Today In Oldies 2/2/2012

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.......Because the Oldies action never stops!

• One legendary group reunites to pay tribute to another legend
• The leader of the group mentioned above thinks Steve Jobs would have eventually brought music around to its roots
• As tributes pour in to the late Don Cornelius, the composer of the Soul Train theme song shares his remembrances 
• The newest music biopic will focus on a Beach Boys/Fleetwood Mac love affair

 

Don Cornelius (1936-2012)

Golden Hits Radio pays tribute to the late Don Cornelius, who died yesterday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 75.  For many of us in America, Saturday afternoons not only played a big role in shaping our musical tastes but also taught us to dance, and Soul Train, along with American Bandstand, was the reason. 

Cornelius was a journalist and part-time disc jockey by trade who had been successful promoting package shows around Chicago featuring soul and R&B artists.  Chicago TV station WCIU took notice and gave Cornelius the chance to park the road show on television.  Soul Train entered national syndication in 1971 after beginning as a local, Chicago-based program, but initially it only aired in 8 markets.  It was an immediate hit, however, and within a few years it had spread to more than 100 stations across the country. 

Soul Train became a necessary stop for the R&B A-list, and while most of the dancers and performers were African-American, several A-list white pop and rock artists were booked over the years, including David Bowie and Elton John. 

Cornelius left the program as host in 1993 but continued on as Executive Producer until its cancellation in 2006.  While he was rarely seen doing anything on camera other than introducing the songs played and the acts performing, in a rare moment in 1974 he took over the "Soul Train Dance Line" with former Supreme Mary Wilson.  Here is the moment where Don Cornelius let loose and took the Soul Train dancers to school.........

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Speaking of Soul Train, who was the first white artist to appear on the show (January 8, 1972) and which song did he perform? 

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

 

On February 1, 1975, Lisa Marie Presley's famous father arranged a meeting between her and her favorite singer for her 7th birthday.  Who did she meet that day?

Answer:     Elton John

 

On The Road - America

America Live In Concert

DATE	VENUE (WEBSITE)	CITY
2/17/2012	American Music Theatre	Lancaster, PA
2/18/2012	Rams Head	Annapolis, MD
2/19/2012	Rams Head	Annapolis, MD
2/20/2012	Mohegan Sun Arena	Uncasville, CT
2/24/2012	The Coach House	San Juan Capistrano, CA
2/25/2012	Spotlight 29 Casino	Coachella, CA
2/26/2012	Belly Up Tavern	Solana Beach, CA
3/1/2012	Meyer Theatre	Green Bay, WI
3/2/2012	Carson Center	Paducah, KY
3/17/2012	Le Bataclan	Paris, France
3/18/2012	Teatro Verdi	Salerno, Italy	NEW!
3/21/2012	Teatro Metropolitan	Catania, Italy	NEW!
3/23/2012	Teatro Novelli	Rimini, Italy	NEW!
3/24/2012	Palazzetto	Bassano, Italy	NEW!
3/28/2012	Teatro Rossetti	Trieste, Italy	NEW!
6/6/2012	The Birchmere	Alexandria, VA
6/7/2012	Bergen Performing Arts Center	Englewood, NJ
6/8/2012	Penn's Peak	Jim Thorpe, PA
6/9/2012	Mohegan Sun - Wolf's Den	Uncasville, CT
6/22/2012	Whitney Park	St. Cloud, MN
6/30/2012	The Cannery Casino & Hotel	North Las Vegas, NV
7/19/2012	Evans Amphitheater	Cleveland Heights, OH
7/20/2012	Hoover Auditorium	Lakeside, OH
8/10/2012	Peppermill Concert Hall	West Wendover, NV
8/11/2012	Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino	Chandler, AZ
9/21/2012	Hard Rock Hotel & Casino	Biloxi, MS
9/22/2012	Castine Center	Mandeville, LA

Subject to change. See VenturaHighway Home Page for updates.

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