Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Pioneering R&B Artist, Jackie Shane Has Passed Away

From CBC

Jackie Shane, the pioneering soul singer who came to prominence playing on Toronto's Yonge Street in the 1960s, has died.

Shane's record label, Numero Group, tweeted the artist, a black transgender performer with a riveting voice and look, has passed away at the age of 78. "I have never felt that I had to change or do anything that wasn't natural to me," she told CBC Radio's q in a rare interview earlier this year."I will never ever be some kind of wishy-washy creature that pretends or lets others guide me. I guide my life. It is mine. No matter what anyone says, I'm going to be Jackie."

Despite disappearing completely from the public eye from 1971 to 2010, a collection of Shane's songs, called Any Other Way, was nominated for a Grammy for best historical album this year.

Shane was born in Nashville, but made Toronto her home. Here's what she recently told q:
"One cannot choose where one is born, but you can choose your home. I chose Toronto. I love Toronto. I love Canadian people. I consider myself a part of them," Shane told CBC.

"The Canadian people have been so good to me. At first, there were people who are ignorant and talk and talk and don't know what they're talking about. They were curious, but when they got to know me and we grew to love to one another — I loved them first. I had to. I could not allow myself to be angry. We became real lovers. I love Toronto."




Toronto Rocker Johnnie Lovesin Has Died At Age 69

Johnnie Lovesin was a real rocker from Toronto. He was the opening artist for the first Ramones show in Toronto and he went on to having a solid and respected career. I signed Johnnie to A&M Records and we released two albums, including Rough Side Of Town, produced by the late great producer George Semkiw.

As a tribute to Johnnie, here is a video of Working Girl, directed by the famous Rob Quartley. That's me playing the role of the chauffeur driving Johnnie in a bleak winter in a classic Cadillac.

R.I. P. Johnnie Lovesin .

Michael



Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Say "Alexa Treasure Island Oldies"

You can now say "Alexa Treasure Island Oldies" and listen to the latest Rock & Roll News Podcast on your Amazon Alexa device.

This is another first for Treasure Island Oldies.

Cheers.
Michael

Monday, February 18, 2019

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of February 17th 2019

February 17th to February 23rd, 2019

Welcome to this week's Island Update. Thanks for the very nice comments you made about me streaming the Valentine's Day Special again on Valentine's Day. Also I am pleased to let you know that the Live show is now able to be enjoyed on virtually any device you have. The Yare Media player now supports iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, etc. So you can now listen to the live show on your Android Smartphone or tablet, iPhone or iPad or Mac Book, Windows desktop, etc. Big thanks to Hugh Dobbie and the team at Yare Media for this tech breakthrough for the show. More news to come soon.

The next special for you to note on your calendar is the annual Name Game Special, coming to you March 17th. Every song will have the name of a person in the song title. So if your name is Barbara, Billy, Diane, Michael, Susan or John as examples, you'll hear a song named for you. And of course, I'll start off the show with Shirley Ellis and her huge hit and the inspiration for the special, The Name Game.

Is your birthday coming up soon? I'd like to help 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.

Voice Your Choice spotlights the amazing Ray Charles. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Crying Time or Don't Set Me Free.  I'll play the winner in the third hour of next week's show.

This week the Top Five Countdown is from 1967, this week's Spotlight Year. The Number One song is by The Buckinghams. Kind Of A Drag is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

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

Have a good week.

Bye for now.
Michael

The Buckinghams Kind Of A Drag Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown

The Buckinghams were a very popular group from Chicago, Illinois. And in 1967, this week's Spotlight Year on Treasure Island Oldies, they held the number one spot on the charts.

Here are The Buckinghams in a video clip of their Number One smash, Kind Of A Drag.

Enjoy, despite a bit of a blurry video.

Michael



Ray Charles Voice Your Choice

I'm very pleased to present Ray Charles on Voice Your Choice. Ray was born September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia and raised in Greenville, Florida. He became partially blind when he was 5 years old and completely blind two years later from glaucoma.

He studied classical piano as well as clarinet when he attended State School for Deaf and Blind Children in St. Augustine, Florida. When he moved to Seattle, Washington, in 1948, his musical career began.

Ray Charles eventually signed with Atlantic Records in New York City. He appeared on the Billboard charts a staggering 91 times between 1957 and 1993, including 11 Top Ten hits!

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice proudly spotlights The Genius, Ray Charles. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Crying Time or Don't Set Me Free. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Treasure Island Oldies Valentine's Day Special Streaming NOW

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

The Valentine's Day Special is now streaming live. 

And for the first time ever, the show is now able to be played on any format: android, windows or ios on smartphones and tablets, as well as on your desktop. Click the Yare Media player link at the Listen page at www.TreasureIslandOldies.com

Please let me know by email: michael@treasureislandoldies.com, that you were able to listen and on what platform you used. 

I'm very excited to have the show available on whatever device you choose.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Michael

Monday, February 11, 2019

Treasure Island Oldies Weekly Update - Week of February 10th, 2019

February 10th to February 16th, 2019

Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks for joining me for this week's annual Valentine's Day Special. It was a four hour love fest!!! The emails were flowing in, the Facebook comments on my page were many, and the Chat Room was very busy once again this week. I wanted to be sure that you know if you miss the Live show, you can hear it at various times and days via the Treasure Island Oldies Broadcast Partners Network of FM, AM and Online radio stations around the world. Go to the Broadcast Partners Network page where you will find a program grid with the days and times plus links to the Affiliate Stations to hear this week's show.

The next special for you to note on your calendar is the annual Name Game Special, coming to you March 17th. Every song will have the name of a person in the song title. So if your name is Barbara, Billy, Diane, Michael, or John as examples, you'll hear a song named for you. And of course, I'll start off the show with Shirley Ellis and her huge hit and the inspiration for the special, The Name Game.

I wanted to send out my sincere condolences on the passing of my friend and fellow broadcaster, Mike Cleaver. Mike was a seasoned broadcaster and for many years, was a key newsman at 1050 CHUM in Toronto.We became friends after his move to Vancouver and would visit together twice a year at the RPM Luncheons that Red Robinson (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame DJ) and I started many years ago. It's become a great event to visit with fellow on air broadcasters, many of whom either retired or were "displaced" from the air. Mike was a strong supporter of yours truly and my show. Every week, including this past week, he shared my Facebook posts with his own network of friends and colleagues. He'd had some severe health issues recently, but was seemingly well on the mend once again. Mike was 72. My sincere condolences to Mike's partner, Terry.

I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to long time listener, Guylaine Côté, in Quebec City, Quebec. As a young girl, she used to listen to me when was I was a DJ and Music Director at CFOM in Quebec City. So long time listener indeed. Is your birthday coming up soon? If it is, be sure to let me know. I'd like to help celebrate your birthday too by wishing you Happy Birthday on the air and playing Birthday by The Beatles for you. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com. I'd also like to wish Happy Anniversary to long time listeners and good friends Fay Greenwood and Matt Meaney on the celebration of their 13th Anniversary. Well done, you two!

Voice Your Choice spotlights the Bobby Fuller Four. Mystery continues to surround the death of Bobby Fuller from asphyxiation July 18, 1966. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I Fought The Law or Love's Made A Fool Of You.  I'll play the winner in the third hour of next week's show.

This week the Top Five Countdown is from 1969, and the Number One song is by Sly and The Family Stone. Everyday People is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

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

Have a good week and once again, Happy Valentine's Day.

Bye for now.
Michael

Bobby Fuller Four Voice Your Choice

The Bobby Fuller Four scored a big hit with right out of the box with their debut single I Fought The Law. The group formed in El Paso, Texas and consisted of brothers Bobby and Randy Fuller, with guitarist Jim Reese and DeWayne Quinco on drums. Bobby sang lead and played guitar, while Randy played bass.

They were well on their way to becoming a hit group with a significant following until Bobby's untimely and very mysterious death from asphyxiation on July 18, 1966. To this day there is not a definitive explanation of what happened to Bobby Fuller.

Apart from their two hits, they also recorded another single, Phantom Dragster, that failed to make the chart.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice features the two smash songs by the Bobby Fuller Four, I Fought The Law and Love's Made A Fool Of You. The latter was a cover recording of the Buddy Holly tune.

I think this is going to be a tough call as to which song will come out on top. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I Fought The Law or Love's Made A Fool Of You. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Sly and The Family Stone - Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1969

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five Countdown is from 1969. Sitting comfortably at the top of the chart is Sly and The Family Stone.

Everyday People is Number One this week.

Enjoy!

Michael


Monday, February 04, 2019

Island Update - Treasure Island Oldies Week of February 3, 2019

February 3rd to February 9th, 2019

I was pleased to present the annual Tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, especially so since 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of their passing in that horrific plane crash north of Mason City, Iowa. To get a sense of what it was like listening to the radio at that time, I devoted the entire playlist to the music of 1959. It was great to hear such a large variety of artists who were popular throughout the year. My thanks to you for your many comments via email, my Facebook page and the Chat Room. To find out the name of every song I played on the show, go to the Listen page and scroll down to the playlist.

OK all you Cupids, gather round next week for the love fest of the year! It's the annual Valentine's Day Special filled with four hours of some of the greatest love songs of all time. With all that sweetness, you may decide to give up sugar!! LOL I sure look forward to sharing the love with all of you here on the Island. We'll get started at 6 pm Pacific.

Is your birthday coming up soon? If it is, be sure to let me know. I'd like to help celebrate your birthday too by wishing you Happy Birthday on the air and playing Birthday by The Beatles for you. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com 

Voice Your Choice spotlights the multi-talented recording artist and entertainer, Bobby Darin. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Beyond The Sea or Things.  I'll play the winner in the third hour of next week's show.

This week the Top Five Countdown is from 1959, this week's Spotlight Year. The Number One song is by the great R&B artist, Lloyd Price. Stagger Lee is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

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

See you next week for the Valentine's Day special. 

Bye for now.
Michael

Bobby Darin Voice Your Choice

He was born Walden Robert Cassotto on May 14, 1936 in The Bronx, New York. Bobby Darin catapulted to fame with his very first record, Splish Splash, shooting to #3 and attaining Gold status. Not a bad start!!

Throughout his career, Bobby had 41 singles on the Billboard chart, including 4 Gold Records and 9 Top Ten songs. In 1963 he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the movie Captain Newman, MD.

This multi-talented vocalist/pianist/songwriter/entertainer could have continued on for many many years with much success; sadly he died of heart failure at age 37 on December 20, 1973. I vividly recall that night, as I was working at CFCF Radio in Montreal at the time and read the bulletin from the news wire on the air. Later that night I did a one hour tribute to Bobby Darin on my show.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights the amazingly talented Bobby Darin. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Beyond The Sea or Things. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Lloyd Price Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1959

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the terrible plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, the entire show playlist was made up of songs from 1959.

Sitting at the top of the chart this week in 1959, it's Lloyd Price. Here he is in a live oldies concert performing the Number One song, Stagger Lee.

Enjoy!

Michael