EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about the Oldies from Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2
- Isn't it amazing about the hundreds of songs record labels can mysteriously "find" and release after artists are dead?
- Lou Reed says he's not the bad guy
- An R&B pioneer dies over the weekend
- John Oates (sans mustache)........bluegrass & folk artist extraodinaire?!?!?!
- Nothing like a good list to stir up debate.....today we offer The 100 Worst Songs of All Time (***DISCLAIMER*** According to AOL Radio, NOT Golden Hits Radio OR GHR-2)
Where In The World Is........Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs?
Domingo "Sam" Samudio was born in Dallas, Texas in 1937. His interest in music began at a very young age, and following six years in the U.S. Navy, he began to pursue it as a career. After forming and disbanding several groups in the early 60's, he found himself as leader of the house band at the Diplomat in Memphis, Tennessee in 1963. It was that band, called "The Pharoahs", that would break nationwide. By that time, Sam had developed his stage persona "Sam The Sham", wearing a camp turban and cape onstage and hauling his equipment in a Packard hearse with maroon velvet curtains. The rest of the band consisted of David A. Martin, Ray Stinnett, Jerry Patterson, and Butch Gibson.
After initially paying to record and press their own records to sell at gigs, Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs were signed to Memphis-based Pen Records in 1965. Their first hit for the label remained their biggest. "Wooly Bully" was one of only three songs in history to become Billboard's #1 Song of the Year without ever actually hitting #1 during its chart run. The song sold 3 million copies and was an instant smash! It has since been recognized as one of the "500 Songs That Helped Shape Rock and Roll" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A year later, the group of Pharoahs that helped make "Wooly Bully" a hit quit en masse over a financial dispute, leaving Sam The Sham to form a new group that kept the Pharoahs name. This incarnation of Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs broke through with another huge hit, "Lil' Red Riding Hood", in 1966. Like "Wooly Bully", it was also a Hot 100 bridesmaid, peaking at #2 and selling a million copies.
After a few more novelty records which made little noise on the charts and an attempt to reinvent the act with a companion female group called the Shamettes, Sam The Sham disbanded the Pharoahs in the early 70's. Sam Samudio went solo and found critical success with an album for Atlantic Records called "Sam, Hard and Heavy" featuring first rate musicians including Duane Allman, The Dixie Flyers, and the Memphis Horns. The album also won a Grammy in 1972 for Best Album Notes.
Today, Sam The Sham is primarily a motivational speaker and poet. He still occasionally writes and performs music. You can find out more on his official website by clicking here.
From many a 60's college frat party........watch it, now, watch it.......
Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day
Which member of The Rolling Stones released a 1974 solo record cleverly entitled "I've Got My Own Album To Do"?
Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!
Friday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day
Stevie Wonder originally wrote "Superstition" for which rock guitar hero (who also created the original drum beat for the song)?
Answer: Jeff Beck. Proving that an artist's manager is worth every penny he or she makes most of the time, Stevie's manager insisted he keep it for himself. Stevie instead wrote another song that Beck DID record, "'Cause We've Ended As Lovers", on his "Blow By Blow" album in 1975.
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