Monday, October 30, 2017

Happy Halloween from Treasure Island Oldies

Week of October 29th, 2017 to November 4th, 2017
Well that was a spooky, thrilling and fun Halloween Spooktacular! If you missed the live show or would like to hear it again, there are various days and times when our Broadcast Partners Network stations will be playing it this week. Please go to the Broadcast Partners Network page to find a day and time that works for you. Please note that all times listed are the local times for each station. Here's the link

Next week we return to our usual format and I will be sure to wish Happy Birthday to listeners whose birthday is this week. In addition, I will do an extensive musical tribute to Fats Domino on next week's show.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Britain's Procol Harum. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Homburg or Conquistador. I'll play the winning song on the November 5th show.

Thanks again for listening to the Halloween Spooktacular. See you next week.

Happy Halloween! 

Bye for now.
Michael

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Fats Domino - One Of The Original Rock & Roll Stars Has Died

(CNN)Antoine "Fats" Domino, a titan of early rock 'n' roll whose piano-based hits -- such as "Ain't That a Shame," "Blueberry Hill" and "Blue Monday" -- influenced artists including Paul McCartney and Randy Newman, died Tuesday, an official said.

Domino passed away due to natural causes, according to Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish Medical Examiner's office in Louisiana. He was 89.
 
With producer and arranger Dave Bartholomew, Domino cut a string of songs in the 1950s and early '60s that helped establish his hometown of New Orleans as a rock 'n' roll hotbed and made him one of the music's leading figures. 
 
The pair recorded "The Fat Man" in late 1949, a song considered one of the first rock 'n' roll records -- a group that includes Wynonie Harris' version of "Good Rockin' Tonight" (1947) and Jackie Brenston and Ike Turner's "Rocket 88" (1951) -- and followed it up with more than 30 Top 40 hits, including 23 gold singles.
 
Starting in 1955, Domino was a regular on the national pop charts with songs that quickly became classics. Among the titles: "Ain't That a Shame" -- Domino's first crossover hit, which was watered down in a higher-charting version by Pat Boone -- "I'm Walkin'," "I'm Ready," "Valley of Tears," "I Want to Walk You Home" and "Walking to New Orleans." He sold more records than any 1950s figure except Elvis Presley, according to Rolling Stone.
 
His version of "Blueberry Hill," a song written in 1940, topped out at No. 2 on the Billboard charts and remains Domino's highest-charting record.
 
Most of his hits were characterized by midtempo rhythms and Domino's distinctive triplet-based piano style, in which he hammered chords in groups of three in rollicking, melodic fashion. The arrangements usually included a saxophone solo and a lead guitar line that echoed the melody.
The style was widely imitated. McCartney, a big Domino fan, wrote the Beatles song "Lady Madonna" in emulation of the pianist's work. (Domino returned the favor on his 1968 comeback album, "Fats Is Back," by covering the tune.) McCartney never grew out of his Domino fascination: Thirty years later, he did a version of the 1920s tune "Coquette" on his 1999 album "Run Devil Run" that was closely based on Domino's 1958 recording.
 
Newman, deeply influenced by New Orleans music in general, often seemed to channeling Domino's sound -- if not his smiling attitude -- in such songs as "Mama Told Me Not to Come" and "Back on My Feet Again.""I was so influenced by Fats Domino that it's still hard for me to write a song that's not a New Orleans shuffle," Newman told The New York Times in 2008. He wrote the horn arrangements for "Fats Is Back."Domino covered Newman, too, with a recording of "Have You Seen My Baby."
 
Domino's string of hits ended rather abruptly in the early '60s with a change of labels, from Imperial to ABC-Paramount. The latter forced him to record in Nashville, and the different atmosphere produced just one hit, a cover of the standard "Red Sails in the Sunset." But the good-natured Domino continued to tour and earn royalties, allowing him to live a comfortable lifestyle -- in New Orleans, of course, where his pink Cadillac could often be seen outside his Ninth Ward house.
When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, there was early concern that Domino, who had decided to stay in the Crescent City, had been killed by the storm. Someone even spray-painted "R.I.P. Fats -- You will be missed" on his house. 
 
However, he and his family had been rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. His estate wasn't as fortunate: "We lost everything," he said at the time.Some of his belongings were replaced, including his gold records and a National Medal of Arts he'd been awarded in 1998 (from President Bill Clinton). His white Steinway was refurbished by the Louisiana Music Foundation, which put it on display in the French Quarter in 2013.
 
Domino remained a steadfast part of the New Orleans scene. He played a sold-out show at Tipitina's nightclub in 2007 and appeared in an episode of the TV show "Treme" in 2012. 
 
Domino was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
 

Monday, October 23, 2017

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of October 22nd, 2017

Week of October 22nd, 2017 to October 28th, 2017

I'm going to begin this week's Island Update with two words: Thank You! I can't believe the number of listeners, friends, family and colleagues who wished me Happy 65th Birthday. I had well over 135 birthday wishes, in a combination of emails, phone messages, and Facebook; absolutely amazing!

This is a scary reminder for you that this year's Halloween Spooktacular will be live next Sunday, October 29th. Be sure to join me in the crypt for the scariest, wildest, and funnest time you'll ever have alive! LOL This is the show when everyone in the Chat Room dresses up in costume with a different character name and it sure is fun trying to figure out who is really who. Whether you join the Chat Room for the live show, or just sit back and listen, this special has, over the past 20 years, become one of the most popular specials of the year. It all starts at 6 pm Pacific.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to listener Marcia Moses, and also to Sure Vercellotti in Downers Grove, Illinois, as well as to Mike Dillon in 100 Mile House, British Columbia. Do you have a birthday coming up soon? I'd like to know so that I can help celebrate your special day by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles for you. Send the info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com 

This week's Top Five Countdown is from 1962. And the Number One song is both a classic and a great preview of next week's Halloween Spooktacular. It's Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers with The Monster Mash. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Britain's Procol Harum. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Homburg or Conquistador. I'll play the winning song in two week's time, on the November 5th show.

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

Thanks again for listening to the show. See you next week right here on The Island for our Halloween Spooktacular!!!

Bye for now.
Michael


Procol Harum - Voice Your Choice

Procol Harum were formed in England with lead singer Gary Brooker, poet Keith Reid, organist Matthew Fisher, guitarist Ray Royer, and David Knights on bass. In May of 1967 they went into the studio and recorded A Whiter Shade Of Pale, with its Baroque music influence. It shot up the charts to Number One on the UK Singles chart, Number One in Canada and Australia, and Number Five in the United States. Pretty darn good debut!

They recorded several albums, which became staples of the then-new FM underground sound. Over the years they scored other hit singles and this week we have two of them for your votes.

Treasure Island Oldies is pleased to present Procol Harum in the Voice Your Choice spotlight. Cast your vote for either Homburg or Conquistador.

As next week is the 21st Annual Halloween Spooktacular on Treasure Island Oldies, I will play the results of Voice Your Choice on the show on Sunday, November 5th.

Number One on the Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown

This week the Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown spotlights the year 1962.

As a preview of what to anticipate on next week's 21st Annual Halloween Spooktacular, here is the Number One song from 1962.

Ok Freaks and Ghouls, here is Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers with The Monster Mash, the ultimate Halloween song and this week's Number One song on the Top Five Countdown.

Be sure to join me for next week's Halloween Spooktacular.

Enjoy!
Michael



Monday, October 16, 2017

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies - Week of October 15th, 2017

Week of October 15th, 2017 to October 22nd, 2017

Well that was another fast four hours again this week on the show. The crowd in the Chat Room were in great spirits and the conversation and lines going back and forth. It could have been a stand-up comedy club . LOL You really should pop into the Chat Room during the live Show Sunday evenings to share in the enjoyment of listening to the music together and to have fun conversations throughout the four hours. This week we had Nuts in the Hut from across Canada and the United States, Scotland and Australia. Click Chat on any page of the website and follow the easy instructions. Hope to say hi to you next week.

Treasure Island Oldies was spotlighted in FYI Music, Canada's Music and Radio Industry trade publication. Here's what David Farrell said in the Monday, October 16th issue:

Michael Godin’s Treasure Island Oldies hitting its stride..after two-plus decades

Five years ago, Warren Cosford announced on his e-mail newsletter The List that Michael's Treasure Island Oldies show would soon be heard on Radio Max.......three FM stations in China, including Beijing on CNPK 99.9 FM, Liaoyang on CKNE 95.0 FM, and Anshan on CNCE 94.5 FM.

The show had passed the censors and would be heard from 10 am to 2 pm with a potential audience of over 28 million people. Five years later, Cosford wrote to Godin asking how things were going in China. This is his response, as it appeared in a Sunday List newsletter. 

Although we rarely hear from him these days, Michael has been a loyal List Member from the beginning.  Today, I sent him a note asking how things were going in China.  Here is his response.

It was amazingly successful, Warren. Not only did it air in three cities, but it was also “discretely circulated” via memory stick to various campuses in China. I’m told that the students studying English would listen to Treasure Island Oldies to pick up on the tone, diction and flow of the English language. I’ve been told that they have been trying to imitate my voice. Also, they began loving this “western world” music for the first time. It became too popular.

The Chinese government asked the owner of these three private stations to stop broadcasting in English. To avoid a LOT of potential issues, the owner complied, and the stations have gone silent. The only thing remaining are those memory sticks containing many of my weekly Treasure Island Oldies Show. It was an amazing and fun run in China.

Fortunately, my show still airs across the US in many cities, along with two stations in New Zealand, and also in Sweden and the UK. There’s also a shortwave station based in Italy that airs archived shows. But only on one station in my home country, in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

Like you, I too am still waiting for a broadcaster who gets that a 20 year plus oldies show that caters to the largest demographic is viable as an international show, either daily or weekly. And it would then attract a worldwide sponsor.

In the meantime, my 4 hour shows airs again this week starting today at 6 pm Pacific.

Warren, thanks very much for asking about the China adventure. You’re among the few that “get” how my show is one of the very few around that have not only lasted over 20 years but still has excellent potential to grow in a big way.
Cheers. 

Isn't that pretty cool! I was so pleased and flattered for the coverage.

This is a scary reminder for you that this year's Halloween Spooktacular will be live Sunday, October 29th. Be sure to join me in the crypt for the scariest, wildest, and funnest time you'll ever have alive! LOL This is the show when everyone in the Chat Room dresses up in costume with a different character name and it sure is fun trying to figure out who is really who. Whether you join the Chat Room for the live show, or just sit back and listen, this special has, over the past 20 years, become one of the most popular specials of the year. It all starts at 6 pm Pacific.

My thanks to California Barb and to Guylaine Cote, the folks in the chat room, as well as the emails I have received with their kind wishes for my birthday. I officially become a senior citizen on October 21st. Can't say I feel any different whatsoever. I have as much or more energy than ever! Age is just a state of mind and I still feel young. Maybe I'm just delusional. ROFL! Do you have a birthday coming up soon? I'd like to know so that I can help celebrate your special day by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles for you. Send the info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com 

This week's Top Five Countdown is from 1957. And the Number One song is Wake Up Little Susie by The Everly Brothers. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights two Motown stars, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Your Precious Love or You're All I Need To Get By. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

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

Thanks again for listening to the show. See you next week right here on The Island.

Bye for now.
Michael

Marvin Gaye Tammi Terrell Voice Your Choice

We know that Motown Records was based in Detroit, Michigan; however, their search for talent went beyond the Motor City. Marvin Gaye was born April 2, 1939 in Washington, DC while Tammi Terrell, born April 29, 1945, was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

They both had hit songs as solo artists prior to getting together in the studio to record what would become some of Motown's classic hits.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Your Precious Love or You're All I Need To Get By. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Everly Brothers Number One On Top Five Countdown 1957


Don and Phil Everly, the Everly Brothers, hit the top of the charts this week in 1957, the year Treasure Island Oldies is spotlighting on the Top Five Countdown.

Here they are with Wake Up Little Susie, Number One this week in 1957.

Enjoy!

Michael

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Jimmy Beaumont, Lead Singer of The Skyliners, Has Died At Age 76

This news courtesy of AP

MCKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) — Jimmy Beaumont, the lead singer of the doo-wop group the Skyliners and a co-writer of the iconic ballad "Since I Don't Have You," has died at age 76.

Beaumont died in his sleep Saturday at his home in McKeesport, about 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, his hometown, his family said.

Joe Rock, who would eventually manage the Skyliners, was helping to promote Beaumont's former group, the Crescents, when Rock wrote some lyrics lamenting his girlfriend's impending departure for flight attendants' school out of state. That was 1958, and Beaumont was 18.
Beaumont set the lyrics to music, and a hit was born.

"I had been listening to all the doo-wop groups from that period — The Platters, the Moonglows. I guess just from listening it came out of me," Beaumont told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a 2009 interview.

The song has been covered by Barbra Streisand, Patti LaBelle, Art Garfunkel, Don McLean and even Guns N' Roses.

The song was released in December 1958 but hit No. 1 on the Cashbox R&B chart and No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1959.

Monday, October 09, 2017

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of October 8th, 2017

Week of October 8th, 2017 to October 14th, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and listeners. It was a pleasure sharing the Annual Canadian Thanksgiving Special with you. I was also pleased to bring a Tom Petty musical tribute to you with some of his greatest songs played throughout the show. I sure appreciate the comments and feedback from folks in the Chat Room and from you via email. Thanks very much. 

Another thing I am thankful for is the wonderful widespread number of listeners. This week there were folks from across the United States including Texas, Indiana, Delaware, Kentucky, California, Ohio,Arizona,  Illinois, Florida, Idaho, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Iowa, and Missouri; from Canada there were listeners in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia; and around the world listeners from Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Croatia, Sweden, and even Uganda!  Absolutely fantastic, thank you!

This is a scary reminder for you that this year's Halloween Spooktacular will be live Sunday, October 29th. Be sure to join me in the crypt for the scariest, wildest, and funnest time you'll ever have alive! LOL This is the show when everyone in the Chat Room dresses up in costume with a different character name and it sure is fun trying to figure out who is really who. Whether you join the Chat Room for the live show, or just sit back and listen, this special has, over the past 20 years, become one of the most popular specials of the year. It all starts at 6 pm Pacific.

Do you have a birthday coming up soon? I'd like to know so that I can help celebrate your special day by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles for you. Send the info tobirthdays@treasureislandoldies.com 

This week's Top Five Countdown is from 1961. And the Number One song is Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights Jim Reeves. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Am I Losing You or Distant Drums. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

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

Thanks again for listening to the show. See you next week right here on The Island.

Bye for now.

Michael

Jim Reeves - Voice Your Choice

Jim Reeves was born in Panola County, Texas on August 20, 1923. At an early point in his life, he was working towards a professional baseball career until he suffered an ankle injury. In the early 1950s he became a DJ and worked at KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana.

He joined the cast of the Louisiana Hayride in 1953, then the Grand Ole Opry in 1955. His first release for RCA Victor was in 1957. He charted 23 hits on the pop charts between 1957 and 1966, two years after his death in a plane crash in Nashville, Tennessee on July 31, 1964. He was just 40 years old. I am sure he would have continued to enjoy a highly successful career were it not for the tragic accident. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967.

Treasure Island Oldies is pleased to present Jim Reeves on Voice Your Choice for next week. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Am I Losing You or Distant Drums. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Ray Charles Number One on Top Five Countdown 1961

Ray Charles topped the charts this week in 1961 and the Top Five Countdown on Treasure Island Oldies features this incredible artist.

Here's Ray Charles with Hit The Road Jack. It's Number One this week in 1961.

Enjoy!



Monday, October 02, 2017

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of October 1st, 2017

Week of October 1st, 2017 to October 7th, 2017

Well, that was another fun fours hours of playing some of your favourite music. One thing I really like about the Chat Room is the immediate feedback from one of the Nuts in the Hut when I play a song that someone hasn't heard in a long time. It starts a very interesting thread of conversation among those in the chat room. And I also get emails sent to me, some during the live show, and others when it has aired during the week on one of our Broadcast Partners Network affiliate stations. It's great to get your comments. And I also really enjoy playing some Lost Treasures for you, not obscure songs, but rather songs that did appear on the Billboard Hot 100, but rarely ever get played anymore. It seems most oldies stations don't play anything beyond the top 10 or 20. What nonsense! I like to give my listeners credit for having a brain and a memory to recall a song they may have heard a lot when it was first released, but rarely ever hear anymore. That's why Treasure Island Oldies is the Home of Lost Treasures. Keep listening and continue getting in touch with me.

This is a reminder that next week is Thanksgiving in Canada and we'll be celebrating with our annual Canadian Thanksgiving Special, Live, Sunday, October 8th and all throughout the week on our Affiliate Stations. Please check the Broadcast Partners Network page for days and times for the re-broadcast of the show.

Do you have a birthday coming up soon? I'd like to know so that I can help celebrate your special day by wishing you Happy Birthday on the show and also by playing Birthday by The Beatles for you. Send the info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com 

This week's Top Five Countdown is from 1965. And the Number One song is Hand On Sloopy by The McCoys. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights the cool R&B group, The Jive Five, featuring Eugene Pitt on lead vocals. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I'm A Happy Man or My True Story. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

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

Thanks again for listening to the show. See you next week right here on The Island for or Canadian Thanksgiving Special!

Bye for now.
Michael

The Jive Five - Voice Your Choice

The Jive Five, who refined and re-modeled themselves from a doo wop group to a soul group, are in the spotlight next week on Treasure Island Oldies and Voice Your Choice.

The members were Eugene Pitt, Jerome Hanna, Richard Harris, Thurmon Prophet (also known as Billy Prophet), and Norman Johnson. I don't think that this is the same Norman Johnson who was in The Showmen (It Will Stand) and later the Chairmen Of The Board.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents The Jive Five. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I'm A Happy Man or My True Story. I'll play the winner on next week's show.



The McCoys - Hang On Sloopy - Number One on Top Five Countdown Treasure Island Oldies

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five Countdown featured the year 1965. While there were so many good songs released in 1965, there was only one Number One for this week. And that song was by The McCoys.

Here are The McCoys in a TV show clip performing the Number One song Hang On Sloopy.

Enjoy!

Michael