Eighteen Years Ago This Week Treasure Island Oldies Featured in Canada's Macleans Magazine

It was this week, February 28, 2000 and I was pleased to have a feature article on Treasure Island Oldies in Canada's Macleans Magazine. Wow! eighteen years ago, and still going strong and looking forward to the 21st Anniversary of the show on May 6th.

Click on the article image for the complete article.

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of February 25th, 2018

February 25^th to March 3^rd, 2018

 

It was great to be back with you this week. What a disappointment it was to have the on-air broadcast console go  poof ten minutes into last week's show! After great tech support from the console manufacturer, we were able to buy replacement chips. Also took the opportunity to deal with some hum issues by completely re-wiring the on-air studio. I am pleased with the results. We are continuing to take steps to improve and upgrade the studio equipment and encoders and believe we are really heading in the right direction. I am appreciating the feedback, believe me.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, we spotlighted the year 1965 throughout the show, including this week's Top Five Countdown. It was a great for great music by many artists such as The Ad Libs, James Brown, Dobie Gray, Roy Head & The Traits, Little Anthony and The Imperials, The Kinks, and so many more. It also great to pay tribute to Barbara Alston, the original lead singer of The Crystals, who passed away February 23rd at the age of 74. 

It was also fun to introduce a new weekly feature, Delicious Vinyl 45. As part of the studio upgrade, we installed a turntable and every week I'll play a vinyl 45, scratches and wear at no extra charge. LOL This week I played She's Everything (I Wanted You To Be) by Ral Donner. Sure sounded delicious!

Be sure to include in your calendar our next special, the One Hit Wonders. We will be live Sunday, March 18th starting at 6 pm Pacific time. If you've not heard this annual special, you'll be surprised with just how many hits there were by artists who appeared on the charts one time only. It's both a history lesson and a fun time hearing some great music.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Linda Russell Johnson in Missouri. Is your birthday approaching? If so, please me know by sending the date 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 and the Number One song is by Gary Lewis & The Playboys. This Diamond Ring is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents the zany side of Ray Stevens. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Along Came Jones or The Streak. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

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

Have a great week. Join me next Sunday on the Island for the next live show.

Bye for now.
Michael
 

Ray Stevens - Voice Your Choice

Ray Stevens was born Harold Ray Ragsdale on January 24, 1939 in Clarkdale, Georgia. He was just 16 years old when he signed with Capitol Records. However, it wasn't until 1962 when Mercury Records signed him to a contract that his career started to take off. After several hits, including Ahab The Arab, he switched to Monument Records. He recorded both serious and comedic songs, including Gitarzan.

One of his biggest serious hits was Everything Is Beautiful, peaked at Number One on many charts around the world.

But it's his comedic side we are featuring on Voice Your Choice. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Along Came Jones or The Streak. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Number One on Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, we spotlight the year 1965 throughout the show. and at the top of the charts this week in 1965 is Gary Lewis & The Playboys. Here they are performing This Diamond Ring.

Enjoy!

Michael

The Crystals Lead Singer Barbara Alston Has Died At Age 74

From BBC News...The Crystals singer Barbara Ann Alston, who recorded hits like Da Doo Ron Ron and Then He Kissed Me, has died at the age of 74.

Her band, along with The Ronettes, were among the definitive girl groups of the 1960s and helped construct Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. Alston sang lead vocals on their first three singles, including the US top 20 hit There's No Other Like My Baby. She died on Friday 16 February after contracting flu, her daughter said.

"She loved The Crystals," Donielle Prophete told BBC News. "She always talked about singing with them, the work they created together. She loved the sisterhood part of it, the travelling." The Crystals were originally a quintet consisting of Alston, Dee Dee Kennibrew, Mary Thomas, Patricia Wright and La La Brooks - all of whom grew up singing in the church.

They were put together by big band sideman Benny Wells - who happened to be Alston's uncle - while they were still at school. They were later discovered by Spector while cutting demos for the publisher Hill & Range. Brooks was seen as the lead singer, but Spector disagreed and championed a reluctant Alston instead. "I just found out recently [that] she had a real problem with being the lead," recalled Prophete."They loved her voice and they kept pushing her to the front but she was shy."My sister says mum wanted to do the choreography and stuff like that."

Nonetheless, Alston's innocent-but-sensuous vocals propelled their first single, There's No Other Like My Baby, into the charts in 1962. It was followed by the dramatic, flamenco-inflected Uptown.
However, the band's next single He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss) and its depiction of domestic violence led to a public outcry and Spector eventually pulled the song from sale. Speaking to Mojo magazine in 2010, Brooks recalled that Alston had been "a little uneasy" about recording the song and the band were "taken aback" by the subject matter. Carole King, who wrote the music to Gerry Goffin's lyrics, subsequently disowned the composition, saying "it's the one song I kind of wish I hadn't had any part of writing".

After that, Spector took The Crystals name and gave it to his protege Darlene Love, who sang on the band's next two singles, including the hit He's A Rebel (taking The Crystals by surprise when they first heard it on the radio).

In 1963, the original quintet were allowed to sing on their own records again and scored their two biggest hits with Da Doo Ron Ron and Then He Kissed Me.

By this point, Alston had ceded the limelight to La La Brooks, who took the lead vocal on those and later hits. But Alston remained proud of the band, and stayed involved with their career into her 70s, her daughter said. "She would always sing around the house, especially around Christmas," she recalled.

Alston's funeral is being on Friday, with fellow Crystals singer Dee Dee Kennibrew scheduled to be a speaker.

Popular Crooner Vic Damone Has Died At Age 89

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. singer Vic Damone, a crooner who found fame in the 1940s and 1950s, has died at the age of 89, his family said on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Damone, known for hits like “I Have But One Heart” and “You Do,” died in Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday surrounded by relatives, his family said in a statement. Damone appeared in television shows and movies in the 1960s and also had hits with “An Affair to Remember” and “On the Street Where You Live.”

New York-born Damone was the son of an Italian-American electrician and was inspired to launch a singing career by Frank Sinatra, with whom he later became friends. Damone was also a personal friend of U.S. President Donald Trump, the family said.

In 1962, he hosted his own television variety show “The Vic Damone Show” on NBC, after appearing in movie musicals “Hit the Deck” and “Kismet” in the 1950s. In 1971, Damone began performing in Las Vegas casinos, and in 1972 he was offered the role of singer Johnny Fontane in “The Godfather” movie but turned it down. The role ultimately went to Al Martino.

Damone released his final album in 2002 and gave his final public performance in 2011 at the age of 82, when he sang to a sold-out crowd in Palm Beach, Florida.

His autobiography, “Singing Was the Easy Part,” was released in 2009.

Dame was married five times and is survived by his six grandchildren.

He died at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach from what is thought to be complications from respiratory failure.

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week opf February 11th, 2018

February 11th to February 17th, 2018

  

Love is in the air this week on our annual Valentine's Day Special. In case you missed the live show, please check out the Broadcast Partners Network page for the days and times when it will air on one of our affiliate stations. Happy Valentine's Day.

This week, as part of the Valentine's Day Special, we featured the year 1958 throughout the show and for this week's Top Five Countdown. It was great to hear songs from 1958 by such artists as Tommy Edwards, Clyde McPhatter, Jerry Butler, Art & Dotty Todd, and many others, including Eileen Rogers with Treasure Of Your Love.

Be sure to include in your calendar our next special, the One Hit Wonders. We will be live Sunday, March 18th starting at 6 pm Pacific time. If you've not heard this annual special, you'll be surprised with just how many hits there were by artists who appeared on the charts one time only. It's both a history lesson and a fun time hearing some great music.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Guylaine Cȏté in Quebec City, Quebec. Is your birthday approaching? If so, please me know by sending the date 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 1958 and the Number One song is by Elvis Presley. Don't is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents the incomparable 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.

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

Have a great week. See you next time on the Island.

Bye for now.
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.

Elvis Presley Top Five Countdown 1958 Treasure Island Oldies

Elvis Presley had a LOT of hit records and yet this Number One song is hardly ever heard anymore.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five Countdown is from 1958. And at the top of the charts it's Elvis with Don't.

Enjoy!
Michael

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of February 4th, 2018

February 4th to February 10th, 2018

 

Welcome to this week's Island Update. It's only been a couple of weeks since I introduced the Spotlight Year, this week it was 1964. I have already heard from many listeners saying they are really enjoying having a particular year in music featured throughout the show. For example, it was great hearing from Linda Gehres who hears the show on The Legend from Indianapolis, Indiana. She commented that her two favourite years musically are 1961 and 1964. Additionally, Linda said that her three favourite singers from that era were Del Shannon, Brian Hyland and Bobby Vee. She even got to meet Bobby Vee after a concert in Mansfield, Ohio. They talked about their mutual love of Del Shannon's music. Del's last concert was with Bobby Vee. A wonderful email, thank you Linda. I'd love to hear from you and the memories that come alive when you hear a particular song on the show. Please get in touch with me; it's michael@treasureislandoldies.com.

It's is quite amazing to think that the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, took place 59 years ago! And every year I salute their music with The Day The Music Died Special. I've had comments back already saying how much you enjoyed both the music and the interview clips and news bulletins of the day. My thanks to my very good friend Red Robinson, from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for graciously providing the interviews, the actual news clips and bulletins that announced the tragic news.

Next week on the show it's a worldwide Love Fest! It's our annual Valentine's Day Special and it will get underway Live next Sunday, January 11th starting at 6 pm Pacific. Can't you feel all that love in the air???

Is your birthday approaching? If so, please me know by sending the date 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 1964 and the Number One song is by The Beatles. I Want To Hold Your Hand is playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Treasure Island Oldies Blog.

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents The Rascals, with two of their many hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either A Beautiful Morning or Carry Me Back. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

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

Take care and be sure to listen to the Valentine's Day Special next week.

Bye for now.
Michael
 

The Rascals Voice Your Choice

The Young Rascals were a "Blue-eyed Soul" group from New York City and the original group consisted of Felix Cavaliere (vocals and organ), Gene Cornish (vocals and guitar) who was a Canadian from Toronto, Eddie Brigati (vocals, percussion) and Dino Danelli (drums). The famous impresario Sid Bernstein signed them to Atlantic Records and their debut single, I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore became a minor hit, peaking at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. But that was just the beginning.

Between 1966 and 1971, they had 18 singles on the charts including 5 Top Ten hits and 3 Gold Records. In 1968 they removed "Young" and re-named themselves The Rascals. They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997.

Treasure Island Oldies presents two songs from post-"Young" era of The Rascals. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either A Beautiful Morning or Carry Me Back. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

The Beatles - Top Five Countdown 1964 Treasure Island Oldies

The Fab Four appeared on TV's the Ed Sullivan Show and performed to a TV audience of 75 million viewers. That performance helped "nudge" them to the top of the charts.

This week the Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown is from 1964 and The Beatles have the Number One song with I Want To Hold Your Hand.

Enjoy!
Michael