Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies: Jerry Lee Lewis

Showing posts with label Jerry Lee Lewis. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

A "Centerfield"er puts together an all-star team

Carlos Santana, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jeff Beck, and Tony Bennett are among the artists who have teamed up with musicians at least one generation removed from them for album projects. So who's the latest to jump into that ring? CLICK HERE to find out!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Killer keeps it "all in the family"........AGAIN!

While the source must be considered in this case, although they've been right more than they've been wrong recently (John Edwards, etc.), just when you think Jerry Lee Lewis couldn't possibly top himself after marrying his cousin 50-plus years ago (which is still just as creepy of a notion today, by the way) comes this...........

CLICK HERE to get the scoop!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Today In Oldies 1/24/2012

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......where Oldies news matters!

The Occupy movement has spawned an album.....and some of your favorite Oldies artists are involved
No sooner does the Queen of Soul get engaged than........
40 years after Jim Morrison's death, The Doors are still packin' 'em in
A 70's icon has a new album on the way, and he calls it the most "honest" work he's ever done
Plans for Etta James's funeral have been announced

Etta James (1938-2012)

Golden Hits Radio would like to pay tribute to one of music's all-time greats, Etta James, upon her passing Friday (Jan. 20, 2012) just five days shy of what would have been her 75th birthday. While she never achieved the pop chart success of her 50's and 60's era peers (her biggest chart hit, 1967's "Tell Mama", peaked at #23), her career would endure long past that of many of the era's biggest hitmakers. Her distinguished resume includes six Grammy Awards (including a 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award), induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003, two songs in the Grammy Hall of Fame, including her signature song, "At Last".

Here is a clip of her final TV appearance on a 2009 episode of Dancing With The Stars.......

In 1986, she appeared in the Chuck Berry documentary Hail! Hail! Rock N' Roll! alongside her former Chess Records labelmate.......

Her life and career were documented in the 2008 feature film Cadillac Records, with Beyonce Knowles portraying her onscreen. Click here to rent from Netflix or to rent or buy from Amazon.

Here is a clip of Beyonce performing Etta's classic "I'd Rather Go Blind"........

FRIDAY'S WHAT'S IN A NAME ANSWERS

1) Patricia Louise Holte-Jones Patti Labelle

2) Robert Louis Ridarelli Bobby Rydell

3) Ernest Evans Chubby Checker

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Today in 1967, Jefferson Airplane members Paul Kantner and Grace Slick had a baby girl. While she was later given the name China, what did they originally name her?

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 rock and roll pioneer made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry January 20, 1973?

Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Today In Oldies 10/18/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2......with a brand new week of Oldies news!

Where In The World Is........Gerry Rafferty?

If you can say one thing about Gerry Rafferty, it is that he certainly has one of the more interesting "Where Are They Now?" stories in recent memory. In fact, for a period of several weeks in 2008, no one (including Everything Oldies) could have answered the question "Where In The World Is......Gerry Rafferty?" Fortunately, the ending appears to be happy.

Gerry Rafferty was born in Paisley, Scotland, and began his music career in London performing around the London Underground. After some time in a band called The Humblebums (which also featured Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly), he released his first solo album, "Can I Have My Money Back", in 1972. His first taste of chart success came when he formed Stealer's Wheel with pal Joe Egan. Despite various legal issues during their time as a group, they scored a major hit both in the U.S. and across the pond in Britain with "Stuck In The Middle With You". It was a Top 10 hit both countries in 1973, and became a classic all over again in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 cult classic film Reservoir Dogs.

Following the 1975 breakup of Stealer's Wheel, Gerry Rafferty resumed his solo career, and he did it in a big way. His 1978 album "City To City" kept the hits coming. "Baker Street" was the first, and it was a bona fide smash, hitting #2 in the U.S., #3 in the UK, and fueling sales of the album to the tune of 5.5 million copies! The song remains a staple of Oldies radio stations today. How big was "City To City" in its heyday? How about big enough to knock one of the biggest selling albums of all time, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, out of the #1 slot? "City To City" also generated several more Top 40 hits, including "Home and Dry" and "Right Down The Line" (which hit #1 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary singles chart in 1978). His next album, 1979's "Night Owl", also sold well and produced several hits, including "Days Gone Down" and "Get It Right Next Time".

While Gerry Rafferty was omnipresent on radio and in record stores, one place you rarely found him in those days was the concert stage. He was reluctant to perform live, and as a result, subsequent albums in the 80's made little impact in record stores and on the radio. He did remain successful in the UK, however, and continued to make music throughout the new millenium.

Sadly, Rafferty's personal life began to bottom out over the past few years. Alcoholism had him living alone at London's Westbury Hotel. While we may never know the facts, various newspaper reports gave varying accounts of what happened next. Scotland On Sunday's account indicated Rafferty was asked to leave the Westbury at some point in July 2008 following reports that his unit had become unihabitable and complaints from other residents that he frequently urinated in the hallways. The same report claimed he had disappeared August 1, 2008 following a short hospital stay for a liver condition. Subsequent police reports refute that, claiming no missing persons report was ever issued. Yet another early 2009 newspaper report had him living in seclusion in the south of England. Eventually, however, he was accounted for, with a statement from someone associated with Rafferty saying he was alive and well and living in Tuscany with plans for an album. That album, "Life Goes On", emerged in November 2009. Here's hoping Gerry Rafferty has overcome his demons and plans to keep making great music for years to come!

Before he bottomed out at the Westbury, the street Gerry Rafferty called home took him to the top of the charts........

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

***This week, each question will pertain to artists who did not appear at Woodstock and the reasons they weren't there***

Which band turned down Woodstock, because, according to one member, "......we were stupid. We thought it would be a second class repeat of (the) Monterey Pop Festival"?

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 music superstar provided a guest voice on The Simpsons under the pseudonym John Jay Smith?

Answer: Michael Jackson

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Today In Oldies 9/30/2010

If it's Oldies news, you'll get it first at Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2

Where In The World Is..........Bill Withers?

Born in 1938 in the coal mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, Bill Withers' original ticket out of small town life was enlisting in the Navy after high school. Following his discharge in 1965, he went straight from the ship to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.

Once he made it to La-La Land, his Naval training as an aircraft mechanic served him well as a day job, where he paid for his own demos and shopped them around town while performing in clubs by night. By 1970, he landed a recording deal with Sussex Records. Bill Withers might be one of the most sensible musicians in history, refusing to quit his day job even after he had his first smash hit, "Ain't No Sunshine", in 1971, because he found the music business to be fickle and he was still unpolished compared to other acts.

Success came immediately with the release of Withers' first album, "Just As I Am", in 1971. Recorded in just 9 hours (and featuring Stephen Stills on guitar), it generated a huge hit single. "Ain't No Sunshine" hit #3 on the pop singles chart, sold over a million copies, and won a Grammy for Best R&B song in 1972. The hits continued with the next album, "Still Bill", with "Lean On Me" topping the pop charts in 1972 and "Use Me" hitting #2.

A legal battle with Sussex Records kept Withers from recording and maintaining his chart momentum, and in 1975 he signed with Columbia Records. Several albums and a few more modest hits followed, including "Lovely Day" and a smash collaboration with Grover Washington, Jr., "Just The Two Of Us", in 1980. Wisely, he also controlled all the publishing rights to the songs he wrote, making him financially secure above and beyond what he made as a performer.

Upon the completion of his contract with Columbia in 1985, Bill Withers walked away from recording and live performing. For the most part, he has retired from the business aside from his publishing interests and occasionally writing songs for other performers, most notably Jimmy Buffett on his 2004 album "License To Chill". He currently resides in Los Angeles. His legacy over his 15 years of performing and recording is vast. It includes membership in the Grammy Hall of Fame (twice), Songwriters' Hall of Fame, and West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. He has won 3 Grammy Awards as well as NAACP Image and Soul Train Awards. His 2 children, Todd and Kori, followed their father into the "business" side of the music business and are involved with his publishing company.

Let's revisit Bill Withers' run at the top. From a 1973 BBC performance.........

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

What Oscar winning actor can be seen briefly in the music video for Madonna's 1987 hit "La Isla Bonita"?

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

What unlikely collaborator played guitar on the Monkees' 1969 song "Tear Drop City"?

Answer: Neil Young