Important Update - Treasure Island Oldies

Important Update

I'm taking a break from the weekly updates and postings to my website, Blog and Facebook page. I wanted to give you an update on what's been happening here at Treasure Island Oldies since March, when we all stayed in place at our homes because of the Covid-19 pandemic. On March 25th I expanded the weekly four hour show to include a daily one hour daily show. I'm thrilled that eight of our Affiliate Stations of the Broadcast Partners Network decided to air the live simulcast Monday to Friday. Add that to the weekly four show which airs over twenty times throughout the week on all of our Affiliate Stations.

To say that this has made an impact on my listeners would be an understatement. I have heard from so many of you, some long time listeners, while others are brand new to the show. Every single person has said how much they appreciate having the daily one hour show. They've commented that it's been so good to find a comfy place to hear their favourite music, away from the non-stop news feeds and social media postings. I am so pleased to be able to bring Treasure Island Oldies to you from the safety of my home radio broadcast studio. Nonetheless, this has resulted with me working six days a week, and not just the actual number of hours I am on the air. Add in the number of hours it takes to prepare each show, along with the post show tasks, including all the writing and posting to the TIO website, Blog, and Facebook page, and it is a rather substantial number of hours I commit every week. I'm getting tired.

I have made the decision to pull back on the number of Updates and postings I will be doing as of now. Please be sure that I am committed to bringing you the daily one hour show and of course, the Live Sunday four hour show. That will not change for the foreseeable future. What I want to do is avoid burnout or the feeling that I have to do "yet another thing" related to the show. So that's why I am backing off from all the writing, etc.

Just to confirm, the Rock and Roll News Podcast will continue to be updated and you can listen to it from the link at the website. In addition, the weekly playlist will also continue to be updated after the Live Sunday show is over.

I feel this is the best way to avoid any burnout and it will reinforce my commitment to bringing you the Daily and Weekly shows.

All the best to you.

Stay Safe.
Michael

Island Update for the Week of May 31st to June 6th, 2020

May 31^st to June 6^th, 2020

Be sure to join me for the Live Daily Edition of Treasure Island Oldies, weekdays at 11 am Pacific, 1 pm Central, 2 pm Eastern, 3 pm Atlantic.

It was great to be with you once again for the Sunday evening Live four hour weekly show. It's this show that will play over twenty times this week. Check out the Broadcast Partners Network page for the days and times. The biggest difference, for me at least, is just how the feel of the four hour show and daily one hour show are. I feel I can stretch out more on the Sunday show to include the features you enjoy every week, like the Lounge Double, Top Five Countdown, Rick's Rare Rock & Roll Relic, Tom Locke Moment In Time, plus Voice Your Choice and more. Oh yes, I also frequently hear from listeners who let me know when their birthday is approaching. I'd like to hear from you too. To send a comment about the show, make a request or tell me about your birthday, just send a note to me. michael@treasureislandoldies.com

As today is the 1st of June, I decided to play the 1st charted records by some of your favourite artists on the Monday Daily Edition of the show. I sure enjoyed playing The Orlons, Marvin Gaye, The Beatles and Rolling Stones, and so many more. For tomorrow I have a real treat for you. I just got a new turntable for the studio and apart from playing 45s and 33s, it can also play those so cool 78 rpm records. As a result, I dug up some very cool 78s from the 1950s to play for you tomorrow for the entire hour. In the over 23 years I have been doing the show, tomorrow will be the very first time I can play a 78 rpm record on the show. You don't want to miss tomorrow's show, starting at 11 am Pacific, 2 pm Eastern.

I have received many comments from you regarding the cool show promos that play on the Home page. Thank You. It's nice being able to see the upcoming specials. And I've passed on your kind words to Eddy Fisher, webmaster extraordinaire! He appreciates it very much. And speaking of upcoming specials, the annual Father's Day special will take place on Sunday, June 21st. Join me in this celebration of Dads with some cool tunes.

If your birthday is coming up soon, I'd like to help you celebrate your birthday with all the show's listeners. 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.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights the legendary Four Tops. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Seven Rooms Of Gloom or Bernadette. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1963, and the debut single by Lesley Gore sits at Number One on the charts. It's My Party is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Click here for this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Don't forget to join me for the Daily Show all this week starting at 11 am Pacific, 2 pm Eastern.

Take care, stay safe and stay well!

Bye for now.

Michael

Lesley Gore - Number One 1963 Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five Countdown is from 1963. Her debut single, produced by Quincy Jones, reached all the way to the top of the charts! Here's Lesley Gore celebrating her success in the photo above and in her live performance of It's My Party on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Enjoy!

Michael

The Four Tops - Voice Your Choice Treasure Island Oldies

Motown Records was quite the talent development organization, from the perspectives of singers, songwriters, musicians and producers. One of the most successful outfits was the Four Tops with Levi Stubbs as lead singer.

With Stubbs in the lead, the Four Tops sold millions of records, including such hits as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)."

The group performed for more than four decades without a change in personnel. Stubbs' death leaves one surviving member of the original group: Abdul "Duke" Fakir.

Stubbs "fits right up there with all the icons of Motown," said Audley Smith, chief operating officer of the Motown Historical Museum. "His voice was as unique as Marvin's or as Smokey's or as Stevie's."

The Four Tops began singing together in 1953 under the group name the Four Aims and signed a deal with Chess Records. They later changed their names to the Four Tops to avoid being confused with the Ames Brothers.

They also recorded for Red Top, Riverside and Columbia Records and toured supper clubs.

The Four Tops signed with Motown Records in 1963 and produced 20 Top-40 hits over the next 10 years, making music history with the other acts in Berry Gordy's Motown stable.

Their biggest hits were recorded between 1964 and 1967 with the in-house songwriting and production team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Both 1965's "I Can't Help Myself" and 1966's "Reach Out" went to No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart.

Other hits included "Shake Me, Wake Me" (1966); "Bernadette" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love" (both 1967).

They toured for decades afterwards and reached the charts as late as 1988 with "Indestructible" on Arista Records. In 1986, Stubbs provided the voice for Audrey II the man-eating plant in the film "Little Shop of Horrors."

The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Treasure Island Oldies presents the legendary Four Tops in the Voice Your Choice spotlight. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Seven Rooms Of Gloom or Bernadette.

Island Update - This Week on Treasure Island Oldies Week of May 24, 2020

May 24^th to 30^th, 2020

Be sure to join me for the Live Daily Edition of Treasure Island Oldies, weekdays at 11 am Pacific, 1 pm Central, 2 pm Eastern, 3 pm Atlantic.

It's so interesting with doing my show six days a week, the days seems to blend together. LOL Thanks for joining me for the Weekend Edition of Treasure Island Oldies. I am frequently asked about archives of the shows. While this no Island Vault at this time, you can still hear the current week's show over twenty times if that would be your kind of fun. LMAO :-) Seriously, just go to the Broadcast Partners Network page to find the days and times when the show will air on our Affiliate Stations. Incidentally, if you're available to hear the live show Sunday evenings and you have a smart device, just say "Play WTND LP" or "Play Oldies Funhouse Radio". You'll hear the live simulcast on these stations. Gotta love technology, especially when it works!!

This coming week on the Daily Edition of the show, we'll hear the stars themselves, talking about their hits and careers. These are rare clips indeed, as the majority are from interviews my good friend, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Pioneer DJ, Red Robinson shared with me from his personal collection of interviews he did with the stars of the day. And I'll play songs they mention or are closely associated with their fame. That's Monday and Tuesday this week. On Wednesday, I'll take a nostalgic look back at the 23 years of Treasure Island Oldies. I'll dig deep and far back into the many Requests I've had. It's All Request Wednesday. I'll figure out Thursday and Friday as it happens. LOL

I have received many comments from you regarding the cool show promos that play on the Home page. Thank You. It's nice being able to see the upcoming specials. And I've passed on your kind words to Eddy Fisher, webmaster extraordinaire! He appreciates it very much.

Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Darrell Darnell in Jacksonville, Illinois. If your birthday is coming up soon, I'd like to help you celebrate your birthday with all the show's listeners. 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.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights those Jersey Boys, The Four Seasons. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Big Man In Town or Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye). I'll play the winner on next week's show.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1969, and The Beatles hold down the Number One spot on the charts. Get Back is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Click here for this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Don't forget to join me for the Daily Show.

Take care, stay safe and stay well!

Bye for now.
Michael

The Beatles Number One 1969 Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five Countdown spotlights 1969. In their final live performance as The Beatles, they performed on the rooftop of Apple Studios, and the album Let It Be.

From that concert a song surfaced that would become huge. And that's this week's Number One songs. It's The Beatles with Get Back.

Enjoy!
Michael

The Four Seasons Treasure Island Oldies Voice Your Choice

The Four Seasons went from having catchy singles done by a group with a lead vocalist who sang in a very high vocal range, to becoming an iconic group of the 1960s.

They had the hits, the tours, the Broadway musical, Jersey Boys, and even its movie adaption. And this week they're in the Voice Your Choice Spotlight on Treasure Island Oldies. Now their career is complete!! LOL

With so many hit records, it wasn't easy to select just two of them for Voice Your Choice. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Big Man In Town or Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye).
I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Malo's Singer and Guitarist Jorge Santana Has Died At Age 68

By The Associated Press 

May 20, 2020

Jorge Santana, the guitarist for the Latin-rock band Malo, best remembered for the 1972 hit “Suavecito,” died on May 14 at his home in San Rafael, Calif. He was 68. 

His death was confirmed by Michael Vrionis, the manager of his brother, the guitarist Carlos Santana. No cause was given.

The San Francisco-based band Malo — the name means “bad” in Spanish — played a laid-back fusion of jazz, rock and different forms of Latin music, not unlike the sound that catapulted Carlos Santana to international fame. Jorge Santana’s rock guitar playing was backed by percussion and horns more typical of Latin jazz.

The group’s debut album, titled simply “Malo,” was released in 1972. It featured “Suavecito,” a smooth, melodic song that peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard singles chart and became a staple for fans of Latin-tinged rock.

“A wailing guitar, a lively Latin rhythm section and crisp horns distinguish Malo, a San Francisco band under the leadership of Jorge Santana, Carlos’s brother,” a review by Loraine Alterman in The New York Times said in 1972. “In this all‐original album there are shades of Eric Clapton in Jorge’s guitar playing and traces of Blood, Sweat and Tears in some of the brass arrangements.”

Malo made four albums before a highly publicized breakup. Mr. Santana later had a solo career and played with the celebrated New York-based salsa collective the Fania All-Stars.

Guillermo Jorge Santana was born on June 13, 1951, in Autlán, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, to Josefina and Jose Santana. His father was a musician, and Jorge took up the guitar as a teenager in San Francisco. When he was still quite young he joined the Malibus, a rhythm and blues band with a horn section that evolved into Malo.

Mr. Santana worked with his brother Carlos’s management company and toured with him. In 1994 they released an album, “Santana Brothers.”

Treasure Island Oldies Island Update For The Week of May 17th, 2020

May 17^th to 23^rd, 2020

Be sure to join me for the Live Daily Edition of Treasure Island Oldies, weekdays at 11 am Pacific, 1 pm Central, 2 pm Eastern, 3 pm Atlantic.

It was great to have your company once again for the weekly show. Whether you listen via the Treasure Island Oldies Listen page, or via one of our Affiliate Stations that simulcast the live show, or the remaining Broadcast Partners Network stations that air the show airs over twenty times a week; it’s just great to have you listening. And I’m sure impressed with the variety of countries from where you are listening, including across Canada and the United States, and also Norway, Turkey, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, China, the Netherlands, and so many other places. Hello!

I am also very much enjoying to bring you the Daily Edition of the show. It’s a weekday one hour with some interesting themes. Since the daily show began March 25th, I’ve played the Top 100 of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. We also explored your 45s collection by playing both the A and B sides of some of your all time favourite records, and we also took a virtual trip to Club International. It was fun to hear the familiar English hits by such artists as Jay and The Americans, Connie Francis, Gene Pitney and many others; and is was also cool to hear them sing their hits in diverse languages as French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Swedish. All this week on the Daily show I’m playing two parts every day of The Motown Story. It’s a fascinating trip behind the scenes as we hear candid interviews with the Motown Stars. 

Join me all this week at 11 am Pacific, 2 pm Eastern for The Motown Story.

   Happy Birthday wishes go out to Cora Quinn in Peoria, Illinois. And my thanks to her long time great friend, California Barb, for the nice phone call wishing Cora a very Happy Birthday.  If your birthday is coming up soon, I’d like to help you celebrate your birthday with all the show’s listeners. 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.

   Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights the British group, The Foundations. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Baby Now That I’ve Found You or Back On My Feet Again. I’ll play the winner on next week’s show.

   The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1964, and Mary Wells, another major Motown star, has the million-selling Number One Smash. My Guy is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

   Click here for this week’s Rock and Roll News Podcast.

   Take care, stay safe and stay well!

Bye for now.
Michael


-->

The Foundations Voice Your Choice Treasure Island Oldies

The Foundations were an Interracial R&B Pop group from England that was active between 1967 and 1970. The members were Clem Curtis (vocals), Allan Warner (guitar), Eric Allendale, Pat Burke and Michael Elliott (horns), Anthony Gomez (keyboards), Peter McBeth (bass) and Tim Harris (drums). Their debut single, Baby, Now That I've Found You, became a big hit for them in the UK, Canada and then the United States, where it peaked at Number 11.

Clem Curtis left the group in 1968 and was replaced by singer Colin Young, who sang lead vocal on Build Me Up Buttercup and In The Bad,Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me).

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents The Foundations. Go to the Voice Your Choice page and cast your vote for either Baby Now That I Found You or Back On My Feet Again. I'll play the winner during next week's show.

Mary Wells Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1965

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five Countdown is from 1964. At the top of the charts at Number One, it's a million selling smash for Motown's Mary Wells.

Here's a clip from the TV show Shindig of Mary Wells.

Enjoy!
Michael

The Motown Story All This Week on Treasure Island Oldies Daily Edition

Join me all this week for a fascinating look into Motown Records, filled with great music and interviews with the great Motown stars, on the Weekday Edition of Treasure Island Oldies.

The one hour daily show begins at 11 am Pacific, 2 pm Eastern at the Listen page at www.TreasureIslandOldies.com

Using your smart device, you can also listen to the live simulcast by saying "play WTND LP" or "Play Oldies Funhouse Radio".

Keeping you entertained as we stay at home.

Cheers!
Michael


-->

Betty Wright Soul Singer and R&B Star Has Passed Away At Age 66

Sad News posted at The Guardian

The singer and songwriter Betty Wright, who has died of cancer aged 66, occupied a significant position in African-American music across six decades, beginning with powerhouse gospel in the 1950s and settling on an R&B, soul and funk groove from the 60s onwards that eventually led to work with superstar rappers of the 2000s.

Wright’s career began as a young child in a gospel group in Florida, and her signature song, Clean Up Woman (1971), was recorded when she was only 17, epitomising what became known as “the Miami sound” – Floridian soul music shaped by the many facets of her home city’s cultural melange.
After years of solid achievement in the US as a singer and songwriter, in the mid-80s she set up her own record label and, although she continued to record her own material, began to make a new name for herself as a producer and songwriter, collaborating with the likes of Gloria Estefan and Joss Stone. Later still her material was much sampled – including by Beyoncé – and she was able to undertake projects with rappers such as Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne.

She was born in Miami, to Rosa (nee Braddy-Wright) and McArthur Norris. The infant Bessie – as Betty was christened – was co-opted into the family gospel group, the Echoes of Joy, at the age of two. The Echoes worked the Southern US gospel circuit and Bessie proved to be a vocal prodigy – so much so that by the time the group split in 1965, she was confident enough to start singing on her own, in a new R&B vein, and with a new name – Betty Wright.

Willie Clarke and Clarence Reid, two Miami-based musicians, were so impressed by the young girl that they signed her to Deep City, the only African-American record label in Florida. Wright’s debut 45, Paralysed, was released in 1965, and it sold well locally. However, Deep City lacked the resources to promote records properly, and so Reid and Clarke eventually passed Wright on to Henry Stone, a distributor with experience and contacts who was launching Alston Records in Miami.

Aged 14, Wright recorded her debut album for Alston, My First Time Around (1968), which not only revealed her to be a formidable soul singer but generated a single, Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do, that reached the Top 40s of the US and Canadian pop charts.

Although subsequent singles failed to make much of an impression, Wright continued to sing in the Miami clubs on the weekends, building up valuable contacts in the music business. Then chart success returned in 1971 with Clean Up Woman, written by Clarke and Reid, which got to No 6 in the US. Based around a distinctive guitar lick played by Willie Hale, Clean Up Woman’s breezy, danceable funk ensured that Wright would be one of the few school pupils ever to have turned 18 with a million-selling hit record behind her.

For more of this article, please go to The Guardian

Island Update Treasure Island Oldies Week of May 10th, 2020

May 10^th to 16^th, 2020

Be sure to join me for the Live Daily Edition of Treasure Island Oldies, weekdays at 11 am Pacific, 1 pm Central, 2 pm Eastern, 3 pm Atlantic.

It was my pleasure to bring you the annual Mother's Day Special on Treasure Island Oldies; and so cool to hear so many songs for mom's everywhere. Whether our Moms are still with us or a wonderful memory, we salute every single mother around the world. The fun thing is some songs are almost reserved for playing only on the Mother's Day Special. For example, Mama by Connie Francis, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles or B.J. Thomas tend to get played once a year, while the rest of their catalogue gets explored throughout the rest of the year.

I was personally very saddened to have learned about the passing of Rock & Roll Pioneer and icon, Little Richard at age 87. He would have turned 88 on December 5th. I vividly remember watching Rip It Up play on our 78 rpm radio/record player combination. When my parents got rid of the 78s they had in favour of the new 16/33/45 turntable, that was the last time I heard Rip It Up for many years until around 1967 or 1968 when I found an album on Specialty Records, Little Richard's Greatest Hits, and there it was among the song titles, Rip It Up! So it was with great love for his music that I paid tribute to Little Richard throughout the show and also the entire Rock and Roll Reunion in the last half hour. I saw him in concert in Vancouver several years ago. He and Jerry Lee Lewis shared the bill, with Jerry Lee opening the show. Well sadly, Jerry Lee would not get off the stage, even after what would have been a normal length of time for his performance. So eventually, the house lights came on and Jerry Lee went off. After a short intermission, the lights dimmed in the arena and the band started up and then Boom! Little Richard practically exploded on stage to a standing ovation for a good two minutes, even before he sang or played one note. His first words to the audience were "You still love me!" Of course, the audiences erupted in even louder applause and hollering. That was a very special night. Little Richard, R.I.P and Thank You. You helped me love and thrive on music even more.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Toni Howerton in Middletown, Ohio. She's a regular listener and song requester. All the best to you Toni. If your birthday is coming up soon, I'd like to help you celebrate your birthday with all the show's listeners. 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.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights the British and American supergroup, Fleetwood Mac. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Say You Love Me or Don't Stop. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1967. And The Supremes were back at the top of the charts once again. The Happening is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Click here for this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Don't miss the Daily Show at 11 am Pacific , 2 pm Eastern. This week we are virtually travelling to Club International.
You'll love hearing alternate language versions of the English hits you know and love. Let's travel together for one hour daily.


Take care, stay safe and stay well!

Bye for now.
Michael

Fleetwood Mac Voice Your Choice Treasure Island Oldies

Fleetwood Mac are a British-American group formed in 1967 in London, England, by drummer Mick Fleetwood, guitarist Peter Green, and additional guitarist Jeremy Spencer, plus John McVie on bass. Through many albums and personnel changes, the group eventually enlisted Christine McVie. When Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks became part of the group, and final American version of Fleetwood Mac came to be. Their first two albums with this lineup were called Fleetwood Mac and Rumours. To say they were successful would be a major understatement. They became superstars!

Treasure Island Oldies is pleased to present Fleetwood Mac in the Voice Your Choice spotlight. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Say You Love Me or Don't Stop. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

The Supremes Number One Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown 1967

The Supremes continued their winning streak again this week at they at the top of the charts for this week's Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown from 1967.

Here are Diana, Mary and Flo with The Happening.
Enjoy!