 the Number One song from this week's Top 5 Countdown. The Theme from "A Summer Place" by Percy Faith is our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice spotlights Brooklyn Bridge. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Worst That Could Happen or Blessed Is The Rain. 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 1960

Take care and have a good week.

Bye for now.
Michael

Brooklyn Bridge - Voice Your Choice

Johnny Maestro, who performed the hit "16 Candles" and many others as the lead singer with The Crests in the '50s and early '60s, also enjoyed a decades-long career with The Brooklyn Bridge.

Treasure Island Oldies presents Brooklyn Bridge on Voice Your Choice. Cast your vote for either Worst That Could Happen or Blessed Is The Rain. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Percy Faith - Theme From A Summer Place - Song of the Week

Percy Faith, born in Toronto in 1908, moved to the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 1945. He scored, arranged and was a band leader who worked with many artists, particularly Columbia Records artists including Tony Bennett, Doris Day and Johnny Mathis.

In 1960 he scored a Number One hit with The Theme from A Summer Place, a motion picture that starred Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies this was the number one song on the Top 5 Countdown from 1960. Here is a rarely seen live version of the Theme From "A Summer Place". It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!
Michael


Monday, February 15, 2016

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of February 14th, 2016

February 14th to February 20th, 2016

I need to begin this week's Update on a sad note. Long time listener and Chat Room regular, Rich Howe, passed away a few days ago in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania of a heart attack. He was a lifetime friend of of nearly 50 years with another regular and show contributor, Rick Canode. I send my condolences to his wife Connie (Kitten).

I apologize for not having an update last week. I was having a surgical procedure to remove a large kidney stone. Sure glad it's over and done now and I am pleased to say I am feeling so much better. I appreciated your well wishes; thanks very much.

Thanks also for your requests for the Valentine's Day Special. It was fun to have the show happen on February 14th, the actual Valentine's Day itself; doesn't happen too often. There are so many songs about love; it must be the number one topic for song lyrics! The cool thing about Treasure Island Oldies is we share the love not just on Valentine's Day but every week, enjoying our love of great music from the '50s, '60s, and '70s together.

Speaking of specials, mark your calendar for our next fun special, The Name Game, Live Sunday, March 13th. Every song played during the show will have the name of a person in the song title. It's always a popular special and I'm sure you'll enjoy it again this year.

I'd like to wish Bev Williams, who lives on Vancouver Island, a very Happy 80th Birthday! My thanks to Tom and Cindy for letting me know and for being part of her birthday celebration. If your birthday is 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 the Number One song from this week's Top 5 Countdown. The Wanderer is our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice spotlights The Fleetwoods, Gary Troxel, Gretchen Christopher and Barbara Ellis, from Olympia, Washington. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Come Softly To Me or Mr. Blue. 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 1962.

Take care and have a good week.

Bye for now.
Michael


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The Fleetwoods - Voice Your Choice


The Fleetwoods were a pop vocal trio from Olympia, Washington and were the only pop group from the Rock and Roll era to have two Number One hits in the same year, 1959. The trio consisted of founder Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis and Gary Troxel. They were considered by many to be ahead of their time with their intimate harmonies, intricate counterpoint and vocal arrangements.

Between 1959 and 1963 they charted 11 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including three Top Ten and two Gold Records. I'd say that is quite impressive!

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents The Fleetwoods with two of their signature classic hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Come Softly To Me or Mr. Blue. I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Dion - The Wanderer - Song of the Week

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top 5 Countdown was from 1962. I thought I'd play a video clip of the Number One song this week.

So here's Dion Dimucci with a song written by Ernie (Shout Shout Knock Yourself Out) Maresca; it's The Wanderer, Number 1 this week in 1962.

It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael



Thursday, February 04, 2016

Maurice White, Co-Founder Earth Wind & Fire Has Died At Age 74

Maurice White, co-founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, died in his sleep Thursday morning, February 4, 2016, in Los Angeles. He was 74.

His band had a series of hits including September, Boogie Wonderland, Shining Star and After the Love has Gone.

The singer-songwriter was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1992 but his condition was reported to have got worse in recent months. Earth, Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, and Maurice was individually inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010.


Popularly known by his nickname of Reese, he worked with various well-known recording artists such as The Emotions, Barbra Streisand, Cher and Neil Diamond. Earth, Wind & Fire have sold more than 90 million albums worldwide.

"My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep," Verdine White, also a member of the band, told The Associated Press on Thursday."While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes."

White said in an interview with the Associated Press news agency in 2000 that he wanted Earth, Wind & Fire's music to inspire people rather than just entertain them."That was the whole objective, to try to inspire young people to believe in themselves and to follow through on their ideas," he said.
"We've touched so many people with these songs."

A former session drummer, White formed a band called Salty Peppers in the Chicago area in the late 1960s. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, disposing of all of the band members except Verdine, The band was renamed Earth, Wind & Fire after the three elements in his astrological chart.
Many of the group's earlier hits were characterised by Bailey's bright falsetto voice.

The band is perhaps best known for its exuberant, horn-driven mix of jazz, funk, gospel and Big Band music played at concerts where they performed in glitzy costumes underneath multi-coloured lights. They played at many top venues including the Super Bowl and the White House.

"We live in a negative society,'" White informed Newsweek at the peak of the band's success. "Most people can't see beauty and love. I see our music as medicine."

Monday, February 01, 2016

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of January 31st, 2016

January 31st to February 6th, 2016

It's seemingly becoming a weekly event since the beginning of the year to pay tribute to a recording star who has died. Again this week, I paid tribute to Paul Kantner, the founding member of Jefferson Airplane. He passed away at age 74 from some very serious health issues including multiple organ failure and septic shock. I sure hope this trend slows down!

I hope you also enjoyed the annual tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper during the 4th hour of this week's show with The Day The Music Died. It's interesting to speculate how all three would have progressed in their careers. I would hazard a guess that Buddy Holly would have continued to write great song after great song. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Send a note to me at michael@treasureislandoldies.com.

It's not all that often but this year Valentine's Day will happen on the same day as the live show. Join me February 14th for oure Annual Valentine's Day Special. Four hours of the best songs about love!

If your birthday is 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 the first Number One song by The Beatles in the USA. The song is I Want To Hold Your Hand and it's our Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice spotlights Tommy James and the Shondells. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Draggin' The Line or I Think We're Alone Now. 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 1964

Take care and have a good week.

Bye for now.

Michael

Tommy James and the Shondells - Voice Your Choice



Tommy James was born Thomas Jackson in Dayton, Ohio and started his pop group The Shondells when he was only 12 years old. Their first single, Hanky Panky, was recorded for a small independent label, Snap, in 1963.By the way, the original version of Hanky Panky was recorded in 1963 by The Blossoms as the B side of the 45. Roulette Records purchased the original master recording by Tommy James And The Shondells from Snap Records and issued it on their own label.  It took three years for the song to become a hit when it finally reached the top of the charts in 1966.

As the song was climbing the charts, Tommy James recruited the Pittsburgh group The Raconteurs to become the official Shondells. From 1966 to 1973, they hit the charts an incredible 31 times; during which time they enjoyed 7 Top Ten hits, including a Gold Record.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Tommy James And The Shondells with two of their hits for your votes. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Draggin' The Line or I Think We're Alone Now. I'll play the winner on ne3xt week's show.

The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand - Song of the Week

This week marks the first Number One song by The Beatles in the United States. I played it as part of this week's Top 5 Countdown on Treasure Island Oldies.

To continue the celebration, here are The Beatles with I Want To Hold Your Hand. It's our Song of the Week.

Enjoy!

Michael