Today In Oldies 11/30/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies........we report the Oldies, you decide

• Pink Floyd is the subject of an upcoming movie.......sorta
• A Beatle becomes a grandpa again
• While we're on the subject of the Fab Four, check out this list of the best covers of George Harrison songs 
• A singer who is experiencing a career rebirth thanks to a TV commercial loses her husband last week
• Just in time for your holiday shopping......for the person on your list so obsessed with John Lennon he'd like the original copy of the album that led to his death.......

Oldies on TV

• Natalie Cole -- Tavis Smiley - PBS (check local listings)
• Stevie Wonder -- Larry King Live - CNN
• Rod Stewart -- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - NBC

Where In The World Is.........Len Barry?

Most folks aspire to a show business career from a very young age, but not Len Barry.  He initally planned to gain fame playing professional baseball, and it was yet another vocation, the military, that provided the path to stardom. 

Born Leonard Borisoff in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Len Barry was more athlete than musician growing up.  Upon graduating high school, he joined the Army and had the opportunity to sing in the Army band.  Encouraged by the response of the audience, he embarked upon a music career following his discharge, and it was onward and upward from there. 

Returning to Philadelphia, Barry became the lead singer of The Dovells.  He sang lead on several of their hits, including the million-selling "Bristol Stomp".  He also got his first taste of acting during this stint, appearing in the feature film Don't Knock The Twist.

In 1965, he struck out on his own.  Signed to Decca Records in the U.S. and Brunswick Records in the U.K., his success as a singer continued independently of The Dovells.  Very few artists can claim to have had one of their records in John Lennon's personal jukebox, but Len Barry pulled that off with his first smash solo hit.  "1-2-3" hit #2 in the U.S. and was a Top 10 hit in England.  Barry scored another minor American hit with "Like A Baby". 

Two hits didn't produce others for Len Barry, and by 1969, he moved to the other side of the recording studio glass window as a producer.  Capitalizing on an idea he had with "1-2-3" co-writer John Madara and record mogul Neil Bogart, Barry co-produced The Original Version: Journey To The Moon, album featuring conversations with NASA astronauts, President Richard Nixon, and others involved in the U.S. space program's defining moment set to original music co-written by Barry and Madara.  The group put together to perform the original music included a young Philadelphia area keyboard player named Daryl Hall, later of Hall & Oates.  Barry also wrote and produced "Keem O Sabe", which foreshadowed the emergence of disco in the early 70's.  

Barry continued performing, and later ventured into songwriting and producing with WMOT Productions.  He has retired from the music business, but in 2008 he took on a brand new role......writer.  His first novel, the semi-biographical Black Like Me, involves a pair of white siblings growing up in a largely African-American neighborhood.  He still lives in Philadelphia.  

If you were having trouble counting in 1965, Len Barry was there to provide a helping hand.........

 

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day 

Which artist holds the record for the longest time between their first and last #1 songs?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer.....and leave a comment here with your best guess! 

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

For their third "appearance" on the Ed Sullivan Show on June 5, 1966, The Beatles made what are considered to be two of the first music videos ever created.  What 2 songs did they "perform" via videotape?

Answer: "Rain" and "Paperback Writer"

 

Today In Oldies 11/29/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......just because WE took a holiday break doesn't mean Oldies newsmakers didn't! 

• A Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has both hips replaced (no word on what they did with the old ones)
• A Motown legend encourages everyone to go "electric".......a different kind of "going electric" than Bob Dylan in the 60's
• A nice holiday-themed behind the scenes story from one of music's most legendary concerts (and concert films)
• Sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's a rock band or an episode of Family Feud.  Rolling Stone looks back on music's greatest internal squabbles

Where In The World Is........(Eumir) Deodato?

Eumir Deodato, whose greatest fame was achieved when he went simply by his last name, is one of the many artists featured here who have only had one major chart hit but have continued to have a long and storied career in music in various capacities. His taste of American success came with his funk take on a classical masterpiece best known for its use in a movie widely considered to be a cinematic masterpiece. 

Deodato was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  He became a self-taught musician, picking up the accordion at the age of 12.  He moved onto other instruments, and by 17 he participated in his first recording session.  His first taste of professional work as musician came as a pianist.  He soon moved to New York, and temporary stardom would soon follow. 

Deodato was an early master in the fusion of multiple musical styles, and his first American album reflected his diversity.  1973's "Prelude" featured elements of big band, jazz, funk, Latin, and classical music.  The first single had become a classical standard, and Deodato brought the funk as well.  His rendition of Richard Strauss's "Also sprach Zarathustra", best known as the theme from the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, was an unlikely but instant hit in the U.S., hitting #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the Top 10 in both Canada and the UK.  Five years later, it would be used again in another critically acclaimed movie, 1979's Being There starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine.  In between those stints, however, Deodato's career momentum would come to a screeching halt. 

Follow up albums and singles were duds in record stores and with radio stations, but fortunately, Eumir Deodato's career was far from over.  He continued to record for Warner Brothers Records through the 80's and did score 2 Top 20 hits on the Billboard Dance charts in 1985.  His greatest success post "Also sprach Zarathustra" has come as an arranger and producer.  The list of artists he has worked with has included Kevin Rowland (formerly of fellow one hit wonder Dexy's Midnight Runners), hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco, Kool and the Gang, and Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.  He has also written the score for numerous films.  His last solo release was the 2007 live album "Eumir Deodato Trio – ao vivo no Rio (Eumir Deodato Trio, Live in Rio)". 

For one brief shining moment in 1973, the world was Eumir Deodato's oyster.  Let's flash back to that moment now........

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

For their third "appearance" on the Ed Sullivan Show on June 5, 1966, The Beatles made what are considered to be two of the first music videos ever created.  What 2 songs did they "perform" via videotape? 

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Wednesday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Which Elvis classic did songwriters Leiber and Stoller claim was the worst song they ever wrote?

Answer: "Love Me" -- they said it sounded like what musical comedy duo Homer and Jethro would sound like if they had recorded legitimate music

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/24/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......Giving thanks for the best listeners on Earth, including you! 

• Just how big was The Beatles' first week on iTunes?
• What does a former American Idol judge think about the newest one? 
• If you have a John Lennon fan on your holiday shopping list and your last name is Trump, Buffett, or Gates.....here's something you might want to pick them up for Christmas
• Add a legendary music producer to the list of those who think Michael Jackson is still walking among us

Where In The World Is........Katrina & The Waves?

All one hit wonders aren't created equal.  Some hits come and go and are quickly forgotten.  Others are infectious and timeless.  Such is the case with Katrina & The Waves, yet another in a long line of artists who had to go to England to become stars in the U.S.

Katrina & The Waves emerged from the remnants of two bands, The Waves and Mama's Cookin'.  They were eventually led by an American import, singer Katrina Leskanic.  They took on the moniker The Waves and released a single and an EP in England before renaming themselves Katrina & The Waves. 

Their initial taste of success across the Atlantic came in Canada, which landed them their initial record deal, with their first album released only in Canada.  Their debut album gained enough attention and radio airplay for a Canadian tour.  In 1984, the major American labels began to take notice.  Capitol Records eventually landed them, and they would soon have an international smash!

Their first worldwide release on Capitol consisted of ten songs previously found on other British and Canadian-only releases.  The second single, "Walking On Sunshine", propelled Katrina & The Waves into the stratosphere.  It was a Top 10 U.S. & UK hit, and has become a timeless classic used frequently in TV commercials, series, and feature films.  It is estimated that the song generates millions of dollars per year in licensing fees.  Another Top 40 American hit followed, "Do You Want Crying".

Success on both sides of the pond was limited after that for a number of years, with only a handful of minor British hits.  In 1997, the band made a roaring British comeback, charting a Top 5 UK hit that was their entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.  "Love Shine A Light" won the contest in a major way, and hit #3 on the UK singles chart.  The latest round of success would prove to be as short-lived as the first.  Following legal battles and the departure of Katrina Leskanic from the band, Katrina & The Waves were kaput in 1999.  The individual members continue to record, and 2010 brought a new "wave" of re-releases to commemorate the 25th anniversary of "Walking On Sunshine".

In spite of the fact that you may have heard it more than once already today, here's the hit that Katrina & The Waves rode to international stardom.........

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which Elvis classic did songwriters Leiber and Stoller claim was the worst song they ever wrote?

Check back Monday (11/29/2010) at Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

What was Motown Records' first #1 hit?

Answer: "Please Mr. Postman" - The Marvelettes (1961)

Today In Oldies 11/23/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.....the worldwide leader in Oldies news

• If you're holding tickets to see Ray Davies on his upcoming tour, go ahead and change your plans
• Condolences to former Jefferson Airplane singer Marty Balin on the loss of his wife
• The European Union tells Italy to pay up for an Elton John gig
• Speaking of Sir Elton, he'll soon add another gig to his distinguished resume

Where In The World Is.......Brewer & Shipley?

In the short time that Brewer & Shipley were a force on the charts and had their names uttered regularly by DJs and the record buying public, they somehow managed to go from famous to notorious thanks to landing on a rather famous "list" that actually brought them as much attention as their one brief moment in the music spotlight.  They wreaked quite a bit of havoc for a one hit wonder!

Brewer & Shipley's beginnings were innocuous enough.  They crossed paths numerous times in the Midwest playing various coffeehouses before deciding to team up, move to Los Angeles, and focus on songwriting.  They released two albums with little success, and in spite of having hugely successful friends from groups including Buffalo Springfield and The Association, they moved away from L.A., and by the time success finally hit, they were in the rock & roll hotbed of Kansas City, Missouri.

Their third album, Tarkio (named after a regular gig they were playing at the time in Tarkio, Missouri), provided their national breakthrough.  A song that was written as a joke and something of an afterthought became a Top 10 hit, and got the attention of the White House in the wrong way.  "One Toke Over The Line" has a very unique distinction as being possibly the only hit song ever officially condemned by the Vice President of the United States (Spiro Agnew) as being "subversive to American youth" while being performed the same week on one of the most family friendly TV shows of all time, The Lawrence Welk Show.  On top of that, Lawrence Welk himself referred to the song as a "spiritual" following its performance!  Who knew that one song could attract so much attention, both positive and negative?

The controversy over "One Toke Over The Line" didn't generate any more hits for Brewer & Shipley.  Separately, they collaborated with many superstars after they decided to split apart, including Stephen Stills, Bruce Springsteen, and (interestingly) Black Sabbath.  They regrouped in 1989 for a one-off gig, and continue to write, record, and play live periodically.  Michael Brewer lives outside of Branson, Missouri.  Tom Shipley is the director of distance learning at Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri.

Funny that in 1970, a duo that Richard Nixon's White House considered public enemies were choir boys according to Lawrence Welk.  Here's proof from a rare clip from The Lawrence Welk Show......


Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

What was Motown Records' first #1 hit?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, who is the best selling duo of all time in the U.S.?

Answer: Hall and Oates

Today In Oldies 11/23/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.....the worldwide leader in Oldies news

• If you're holding tickets to see Ray Davies on his upcoming tour, go ahead and change your plans
• Condolences to former Jefferson Airplane singer Marty Balin on the loss of his wife
• The European Union tells Italy to pay up for an Elton John gig
• Speaking of Sir Elton, he'll soon add another gig to his distinguished resume

Where In The World Is.......Brewer & Shipley?

In the short time that Brewer & Shipley were a force on the charts and had their names uttered regularly by DJs and the record buying public, they somehow managed to go from famous to notorious thanks to landing on a rather famous "list" that actually brought them as much attention as their one brief moment in the music spotlight.  They wreaked quite a bit of havoc for a one hit wonder! 

Brewer & Shipley's beginnings were innocuous enough.  They crossed paths numerous times in the Midwest playing various coffeehouses before deciding to team up, move to Los Angeles, and focus on songwriting.  They released two albums with little success, and in spite of having hugely successful friends from groups including Buffalo Springfield and The Association, they moved away from L.A., and by the time success finally hit, they were in the rock & roll hotbed of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Their third album, Tarkio (named after a regular gig they were playing at the time in Tarkio, Missouri), provided their national breakthrough.  A song that was written as a joke and something of an afterthought became a Top 10 hit, and got the attention of the White House in the wrong way.  "One Toke Over The Line" has a very unique distinction as being possibly the only hit song ever officially condemned by the Vice President of the United States (Spiro Agnew) as being "subversive to American youth" while being performed the same week on one of the most family friendly TV shows of all time, The Lawrence Welk Show.  On top of that, Lawrence Welk himself referred to the song as a "spiritual" following its performance!  Who knew that one song could attract so much attention, both positive and negative? 

The controversy over "One Toke Over The Line" didn't generate any more hits for Brewer & Shipley.  Separately, they collaborated with many superstars after they decided to split apart, including Stephen Stills, Bruce Springsteen, and (interestingly) Black Sabbath.  They regrouped in 1989 for a one-off gig, and continue to write, record, and play live periodically.  Michael Brewer lives outside of Branson, Missouri.  Tom Shipley is the director of distance learning at Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri. 

Funny that in 1970, a duo that Richard Nixon's White House considered public enemies were choir boys according to Lawrence Welk.  Here's proof from a rare clip from The Lawrence Welk Show......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

What was Motown Records' first #1 hit?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, who is the best selling duo of all time in the U.S.?

Answer: Hall and Oates

 

Today In Oldies 10/22/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......hot, fresh Oldies news!

• What do Jim Morrison and Richard Nixon have in common?
• Michael Jackson's brother says his new album might be more Milli Vanilli than King of Pop
• The instant verdict on The Beatles on iTunes......they're a smash
• Jimmy Fallon discusses Bruce Springsteen's appearance on his show
• What do Keith Richards & Joan Baez have in common?  As of Wednesday, they've both fallen out of a tree!
• The Rolling Stones are finding a new, younger audience.....thanks to a videogame that doesn't contain the words "Rock", "Band", "Guitar", or "Hero" in the title
• It's probably not the most dramatic shift in genres we've ever seen, but which Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is crossing over from southern rock to country?

Where In The World Is.........Rockwell? 

For the first time, we present a subject for "Where In The World Is _________?" that, frankly, we cannot find.  As long as the Web exists, however, there will be conspiracy theories, and nearly two years ago, the death of one of the biggest names in music history has made Rockwell a central character in one of those theories.  He has also had something of a career rebirth with his one hit being featured in an omnipresent series of U.S. TV commercials.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on March 15, 1964, Rockwell's surname is instantly recognizable to even the most casual music fan.  He was born Kennedy William Gordy, son of one of music's biggest names, Motown founder and President Berry Gordy.  Being born into a musical family was both a blessing and a curse for Kennedy Gordy.  Any attempt at musical success on his own, and under his own name, would most likely have been scrutinized by both media and fans as nepotism.  Some sources indicate that Kennedy Gordy ended up on his father's record label unbeknownst to Berry Gordy himself.  While nepotism might not have landed Kennedy Gordy his Motown deal, his friends in high places helped guarantee his first single would be an unforgettable smash.

Kennedy Gordy became Rockwell upon signing with Motown, with the thought process from the label being that single-named artists were owning the charts at the time (Prince, Madonna, etc.).  In 1984, it was becoming more and more difficult for Motown to break a new artist on the pop charts, so for Rockwell's debut album and first single, a little something extra was needed, so the music's biggest gun at the time was brought in to lend a hand.  While we'll never know if that first single, "Somebody's Watching Me", would have been a hit with Rockwell himself singing the very catchy chorus, having none other than Michael Jackson cover those duties was an iron clad guarantee of a smash.  "Somebody's Watching Me" was something of a Jackson family affair, with Jermaine Jackson (married to Kennedy Gordy's sister, Hazel, at the time) also providing backup vocals.  The song was an international smash, hitting #2 in the U.S. and going Top 5 in Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK.  With an accompanying music video in heavy rotation on MTV, it looked like Kennedy Gordy might become a superstar and escape his father's very long shadow.

One hit didn't bring anymore for Rockwell.  While he escaped one hit wonder status with a follow up Top 40 hit, "Obscene Phone Caller", he never came close to denting the charts again.  After two more albums for Motown, his time making music was done.  What happens next is something of a mystery.

While not a single source, including Rockwell himself, can account for his whereabouts and what he has been up to the past 26 years, his one hit has experienced a major rebirth.  "Somebody's Watching Me" has been covered dozens of times, but it became a classic all over again with its use in a series of U.S. TV commercials for Geico car insurance.  While you might think the royalties he enjoyed from the placement in the Geico ads were enough for him to retire, you might be mistaken.  According to this article in the New York Post, he probably didn't see a dime since someone else performed and sang the remake for the commercial.  His last known musical output is a 2008 single entitled "Flammable".

The death of Michael Jackson in 2009 put Rockwell back in the spotlight in a way we're not sure he anticipated.  While we certainly advise you to take these links with a grain of salt, there are internet blogs and message boards who theorize that MJ faked his death in the 90's and Rockwell became "Michael Jackson" in his absence.  This theory is also discussed here.  Once again, we don't subscribe to these theories.  We're merely the messenger.

Somebody was indeed watching Rockwell in 1984.  It was you and me!............



Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, who is the best selling duo of all time in the U.S.?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess! 

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Which act had the most Top 10 singles in the U.S. in the 80's?

Answer: Two very obvious answers would have been Michael Jackson and Madonna.  Great guesses, but not correct.  It was.........Prince, with 14 Top 10 singles in the 80's!

Today In Oldies 11/16/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies........Oldies news first!

• Could iTunes finally be getting the one artist it has always wanted?
• A former Kink wants to save a legendary London club......and he knows just the man to do it!
• The man whose song made San Francisco the Psychedelic Capital of the World has taken ill
• Wedding bells for Aaron Neville

A Shot At The Title

All this week, Everything Oldies will play "What if?", as we spotlight songs with their original working titles.  Imagine what a different world we'd live in if the most covered song of all time were The Beatles' classic, "Scrambled Eggs".....which was the original working title of......"Yesterday".  Enjoy the stories behind the titles.....and why they changed.

• America wanted to write a song that captured the feel of the hot, dry desert depicted in a Salvador Dali painting in a recording studio they were working in while in England.  Songwriter and band member Dewey Bunnell also wanted to wax nostalgic about his childhood rides through the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico while his father was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base.  While the original title, "Desert Song", certainly seems appropriate, it was changed to one we know and love by the time it was added to their debut album.

• Sometimes a major music superstar can bring about a change in a song's title.  According to songwriter Sir Mack Rice, he changed the title of one of his songs based on the recommendation of Aretha Franklin.  In 1966, Wilson Pickett made Rice's song a classic, but not with its original title.  "Mustang Mama" had become..........

• In 1988, Eric Carmen and songwriter Dean Pitchford (who had previously collaborated successfully on Mike Reno and Ann Wilson's "Almost Paradise" in 1984) were working on a song whose verses were heavy on music nostalgia, making references to several 60's classics.  The original chorus had different lyrics, and the song had a different working title.  They decided they really didn't want the song to be all nostalgia, so they changed the lyrics to the chorus and the title.  Suddenly, "Long Live Rock and Roll" became a Top 5 smash without all the nostalgia, under the name.........

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which act had the most Top 10 singles in the U.S. in the 80's?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

While it sometimes doesn't hurt to "go with your gut" when recording a song, it always helps to get a second opinion on its hit potential.  Which superstar let the Ohio Players know they had a winner in "Fire"?

Answer: Stevie Wonder

Today In Oldies 11/15/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies........New week, new Oldies news! 

• Take a look at Woody's Roadside Tavern's most famous patron.....who found his way to the stage!
• How big could Michael Jackson's (first) posthumous album be?  
• Watch Marie Osmond from last week's appearance on Oprah
• An attorney isn't happy with the way his client was portrayed in a movie (no word on why he waited NINETEEN YEARS to talk about it!)
• Just in time for your holiday shopping.....a legendary 70's group reissues a Christmas album (*HINT*...it does have a name, unlike their horse)

A Shot At The Title

All this week, Everything Oldies will play "What if?", as we spotlight songs with their original working titles.  Imagine what a different world we'd live in if the most covered song of all time were The Beatles' classic, "Scrambled Eggs".....which was the original working title of......"Yesterday".  Enjoy the stories behind the titles.....and why they changed. 

• In 1982, Paul Davis was working on a song whose references were very 50's, including car hops, doo wops, and drive-ins.  Appropriately, the working title was "'55 Love Affair".  His record label, Arista Records, didn't like the idea of a song that would appeal to an older crowd, so they had him change the title in order to "young it down".  The result was a Top 10 hit.  You wonder if the American Bandstand crowd in this clip would have gone quite as crazy with the original title...........

• As urban legend has it, a smash from 1972 was written about Don McLean, but the writers of the song tell a slightly different story.  Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox wrote a song for a young artist named Lori Lieberman.  They decided their original working title was a little old fashioned for 1972, so they changed the last word.  After hearing it, Lieberman said it reminded her of being at a Don McLean concert, and the song's legend grew from there.  It wasn't a hit for Lori Lieberman, but it became a #1 hit for Roberta Flack.  Interesting how "Killing Me Softly With His Blues" became............

• Song #54 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time had a rather unusual birth.  The man who wrote it and sang it was working as a hospital orderly by day and club singer by night.  Distraught over a broken relationship, he couldn't even bring himself to concentrate on the music he was to perform at the club.  He asked his bassist and organ player to give him a slow blues backing, and he began to improvise a 6 minute song about the breakup.  Realizing he might have something, he condensed it, took it to a producer, and recorded it in one of the early meccas of rock and pop music.  The producer, realizing he had a hit, pitched the song to Atlantic Records, whose co-founder, Jerry Wexler, loved the song but didn't like the off-key performance of the singer.  He ordered the singer and musicians back into the studio to re-cut it.........and accidentally released the off-key version anyway.  The original title was "Why Did You Leave Me", but it became one of the most played songs of all-time as.............

 

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

While it sometimes doesn't hurt to "go with your gut" when recording a song, it always helps to get a second opinion on its hit potential.  Which superstar let the Ohio Players know they had a winner in "Fire"? 

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

For its last 6 months on TV, American Bandstand moved from its longtime home at ABC to cable's USA Network, and Dick Clark stepped down as host.  Who was his replacement as host?

Answer: David Hirsch

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/12/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies......fixing Oldies news whenever it breaks! 

• A new book reveals some of the women who inspired some of the greatest hits of all time
• Which music legend won't be returning to the studio....or stage.....anytime soon?
• Several music icons are lined up for a British benefit to ring in 2011
• A Rolling Stone accepts an award for an album made BEFORE he was a Rolling Stone

Where In The World Is.........Tommy Tutone? 

For obvious reasons, very few songs have ever included actual telephone numbers in the title.  In the summer of 1982, Tommy Tutone became the target of threatened lawsuits and a handful of angry phone customers when they were riding the wave of their biggest hit, "867-5309 (Jenny)".  The song has endured long after its run on the charts, even if Tommy Tutone's career didn't. 

The band began in San Francisco in 1978.  The lineup was a revolving door during its original incarnation, but the two "anchors" of the group were lead singer and guitarist Tommy Heath and lead guitarist and backup vocalist Jim Keller.  The band once even included former Cowsills drummer John Cowsill.  While Tommy Tutone is known as a one hit wonder, they actually placed a song in the Top 40 before "867-5309 (Jenny)", 1980's "Angel Say No".  But their second album for Columbia Records contained the song that would become a classic. 

Written by Alex Call and band member Jim Keller, "867-5309 (Jenny)" flew off record store shelves, was hard to avoid on radio stations, and drew the ire of everyone across the country who actually had the number 867-5309.  Although it isn't known exactly how many households across the country had that number in the summer of '82, the band has provided a few clues over the years regarding some of the more notable ones.  In an interview, lead singer Tommy Heath mentioned the number belonged to the daughter of the Buffalo, New York police chief.  Songwriter Alex Call claims both the number and the name Jenny came out of thin air, but Heath has mentioned in subsequent interviews that the number belonged to a girl he knew and, as a prank, members of the band once wrote it on a bathroom wall at a club where they were playing a gig.  Real or not, the song was a smash, hitting #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Mainstream Rock Top Tracks chart.  Years later, the number has been listed for sale on eBay from time to time. 

The end of "867-5309 (Jenny)"s run on the chart meant the end for Tommy Tutone.  They split up in 1984.  Their members went on to record and perform with other artists, but Tommy Heath took on a brand new career, becoming a computer analyst in Portland, Oregon.  He reformed the band in 1992, and in 2007, Tommy Tutone had a record deal once again, signing with Spectra Records.  Tommy Heath relocated to Nashville, Tennessee in 2010 and plans to record new material and tour with Tommy Tutone.  Lead guitartist Jim Keller is still active in the music business, managing Phillip Glass's publishing company, Dunvagen Music Publishers.  To find out more about Tommy Tutone's continued endeavors, click here for their official website.

And now, the most popular listed phone number in music history.............

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

For its last 6 months on TV, American Bandstand moved from its longtime home at ABC to cable's USA Network, and Dick Clark stepped down as host.  Who was his replacement as host? 

Check back Monday @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

The name on his birth certificate reads Steven Dimitri Georgiou, but we know him better as ______________.

Answer: Multiple answers are acceptable here thanks to his ever changing stage name........Yussuf Islam, just plain Yussuf, OR his original 70's stage name........Cat Stevens

Today In Oldies 11/11/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......your Oldies news leader!

• A 70's icon's health takes a turn for the worse
• Another 70's icon opens up to Oprah about family tragedy
• Turns out the "Uptown Girl" Billy Joel sang about was not Christie Brinkley!  So who was it?
• Bruce Springsteen will appear on American TV only once this year....and it will be next week.  Who's the lucky show that gets him? 
  

Where In The World Is........Thelma Houston?

It was hard to avoid disco during the second half of the 70's.  It propelled established stars into the stratosphere (The Bee Gees), it made new superstars (Donna Summer), and, in the case of Thelma Houston, it gave an artist who had yet to have a hit a moment in the sun. 

Born Thelma Jackson in Leland, Mississippi, Thelma Houston's family eventually moved to Long Beach, California.  Like many stars, she became interested in music at a young age and became a member of the gospel group The Art Reynolds Singers.  This led to a solo recording deal with Dunhill Records.  In 1971, she landed at the crown jewel of record labels, singing with Motown.  Having Berry Gordy's producing, writing, and marketing muscle failed to produce success for Houston.  She added acting to her resume, and by 1975 she had a few near misses musically.  Just as Motown was about to release Houston's single "Do You Know Where You're Going To", a last minute decision to shelve Houston's version and have Diana Ross record it as the theme song for her film Mahogany cost Houston a potential breakthrough hit.  She remained a valuable utility player for Motown, however, as she provided backing vocals for several albums including Jermaine Jackson's debut solo effort.  In 1977, as disco was becoming the dominant genre on the charts, Thelma Houston would have her hit.  And it would be one for the ages.  

The first single off Houston's third Motown album "Any Way You Like It" was a cover of a song originally done by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, who had a Disco hit with it in 1975.  Thelma Houston would make it a classic.  "Don't Leave Me This Way" was a multi-chart smash, hitting #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 AND R&B charts as well as the Club Play charts.  On the radio or on the dance floor, it was hard to escape "Don't Leave Me This Way" in early 1977.  It looked like Thelma Houston might soon be stealing the songs from Diana Ross.  

A combination of the lack of a follow up hit and the pending backlash against disco doomed further chart success for Thelma Houston.  For the remainder of her recording career, she has only had minor R&B chart hits.  Undaunted, she continued to record throughout the 80's and 90's and also turned to acting, making guest appearances on several TV shows and movies.  The 90's saw her perform at some of the most prestigious and massive events of the decades, including an audience with the Pope and Woodstock '94 as part of the Sisters of Glory (also featuring Phoebe Snow, CeCe Peniston, and Mavis Staples).  

The past decade has seen Thelma Houston remain busy while reliving her "Don't Leave Me This Way" heyday touring with various disco acts on the state fair and amphitheater circuit.  Her last studio album, "A Woman's Touch", was released in 2007 and featured covers of some of her favorite songs originally performed by male artists.  She has also performed her signature song on two of America's biggest prime time TV shows in 2009, American Idol and America's Got Talent.  

If you're gonna be a one hit wonder, you might as well be able to make it last for over thirty years!  Here is Thelma Houston's moment in the spotlight......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

The name on his birth certificate reads Steven Dimitri Georgiou, but we know him better as ______________.  

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Which David Bowie hit was originally written for, and turned down by, Elvis?

Answer: "Golden Years"

Today In Oldies 11/10/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......all Oldies news, all the time!

• Which superstar has admitted to recent suicidal thoughts?
• What did Michael Jackson's family reveal to Oprah?
• For the music memorabilia collector on your Christmas list.........
• How happy were fans in Brazil to see Paul McCartney after 18 years?
• A little "Dirty Dancing" goes a long way for the bank account of the songwriter of the soundtrack's biggest hit
• Some of Neil Young's memorabilia gets a little TOO hot

Where In The World Is........Irene Cara? 

Irene Cara was practically born in show business.  By the age of 3, she was in the "Little Miss America" pageant.  At 5, she was playing piano, leading to the study of music, acting, and dance.  A few years later, she was appearing on American television, including the Original Amateur Hour and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.  Eventually, she became a regular on the PBS children's series The Electric Company, appearing alongside such acting giants as Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, and Morgan Freeman.  The 70's brought a long series of off-Broadway roles, TV movie and miniseries appearances, and a regular stint on the daytime soap opera Love of Life.  By 1980, she was ready to step into the limelight all by herself.  Chart success and the biggest award of 'em all would follow. 

As a graduate of the prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music & Art in New York, she was certainly no stranger to the life of one of the school's students.  So when a movie was being made that followed the lives of that school's students, to be entitled Fame, Irene Cara was a natural!  She was originally cast as a dancer, but when producers heard her sing, they rewrote the role of Coco Hernandez, and in an even bigger turn in fortune for Irene Cara, she sang both the movie's title song and the second single from the soundtrack, "Out Here On My Own".  Both became hit singles, with "Fame" being a Top 5 smash.  As a result, both songs were nominated for Best Song at the Academy Awards.  Cara performed them both on Oscar night, making her one of a handful of artists who have done more than one song at the Oscar ceremony.  A string of award nominations followed, including the Grammys and the Golden Globes.  NBC very quickly ordered a TV series adaptation of Fame, and Irene Cara was offered the chance to reprise her film role.  She turned it down to focus on music, which proved to be a wise decision. 

While she continued to act in a string of movies and a TV series pilot meant to serve as a vehicle for her, Irene Cara's music career continued to flourish.  It would reach its peak when one of the biggest producers in the music business at the time, Giorgio Moroder, approached her to do another movie theme song.  The song she co-wrote with Moroder and Keith Forsey would be the theme for a movie called Flashdance.  "Flashdance......What A Feeling" was an unqualified smash, hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and leading to a string of awards for Irene Cara.  They included a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and the one which eluded her 4 years earlier, the Oscar for Best Song. 

After a few more modest hits in the 80's, Irene Cara has worked nonstop between music and acting.  Film credits include City Heat (co-starring Burt Reynolds & Clint Eastwood), Certain Fury (w/ Tatum O' Neal), and providing the voice of animated characters in Happily Ever After and Disney's straight-to-DVD sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  She has also toured with the off-Broadway company for the anniversary edition of Jesus Christ Superstar.  She has gone back to the "Flashdance" well twice, re-recording the song in 1995 for the soundtrack to the film The Full Monty and in 2002 with Swedish artist DJ Bobo.  Reality television has provided a second career for many musicians, and Irene Cara took her turn on the second season of CMT's Gone Country, where pop stars took a shot at country music stardom.  She has also been content to slip behind the scenes and provide backup vocals for dozens of artists.  Her latest project is a girl group called Hot Caramel.  Produced by Cara, their first album is slated for release by the end of 2010. You can keep up with that project, and everything else Irene Cara is up to these days, on her official website.

Now for the song that brought Irene Cara solo fame, from a movie called Fame............

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which David Bowie hit was originally written for, and turned down by, Elvis?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Which former Saturday Night Live cast member was one of the members of the "choir" who sang USA For Africa's "We Are The World" in 1985?

Answer: Dan Aykroyd

 

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/9/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......Oldies news first!

• Could the criminal record of a rock legend finally be wiped clean?
• A legendary record label loses another supergroup
• A Rolling Stones tour in 2011.....will they or won't they?
• Among those claimed in the great Democratic midterm massacre of 2010......the lead singer of a 70's band who had a string of hits
• Who's being inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame later this month?

Where In The World Is.......Billy Paul?

Billy Paul was one of the biggest stars emerging from the "Philadelphia soul" sound of the 70's.  Hailing from the City of Brotherly Love, he was one of the most diverse vocalists to record for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records.  His run on the R&B charts was a long one, but in the pop music world, he will be forever known for one sultry smash. 

Born in North Philadelphia, Paul began performing at the age of 12 on local radio shows.  His college career spanned across several higher learning institutions in the Philadelphia area.  Whether it was Temple University, West Philadelphia Music School, or the Granoff School of Music, Paul began to make a name for himself on those campuses and in the surrounding nightclub districts.  He performed in concert alongside some of the giants of jazz and R&B, including Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, and Roberta Flack.  His first taste of recording was with a trio he formed for Jubilee Records cut before he entered the Armed Forces.  Following his discharge, he briefly became one of Harold Melvin's Bluenotes.  His first two albums were recorded for Gamble & Huff-associated labels.  They produced R&B hits, but his third album spawned a pop smash. 

"360 Degrees of Billy Paul"'s first single, "Me and Mrs. Jones", was an unqualified hit across several charts and several countries in spite of covering the rather controversial topic of marital infidelity.  It spent the last 3 weeks of 1972 at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It was a Top 20 hit in the UK, and has been covered by dozens of artists and appeared in countless movies and TV commercials since.  It sold 2 million copies and won a Grammy for Billy Paul.  Paul's next album, "Going East", was also a critical and commercial hit, although it did not generate any hit singles. 

He continued to record for Neptune Records through the mid-1980's, but he never again approached the pop charts.  He announced his "retirement" on a London concert stage in 1989, but he re-emerged a few years later.  He continues to perform live and record new music.  He is also the subject of an upcoming documentary film to be released in theaters, entitled Am I Black Enough For You?  Find out more at his official website

***DISCLAIMER*** The staff and management of Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2 is not liable for any population explosion that may occur as a result of viewing the following clip...........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which former Saturday Night Live cast member was one of the members of the "choir" who sang USA For Africa's "We Are The World" in 1985?

Check back @ Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

What day of the week is the only one not mentioned in the Beatles' hit "Lady Madonna"?

Answer: Saturday

Today In Oldies 11/8/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......your 24 hour Oldies news source! 

• Which David has the bigger drinking problem......Cassidy or Hasselhoff?
• Just in time for your holiday shopping......Michael Jackson music from six feet under
• Are The Rolling Stones calling it quits anytime soon?  Not if Keith Richards can help it!
• One band plans to return to their roots to celebrate 40 years together
• A Queen will spend six months off her throne

Where In The World Is.........Ray Parker Jr.?

Ray Parker Jr. has had a long and illustrious musical career, being a successful sideman, bandleader, musician, songwriter, and singer.  Born in Detroit, Michigan, he was obviously heavily influenced by the Motown sound.  In the early 70's, he began playing alongside some of Motown's biggest names in the house band at the legendary 20 Grand club in Detroit.  He so impressed one of the biggest acts on the label at the time, The Spinners, that he was asked to tour with them as a guitarist.  Other notable appearances for Parker as a sideman include a stint in Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra and an appearance in a guitar player in the 1974 film Uptown Saturday Night.  He also worked with dozens of artist both inside and outside Detroit, including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, The Temptations, and Diana Ross.

The chart hits began to come when Ray Parker Jr. formed Raydio in 1977.  They scored with their first single, "Jack and Jill", from their debut album.  It hit #8 in 1978.  They repeated the feat a year later, with "You Can't Change That".  By 1980, as the unquestioned leader of the band, Parker, Jr. put his name ahead of the band itself, becoming Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio.  In that incarnation, they landed their biggest hit, "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)", a Top 5 smash in 1981.  Raydio disbanded that same year, but the hit well had not dried up just yet.

Ray Parker, Jr. turned his attention to his solo career with immediately successful results.  His first solo single was a hit!  "The Other Woman" sent Ray Parker, Jr. back to the Top 5, hitting #4 in 1982.  "Jamie" and "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" were also Top 20 hits, but his biggest hit was yet to come. 

In 1984, he was asked to contribute a song for the feature film Ghostbusters starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis.  The title song he concocted was one of the biggest hits that year, hitting #1 for 2 weeks.  It won a Grammy and was nominated for a Best Song Oscar (losing to another #1 song from a movie that year, Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You").  The song was also the subject of a legal battle, as Parker was sued by Huey Lewis for plagarism, claiming his song sounded a little too much like Huey Lewis And The News's hit, "I Want A New Drug", released six months before "Ghostbusters".  The case was settled out of court in 1985, but Parker countersued Lewis in 2001 for violating a confidentiality agreement when Lewis revealed to VH1's Behind The Music that Parker had paid Lewis a sum of money as part of the settlement. 

Parker would hit the Top 40 twice more following "Ghostbusters", and he also parlayed his music success into some acting work in the 80's, appearing on the TV shows Gimme A Break, 21 Jump Street, and Kids Incorporated.  He has continued to record and tour extensively, becoming a mainstay on "smooth jazz" radio stations across the country.  He also continues to capitalize on the Ghostbusters franchise, as he recently contributed music for the video game based on the movie (featuring the voices of the original stars of the movie) and reworked the title song for a British TV commercial for a telephone directory assistance service.  You can find out more by visiting his official website.

From the heyday of MTV.....a smash for Ray Parker, Jr., and a video that plays like an episode of The Hollywood Squares near the end......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

What day of the week is the only one not mentioned in the Beatles' hit "Lady Madonna"?

Check back @ Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Thursday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

By now, most of Generation X knows that "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles was the first video ever played on MTV when the channel went live on August 1, 1981.  What was the second?

Answer: "You Better Run" by Pat Benatar

 

Today In Oldies 11/4/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies......Oldies news first! 

• Who's not happy about being snubbed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
• Who's the latest artist whose music will be featured in a Cirque de Soleil show?
• Who just sold out Madison Square Garden in 30 minutes? 
• Oldies figure prominently in the 10 Best Animated Movie Trailer Songs
• Rod Stewart says he won't be refilling the Cialis prescription, and hints which musical direction he might be heading once he closes the Great American Songbook for good

Where In The World Is.......Gallery?

Detroit has been a rock & roll hotbed over the past 5 decades.  Beyond the extensive Motown roster, artists as diverse as Bob Seger, Kid Rock, The Romantics, and others hailed from the Motor City.  The city also made its contribution to soft rock, giving the world Gallery.  Gallery was primarily a vehicle for lead singer and founder Jim Gold, and in the early 70's, they made a big chart splash. 

Gold began writing and playing in various bands around Detroit at the age of 14.  By 1971, he was playing regularly with a friend in a club called the Poison Apple when he was discovered by Dennis Coffey, who was coming off the huge instrumental hit "Scorpio" and had played on dozens of Motown classics as a studio musician.  He landed a deal with Sussex Records, and while his plan was to be a solo artist, the label told him they wanted a group.  He got a band together, featuring bassist Dennis Kovarik and steel guitarist Cal Freeman.  Their first hit for Sussex was their biggest.  "Nice To Be With You" hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 and sold over a million copies.  As of 2008, the song has been played on radio more than 3.5 million times.  A few more modest hits followed, including a Top 20 cover of Mac Davis's "I Believe In Music".  Their last trip to the Top 40 was "Big City Miss Ruth Ann" in 1973. 

The end of Sussex Records in 1976 meant the end of Gallery.  Jim Gold recorded a few solo albums to end the 70's.  He hasn't recorded in quite some time, but he does still actively perform live, occasionally writes for other artists, and maintains an official website.  Click here to take a look.  Dennis Kovarik and Cal Freeman have remained active in the business as session musicians. 

In 1972, radio listeners and record buyers decided it was nice to be with Gallery.........

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

By now, most of Generation X knows that "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles was the first video ever played on MTV when the channel went live on August 1, 1981.  What was the second?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

What was the #1 song for the week on the debut episode of Casey Kasem's American Top 40?

Answer: "Mama Told Me Not To Come" - Three Dog Night on the weekend of the 4th of July, 1970

 

Today In Oldies 11/3/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.....we've got a nose for Oldies news! 

• An Allman Brother revisits his favorite color for his latest CD release
• Cher talks about her daugh, uh, son
• Which group is still gettin' 'er done after 40 years?  
• What do you do if you're a superstar with a warehouse full of memorabilia and photographs?  Find a way to make money on it, of course!
  

Where In The World Is.......Suzi Quatro?

The path to rock & roll stardom in America has often gone through Europe for many artists.  The Pretenders, The Stray Cats, and Jimi Hendrix are all examples of those who had to move to England to eventually be heard in their own country.  This was also the case for Suzi Quatro.  She was a bona fide superstar in Europe but couldn't make a dent in her own country.  It took a recurring role on the #1 prime time TV show in America to change that, at least temporarily. 

Suzi Quatro was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1950.  By the age of 14, she joined her first all-girl rock band, Pleasure Seekers.  She left that group to join Fanny, one of the first all-female bands to attract national attention.  She made the move to London in 1971, and was discovered by record producer Mickie Most and signed to RAK Records. 

Initially, Quatro's following as a solo artist began to build in the most unusual of places.  Her first single, 1973's "Rolling Stone", failed to chart anywhere but Portugal, where it hit #1.  Several more singles became hits throughout Europe, and she became a sensation in Australia.  She rode the "glam rock" wave as its first major female star, but in spite of becoming a household name on the other side of the globe, American success continued to elude her.  A dry spell lasting a few years came when glam rock began to fade as disco and punk rock took over.  She had some success as a session musician, but her long wait for a hit in her homeland was almost over thanks to her foray into acting. 

Over a 2 year period, Suzi Quatro would appear in seven episodes of the show that had become the most watched on American television by 1977, Happy Days.  She played the role of Leather Tuscadero, the sister of one of Fonzie's ex-girlfriends, Pinky Tuscadero.  She was the leader of an all-girl band on the show, which another central character, Joanie Cunningham (played by Erin Moran), joined.  Regular exposure in front of more than 25 million TV viewers each week convinced American record executives to break Suzi Quatro through as a singer.  Success in America finally came in 1979 thanks to a duet with Chris Norman.  "Stumblin' In" hit #4, but it would be her one and only taste of success in the U.S.  Follow up singles failed to crack the Top 40. 

Quatro did maintain success overseas, continuing her string of hit European singles and albums.  She has sold more than 50 million records as of 2010!  She has continued to act over the years as well, most notably guest starring on the classic British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous and appearing in an episode of KISS bassist Gene Simmons' reality show Rock School.  She continues to record and tour, playing about 60 live shows a year while continuing to reside in London.

Call her Suzi Quatro, Leather Tuscadero, whatever you will, but for a brief moment in 1979, you could also call her "hitmaker"........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

What was the #1 song for the week on the debut episode of Casey Kasem's American Top 40? 

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Which Motown superstar once tried out (unsuccessfully) for the Detroit Lions?

Answer: Marvin Gaye -- the tryout came during a period where he was facing major "creative differences" with Motown founder Berry Gordy and just prior to recording his landmark album "What's Going On"

Today In Oldies 11/2/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......we've got a nose for Oldies news!

• What does Sir Paul McCartney think about the kids making today's music?
• A voice we've heard since the Philadelphia days of American Bandstand has been silenced
• We now know which member of the Jackson family will speak with Oprah next week 
  

Where In The World Is.......Joey Scarbury

By 1981, Joey Scarbury had had just about every bad break the music business had to offer.  Heavyweights in the music business like songwriter Jimmy Webb couldn't make him a star.  Discovered by Webb's father at 14, he signed a recording contract shortly thereafter releasing a single that flopped and quickly got him dropped from the record label.  He had been relegated to the background for the most part when the chance to record a TV theme song came calling.  He jumped at the chance, and for a moment, it made him a star. 

Throughout the 1970's, Joey Scarbury was primarily a Nashville-based backup vocalist for the likes of Loretta Lynn and others.  He tried flying solo occasionally, but his only flirtation with success was a minor hit, "Mixed Up Guy", in 1971.  In contrast, Mike Post was the go-to guy when a TV producer needed a theme song that could double as a chart hit.  He had already invaded the Billboard Hot 100 with the themes to the hit cop shows The Rockford Files and Hill Street Blues.  This time, producer Stephen J. Cannell was putting a show on the air about a very different sort of superhero.  Called The Greatest American Hero, this time post put words with the theme, whereas his other two hit theme songs had been instrumentals.  When he needed a voice for that song, he chose Joey Scarbury, and the collaboration was a smash!  "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not)" hit #2 in 1981, and Joey Scarbury was suddenly a household name heard by millions of radio listeners AND TV viewers each week. 

The wonder would be limited to one hit, however, as he never again hit the Top 40, but that was not the end for Joey Scarbury.  He teamed up again with Mike Post for another theme song, this time for Stephen J. Cannell's action series Hardcastle and McCormick.  He also would do one more theme song for a short-lived sitcom, Jennifer Slept Here. 

By the late 80's, his focus turned to songwriting, which brought big success in the country genre.  His country hits have included "No Matter How High" by the Oak Ridge Boys and Kenny Rogers' "Love Will Turn You Around".  Today, he remains active as a songwriter and backup singer working primarily in Nashville. 

From an appearance on Solid Gold in 1981.........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which Motown superstar once tried out (unsuccessfully) for the Detroit Lions?

Check back @ Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

What was the last instrumental hit to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100?

Answer: Jan Hammer's "Theme From 'Miami Vice'" in 1985