Today In Oldies 12/20/2011

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....where Oldies news comes first!

• The Beach Boys are back!  And at least one member is ready to hit the road
• Sir Paul jumps under the covers
• A music legend is living out her final days
• An eccentric music genius wants his murder conviction overturned......by none other than the highest Court in the land! 
• The singer of a classic 60's song is hospitalized 

 

A Supreme Finale

Several artists made more famous and infamous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show during its 23 year run, but one of Sullivan's personal favorites appeared more often than any other pop or rock act of the era.  This week in 1969, the most successful incarnation of this group appeared for the 16th and final time. 

Their first appearance came around this same of the year in December 1964.  They would average 5 appearances a year through 1967.  By December 21, 1969, however, internal tensions within the group, a major shakeup at their label, Motown Records, and a shift in musical tastes had marked the end of the road for the most successful female group in music history.  Motown founder Berry Gordy also had a plan in place for the leader of the group to launch a solo career, and he felt the timing was right to send her out alone. 

The country was stunned following this performance at Ed Sullivan's announcement that the leader of The Supremes, Diana Ross, was leaving the group.  Their story, however, ended well, with the song they performed becoming their final #1 song in that incarnation and providing a fitting springboard for Diana Ross to enter the 70's as one of the A-list superstars of the decade. 

For one last time, here are The Supremes performing the hit that would be their swan song on The Ed Sullivan Show..............

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

The #1 song this week in 1969 was Peter, Paul, and Mary's classic "Leaving On A Jet Plane".  You know who sang it, but do you remember who wrote it? 

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

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

Which rock and roll TV special was filmed today in 1968........but never seen until 1996?

Answer:   The Rolling Stones' "Rock and Roll Circus"......a performance special featuring members of The Beatles and The Who (among others) but unseen until a VHS home video release 28 years later