Win Tickets to The Producers - The New Mel Brooks Musical

*WINNER OF A RECORD 12 TONY AWARDS*

BROADWAY ACROSS CANADA PRESENTS
THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical. will make its Vancouver premiere at The Centre in Vancouver For Performing Arts for a limited one-week engagement beginning Tuesday, February 27, through Sunday, March 4, 2007.

Enter to win a pair of tickets to Opening Night, Tuesday, February 27 by coming to Treasure Island Oldies. To be eligible to win, you MUST be able to attend the performance at the Centre For Performing Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 27, 2007. Full details at the website.

Based on Mr. Brooks’ Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical is the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant. Together they hatch the ultimate scam: raise more money than needed for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference. Their “sure-fire” theatrical fiasco? None other than the musical Springtime for Hitler.

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical swept the 2001 Tony Awards, receiving the most Awards in Broadway history. Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan), Best Original Score (Mel Brooks), Best Scenic Design (Robin Wagner), Best Costume Design (William Ivey Long), Best Lighting Design (Peter Kaczorowski), Best Orchestrations (Doug Besterman), Best Choreography and Best Direction of A Musical (Susan Stroman).

Tommy Dee - R.I.P.

Tommy Dee was a disc jockey with KXFM in San Bernadino. In 1959, shortly after the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper in the tragic plane crash north of Mason City, Iowa, Tommy Dee, along with Carol Kay and the Teen-Aires, made a tribute record called Three Stars. Tommy did the narrative voiceover while Carol and the group sang the refrain.

You can hear Three Stars as part of the Treasure Island Oldies annual Tribute to "The Day The Music Died". It's available for listening in Hour 4 of this week's archived show as well as a podcast.

Sad to say he passed away Friday, January 26 within days of the anniversary of the plane crash. My sincere to listener Fred Waterer for passing this news on to me.

Peter and Gordon - Voice Your Choice

Peter and Gordon are Peter Asher and Gordon Waller. The pop duo from London, England burst on the music scene during the height of the British Invasion.

They charted 14 records on the Billboard Hot 100 between May 1964 and June 1967, securing 3 Top Ten singles, with their debut becoming their biggest hit, A World Without Love. After their breakup, Peter Asher became very invloved in the music industry in California as both a producer and manager and worked with Linda Ronsadt, James Taylor and 10,000 Maniacs.

This week Treasure Island Oldies spotlights Peter and Gordon on Voice Your Choice with two of their more fun songs: Lady Godiva and Sunday For Tea. Which song do you like better? Come to Treasure Island Oldies to Voice Your Choice and place your vote. The song with the most votes will be played in Hour 3 of this week's show.

Small Faces - Song of the Week

Our Song of the Week is by The Small Faces from England and Tin Soldier, their follow-up to Itchycoo Park.

Enjoy!

Three Dog Night - Voice Your Choice

Three Dog Night were a vocal trio from Los Angeles, California. Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, and Chuck Negron got their name from how the coldest night in the Australian outback is described.

Between 1969 and their breakup late 1975 early 1976, they had a surprising number of hits, charting 21 times on the Billboard charts. They had 11 Top Ten hits plus 7 Gold Records.

They had the luxury of three different lead vocalists and great harmonies together.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice features two of their great performances on record. Vote for either Try A Little Tenderness or Never Been To Spain. Try A Little Tenderness, their debut single, was first recorded back in 1933 by Ted Lewis; later recorded by Otis Redding in 1966. You're more than likely to remember Otis' version and not Ted's original. Never Been To Spain was written by Hoyt Axton, who also wrote their hit, Joy To The World.

Come to the Voice Your Choice page and select the song you prefer. The winning song will be played in Hour 3 of this week's show.

Dave Clark Five - Song Of The Week

The Dave Clark Five are one of the most popular groups of the British Invasion. Because is one of the most requested songs on the show. Here is a video clip of them performing one your favourite songs.

Enjoy!

Ladies and Gentlemen...The Mamas and Papas

As part of our Tribute to Denny Doherty, founder of the Mamas and Papas who passed away Friday, January 19th, here are a few of their hits. Enjoy the video clips. And be sure to listen to the Tribute on the show, Live January 21st from 6 to 10 p.m. and later at any time on the Archive.
Michael

California Dreamin'


Monday Monday


Creque Alley

? and The Mysterians Update Since Fire

As you heard on Treasure Island Oldies last week during the Rock and Roll News, Rudy Martinez aka Question Mark, of ? and The Mysterians lost all of his posessions during a fire at his home and that of his manager and manager's wife. Here is a link to a video update: www.96tears.net

They are hoping for donations so they can get their lives re-started. Thanks for your consideration.

Denny Doherty - A Tribute

As a tribute to Denny Doherty, the founder of The Mamas and The Papas, I will spotlight songs with Denny as featured singer. Be listening in Hour 4 for some of the greatest music of the 1960s from The Mamas and The Papas. The show is live Sunday, from 6 to 10 p.m. Pacific.

Denny Doherty - Mamas and Papas - R.I.P.

I hate to have to pass this on but Denny Doherty from The Mamas and The Papas passed away today at his home
after a brief illness. He was 66. Here is the story from Associated Press.

Denny Doherty, one-quarter of the 1960s folk-rock group the Mamas and the Papas, known for their soaring harmony on hits like "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday," died Friday at 66.

His sister Frances Arnold said the singer-songwriter died at his home in Mississauga, a city just west of Toronto, after a short illness.

The group burst on the national scene in 1966 with the top 10 smash "California Dreamin'." The Mamas and the Papas broke new ground by having women and men in one group at a time when most singing groups were unisex. John Phillips, the group's chief songwriter; his wife, Michelle; and another female vocalist, Cass Elliot, teamed with Doherty.

"Monday, Monday" hit No. 1 on the charts and won the band a Grammy for best contemporary group performance. Among the group's other songs were "I Saw Her Again Last Night," "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Dancing Bear," and versions of "I Call Your Name" and "Dedicated to the One I Love."

"What made the group special was their haunting and sumptuous harmony singing," according to "The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll."

In 1998, the Mamas and the Papas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The group's catchy sound was a blend of '60s upbeat pop and the folk music that had surged in popularity early in the decade. The song "Creeque Alley" told the story of their formation amid the musical ferment of the folk scene; among the other stars-to-be mentioned in its lyrics were members of the Lovin' Spoonful and the Byrds.

But the group's heyday was brief and it disbanded in 1968 following John and Michelle Phillips' divorce. The members re-formed in 1971 for the album "People Like Us," but all hope for a reunion ended in 1974 when the 30-year-old Elliot choked and suffered a fatal heart attack while eating a sandwich in London.

Phillips briefly re-formed the group in 1982 with Doherty, Phillips' actress daughter, Mackenzie, and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The foursome toured playing oldies and new Phillips originals.

In 2003, Doherty was co-author and performer in an off-Broadway show called "Dream a Little Dream: The Mamas and the Papas Musical," which traced the band's early years, its dizzying fame and breakup.

"There's a part of this thing that if I'm not careful, I'd be just a blob on the stage crying my guts out," Doherty told The Associated Press at the time. "Everybody knows about death and dying and sadness, so it's an exercise in staying in the moment and not getting maudlin about your friends dying."

John Phillips died in 2001 at 65.

The Halifax-born Doherty started his music career in Montreal in 1960 as the co-founder of the Colonials, which later became the Halifax Three.

Doherty made a solo album in 1974 and achieved a bit of immortality by both playing the Harbormaster and voicing all the characters for the children's TV series "Theodore Tugboat."

Pookie Hudson - The Spaniel R.I.P.

Pookie Hudson, lead singer of The Spaniels has passed away. My thanks to listener Rick Canode in Madison, Wisconsin for this item.

The last couple of years have not been good ones for fans of Doo Wop music. We've lost some of its founding fathers in recent years. On January 16, we lost another with the passing of Thornton James "Pookie" Hudson of the Spaniels. Pookie and the group were the first artist to be recorded and released on the then new Vee-Jay label back in 1953 with "Baby It's You". Their classic "Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite" followed a few months later. The group formed in Gary, Indiana in 1952. Other Spaniels classics include, "You Gave Me Peace Of Mind", "People Will Say We're In Love", "You Painted Pictures", "Everybody's Laughing" and their up-tempo rendition of "Stormy Weather".

Pookie lived just north of Washington DC. He was a tall man and had an incredible presence. He had been sick with cancer for a long time, but , he had beaten the horrible disease. A few months ago, the cancer came back and attacked his liver.
Pookie was born June 11, 1934, and passed away on January 16, 2007. May his music, memory and legend live on.

Dion - Ruby Baby - Song of the Week

When Dion DiMucci left The Belmonts to become a solo artist, his career moved into high gear. One of his big hit songs was Ruby Baby.

An interesting reflection on the times, there were no music videos and no MTV. However, there was a company that made short films of artists performing their songs. They were called Scopitones and are very rare and hard to find today.

Check out this film of Dion performing Ruby Baby from 1963.

Enjoy!
Michael

Looking Glass - Voice Your Choice

The Looking Glass were a pop-rock group from New Jersey. The quartet consisted of Elliot Lurie on vocals and guitar, Larry Gronsky - keyboards, Piet Sewval on bass (he died in 1990 at age 51), and Jeff Grob on drums.

Interestingly, they only had two singles released, their debut went to Number One and became a Gold record. Their second single peaked at number 33. Then they vanished. They reappear this week on Treasure Island Oldies.

This week Voice Your Choice spotlights Looking Glass with their two hits for your votes: Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) or Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne.

Come to the Voice Your Choice page and make your selection for the song you prefer. The winner will be played in Hour 3 of this week's show.

Legends of Doo Wop

My good friend Jim Amidei at oldieslist.com and oldieslist.blogspot.com has come across a hilarious and award-winning comedic short that has played in festivals all over the world. It's about two men who claim to have been the "hit factor" behind the biggest names in rock n' roll!

My huge thanks to The Moose for letting me know about this. Have fun watching!
Michael

Vanilla Fudge - Song of the Week

Vanilla Fudge were a Psychedelic-rock group from New York whose first hit song was a cover of The Supremes hit You Keep Me Hanging On in 1967. The following year they covered another Motown hit, this time Shotgun, originally recorded by Jr. Walker and The All Stars.

It's this week's Song of the Week. Enjoy!

Tommy Edwards - Voice Your Choice

Tommy Edwards, the smooth Black Adult Contemporary singer, pianist and songwriter, was born on February 17, 1922 in Richmond, Virginia. He first began performing at the age of nine! Sadly, he passed away at age 47 on October 23, 1969.

He managed to have quite an impressive string of songs to hit the charts. Between August 1958 and October 1960, he scored 14 songs on the Billboard Charts, including a Number One song and Gold record for It's All In The Game. An interesting bit about this song. The melody was written in 1912 by U.S. Vice-President Charles Dawes. The original version of the song was first recorded by Tommy Edwards in 1951 and reached # 18. He later re-recorded it and it then became the huge familiar hit in 1958.

This week on Voice Your Choice we spotlight two other hits by Tommy Edwards: Love Is All We Need and Please Mr. Sun. Which song do you prefer? Come to the Treasure Island Oldies Voice Your Choice page and make your selection. The song with the most votes will be played in Hour 3 on this week's show.

The Isley Brothers on Voice Your Choice

The Isley Brothers originated in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to New York in 1957. They started out as a trio with O'Kelly, Ronald and Rudolph, then added their younger brothers Ernie and Marvin, as well as brother-in-law Chris Jasper in 1969.

They charted an impressive 49 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1959 and 2001, with four Top Tens, three Gold and one Platinum record.

For the first Voice Your Choice of 2007, we present The Isley Brothers with either This Old Heart Of Mine or Twist And Shout. Come to Treasure Island Oldies and cast your vote for the song you prefer. We'll play the winning tune in the 3rd hour of the show.

It's 2007 Happy New Year!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very healthy and Happy New Year. May 2007 be filled with great times with your friends and family.

2007 will be special for Treasure Island Oldies, as this is the year we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the show.

The first live show of 2007 will be next Sunday, January 7. Join me for the Treasure Island Oldies Dance Party.