Monday, November 21, 2011

Today In Oldies 11/22/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....giving thanks for the greatest music ever recorded!

Eyewitness to Tragedy

Today marks an anniversary that most Americans who experienced it would rather forget.  Everyone remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news, including a group of musicians who were just three blocks from where the tragedy occured, where they were rehearsing for a package show that night.  That show never happened, and the entire nation would grieve for several days.  

One of the multitude of various "Caravan of Stars" concerts in the 60's was set to feature a star-studded roster.  Dale and Grace, Brian Hyland, Bobby Vee, and Jimmy Clanton were on the bill, and they were fully aware that another event was taking place in the vicinity of where they would be performing later that night.  In fact, as they were preparing for the show in a rehearsal hall that afternoon, they were alerted to the fact that a motorcade was coming through.  They all walked outside the rehearsal hall and waved to the guest of honor as the motorcade passed through.  A mere three blocks later and several minutes later, one of the darkest moments in American history would occur. 

The "Caravan of Stars" were rehearsing three blocks from Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963.  President John F. Kennedy was set to give a speech at the Dallas Trade Mart that afternoon.  It would prove to be a speech he never made, as an assassin's bullet struck him dead passing through Dealey Plaza at approximately 1:30 p.m. Eastern time that afternoon.  It should go without saying that most of the nation's routine activities, including the "Caravan of Stars", fell by the wayside as they mourned the loss of their leader.

Five years later, Dion would record a poignant tribute to some of America's greatest agents of social change, including John Kennedy and his also recently assassinated brother, Robert.  It would be a million seller, and become a Top 5 hit.  From a 1968 performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour..........

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Today in 1957, a soon-to-be-legendary music duo made their national television debut on American Bandstand, but under a different name than the one they would soon adopt.  Who were they, and under what name did they appear that day? 

Come back to Everything Oldies tomorrow to find the answer, and leave a Comment below with your best guess! 

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

Which music superstar received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday in 1975 in conjunction with the declaration of a week in his honor declared by the Mayor of Los Angeles?

Answer: Elton John

 

 

 

  

 

 

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