Monday, June 25, 2018

This week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of June 24th, 2018

June 24th to June 30th, 2018

Glad you got back to the mainland safely after our annual Summer Beach Party on the Island! What a fun time we had and the seagulls were not too much of a problem this year fortunately. LOL As always, I very much appreciate receiving your comments and it was great hearing from you this week. Johny Cole at our affiliate station RAG-FM in Raglan, New Zealand asked me to send some heat to go along with the summer songs. Hope it worked, Johny. :-) It was also nice to hear from listener Tammy Maynard in Nashville, Tennessee again this week. Glad you're enjoying the show Tammy. By the way, if by chance you didn't hear your favourite summer song on the summer special, don't worry; you have all summer long to hear it.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, it's my annual tribute to the Music of Canada, in conjunction with Canada Day July 1st. I am always pleased and proud to present the soundscape of Canada with the artists and songwriters who have made an impact regionally, nationally and around the world with their music. Having been involved with the scouting, signing and development of many artists during my years with A&M Records, I will play some songs by artists I signed, and a few stories of how I came about signing them. The Music of Canada special gets underway next Sunday, July 1st at 6 pm Pacific. O Canada!

It's my pleasure to send Happy Birthday wishes to Linda Guy in La Habra, California. Both Linda and her husband Dave enjoy listening to the show every week. Do you have a birthday coming up soon? Please let me know so that I can help you celebrate your special day with the Island listeners around the world. Send the date info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll wish you Happy Birthday on the show and also play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1966. Appearing in the Number One spot it's The Beatles. Paperback Writer is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Voice Your Choice next week presents my friend from Montreal, Andy Kim. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Be My Baby or Rock Me Gently. I'll play the winner on the next week's Music of Canada Special.

Listen to this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Thanks again for listening to this week's show. See you next Sunday for the Music of Canada Special right here on the Island.

Bye for now.
Michael

Andy Kim Voice Your Choice

Andy Kim was born Androwis Jovakim December 5, 1952 in Montreal, Quebec. As a songwriter, Andy teamed up with Jeff Barry to co-write four out of the six hits for The Archies, including Sugar Sugar, a Number One song that remained at the top of the chart for one month and it also became a Gold record.

I first got to know Andy around 1970 when we were both still in Montreal and I was working at CFCF Radio, and we have remained friends ever since. When he was a guest on my show a number of years ago, and we had a wonderful time reminiscing; and I played his then-new single, I Forgot To Mention, which he co-produced with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies.

It's a pleasure for me to have Andy Kim in the Voice Your Choice spotlight for next week's Music Of Canada Special on Treasure Island Oldies. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Be My Baby or Rock Me Gently. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

The Beatles Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1966

John, Paul, George, and Ringo are at the top of the chart (yet again) this week on the Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown from our Spotlight Year 1966.

Here are The Beatles with Paperback Writer.

Enjoy!

Michael


Monday, June 18, 2018

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies - Week of June 17th, 2018

June 17th to June 23rd, 2018

Thanks for joining me for my Annual Father's Day Special on the Island. Amazing...four hours of songs for and about our Dads. Thanks for your emails, chat room comments and facebook posts. You sure seem to have enjoyed the show. A big shoutout to Johny Cole at our affiliate station RAG-FM in Raglan, New Zealand who rightly pointed out that the southern hemisphere celebrates Father's Day in September. I remember that, as Father's Day was celebrated on the Sunday in September that I was in Sydney, Australia. As I mentioned in my note to Johny, he can always play the archive of the Father's Day special in September. Also a big hello to listener Tammy Maynard in Nashville, Tennessee who said she loves the show and the music, which brings back a lot of memories for her. Thanks very much, Tammy. I'd love to hear from you too. Got a thought or comment? Send it to michael@treasureislandoldies.com and I will definitely get it directly into my inbox.

Get out the sunscreen! It's the Annual Summer Beach Party next week on the Island. We will do the show from the beach and invite you to sail, row or swim over for the big celebration next week. The sun, the surf, the sand, and the MUSIC! Great summertime memories all next week, June 24th, beginning 6 pm Pacific. Just keep an eye out and a closed mouth for the seagulls flying overhead. LOL Listen either via the Yare Media stream or wtnd.org.

Do you have a birthday coming up soon? Please let me know so that I can help you celebrate your special day with the Island listeners around the world. Send the date info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll wish you Happy Birthday on the show and also play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1965. Appearing in the Number One spot it's the Four Tops. I Can't Help Myself is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Voice Your Choice next week the group that is the epitome of summer, the Beach Boys! Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either California Girls or Surfin' USA. I'll play the winner on the next week's Summer Beach Party Special.

Listen to this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Thanks again for listening to this week's show. See you next Sunday for the Summer Beach Party.

Bye for now.
Michael

Beach Boys - Voice Your Choice

The city of Hawthorne, California is more famous for being the home of The Beach Boys than the Western Museum of Flight. The group consisted of three Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, and also included cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine. Glen Campbell joined the group briefly in 1964 until Bruce Johnston became a permanent member in April 1965.

In high school they were known variously as Kenny & The Cadets, Carl & The Passions, then The Pendletones. Their first record, Surfin, on the tiny Candix label, is worth about $250 today if you can find a copy. In 1962, they signed with Capitol Records in Hollywood, California and they ignited the surf-rock craze. Their popularity has never really waned throughout all the years and they continue performing today. The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and received a Lifetme Achivement Award at the Grammy's in 2001. And this summer they're back together, all original surviving members including Brian Wilson, and are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Beach Boys with a major tour.

Throughout their career they charted 60 singles on the Billboard chart, and incredibly their second to last song to hit the charts, Kokomo from the movie Cocktail, became one of their biggest songs ever, reaching #1 and selling in excess of Platinum. Eighteen hits landed in the Top Ten, with two of them reaching Gold and one Platinum status; but all have become classics.

Next on Treasure Island Oldies and the Annual Summer Beach Party, Voice Your Choice presents The Beach Boys. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice p[age for either California Girls or Surfin' USA. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Four Tops Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1965

This week on the Father's Day Special on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five Countdown is from 1965.

At the top of the charts was one of my favourite Motown groups, The Four Tops. As mentioned at Wikipedia, Founded as the Four Aims, lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together for over four decades, performing from 1953 until 1997 without a change in personnel.

Here they are with one of their most beloved hits, Number One this week in 1965, I Can't Help Myself.

Enjoy!
Michael


Saturday, June 16, 2018

DJ Fontana, Elvis Presley's Drummer and Last Surviving Member Has Passed Away At Age 87

DJ Fontana passed away in his sleep last night (June 15, 2018) aged, 87, according to an emotional Facebook post from his son. David Fontana wrote: "I told everyone that I would keep you posted. My Dad passed away in his sleep at 9:33 tonight. "He was very comfortable with no pain. I will post more tomorrow when I have more information. We ask for privacy at this time. Thank you for your love and prayers."

Sun Studio, in Memphis Tennessee, where Elvis famously began his career, also posted on their official Facebook page: "We are extremely saddened to hear about the passing of legendary drummer D.J. Fontana. The band is all back together now."

Dominic Joseph Fontana, known as DJ, was born in 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He began playing the drums for Elvis in 1954 and worked with The King until 1968. Fontana featured on the recording of a host of Presley's biggest hits including Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel and Jailhouse Rock. The Louisiana native also featured on Elvis' iconic appearances on the Ed Sullivan show.

Fontana joined a band consisting of Scotty Moore on lead guitar, Bill Black on bass and Elvis Presley on rhythm guitar and vocals, originally calling themselves The Blue Moon Boys. The band was formed by record producer Sam Phillips and would go on to record many of The King’s top tunes.
Although the band officially broke up in 1958 Fontana and Elvis continued working together throughout the 1960s.



Monday, June 11, 2018

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies Week of June 10th, 2018

June 10th to June 16th, 2018

It's always a pleasure for me to bring you a new show every week, and this week was no exception. Having a very large music library, I enjoy preparing the playlist for the show. I'll look through the titles and come across that I think you would like to hear, then add it to the list. But it's more than just putting a list of songs together; it's about the feel and flow of the music that I really like.  For example, I really enjoyed playing My Back Pages by The Byrds, as well as the top 10 Manhattan Spiritual by Reg Owens and His Orchestra, That song was from 1959, the Spotlight Year this week on the show. You feedback to these and other songs I played makes it all worthwhile. Thanks very much.

We are now less than a week away from Father's Day and our Annual Father's Day Special. The tribute to Dads everywhere begins next Sunday, June 17th at 6 pm Pacific. Join me in this annual tribute to Father's Day.Listen either via the Yare Media stream or wtnd.org.

Do you have a birthday coming up soon? Please let me know so that I can help you celebrate your special day with the Island listeners around the world. Send the date info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll wish you Happy Birthday on the show and also play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1959, this week's Spotlight Year. At Number One it's Canada's Paul Anka. Lonely Boy is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Voice Your Choice next week spotlights the great keyboard player Ernie Freeman and his studio group B. Bumble and The Stingers. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Bumble Boogie or Nut Rocker. I'll play the winner on the next week's Father's Day Special.

Listen to this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Thanks again for listening to this week's show. See you next Sunday for the Father's Day live show.

Bye for now.
Michael

B. Bumble And The Stingers - Voice Your Choice

B. Bumble & The Stingers were actually Los Angeles studio session players. Ernie Freeman played piano; Tommy Tedesco was on guitar; Earl Palmer played drums and Red Callender played bass.

While they were short-lived as this group, they scored three hits on the charts in 1961 and '62. This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice features two of their three hits for your votes, Bumble Boogie and Nut Rocker. Bumble Boogie was an adaptation of Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight Of The Bumble Bee, which was also a #7 hit in 1946 for Freddy Martin. Nut Rocker was adapted from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite.

Cast you vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Bumble Boogie or Nut Rocker. I'll play the winning song on next week's Father's Day Special.


Paul Anka Number One on Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1959

He hailed from Canada's National Capitol city, Ottawa, Ontario. When he signed with ABC Records and worked with arranger/producer Don Costa, his career took off, BIG time.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies the Spotlight Year is 1959. At the top of the charts this week in 1959 is Paul Anka. Here he is with Lonely Boy.

Enjoy!

Michael

Sunday, June 03, 2018

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies Week Of June 3rd, 2018

June 2rd to June 9th, 2018
Here we are, it's already June! Cannot believe just how quickly this year is flying by. And with it being June, I had to play that song about the 3rd of June, another sleepy, dusty delta day, The Ode To Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry. It's one of those song that plays out in your mind like a cinematic movie as you listen to it. It was also fun to play Convoy  by C.W. McCall, another song about June, "it was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June".

Be sure to make a note on your calendar for June 17th. It's Father's Day and the annual Treasure Island Oldies Father's Day special. There will be a lot of songs celebrating, saluting and paying tribute to Father, Dad, Papa, Daddy. We get started 6 pm Pacific. Listen either via the Yare Media stream or wtnd.org.

Birthday wishes go out this week to Paul Carter, Jr. in Ellicott City, Maryland, Michael Gee in Berkeley, California, and as well to long time listener, Nancy Turnbull in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I'd also like to celebrate you and  your birthday on the show. Send the date info to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'll wish you Happy Birthday on the show and also play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1968, this week's Spotlight Year. At Number One it's music from The Graduate with Simon and Garfunkel. Mrs. Robinson is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Voice Your Choice next week spotlights the legendary B.B. King. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I Like To Live The Love or The Thrill Is Gone. I'll play the winner on the next week's show.

Listen to this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Thanks again for listening to this week's show. Take care. See you next Sunday for the live show.

Bye for now.
Michael

B.B. King Voice Your Choice

The great and highly respected B.B. King was born September 16, 1925 on the Berclair cotton plantation near the town of  Itta Bena, Mississippi.

He began his recording career in 1949 when he was signed to RPM Records in Los Angeles and built his reputation as a great blues guitarist and vocalist. He has been recognized other guitar greats such as Eric Clapton.

As for appearing on the Top 100 charts, he scored success 47 times between 1957 and 1989.

Sadly, B.B. King passed away May 14, 2015 from complications due to type 2 diabetes, leaving a rich legacy of recordings.

Treasure Island Oldies is pleased to present B.B. King in the Voice Your Choice spotlight. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I Like To Live The Love or The Thrill Is Gone. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Simon & Garfunkel Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1968

This week the Spotlight Year on Treasure Island Oldies is 1968.

At the top of the charts on this week's Top Five Countdown is Simon & Garfunkel with a great and memorable song from the movies.

Here are Simon & Garfunkel from The Graduate with this week's Number One song, Mrs. Robinson.

Enjoy!

Michael