Let's just call it the Sunday Brunch Edition!!!
TOMMY DeVITO:
After the passing of original Four Season Tommy DeVito, Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio issued a joint statement:
It is with great sadness that we report that Tommy DeVito, a founding member of The Four Seasons, has passed.
We send our love to his family during this most difficult time.
He will be missed by all who loved him.
- Frankie Valli & Bob Gaudio
I was a little bit surprised by how brief this statement was. (I also looked for one from Joe Pesci, because I was SURE I had heard something from him … but then couldn’t find it.)
I asked John Michael Coppola, who starred as Frankie Valli in the Chicago production of “Jersey Boys” for several years … and currently heads up the outstanding Four Seasons tribute band, The Four C Notes … if he might like to say a few words about the passing of Four Seasons founder Tommy DeVito this past week … and wondered if during the course of his career saluting the REAL Jersey Boys if he ever had the opportunity to meet him. (John brings up a VERY good point … without the missteps by Tommy, there really is no “meat” to the Jersey Boys story!!!)
I got back this very touching and inspirational piece …
Hey Kent,
Thanks for the note.
We are well. Slow year, obviously ... Glad we got that City Winery gig when we did :)
Here is a little something...
While I never met Tommy personally (he did not attend either the Chicago opening or closing of Jersey Boys), I obviously owe him a debt of gratitude.
Without the legacy he helped create, and the colorful life he led, there would not have been enough engaging material to create a blockbuster musical, of which I might not have had an opportunity to be a part, which led me to where I am today, both physically (in Chicago) and in my journey as a performer. I never could have guessed in a million years the life I've been fortunate to create because of a single, amazing, life changing, dream fulfilling job that I absolutely loved. All because of one Italian kid from the Italian Ghetto of New Jersey, whose older brother threatened to beat him up if he ever came home and DIDN'T find Tommy practicing on his brother's guitar (true story!)
I have had the opportunity to meet both Bob (opening night of Jersey Boys, for a quick photo op with him and his wife) and Frankie on multiple occasions (opening night, and a couple of visits when he's toured through town.) He always remembers me and is always very nice to my family. The last time he was in town, he said "You still LIVE here? It's so f***in' cold!". I reminded him,"It gets cold in Jersey, too, Frankie."
My first time meeting Frankie was opening night of Jersey Boys - Chicago. After waiting on a long line to meet him, I introduced myself as one of the understudies for the role of Frankie. He told me "When you get up there, don't feel pressured to be anyone else. Not me, or any of the other guys who play me. You bring yourself to the part." I never forgotten that advice, always try to live up to it, and I train each of THE FOUR C NOTES with that in mind; Perform as yourself. The music stands on its own.
I try to practice this in everyday life as well; Be yourself ... Everyone else is already taken :)
So ... while I've never met Tommy, he has obviously been a big part of my life, and his spirit and memory will live on.
Stay well, Kent!
JMC
John Michael Coppola
What a great guy!
Like thousands and thousands of other actors and singers, John has been sidelined by the ongoing pandemic this year. While it’s heartbreaking for us as fans to not be able to go out and see our favorite artists, this setback has deprived these talented individuals of their livelihood … which is why we’ve also been campaigning for all of you out there to seek out organizations like SOS (Save Our Stages) and write to your congressmen to have legislation passed not only in YOUR state but in ALL states to help compensate these individuals who have been put out of work as a result of this medical disaster. With unemployment at an all time high, it’s not like these people can just go out and switch vocations for the time being and earn a living doing something else … there simply are not enough jobs out there to cover the people that need them. (SOS also supports all of the venues that have been shut down due to new restrictions prohibiting social gatherings.)
Please check to see how YOU can help support the arts by urging your congressmen to pass legislation to help support these artists and venues. (kk)
https://www.saveourstages.com/
And, once we can all finally go out and see concerts
again, make it a point to check out The Four C Notes … you’ll be glad you
did. (kk)
Kent Kotal (R) with John Michael Coppola (L) after The Four C Notes show at The City Winery in February of this year … GREAT show!!! (We were able to bring a bunch of Forgotten Hits Readers with us to this concert … and everybody raved about how good it was. Check it out for yourself the next time The Four C Notes are appearing out by you!) kk
JERRY LEE LEWIS:
Jerry Lee Lewis turns 85 years old next week. (How on earth could Tommy DeVito been 92 when he died on Monday?!?! That’s seven years older than The Killer!!!)
FH Reader Frank B sent us a copy of his birthday card to Jerry Lee … aka The Last Man Standing from that infamous night at the Sun Records Studio when Lewis, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash got together for a late hours gospel jam.
Here’s my 85th birthday card to Jerry Lee Lewis:
1957 = "WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOING ON" At SUN.
That Was Lots Of Fun.
Saw You On " IMUS IN THE MORNING, " While I Was Yawning.
ROCK + GOSPEL + COUNTRY … Jerry Lee Can Do It All
That's Why He's In The Rock Hall.
Elvis and Carl and Johnny
Last Man Standing … Jerry Lee.
85 and Still Alive
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KILLER.
FRANK B.
And if YOU’D like to send The Killer a birthday card, get it out NOW to:
Jerry
Lee Lewis
P.O. Box 384
Nesbit Ms 38651
This coming Tuesday, September 29th, The Killer Jerry Lee Lewis will turn 85 years young.
THIS AND THAT:
And next month (on October 9th) John Lennon would have turned 80!
The folks who bring us The Fest For Beatles Fans have put together an online, virtual celebration … and the list of special guests taking part in the 80th Birthday Salute / Remember Lennon festivities just keeps growing … this is going to be one heck of an event!
Lots more information here: https://mailchi.mp/thefest.com/thefestcomstore-175262?e=19876060a1
Here’s more news about the new Ready Steady Go book coming …
Fans of The British Invasion will definitely want to check this out! (kk)
kk:
Mark Lindsay said that Roy Head opened for the Raiders many times.
During one of his flamboyant dance / hand moves, as he extended his hand, his diamond ring went sailing into the audience. Roy waited until the house cleared after the concert. He ran out and was crawling around the first few rows. He found the ring. I like the Elvis story better.
FB
The list of premiers on the new Ed Sullivan YouTube Channel looks a lot more exciting this week than it did last!
Remember … these are the full length, original appearances … not the ones that have been circulating in edited form for the past several decades. Most of these have not been seen in their entirety since their original air dates.
Here are some of the highlights we spotted:
Last Friday, 9/25: Bobbie Gentry – I Wonder As I Wander (original air date 12/24/67), George Carlin – Daytime Television (3/19/67) and Freddie and the Dreamers – I’m Telling You Now (4/25/65)
Yesterday (Saturday, 9/26) – Joe Cocker – Feelin’ Alright (4/27/69)
All of those clips are available for immediate viewing right now
Premiering on Tuesday, September 29th: The New York Mets (Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver) performing You Gotta Have Heart from “Damn Yankees” (originally aired on 10/19/69 … the year The Miracle Mets won The World Series!)
Wednesday (9/30) – The Searchers – Needles And Pins (4/5/64)
Thursday (10/1) – Keeping with the baseball theme, Don Adams (Agent 86) doing a bit called Umpire School from May 28th, 1961.
Friday, October 2nd – The Young Rascals – Good Lovin’ (from 3/20/66)
Saturday, 10/3 – The Sparkletones – Black Slacks (11/3/57), The Supremes – My World Is Empty Without You (2/20/66) and Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual (6/13/65)
Sunday, October 4th – Johnny Ray – A medley of Cry and Walkin’ In The Rain from 5/5/57 and, back to baseball, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Bob Skowron and Jack Norworth of the New York Yankees performing Take Me Out To The Ball Game (4/13/58()
Wednesday, October 7th: The Mamas and the Papas – Monday, Monday (12/11/66) and Elvis Presley – Don’t Be Cruel (1/6/57)
And finally, on Thursday, October 8th – Allen Funt and Ed Sullivan do a bit about “Candid Camera” from 9/25/66
I was really looking forward to checking out some of the one-hit wonders on Me-TV-FM this weekend after reading about it in your column, but apparently they don't stream their audio.
I'm glad that I did go to their website though, because today they mentioned that this is Olivia Newton-John's birthday, and that reminded me that it is also Steve Summer's birthday today, so I sent him off an E-mail wishing him a very happy birthday. Anyway, I'm really bummed out that Me-TV-FM doesn't stream.
Sam Ward
I’ve been after them for years about streaming but they just don’t want any part of it. Their Milwaukee affiliate DOES stream, however, so THAT is the link that we typically run.
You’ve still got all day to listen today … so maybe you can connect in time to still enjoy a few of these One Hit Wonder favorites. (kk)
https://www.radio.com/metvfmmke/listen#.W6oi2vZRfcs
And, speaking of streaming, I am SO happy to announce that Phil Nee’s “Those Were The Days” program is now streaming on Saturday nights! Phil and I have worked on so many programs over the years that sadly very few FH Readers had the opportunity to hear … all very well done pieces. (We’re going to have to put together some kind of WRCO / Forgotten Hits marathon!!! When’s the next holiday weekend? The station can give all the jocks the whole weekend off and we’ll just stream all of the specials we’ve done together!)
Check him out on Saturday Nights from 6 pm to Midnight (Central Time) here:
us7.maindigitalstream.com/2541/
(Phil: I was actually able to listen to your show online last night!!! Now how cool is that?!?!) kk
Also, regarding your 2017 look back at 1967, I've read everything up to September 1st ... and have to state again for the record that you did a fantastic job on this 50 year retrospective on a very special and amazing year in music. There is a tremendous amount of information to be gleaned from this day by day history of 1967.
And oh, by the way, there's one thing that we totally agree on, and that's that Guide For The Married Man by the Turtles is a DAMN GREAT SONG, and it's just a shame that it didn't become a bigger hit. Just because I haven't heard it nearly as much as She'd Rather Be With Me, I like the song much better.
One thing I didn't realize though was that the song was from a movie.
Anyway, I think that's my favorite Turtles song of all time.
Anyway, I only have four months to go in your look at 1967, and then I'll start reading the comments, and I'm sure that many of them will be very interesting.
One song that I absolutely hate though from 1967, and I usually like songs by this artist, is Here We Go Again by Ray Charles. God, what a terrible song! (That's my opinion only.) I also never cared that much for Release Me by Englebert Humperdink and My Cup Runneth Over by Ed Ames. I never really liked Respect by Aretha Franklin at the time, but now I think it's an OK song and I don't gorunning and changing the radio station every time I hear it.
But some of my absolute favorite songs of the year, weren't the biggest hits, songs like Girls In Love and Loser With A Broken Heart by Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Sunshine Girl by Parade, I Could Be So Good To You by Don and the Goodtimes, Happy and I'm Back On The Street Again by the Sunshine Company, and Valleri and She Hangs Out by the Monkees, which weren't even released yet, but WDOT in Burlington, Vermont played those two songs even more than A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.
In fact, on the chart for the week of May 6th, 1967, both songs were number 3 and no one could buy them yet. Believe it or not, Valleri was the number 1song for the whole year of 1967 on WDOT, and still, no one could buy the song for another two months, and then it was a new and different version.
Anyway, you take care, and have a great weekend.
Sam Ward
“Guide For The Married Man” was a pretty fun movie for its time, chock full of cameos by major stars … kinda like “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” in that respect … but the song was a KILLER track that deserved a better chance to become a hit. (Inger Stevens, one of my favorite heart throbs from back in the day, was in the opening scene. The fact that we were supposed to believe for a second that she was married to Walter Matthau … and that he was thinking about cheating on her … just goes to show you how preposterous the whole premise was! Lol And did I mention the VERY quick boob side shot? I’m sure I did. Made a life long impression on me as a young, 13 year old boy!!!) This was a pretty risqué film for ’67!
The truth is, there was just such a WIDE diversity of music being released in 1967 … I think I appreciate it even more now than I did then. (Back in ’67, I didn’t want to listen to “Release Me” … or even “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” for that matter … I wanted the pop and rock hits!!!) But to think that all these songs could get played side by side with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and The Monkees and The Mamas and the Papas, all the great Motown music, country crossover hits … it was just a total melting pot of music back then. (I, for one, happen to really like “Here We Go Again,” a track that Ray Charles still had ties to his love for country music.)
“Valleri” topped our most requested list here for about six weeks ... Colgems REALLY missed out by not releasing this as a single at the time … it would have been an absolutely smash!
But this was true of MANY Monkees album tracks … “She Hangs Out,” “She,” “Mary Mary” and several others easily could have been Top Ten chart hits, giving them a much stronger hold on music history than they currently have. (But Record Of The Year … for “Valleri” … when you couldn’t even buy it?!?! Now that’s unheard of!!!)
Sounds like you’ve already got plenty to read … but when you get a chance be sure to check out our Boyce and Hart piece … you’ll really enjoy it … and learn the true and complete history of the song “Valleri.” (And then if that’s STILL not enough, read our exclusive interview with Bobby Hart, too!) kk
http://forgottenhits.com/the_music_of_tommy_boyce_and_bobby_hart
http://forgottenhits.com/forgotten_hits_interviews_bobby_hart
After 60 years there's finally an official video for "The Twist" by Chubby Checker. Watch it right now!
(If trying this at home, be sure to follow the instructions contained therein)
“The Twist” video was directed by Lucy Dawkins and Tom Readdy at Yes Please Productions
THIS IS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF "THE TWIST” GOING TO #1 ON BILLBOARD (FOR THE FIRST TIME)
Earlier this month we told you that "The Twist” by Chubby Checker first went to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles Chart this week in 1960. In celebration of this anniversary, ABKCO has prepped an official music video that is being launched today. It incorporates footage of Chubby’s October 21, 1961, appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show as “The Twist” reascended the charts, going back to #1 on the Hot 100 in January of 1962, a feat never equaled in the decades that followed.
ABKCO Records has announced a celebration of the 60th anniversary of “The Twist,” Chubby Checker and the legendary Cameo Parkway labels with commemorative releases September 25th. The definitive album Twist With Chubby Checker album has been remastered and will be made available for the first time on vinyl since the 1960s this September. The date dovetails with the 60th anniversary of “The Twist” having first reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 on September 24, 1960. A special 45 rpm 7” vinyl of “The Twist” with two B-sides will also be available along with the physical editions of the new, definitive Dancin’ Party: The Chubby Checker Collection (1960 – 1966) on both CD and LP. Dancin’ Party collects twenty-one tunes that includes seventeen Top 40 hits, twelve of which hit the Top 20; seven hit the Top 10 with two going to #1, including the pinnacle recording of “The Twist,” a single that two trips to the top.
Twist With Chubby Checker has also been remastered for a digital release, with the single for “The Pony” available immediately to stream and as an “instant grat” track with pre-orders of Twist With Chubby Checker.
CD versions of two other newly compiled Cameo Parkway sets, You Got The Power: Cameo Parkway Northern Soul 1964 -1967 and You Can’t Sit Down: Cameo Parkway Dance Crazes 1958 – 1964 are also being made available on September 25.
In summer of 1960 “The Twist” was released and first hit the Billboard chart on August 1st, sixty years ago this week. The tune raced to the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 on September 24th a matter of weeks later. Most remarkably, after the song was re-released in late 1961, it again arrived at the #1 spot on January 13, 1962, making “The Twist” the first record to occupy the #1 slot in two different run-ups, a feat unequaled to this day. The first release of the single in 1960 included “Toot” on the flip side and the 1961 version carried “Twistin’ USA” on its B-side. In recognition of that singular achievement the newly remastered version of “The Twist” EP includes both “Toot” and “Twistin’ USA.”
At the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Cleveland, a new class was inducted, this time in recognition of their respective impact on music and culture. First among these in terms of cultural and commercial transcendence was “The Twist” by Chubby Checker. Steven Van Zandt had the honor of inducting “The Twist,” recalling the song would, “along with The Pill, Hugh Hefner’s Playboy philosophy and Helen Gurley Browns’ ‘Sex and the Single Girl,’ be credited with starting the sexual revolution.”
When Billboard celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Hot 100 singles chart in 2008, “The Twist” was declared the number one song of that half century span. That designation was bestowed on the record again in 2013 and 2015 and, yet again, when The Hot 100’s 60th year was observed. Each time, “The Twist” held on to the top spot among over 27,000 individual titles by more than 7,500 artists. “The Twist” by Chubby Checker is in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame more than 20 years ago. In its own time, “The Twist” was recognized by the Recording Academy as the Best Rock & Roll Recording at the 1961 Grammy™ Awards.
Concurrent with the massive success of “The Twist,” Cameo Parkway became one of the industry’s most successful independent companies on par, in that era, with Motown. It accrued a vast artist roster with a strong emphasis on dance-oriented hits and its shares were even traded on the American Stock Exchange, a first for a record label. Checker’s initial follow-up, “Let’s Twist Again” was emblematic of this as were his many other dance floor and chart successes which are all collected on Dancin’ Party: The Chubby Checker Collection (1960 – 1966).
ABKCO’s September 25 Cameo Parkway releases:
Link to stream and order ABKCO’s Cameo Parkway and Chubby Checker releases out now: https://abkco.lnk.to/chubbychecker
Twist with Chubby Checker (Remastered) – vinyl and digital
1. Twistin' U.S.A.
2. The "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" Shimmy
3. The "C.C. Rider" Stroll
4. The Strand
5. The Chicken
6. The Hucklebuck
7. The Twist
8. The Madison
9. Love Is Strange Calypso
10. The Mexican Hat Twist
11. The Slop
12. The Pony
The Twist (Remastered) 7’’ EP and digital
1. The Twist
2. Toot
3. Twistin’ U.S.A.
Dancin’ Party - The Chubby Checker Collection: 1960 - 1966 – CD
1. The Twist **
2. The Hucklebuck
3. Pony Time **
4. Dance The Mess Around
5. Let's Twist Again **
6. The Fly **
7. Dancin' Party
8. Slow Twistin' **
9. Popeye The Hitchhiker **
10. Limbo Rock **
11. Let's Limbo Some More
12. Twist It Up (single version)
13. Birdland (single version)
14. What Do Ya Say!
15. Loddy Lo
16. Hooka Tooka
17. Hey, Bobba Needle
18. Lazy Elsie Molly
19. (At The) Discotheque
20. You Just Don't Know (What You Do To Me)
21. Hey You! Little Boo-Ga-Loo
**DENOTE CHARTS IN TOP TEN
OK, this is too funny …
The Doobie Brothers have issued a Cease and Desist Letter to comedian Bill Murray for using their song “Listen To The Music” in advertisements for his Zero Hucks Given golf shirts.
Murray (who certainly knows better) was reprimanded by the group’s attorneys in a much softer (and humorous) was than usual … but the bottom line is still to “Pay Up.” (I thought Donald Trump was the only one who felt he was above the law on these matters!)
FH Reader Tom Cuddy sent us this article … (I can’t wait to hear Bill Murray’s response!) All in all, some pretty clever and funny stuff … that still gets the point across …
Murray’s legal team DID respond on Saturday … with some clever usage of their own regarding song titles made popular by The Doobies … but this is no light-hearted affair. They did NOT offer to pay up … or pay ANYTHING in the way of royalties … instead offering to send some of their “least offensive” shirts to the members of the band. My hunch is this is far from over … and the tone will soon change. Watch for updates in our Minute By Minute reports. (kk)
We just got word that Tommy James is going to mention our Forgotten Hits article on “Brandy” / Mary Ellis on his Sirius / XM “Getting’ Together” program next Sunday (October 4th)
Tommy’s show runs from 5 – 8 pm (Eastern Time) and is ALWAYS jam-packed with good music and great memories from one of the most important and influential artists of the ‘60’s … who is STILL putting out great, brand new music today.
Be sure to tune in and listen if you’re a subscriber! (kk)
Joel Whitburn’s Record Research has another new book coming out this November.
Entitled “Rock Tracks, 1981 – 2020,” the book features every track to make Billboard’s Mainstream and Alternative Rock Tracks List for this 40 year period of time.
And, if you order now, you’ll save $15 before the November prepublication date.
https://www.recordresearch.com/books/rock-tracks-1981-2020/
This was a big week for anniversaries …
We already mentioned the debut of “The Partridge Family” on ABC Television (more on that next week) …
But it’s also the week that Led Zeppelin Drummer John Bonham died back in 1980 … the year The Beatles Cartoons started airing on ABC in 1965 …
… and three years since the final Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert. (How can that possibly be?!?!) kk
Best Classic Bands covers all of this in much greater detail here:
And, speaking of anniversaries, a brand new special, commemorative 50th Anniversary edition of Derek and the Dominoes’ “Layla” album will hit the streets on November 13th … and it looks pretty spectacular.
More details here:
And check this out …
Joey Molland and Badfinger have teamed with Rick Wakeman (!) to produce a brand new version of Badfinger’s first hit, “Come And Get It,” written by Paul McCartney and used in the Ringo / Peter Sellers film “The Magic Christian!”
More info (and a short streaming link) below. (kk)
Classic Rock Legends BADFINGER Team Up With The King Of Keyboards RICK WAKEMAN For A Very Special Rendition Of The Paul McCartney-Penned Hit “COME & GET IT!”
Joey Molland’s Badfinger has been experiencing quite the career revival recently with artists ranging from indie rock icon Matthew Sweet to Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson participating in exciting new versions of Badfinger’s extensive catalog of hits. And now comes one of the biggest hits Molland and company ever recorded - the Paul McCartney-penned pop classic “Come & Get It,” reinvented here with a superb contribution from famed piano/keyboard player Rick Wakeman! With Wakeman’s special touch, this tune takes on a whole new life with added melody and bounce, and although Badfinger guitarist/bassist Tom Evans originally sang lead on the 1969 version, Molland ably takes over vocal duties.
Stream the single: https://orcd.co/badfinger_rick_wakeman_come_and_get_it
You thought the Beatles vs 4 Seasons Vee Jay was odd?
You can click on pictures to expand front and back covers.
Hey Kent,
Just wanted to pass along some info to your reader, Bill Oakey, who was searching for some 60’s car songs. I don’t have a store-bought compilation CD, but if Bill can download songs, here are a few he has to include:
By Jan and Dean: “DRAG CITY,” “MY MIGHTY GTO,” and, of course, the “ANAHEIM, AZUSA, AND CUCAMONGA SEWING CIRCLE BOOK REVIEW AND TIMING ASSOCIATION”.
Also, don’t leave out the Ladies from the “car song” genre.
Susan Lynne’s “answer song” to “DEAD MANS CURVE” and “DON’T DRAG NO MORE” has to be included … and even Annette Funicello’s “DRAGGIN IN THE USA” would also qualify.
And finally, no list would be complete without my favorite car song of all time, “HOT ROD HIGH,” by the Hondells. The song is actually the B-Side of “LITTLE HONDA”.
Hope this helps.
Gary Maurer.
Anybody out there participate in Record Store Day yesterday?
Tom Cuddy reported a couple of weeks ago that this year vinyl music actually outsold physical CD’s!
And there are ALWAYS special edition vinyl releases for Record Store Day.
(Honestly, I don’t know that I’ll ever go back … I just can’t keep replacing everything again and again and again!) And for me, CD’s are SO much more durable and portable and easier to store.
FH Reader Robert Campbell ran an in-depth, hands-on report on the Kickapoo Festival fifty years ago.
I recently came across another web page report, so I’m sharing it here with you for anyone else interested in hearing more details.
It was called the “Incident at Kickapoo Creek,” a Memorial Day rock festival held in central Illinois 50 years ago, and an “incident” it surely was.
Who would have ever imagined a lineup with Canned Heat, B.B. King, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, Delaney & Bonnie, Country Joe and the Fish, plus dozens of local Midwest acts in a festival setting on a farm in central Illinois over a Memorial Day weekend May 30-June 1, 1970?
The late ’60s was the era of the rock festival. While the scene was waning by the turn of the decade, Illinois proved to be one of the last sites for a “major” festival to be held. It was Memorial Day weekend in 1970. Farmer David Lewis held the Kickapoo Creek rock festival on his private land in Heyworth, a small farm community in central Illinois, south of Bloomington.
Lewis, a 42-year old farmer/bail bondsman from the rural town with a population of around a thousand (if you counted all the cats, dogs, and chickens) decided to hold his own personal "Woodstock.” There was one slight difference. Woodstock was basically a ‘free concert.’ Lewis learned from this. He was not into the movement, he was into the money. The promoter was planning a three-day rock & roll festival on his 320-acre farm. At a cost of $20,000, Lewis pulled out corn and replaced it with grass around the staging area.
Upon getting wind of the festival plans, authorities feared littering, drug use and other concert fallout common to outdoor festivals. Illinois State Attorney Paul Welch, citing Lewis’ lack of sanitation plans, sought and got an injunction prohibiting the concert.
According to a story in the Peoria Journal-Star, “However, hours later, Lewis announced the event would go on, but with a twist: He instead would sponsor a cow auction, with animals sold to the accompaniment of music, namely, the same 30 bands,” also noting, “The event would serve as a celebration for his mother’s birthday.”
Lewis hired college freshman Irving Azoff from Champaign’s Blytham Talent to manage the rock festival. It was obvious even then that young Azoff was the only local band manager that could potentially create something of this magnitude successfully. The fact that he had 15 bands in his stable available to play the festival at a "reduced rate" didn’t hurt his chances, either. Included in his local line-up were Michael McDonald, (later of Doobie Brothers fame), Dan Fogelberg and REO Speedwagon.
Lewis hired a local motorcycle gang called the Grim Reapers to police the grounds.
The local State's Attorney served a court ordered injunction, outlawing the festival the day before the widely advertised event was to begin. By the time it was finally served, thousands of free-spirited hippie generation festival goers had already gathered in the community. Many didn't have much money let alone a place to sleep, and sought refuge. Residents of Heyworth awoke finding people asleep on their front lawns, on their porches, in their cars and tool sheds. The tide had hit Heyworth.
By Wednesday, 3,000 visitors already had set up camp, sparking a fledgling, multicolored sea of tents that a Journal-Star reporter likened to “a Hollywood panorama of a medieval army encampment.”
Authorities realized they didn’t have the manpower to stop an expected 10,000 people from streaming to the concert. But the crowd would get much bigger than anyone’s expectations. They had no choice but to let the festival go on.
Like so many of the festivals of the era it featured music, nudity, the open sale of drugs, and rainstorms that turned the farm into a muddy mess. Many of the town folks did not want the festival to happen and were stunned when 60,000 people showed up and lingered around the village after the fest was complete.
When it was all over, there was a warrant for the promoter’s arrest. The courts ordered Lewis to turn over the profits from the illegal event and seized his bank accounts. By then, the farmer had disappeared with his teenage secretary and two sleeping bags stuffed with cash, said to be as much as $250,000. He was never heard from again. Leaving his hometown, his wife and child, the family farm, and a one-year jail sentence behind. Lewis fled to the Bahamas and ultimately sought refuge in Canada where he was seen.
Ten years ago. in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the festival in 2010, filmmaker RC Raycraft produced the documentary film Incident at Kickapoo Creek.
“It’s been an investment,” Raycraft said, describing the film. “Ultimately, it’s the foggy memories and mysteries surrounding the festival that holds the fascination for generations of fans. To some, glorified images of a long lost festival weekend years ago. To others, the realities of a wanted fugitive, 60,000 filthy trespassers and a criminal case that to this day remained unsolved. Either way, as shown in the film, everybody involved with the illegal music festival remembers it more fondly as the years go by. “I was personally intrigued by the mysteries and scandals surrounding the festival... I wanted to find out what really did happen on the Lewis farm that weekend in 1970,” says Raycraft. “I did the principle interviews for the 25th anniversary as rookie film maker investigating an unsolved mystery. Fortunately, I directed and edited Kickapoo fifteen years later at forty. Let’s just say I’m a little more of a well-seasoned storyteller now than I was back then.” You can view the film’s trailer here https://youtu.be/amlSjRjPpYw
In addition to the film, Raycraft has produced a 137-page coffee table book about the rock festival. The book features photographs, newspaper clips, police reports and other assorted relics. “I think you get a better grasp of the history in the book,” said Raycraft in an interview in the Daily Pantagraph. “I did the book primarily as something to give back to the people who were involved with the project.” (The limited edition book seems to be long sold out and hard to find.)
In memory of the fest, Raycraft has produced a YouTube photo essay https://youtu.be/j7cG3IlQNh4 and there’s even a Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/IncidentAtKickapooCreek/
I found this on the Illinois Rock And Roll page while I was looking for something else. (kk)
Robert had this to say:
I am not familiar with this specific article, although I am familiar with every word and piece of information included in it. They are all in the two large binders that I accumulated over the years which started my research on the local rock festivals. When we started all this around the turn of the century there were five of us sharing information. A Yahoo Groups website was set up after that and accumulated a pretty large group of members who attended the festival. Via email I interviewed all of them as well as any band member I could dig up. We even had a 40th reunion set up in 2010 in conjunction with the Blooming Blues Festival. We had even contacted Canned Heat and Duke Tomatoe, who agreed to play. Unfortunately, that fell apart when the festival organizer passed away several months prior to the festival. Shortly after that, Yahoo contacted all of the members of the various groups and stated that unless we divulged our cell phone numbers that our memberships would be cancelled. Well, that was the end of that.
As to your specific article, I have all the information indicated in there as well as the DVD, etc. A lot of this information went into Raycaft’s efforts. Things then shifted from Yahoo to Facebook. For some reason I had an immediate adversity to Facebook when it came out and I “Don’t do Facebook”, which keeps me from watching some of the stuff posted on your site.
Robert
I don’t “do Facebook” either … and cannot view the majority of what readers send me. (I have a hard enough time keeping up with this!!! I’m on deadline for The Sunday Comments and just counted 45 more emails that I haven’t even opened yet!!!)
But any Facebook links I post are open to all … that’s the reason I do it … they’re “public pages.”
One of our readers (David Lewis) started a Forgotten Hits Facebook Page for us several years ago and was going to keep it up with some of our latest activities but it looks like it hasn’t been touched in years. (Hey David, is there a way to make Frannie the administrator of that page so she can make edits and updates? Again, I have absolutely NO idea how the whole Facebook thing works!) kk
HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
Hey, Kent ...
I received this from Pam a few days ago. Not much I could do, as I don't
fly much, and I never really paid much attention to what was on the PA system
at O'Hare.
She received this question from Maggie Aliotta, and I'm stumped.
I'm sure one of your thousands of readers out there will have some info (?)
Thanx in advance, for your help and to your
audience!
Mike
This has been driving me crazy for literally years ...
What radio station played over the system in O’Hare back in the 60’s or 70’s ... thought you may have a resource for that trivia question ... becuz one of my most wonderful memories of some great music and Dick Biondi’s voice came from my memory of the airport!!lol. We would go pick up my grandma or whoever we needed to at the time. The Fifth Dimension - Up Up & Away will forever be engraved in my soul as my experience being carried by my mom into that Ginormous place called O’Hare!!
Maggie Aliotta
Well, I’m going have to kick this one out to the readers because I don’t think I had ever even BEEN to the airport in the ‘60’s or ‘70’s!!! (Late bloomer I guess!)
If it was his actual radio show, I guess that could be any number of stations … WLS, WCFL, WIND, WBBM … depends if this was on during the day or at night … and if it was a live broadcast or material prepared exclusively for broadcast over the airport’s PA system, which has been done many times in the past. (This would likely be the case if you heard Dick on at various times during the day at repeated trips to the airport.)
Let’s see if we get any responses to this one! (kk)
Just found your site recommended by Pam Pulice.
I am looking for the aircheck of Jim Randolph with Cassius Clay together on WYNR with the "Rhime Off." I grew up in Chicago and moved to LA, where I hung out with Jim at KGFJ. He is missed by us all.
Thanks.
Stay well.
David Klayman
I’ll put this out there in the (unlikely) event that one of our readers happens to have access to this clip. (Boy, I sure do miss Reel Radio … they specialized in airchecks from all over the country … and from all eras.)
Let’s give it a shot and see if anything comes back. Thanks, David. (kk)
And, speaking of Pam Pulice, here’s one more reminder about the Dick Biondi Day videos now being posted on YouTube.
You can now check out all four hours of the birthday celebration! (kk)
Hello Friends!
Our virtual rock 'n' roll Dick Biondi Day celebration brought an outpouring of love and gratitude for our favorite deejay on his milestone 88th birthday! The incredible performances, special guests, airchecks from Dick's famous radio show, and other surprises brought happy memories at a time when we needed it! So many people made this day possible, including Scott Mackay of 95.9 The River and Hall of Fame DJ John Landecker who graciously co-hosted the 4-hour program with Joe Farina and me. Judging by the many birthday wishes from Dick's many friends in the entertainment biz, and from his fans who left messages on TheDickBiondiFilm and The Official Dick Biondi Film: The Voice That Rocked America Facebook pages, it was a very special day remembering an old friend who touched so many lives.
Now -- this
special program is available on our Facebook page AND on
Youtube!
Look under the "Video" tab on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheDickBiondiFilm/videos/?ref=page_internal
Look for the Dick Biondi Day playlist on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvhWhhmVUHnmorU9-L6Qx1Sv_ovhMc_Xx
Dick Biondi Day is now on the Official Dick
Biondi Film youtube Channel where you'll find Hours 1, 2, 3, and 4, plus
you can Meet the Folks Behind the Scenes, and Meet the Creative Team.
Here's the link:
The Official Dick Biondi Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhsoVUCQb4ZyVPbiJLDa7g
If you love radio, music, and Dick Biondi-- see ALL of our Playlists:
- Classic Biondi (clips of Dick at various stages of his career)
- The Rock & Roll Show with Pam & Joe (interviews with rock legends, actors, and entertainment insiders)
- Radio Memories (various DJs)
- Making of the Dick Biondi Documentary
- Chicago Music Scene Good Times Rock & Roll Fundraiser
- & more!
Be sure to subscribe to our channel to be
notified of new videos!
|
And one more final note from Pam … Hi everyone! I hope you were all able to watch the special Dick Biondi Day program to celebrate Dick’s 88th birthday. The response has been incredible! Thanks to all who participated, and my apologies if anyone was not able to due to time constraints. For those who were part of the group zoom call, I’m sorry your message to Dick was not part of the program. Due to the outpouring of birthday greetings and entertainment lineup, we just ran out of space. However, all of the videos have been uploaded to our special playlist on the Official Dick Biondi Film youtube channel, where they will remain. Please subscribe to our channel to be notified of new videos, and share it with people who will enjoy watching. I sent a personal message to Dick with the link to all the videos to watch at his leisure. I said, Dick, put on your headphones, grab a cuppa coffee, sit back and enjoy all the love coming your way. Again, to all of you, thanks for being so special and for your continuing support for the project! Love you all, Pam C’mon, folks, let’s help this nice lady get this film made!!! Click the “Donate” button above. EVERY donation helps push this film into production! (kk) Ray Graffia, Jr. and The New Colony Six closed the show for Dick Biondi’s Birthday Bash … (Man, I wish they could have played longer!!!) … but here’s the scoop on how and where to find the clip of their contribution: To any of you who may have an interest, here’s an eentsy gift …The following link takes you to a very brief (<15 minutes) virtual performance we shared for Dick Biondi's 88th birthday bash, back on 9-13.Just go to: https://lnkd.in/eURjghC.We closed the >4-hour event so only in at about the last 15 minutes or thereabouts ... not bad considering we've been sans rehearsals or performances over what has thus far been a forced 7+ month respite. Goodness knows how much longer the music will remain only available virtually ... sigh ...Be blessed, safe, healthy and happy, my friends!Ray |
OUR BRAND NEW TV THEMES POLL:
I hope you have a more enlightened “electorate” this time out.
“The Saint, not anywhere to be found … and “Route 66” didn’t make the top 50!
But yet there’s “Car 54 Where Are You” on that list amongst many other dubious choices.
Hopefully, people will vote for the musical value of the theme song this time, not because they liked the show!
Some on that list are really awful songs!
Bill Mulvihill
Oh, I don’t know about that …
Horrible as it may be, “Car 54, Where Are You” is a damn catchy tune … and a tough on to get out of your head … which is why so many people still remember it all these years later. I don’t know if one person out of a hundred could hum the theme from “The Saint.”
“Route 66” fared a little bit better … even if it didn’t make the final cut, over 100 people voted for it last time around. (My money says neither one of these tv themes will make the list this time either!) kk
Most theme music was disappointing, especially in the old Sci-Fy shows like Time Tunnel and Lost in Space.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how this goes!
--Jeff Duntemann K7JPD
Scottsdale, Arizona
I think you’re going to find some very memorable tunes in the final countdown. (And the good news is, even if you don’t like something, it’ll be over in a minute!!!) kk
Great response on Day One …
Already about 160 TV theme songs have been nominated …
And we’re up just over 2000 votes
So keep ‘em comin’, folks.
Vote for your All-Time Favorite TV Theme Songs by sending an email to tvthemes@yahoo.com …
And then watch for the results in November. (We’re still working on a radio tie-in, too!)
ANY TV Theme is eligible from any era … so get your votes in now! (kk)
And tell a friend or two … or twenty … or, as Chuck Buell suggested …
Spread the word ... (and not the Virus!) … and get out and vote!!!" (kk)
