Check it out!!! WLS-FM is actually doing something
REALLY cool in June ... and if you grew up here in the '60's enjoying The Big 89
... and The Beatles ... this just might be something you'd like to be a part
of! More details to come as they become available ... but here's what we know
so far ...
I wanted to tell you about an
upcoming 94.7 WLS event — the Ringo Starr Art Show "With a Little Help From His
Friends", benefiting the Lotus Foundation. The event will take place June 21 –
June 28 at the Hard Rock Café in Chicago. The Art Show will be free and open to
the public with all pieces available for purchase. Customers purchasing a
signed Ringo Starr print will meet Ringo and have their picture taken with him
at a special pre-concert event on Saturday, June 28th!
And check this out
...
Given his tie in to WLS during the British Invasion, Clark Weber will be appearing there on Tuesday, June 24th, from 6 - 8 pm to tell stories of what it was like to program the biggest Rock and Roll station in America during this incredibly exciting time.
And, it gets better ... check out this note I received from Clark:
I suggested they contact Ron Riley and fly him into town for the event. They thought that was a great idea and are contacting Ron and setting those wheels in motion.
Given his tie in to WLS during the British Invasion, Clark Weber will be appearing there on Tuesday, June 24th, from 6 - 8 pm to tell stories of what it was like to program the biggest Rock and Roll station in America during this incredibly exciting time.
And, it gets better ... check out this note I received from Clark:
I suggested they contact Ron Riley and fly him into town for the event. They thought that was a great idea and are contacting Ron and setting those wheels in motion.
This should be an
exciting night. Hope to see you
there.
Clark
You can count on it! Man, you guys were right in the thick of it back then ... in fact, you were flying the plane here in Chicago! Would LOVE to get a picture with you and Ron for the website ... who knows, maybe we can even convince Ringo to photo-bomb us!!!
FH Readers ... you are NOT going to want to miss this event. Ringo's All-Star Band concert is June 28th at The Chicago Theater. Members of the band this year include Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather of Toto, Gregg Rolie of Santana and Richard Page of Mr. Mister. (kk)
re: ON THE RADIO:
You can count on it! Man, you guys were right in the thick of it back then ... in fact, you were flying the plane here in Chicago! Would LOVE to get a picture with you and Ron for the website ... who knows, maybe we can even convince Ringo to photo-bomb us!!!
FH Readers ... you are NOT going to want to miss this event. Ringo's All-Star Band concert is June 28th at The Chicago Theater. Members of the band this year include Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather of Toto, Gregg Rolie of Santana and Richard Page of Mr. Mister. (kk)
re: ON THE RADIO:
In other radio news, congratulations to Bob Stroud of
The Drive. Closing in on his 30th year of broadcasting here in Chicago, Bob's
mid-day show is now the third most popular program in this time slot. And, far
more importantly, he placed well ahead of Ryan Seacrest's syndicated program on KISS-FM, which
came in at #7, thus accomplishing a life-time goal achievement ... right,
Bob?!?! (Just kidding ... hey, your show is still amongst the best on the radio
today ... and we loyal members of The Stroud Crowd have enjoyed listening every
step ... and every stop ... of the way.) Seriously, congrats!
Congratulations two three other Chicago Radio
Broadcasting Legends ... according to Chicagoland Radio and Media:
Radio Facts released its list of the "10 Best Black Radio DJs of All Time" last week. At #10 was Chicago's living legend, Herb Kent, aka "The Cool Gent," "The King of the Dusties," and "The Honorary Mayor of Bronzeville." Of course, Kent can still be heard each weekend on WVAZ-FM / V103. At #8 was Doug Banks, who is also heard now on WVAZ-FM, and formerly had a show on WGCI-FM (1986 - 1994). #3 was Tom Joyner, who used to be heard exclusively in Chicago on WJPC-AM and WGCI-FM, before becoming one of the country's top syndicated radio stars. As the list was written by Buffalo, NY native Kevin Ross, it features a few Buffalo and east coast DJs, which may not be as well known nationally. The entire list can be seen HERE.
Radio Facts released its list of the "10 Best Black Radio DJs of All Time" last week. At #10 was Chicago's living legend, Herb Kent, aka "The Cool Gent," "The King of the Dusties," and "The Honorary Mayor of Bronzeville." Of course, Kent can still be heard each weekend on WVAZ-FM / V103. At #8 was Doug Banks, who is also heard now on WVAZ-FM, and formerly had a show on WGCI-FM (1986 - 1994). #3 was Tom Joyner, who used to be heard exclusively in Chicago on WJPC-AM and WGCI-FM, before becoming one of the country's top syndicated radio stars. As the list was written by Buffalo, NY native Kevin Ross, it features a few Buffalo and east coast DJs, which may not be as well known nationally. The entire list can be seen HERE.
And, speaking of the latest ratings, Scott Shannon's aren't too shabby at his new home in New York City ...
Kent ...
Latest ratings = WCBS-FM checks in at
#2.
Scott Shannon said he won't be satisfied
till WCBS-FM is #1 again.
I like a man who has confidence in his
show.
Here's a mid-week report:
Monday = Bill Medley called in to push his new book "The Time Of My Life." Bill said that Frank Sinatra brought the Righteous Brothers to Las Vegas. He called them the kids. Both Bill and Elvis were at the International at the same time. Bill did the early show and Elvis did the late show. They got to be close friends. They would sit in the dressing room - Bill, Elvis and his hairdresser. He tells this story:
Monday = Bill Medley called in to push his new book "The Time Of My Life." Bill said that Frank Sinatra brought the Righteous Brothers to Las Vegas. He called them the kids. Both Bill and Elvis were at the International at the same time. Bill did the early show and Elvis did the late show. They got to be close friends. They would sit in the dressing room - Bill, Elvis and his hairdresser. He tells this story:
One day Bill was on stage singing. Elvis
walks across the the stage ... Hi, Bill. He was taking a shortcut to his
dressing room.
Scott asked what I thought was a good
question. How do you replace Bobby Hatfield?
Bill gave a good answer ... You can
never replace Bobby Hatfield. Every member of his band sings and his daughter is
part of the show. We do the best we can.
Bill Medley talked about some of the woman
in his life ... Darlene Love, Mary Wilson and Connie Stevens. Scott
described Bill as a hit and run kind of guy. Bill agreed with that
description.
During Scott's interview with Bill
Medley, Bill said his son was with Paul Revere and The Raiders for about 5
years.
Wednesday = Felix Cavaliere was on the Star Phone. He said he'd be working with The Beach Boys this
Summer. Working with Darlene Love this Winter.
Wednesday = Felix Cavaliere was on the Star Phone. He said he'd be working with The Beach Boys this
Summer. Working with Darlene Love this Winter.
Just noticed Darlene Love got into both of
my stories.
Scott assumed the Rascals were fighting
again and asked Felix about it. Felix says no. He said the reunion tour was only
supposed to last about a year. Do you believe him ?
Stay Tuned For More.
Frank B.
Stay Tuned For More.
Frank B.
Damn, I'm going to have to start listening to Scott
Shannon again!!! SO glad he's doing this ... featuring some of his favorites
... and '60's acts to boot ... on a station that clearly has gone the '70's and
'80's direction. I was hoping they'd let him do his thing 'cause there's just
nobody better out there to do it. Sounds like he's already turned you into a
fan!
Speaking of Darlene Love, Chet Coppock dropped a not-so-subtle hint to Ron Onesti last weekend that Darlene would make a GREAT add to the Arcada schedule this year ... and Ron didn't rule this out as a possibility ... so I'm hoping that we just might have a major announcement coming up here soon!
Speaking of Darlene Love, Chet Coppock dropped a not-so-subtle hint to Ron Onesti last weekend that Darlene would make a GREAT add to the Arcada schedule this year ... and Ron didn't rule this out as a possibility ... so I'm hoping that we just might have a major announcement coming up here soon!
As for The Rascals, Felix assured us that there's no animosity between
the members ... the tour was good fun and they had a blast playing those songs
together again. He indicated (as did Little Steven) that there may be more
shows down the road. As such, I believe him. However, something doesn't add up
in that they actually CANCELLED shows ... including some sold out shows ... out
of the blue. That tells me there's more to the story ... but I hope they stay
on good terms and do it again. It was a dream come true to see all four
original Rascals up on stage together again. (Maybe they should commercially
release the video of "Once Upon A Dream" now while there's still a buzz about
it. This way Rascals fans all over the world can see their last
harrah!)
Felix is coming to Chicago in September, when he'll be
appearing at The Arcada Theatre with Felix Cavaliere's Rascals. I'm hoping to
have a chance to catch up with him then. (kk)
re: AFTER CONCERT REVIEWS:
re: AFTER CONCERT REVIEWS:
I saw the Soul Stirrers do a tribute to Sam Cooke at the Chicago
Theater about four years ago. It was outta sight.
Kudos to Ray Graffia and the New
Colony Six for the great warmup they gave the house in The Arcada prior to Paul
Revere and the Raiders this past Sunday.
The group's harmonies were as smooth as they could be. Ray Graffia remains a consummate showman. In fact, Ray's on stage personality is actually stronger now than it was back in the 60's when the band was churning out 17 top 40 hits in about six years time.
Great to see you man. Had a ball talking the music we love ... and a round of applause for Ron Onesti, whose promotional music continues to amaze me.
Chet Coppock
'Host: Blackhawks Heritage Series
The group's harmonies were as smooth as they could be. Ray Graffia remains a consummate showman. In fact, Ray's on stage personality is actually stronger now than it was back in the 60's when the band was churning out 17 top 40 hits in about six years time.
Great to see you man. Had a ball talking the music we love ... and a round of applause for Ron Onesti, whose promotional music continues to amaze me.
Chet Coppock
'Host: Blackhawks Heritage Series
I saw Little Anthony and the
Imperials perform at The Star Plaza Theater in Indiana about four years ago and
your review is right on the money - a great show by a great performer and
entertainer.
Chuck
Kent ...
I liked your Little Anthony &
The Imperials revue. Here's Little Anthony, before he was Little
Anthony.
I think Little Anthony has been
doing the casino circuit, another great place to see the oldies acts these
days. I would love to see him again.
Janet
It's funny in a way ... I can honestly say that
it's never even crossed my mind to buy a ticket to a Little Anthony and the
Imperials concert ... and I can't even give you a good reason why. I like all
of their hits ... and I've seen him on those PBS Specials where he has ALWAYS
been in good voice ... but I just never got around to buying a ticket to check
him out in person. Now that I've seen his show, I can HIGHLY recommend that you
guys out there NOT make the same mistake I did ... a THOROUGHLY enjoyable show,
from start to finish. (kk)
Did they perform the a capella
version of Two People In The World [flip of Tears On My Pillow]? That was a
highlight when I saw them in AlbaNY about 10 years ago.
Mark
They sure did ... and it was yet another concert
highlight. (Of course they did the Acapulco version on stage, according to one
of the Imperials!) kk
Hi Kent -
THANKS SO MUCH for the write ups on Little Anthony / Imperials and Paul Revere / Raiders shows!!
I was fortunate to see Little Anthony in Pittsburgh when he appeared on one of TJ Lubinskys Doo Wop shows. Got to talk to him in the green room and he was so nice.
Saw Paul Revere and the Raiders at Westchester Fest and like you said, they are so entertaining. Paul is one of a kind and his Raiders put on a great show. No one drums like Tommy Schickel!!
THANKS SO MUCH for the write ups on Little Anthony / Imperials and Paul Revere / Raiders shows!!
I was fortunate to see Little Anthony in Pittsburgh when he appeared on one of TJ Lubinskys Doo Wop shows. Got to talk to him in the green room and he was so nice.
Saw Paul Revere and the Raiders at Westchester Fest and like you said, they are so entertaining. Paul is one of a kind and his Raiders put on a great show. No one drums like Tommy Schickel!!
All I can say is: THE NEW
COLONY SIX are the BEST and my favorites
(like yours!!!)Would have loved to
seen them when they first came out especially performing songs from their second album "Colonization"!!I was fortunate to buy an original vinyl copy of it at a record
convention. They rock!
"Rock and Roll and do The Stroll" and keep up the GREAT work ...
"Rock and Roll and do The Stroll" and keep up the GREAT work ...
Carolyn
kk,
You are having WAY too much
fun, fun, fun!!
EnJOY,
Kent,
I always enjoy reading reviews from
you and others on this page. It many times confirms my feelings, sometimes
makes me question, always seems honest and shows love of the music.
Shelley J
Sweet-Tufano
I was at the Arcada Theater Sunday Night to
see Paul Revere and the Raiders with The New Colony Six - what a great show!
I've heard you talk about The New Colony Six many times before but had never
actually seen them. I found that I was familiar with about half of what they
did -- and was blown away by a couple of tunes that weren't even theirs, like
the Grass Roots song and the whole Chicago Gold Medley -- for me, these were
amongst the highlights of the entire performance. In fact, dare I say it, I
think The New Colony Six may have actually been better than Paul Revere and the
Raiders that night!
Thanks for all you do, keeping us informed
about these shows in the area. I had never been to the Arcada Theater before --
what a beautiful place to see a show. I'll be ordering tickets for several more
shows that they've got coming up soon.
Thanks again.
James
Everybody who comes out to The Arcada Theatre
goes home a fan ... it's a GREAT place to see a concert ... and it'll keep
getting better after the next wave of expansion, improvement and renovation.
That's why we're happy to spread the word. If you're visiting Chicago, drop us
a line ... there is ALWAYS something good going on there ... and you'll enjoy
your trip even more if you save a night to see a great show.
As for The New Colony Six, I've probably
seen them at least 25-30 times now over the past six or seven years ... and have
to say that this one of the strongest performances I've ever seen them do. I
was SO glad that we were able to pull this off. I heard from several folks at
work, too, that recognized and were able to sing along with several of their
songs, despite the fact that they haven't heard most of them in decades. Yeah
guys ... that's the whole concept behind Forgotten Hits ... that's what we do
... remind you of those great songs you'll remember the moment you hear them ...
but are cheated out of hearing on a daily basis by the tight-reigned programming
of radio today, where you get about 200-300 songs all week long to digest ...
and the exact SAME 200-300 songs every single week. (kk)
The show was great fun but I have to admit
that it was a little bit sad to see Paul Revere ... he does not look well. How
long has he been like this? And how is he doing?
Margie
Paul has had a very rough year ... some serious health
issues have really taken their toll on him ... and clearly he's having a tougher
time getting around these days. (Several fans commented how he had to leave the
stage assisted by his son and a cane ... and he just wasn't as sharp as he
normally is on stage, even as recently as a couple of years ago.) But he's a
performer in the truest sense of the word ... even after all these years, he
LIVES for this stuff ... and as good as the band is, it's still Paul that the
fans come out to see ... he's the glue that holds it all together. It's tough
watching some of our idols grow old ... one of the ladies in our row Sunday
Night made a comment that there "sure are a lot of old people here" ... to which
I replied, "Yeah, and you're sitting with a whole bunch of us!" (Funny thing was
she was a first generation Paul Revere and the Raiders fan herself!!! But we
rarely see ourselves getting older ... especially when we don't FEEL any older
inside.)
Another commented "Looks like Paul's lost a step" ... but
then quickly added "Who hasn't". And that, in a nutshell, is the reality of it
all. The music still sounds great ... the band's INCREDIBLE ... and this is
feel good music that makes us ALL feel young again ... and I believe Paul Revere
would be the first to include himself in that statement. (kk)
My wife and I just saw Paul Revere and really
enjoyed the show. We always have a great time at the Arcada and congratulate and
thank Ron Onesti for providing the public with a great value for their money.
What spectacular entertainment he provides on a regular basis! Please keep up
the good work! There just aren't a lot of venues devoting shows to this era of
music anymore and the Arcada continues to excel in this area. I live near the
Genesee Theater in Waukegan, another beautiful spot, but they would do well to
have your experience and expertise with booking these great acts ... the area
would benefit greatly by having you book shows at both theaters for the
weekend.
You already know that I thought that the Paul
Revere show was incredible, as we spoke about it after the show at the Arcada. I
am sorry I waited so long to see him. I would have loved to have seen him five
years ago when he had full mobility. The Raiders were my favorite band back in
the 60's and I fondly remember running home from grade school to watch them
every day on Where the Action Is. I also remember the girls at school arguing
over which Raider was the cutest, Mark Lindsay or Fang.
You do a stupendous job promoting these shows through your Forgotten Hits website and deserve some credit and a round of applause for all your efforts. Great job in helping Ron Onesti book the New Colony 6. They were the perfect opening act for the Raiders and they sounded damned good!
See you at the Herman's Hermits show!
You do a stupendous job promoting these shows through your Forgotten Hits website and deserve some credit and a round of applause for all your efforts. Great job in helping Ron Onesti book the New Colony 6. They were the perfect opening act for the Raiders and they sounded damned good!
See you at the Herman's Hermits show!
Steve
Thanks, Steve. Ron Onesti and Forgotten Hits are the
perfect marriage for oldies music fans ... we both TRULY love this music and get
a real kick out of sharing it with all of the "locals" on the list. (Ironically
a couple of weeks ago another reader wrote in to say that Ron should also
tandem-book shows with The Rialto Theater in Joliet ... he seems to have his
finger on the pulse of all this great entertainment ... all three theaters
should consider partnering together to co-sponsor and promote some of these
shows ... thanks to Ron Onesti, the midwest is not lacking for premium
entertainment right now ... and we truly do appreciate his on-going support of
our efforts here in Forgotten Hits ... which is why I'm happy to let EVERYBODY
out there know about all the great shows he's got coming up.) And let me tell
you, no matter which shows we tell you about today, you've got to check the
website ... because new shows are being added all the time ... and LOTS of GREAT
names are being kicked around right now for shows at The Arcada between now and
the end of the year.
So please stay tuned to Forgotten Hits ... and check that
oshows.com website for more
details. (We may have some major announcements soon!)
See you at the Herman's Hermits show. (And who knows ... we
just may have a free ticket give-away for that one. That's why you can't miss a
day of Forgotten Hits!) kk
I loved Paul Revere and the Raiders growing
up. I remember planting myself right in front of our family's big stereo in the
living room, jamming with air-guitar to all the hits on their greatest hits
album. Of course my family thought I was crazy as I was rocking out there in
the living room ... but I didn't care. This was GREAT music ... and it still
sounded great at the Arcada Theater the other night. Thanks for letting us know
about this show ... and thanks to Ron Onesti for the half-price ticket offer for
Forgotten Hits readers.
Jim
OMG - the drummer for Paul Revere is a wild
man! I swear I think I lost ten pounds just watching him play! What a great
showman!
Judy
That drummer is the tits' nipples for the
Raiders - I'm a drummer and I couldn't take my eyes off of him all
night!
Dennis
I know I've seen that drummer before but I
don't think it was with the Buckinghams - who else has he played
with?
Steve
All of the above praise can be heaped on the
incredible Tommy Sheckel, drummer for Paul Revere and the Raiders ... and he is
ALL of the above ... a wild man, a great showman AND the tits' nipples ...
whatever the hell THAT means!!! He's a really good guy, too, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to visit with him a little bit before the show. (I think we started emailing each other around 6:30 that morning has the band was driving in from Ohio! Then had a chance to catch up a bit more in the lobby before the show started.)
You probably saw him with The Buckinghams ... they just weren't quite as "showy" as The Raiders are ... a much more "laid-back" performance if you will. Or, you may have seen him livening things up with Jonathan Brandmeier / Johnny and the Leisure Suits ... where the whole band got wild and crazy every single night. He's a sight to be seen, that's for sure ... and I agree, there are times when you just can't take your eyes off him! Great show all around. (kk)
You probably saw him with The Buckinghams ... they just weren't quite as "showy" as The Raiders are ... a much more "laid-back" performance if you will. Or, you may have seen him livening things up with Jonathan Brandmeier / Johnny and the Leisure Suits ... where the whole band got wild and crazy every single night. He's a sight to be seen, that's for sure ... and I agree, there are times when you just can't take your eyes off him! Great show all around. (kk)
We passed along some of your comments to
Tommy, who we had the pleasure of visiting with before the show. (In fact Tommy
and I had been emailing each other since 6:00 that morning as the band was
heading back into town from a gig the night before in Ohio!) It was great to
see him again for this very special home-coming ... and ALWAYS a treat to watch
him up on stage in "performance mode"!!! (kk)
Kent,
Ha! I love it! Thanks for passing on the kind
words.
Great to see you in person last night ... you’re a
frikkin’ celebrity, dude! I want to thank you for your help in making the
Arcade show a big success. We really
appreciate all you do for us and all of the other touring acts. I don’t know
about you, but we just love that old theater. Ron Onesti has really created
something special there, hasn’t he? It was a total party atmosphere, which is
absolutely perfect for a Raiders show. Chicagoland audiences really are THE best
in the world. (only just slightly prejudiced on my part). They just know how to
let loose and have fun, even on a Sunday afternoon! Hope to see you again
soon.
Tommy
Paul Revere and The
Raiders
re: UP-COMING
SHOWS:
Wow! What
a GREAT way to wake up this morning!
Ticketmaster just sent me a list of up-coming shows for our area
... check out this list!
Frankie
Avalon at The Drury Lane Theater on May 20th
Barry
Gibb, May 27th at The United Center
The
Monkees at Star Plaza on May 31st (featuring Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and
Michael Nesmith)
B.B. King at Rialto Square, May 31st
B.B. King at Rialto Square, May 31st
Styx at
The First Merit Bank Pavilion on June
6th
Huey Lewis
and the New at The Venue / Horseshoe Casiono on June
13th
Lionel
Richie at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater on June
15th
Boston at
Montrose Beach, June 21st
Jimmy
Buffet June 28th at the First Midwest Bank
Amphitheater
Jackson
Browne at the Peoria Civic Center on July
8th
The Steve Miller Band with Journey, July 12th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
The Steve Miller Band with Journey, July 12th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Lynyrd
Skynyrd with Bad Company, July 23rd at the First Midwest Bank
Amphitheater
Aerosmith,
July 25th, at the First Midwest Bank
Amphitheater
John
Fogerty, July 27th at The Chicago Theater
The Happy
Together Tour, featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Mark Farner, Gary Lewis and
the Playboys and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels at The Peoria Civic Center
on August 10th
Kiss and
Def Leppard, August 16th, at the First Midwest Bank
Amphitheater
Fleetwood Mac at The United Center on October 3rd
Fleetwood Mac at The United Center on October 3rd
Rod
Stewart at The Allstate Arena on August 16th
Johnny
Mathis at The Rosemont Theater, December 6th
Add to
list list all of the great shows coming up at The Arcada Theatre and Chicago is
going to be one rockin' town this summer!
And have you heard about Rock 'n' Blues Fest - Featuring The Johnny Winter Band, The Edgar Winter Band, Vanilla Fudge, Peter Rivera of Rare Earth and Savoy Brown's Kim Simmonds?
Here's the official tour schedule ... with more dates expected to be added later:
Friday, August 1 - Theatre at
Westbury in Westbury, New York
Saturday, August 2 - Rockland's
Harbor Park in Rockland, Maine
Sunday, August 3 - Count Basie
Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey
Tuesday, August 5 - Keswick Theatre
in Glenside, Pennsylvania
Wednesday, August 6 - South Shore
Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts
Thursday, August 7 - State Theatre
in New Brunswick, New Jersey
Friday, August 8 - Bergen
Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey
Wednesday, August 13 - King Center
for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida
Thursday, August 14 - Florida
Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida
Friday, August 15 - Broward Center
for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Saturday, August 16 - Ruth Eckerd
Hall in Clearwater, Florida
Thursday, August 21 - City National
Civic in San Jose, California
Friday, August 22 - City
National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim, California
Saturday, August 23 - The Cannery
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Sunday, August 24 - Snoqualmie
Casino in Seattle, Washington
I see that The Cowsills are coming
to the Arcada. If you haven’t seen them, you’re in for a treat. They sound great
and they’re fun, and very funny people who just love their fans. We’ve done a
few dates with them this past year, and they were also a big hit and fan
favorites on last years’ cruise. You’ll have fun with them. Check out this
little one-camera video I shot of them when we’d played together last July in
Vegas (I set it at Bob Cowsills feet and let it run). It’s not a great video (I
did the best I could with just the one stationary camera angle) but they sound
great, and it’s gotten almost 25,000 hits so far. That’s a lot for a current
live version of an old hit. They definitely have a strong fan
following!
Tommy Scheckel
I'm bummed that we have to miss
this show as I'd really like to see them ... I'm hoping they go over in a very
big way and Ron Onesti will bring them back. (Daughter Paige is starring as
Belle in "Beauty And The Beast" that night, her final High School Musical ... so
there's no way I can miss that!!!) kk
Speaking of cool "at your feet" videos, here's
another Forgotten Hits exclusive, sent in by Brad Joblin, who took a night off from attending the NAB
convention in Las Vegas and shot this incredible up-close video of Elton John at
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It seems with VIP status, Brad got to stand on
stage next to Elton and was so close he could have touched the piano keys. He
described the volume level from Elton's stage monitors as more than "11" and
hence his camera's mic overloaded somewhat.
Brad tells us:
Take a look at this video I shot of Elton
John. It turned out rather cool but since I was only two feet from Elton's
stage monitors, and he needs them at such an incredibly high volume, my tiny
camera mic could not handle it, so the audio levels are "into the red". Even
so, imagine how cool this five minutes was for me, an Elton fan for 44
years!
Elton John
in Las Vegas 4-5-14 (Shot on stage) "Saturday Night's Alright (For
Fighting)"
re: THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME:
re: THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME:
Your list of Deserving and Denied is excellent!
However there is one name that
should be on the honorable mention list:
The Tokens.
If you want ALL the reasons why,
let me know and I shall give them to you (as there are plenty - performers,
writers, producers, and some of the first r&r artist
commercials!)
CLAY PASTERNACK
CLAY PASTERNACK
Actually, their name has come
up a number of times over the years since our series first ran ... and I'd have
to agree. And, they're still out there doing it!!! Thanks, Clay!
(kk)
re: THIS AND
THAT:
We got this announcement from several Forgotten
Hits Readers last week ... seems "Soul Train" is coming to Broadway! The whole
thing is being put together by Matthew Weaver, the guy who produced and created
"Rock Of Ages". Here's the official word from Chicagoland Radio and
Media:
"Soul Train," the iconic television
music / dance show which started on WCIU-TV in Chicago by the late Don Cornelius
in 1970 before becoming a national smash, may be headed for Broadway. Matthew
Weaver, who co-produced and co-created "Rock of Ages," has purchased the rights
to bring "Soul Train" to a theatrical stage. He hopes to have it become a live
musical production next year. In a statement, Weaver said: "Don Cornelius
created a television show that became a cornerstone in American culture and I am
excited and honored to be bringing it to the stage. We are putting together a
top-notch team of artists to ensure 'Soul Train' is the hippest trip on
Broadway. We want to thrill the audiences who loved the TV show and introduce
the incredible music and style of 'Soul Train' to a new
generation."
Hey, "Rock Of
Ages" was a HUGE musical hit ... and was even turned into a
movie.
And, speaking of great musicals being turned into
movies, the first official movie trailer was released last week for "Jersey
Boys" ... everybody I know has been waiting for this one!!!
Here's another great music documentary to look
forward to!
Kent:
Kent:
I just got back from the STAX Museum in
Memphis. While there, I heard that PBS ( Channel 11 ) will be running a special
documentary this Monday evening @ 9 pm,, April 21, on the famous Alabama, Muscle
Schoals recording studio ... many Aretha, Stones, and Wilson Pickett hits were
recorded there in the late 60's. STAX and Muscle Schoals were responsible for
the majority of the R&B hits of that late 60's era.
I thought some of your readers would enjoy this ... many American and British bands / artists tried to duplicate the recording techniques that were used at this off-the-highway location.
Not enough credit is given to the studio musicians and recording engineers that made these "hits" come alive.
Quent Lang
I thought some of your readers would enjoy this ... many American and British bands / artists tried to duplicate the recording techniques that were used at this off-the-highway location.
Not enough credit is given to the studio musicians and recording engineers that made these "hits" come alive.
Quent Lang
I've been hearing about this one for quite a while now
so it'll be cool to finally see it. (I saw a few clips a couple of months ago
and it definitely looks interesting.) That whole scene had a sound of its own
... and even Elvis Presley and Dusty Springfield flew down there trying to
capture a little bit of magic. Should be a great special. Thanks, Quent!
(kk)
Hi Kent,
I wanted to make sure you saw this. It
reminded me of some great songs that I haven't heard in awhile.
I'm going to dig out some of these records
and give them a listen.
Ed Salamon
This is ALWAYS a fun list ... and I know several FH
Readers cast their votes again this year. I never saw the final list ... and
missed the on-air countdown ... but you're right ... there are all kinds of
great suggestions on this list for deejays to play on their shows ... better
than your "canned" research telling you to play the same crap day in and day out
... here's what the music fans REALLY want to hear. And I'll bet you won't find
a real dog on this list! (kk)
Thanks for the piece on Bill Haley,
Kent. I found something else recently
about the record and that was that Peter Ford, the son of Glenn Ford, was the
reason it was used in Blackboard Jungle. He disliked the “A” side (Thirteen
Women) but loved the “B” side (Rock Around The Clock) and played it incessantly
at home and his father and him thought it would be good in the film Glenn Ford
was about to star in (Blackboard Jungle) and as they say the rest is
history.
Take
care,
Rockin’ Lord
Geoff
Hi
Kent -
Thanks, man, for what your doing – learn something every time I get a chance to pop by for a read. LOVE Bill Haley and have most of the 45’s the group did even pre-Rock Around the Clock. Great story about the song, even though it had a sad twist but hey, it’s rock and roll!
Thanks, man, for what your doing – learn something every time I get a chance to pop by for a read. LOVE Bill Haley and have most of the 45’s the group did even pre-Rock Around the Clock. Great story about the song, even though it had a sad twist but hey, it’s rock and roll!
Jeff
James
Hi,
Nice article on the Beatles first
radio broadcast.
I found your article after I found this YouTube that claims to
be a recording of that actual first broadcast (or at least, they say it's from
February 1963, and it IS Dick Biondi). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W26aSVEwxY
Not sure if you were aware of that,
so there it is.
Thanks for all the research you did
on the topic!
- Emily Bristor
Rough week for some of our aging rock stars ... VVN reported last week
that Glen Campbell has entered an Alzheimer's facility ... and Fabian underwent
heart surgery! Full stories below:
http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/04/fabian-undergoes-heart-surgery.html
And, have you ever wondered why 45's have a big hole? (Sure you have!)
And, have you ever wondered why 45's have a big hole? (Sure you have!)
Got this from FH Readers Frank B
...
Frank also sent us this clip, put together by
Wild Wayne ...
Kent ...
Wild Wayne just sent me this
tribute he put together ... singers who have died in the last year.
Frank B.
Frank B.
Kent,
Join me in congratulating rock 'n
roll rascal Ron Onesti, the Godfather of the Arcada Theater, on his induction
this Saturday night into the Chicago 16" Softball Hall of Fame.
Ron could never hit the curve ball but he is being enshrined as a "Pioneer." What hasn't this cat pioneered?
Meanwhile, kk, we gotta talk Ronnie into an All Chicago, All-Star Jam show with members of the NC 6, the Shames, The Ides, The Buckinhams, The Mauds and, of course, ex 6er Ronnie Rice. Two hour show ... 20
songs ... tell me it wouldn't be a blast.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Series
Ron could never hit the curve ball but he is being enshrined as a "Pioneer." What hasn't this cat pioneered?
Meanwhile, kk, we gotta talk Ronnie into an All Chicago, All-Star Jam show with members of the NC 6, the Shames, The Ides, The Buckinhams, The Mauds and, of course, ex 6er Ronnie Rice. Two hour show ... 20
songs ... tell me it wouldn't be a blast.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Series
We've been talking about this for awhile now ...
would LOVE to see this all come together ... film the thing for a PBS /
Soundstage-type special ... interweave it with vintage clips of all these bands
from back in the day ... man, would this be a cool piece of Chicago Rock
History. I've got to believe between ALL of us (band-members included), there
just HAS to be a way to pull this off and make this happen.
(kk)
Kent,
Funny you should mention Eric Carmen ...
re: THE SATURDAY
SURVEYS:
I really enjoy
the blog.
I grew up in
central Wisconsin so a lot of the Chicago based surveys are "close to home" for
me. A longtime DJ and 60s radio
veteran named Jim Schuh is still active up there. Writing a column for the
Portage County Gazette. If I can find any way of hooking you up I will forward
on.
Thank you again for the great
memories and reviews.
Vic Gerard
