Ed Ames passed away last Sunday (May 21st) ... he was 95 years old.
Ames hit Billboard's pop chart 44 times with his brothers between 1948 and 1963 ... and then nine more times as a solo artist between 1965 and 1969. The Ames Brothers' biggest hits included "Rag Mop" (#1 , 1960), "Sentimental Me" (#3, 1950), "You You You" (#2, 1953) and "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane" (#3, 1955). Ed was the last surviving member of the popular 1950's quartet. His solo hits, "My Cup Runneth Over" and "Who Will Answer," both released in 1967, made Billboard's Top 20.
While still enjoying a successful singing career, Ames branched off into acting. His starring role on Broadway as the (not really) mute Indian mental patient in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" in 1963 led to his landing the role of Mingo on the television series "Daniel Boone." However, his MOST famous moment in the spotlight occurred on April 29th, 1965, when he appeared on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" and demonstrated the proper way to throw a tomahawk. This classic bit, shown countless times in the years since, was television gold. (kk)
I guess I can admit that the world has changed for the better in SOME ways ...
Check out these new Little Golden Books titles now available for kids ...
Wow. What a day this has been. We lost an icon. ;-(
But on a happier note, we had a great crowd at the Des Plaines on
Sunday! The latest tweaks made by Pam to the Dick Biondi film were on the
mark, and the final product is going to be a winner! Can't wait
until it hits the theaters and TV. All it takes is a bit more funding ...
we hope that more fans will help us out so we can get it out there quickly.Thanks again to all the great Biondi fans who
have been supporting this project!
I believe Pam has included a small piece where you were talking about music in
the film ... I don't remember the circumstance, but I did notice that you're in
the film twice.
I also got a look at all the great photos that were taken at the screening,
taken by photographer Jim Summaria.Here
are just some some great pix for the premier screening event ...
Mike
Dean Milano and me at the event
Ray Graffia, Jr. also sent me a bunch of photos taken by John Matuk at The
Cornerstones Of Rock show held at The Egyptian Theater down in DeKalb earlier this month.(Ironically, we passed right by
it on our way down to Kansas City last weekend!)
How is it possible that I haven't been to a Cornerstones show in over five years?!?!?!??
The guys'll be back at The Des Plaines Theatre on Sunday, July 16th ... and, as always, you can expect to see quite a show.
Ray Graffia, Jr. and Ronnie Rice of the hit-making New Colony Six,
along with Jim Peterik of The Ides Of March, who backed up all of the acts
that night except the self-contained Buckinghams!
Tom Doody and Jim Pilster of The Cryan' Shames
The aforementioned Ides ... (BEWARE!) ...
And, of course, The Buckinghams closed the show!
(with Tommy Scheckel back where he belongs ...
drumming for The Bucks!)
An All-Star Cast of Chicagoland Hit Makers!
It was wonderful! Arrived super early and drove all over campus. Sadly,
photo ops for my residence, Douglas Hall, were missed because they tore
it down, so hung around the Egyptian during set-up. Had my clothes on
the lower level, had my white
shirt disappear but nothing else, waited, waited, waited and did the
show.
I have a bunch of pics to share, taken by John Matuk, if you’d like to see them!
Love ya, man … as well as the family, plus, of course, FH ...
and thanks as always for your support!
Ray
The New Colony Six have a gig with The Grass Roots ON MY BIRTHDAY at The Des Plaines Theatre coming up in August ... so you may want to check that one out as well when you go online to purchase your Cornerstones tickets. (It'll be a nice chance to hear them play a wide array of their hits beyond the two or three songs they're allotted within the Cornerstones framework!) kk
Isn’t this the most awesome looking T-Shirt???
(I just bought two of them!!! lol)
It’s all in celebration of the 45th anniversary
of the release of this legendary Moody Blues album … and is being sold in
conjunction with John Lodge’s upcoming tour.(Coincidently, Justin Hayward is ALSO out on tour right now.)
In John’s own words:
The Octave sessions were the first album we recorded outside
of England. During the sessions the Record Plant, where we were recording, burnt
down and so we moved to Indigo Ranch in Malibu ... during the worst floods in
Californian history! We had moved to Brentwood for these recording sessions and
were living in a house that had a basement, and I would write in there. I wrote
the intro to Slide Zone on a red Gibson SG which was previously owned by Mott
the Hoople, and was a guitar Chris Spedding played on Natural Avenue. To add
more mystery, I broke my arm during the recording sessions and had to have it
set so I could play my bass. I think all these incidents cemented
Steppin’ in a Slide Zone in my psyche.
To me, Slide Zone says don’t go on an erratic journey
chasing dreams that you already have. The Octave album went platinum, and
Steppin in a Slide Zone, the first single since ‘I’m Just a Singer in a Rock
and Roll Band’ in 1973, became a hit record. I love opening my concert with
this song because of the energy it creates between me and the audience, and the
audience back to me, and it reminds me who I am."
- John Lodge
John is also performing the entire “Days Of Future Passed” album
live on stage during this tour … sounds like a winner!
Several chances to see him in July (including FIVE
dates in Illinois!!!)
7/11 and 7/12 - Widley Theatre in Edwardsville,
IL
7/14 – Adler Theatre in Davenport, IA
7/15 – The Copernicus Center in Chicago, IL
7/16 – Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, IL
7/18 – The Coronado Performing Arts Centre in
Rockford, IL
7/19 – Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, WI
7/21 – Royal Oak Music Theatre in Detroit, MI
7/23 – Paramount Theatre in Denver, CO
7/25 – Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ
7/26 – Fox Theater in Tucson, AZ
7/28 – Smith Center in Las Vegas, NV
7/29 – Fred Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks, CA
And, in the interest of equal time, here are Justin
Hayward’s upcoming tour dates(You’ll find Christopher Cross appearing on several of the US
dates):
CANADIAN DATES:
5/28 – Danforth Music
Hall in Toronto, Ontario
5/29 – Showplace Performance
Centre in Peterborough,Ontario
5/30 – Regent Theatre
in Oshawa, Ontario
6/1 – Kingston Grand
Theatre in Kingston, Ontario
US DATES:
6/3 – Del Lago Resort
and Casino in Waterloo, NY
6/4 – The State Theatre
in State College, PA
6/10 – Sound Waves at
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (with Christopher Cross) in Atlantic City,
NJ
6/11 – The Wellmont
Theater (with Christopher Cross) in Montclair, NJ
6/13 – The State
Theatre Center for the Arts (with Christopher Cross) in Easton, PA
6/14 – The Paramount
(with Christopher Cross) in Huntington, NY
6/16 – Lowell Memorial
Auditorium (with Christopher Cross) in Lowell, MA
6/17 – Lynn Memorial
Auditorium (with Christopher Cross) in Lynn, MA
6/18 – Hanover Theatre
(with Christopher Cross) in Worcester, MA
6/20 – Dominion Energy
Center in Richmond, VA
6/21 – Rams Head On
Stage in Annapolis, MD
6/22 – The Birchmere in
Alexandria, VA
6/24 – American Music
Theatre (with Christopher Cross) in Lancaster, PA
6/25 – Keswick Theatre
(with Christopher Cross) in Lancaster, PA
Speaking of concerts, it sounds like John Mellencamp's
been losing his shit at a few of his recent appearances.
Now
I get it ... from BOTH perspectives ...
John's
got a brand new album out and he wants to introduce it to people ... which
means he wants them to pay attention and listen to it ...
So
he's been doing some more "intimate" shows of late to try and
present it in the proper manner ...
But
by the same token, fans who are buying tickets to his shows want to hear the
hits ... and NOT John rambling on about politics for five or ten minutes
between songs. (And what's the deal with making your audience sit thru a 30
minute pre-show film???A bit
self-indulgent, no?)
Anyway, according to the "Cleveland
Scene," Mellencamp went so far as to post signs in the lobby of Playhouse
Square where he was performing earlier this week that stated “This show
respects theater etiquette.”Explaining the sign early in his show, Mellencamp told his audience "I
don't like people screaming from the fucking audience."He later threatened to cut the performance
short if they didn’t “shut the fuck up,” going on to say "Listen, you
guys ... if these people don't shut the fuck up, I'm just going to leave, OK?Because I'm not used to this crap. Look,
guys, if I wanted to play in this type of drunken environment, I'd play
outside or I'd play in an arena."
Apparently after Mellencamp started to criticize
The United States on issues previously addressed in some of his music
regarding homelessness and gun control between songs (all valid points and concerns ... but probably NOT something that people necessarily want to pay money for to get preached to about), one of the audience
members yelled to the stage “Play the fucking music!,” which is what set
Mellencamp off on his rant.(Reportedly, during an earlier performance this year in Grand Prairie,
Texas, Mellencamp told the crowd, right before his mid-show acoustic set, "This
is the quiet part, so keep your fucking mouth shut.")
The 71 year old cranky old man is near the end of a
76 date tour that began in February and wraps up next month on June 24th
in South Bend, Indiana. If you've got tickets to any of his remaining shows, you'd better bring your boxing gloves ... because we all know that John likes to fight authority (even though authority always wins.) kk
I don't doubt you may have heard about
this but if not ~~~
While some Automakers have walked
back their plans to stop offering AM Radios in their cars, other
makers are still standing by their decision to NOT have them for
you!
Interestingly, an old AM Radio Air
Personality Friend and I were riding along in my car just the other
day when he tried to tell me about that.
But I missed what he had to say because
just then we drove under a bridge and I couldn't hear him
talk!
CB!
Another member of Beatle folklore has passed away …
SF Garage
Rock Legends FLAMIN’ GROOVIES Release Vintage Live Album, Share A
Sneak Peak!
Out of all
of the bands that burst forth from the immensely fertile ‘60s Bay
Area musical soil, the Flamin’ Groovies were undoubtedly one of the
most unique. Formed in San Francisco in the mid-‘60s by guitarist
Cyril Jordan, vocalist Roy Loney, and bassist George Alexander, the
band combined straight ahead guitar –driven rock and roll, with
garage rock and a bit of vaudeville thrown in for good measure.
During the
seventies, after Roy Loney left and was replaced by lead singer Chris
Wilson, the band changed its direction, being more greatly influenced
by the Beatles and the Byrds, and becoming one of the foremost
purveyors of what soon became known as “power pop”. They
released three classic albums on Sire Records, two of which were
produced by Dave Edmunds. Like many of their Bay Area counterparts,
the Groovies truly shone in a live setting where Jordan and company
could truly display their brand of high energy rock and roll. The
release of live recordings of the band has always been, and continues
to be, a cause for great celebration.
Coming
this July 7th, Flamin’ Groovies will be releasing “Rockin’ the
Roundhouse”, a killer live album of vintage recordings from live
shows in London in 1978 and 1976 that show exactly why this band
maintains its fervent fanbase. The set includes not one but two
performances of the Groovies’ most well-known song, “Shake Some
Action”, along with “Don’t Put Me On”, “Sometimes,” “Between the
Lines” and a superb cover of The Beatles’ “Please Please Me,” which
fans can stream today!
As a
special bonus, the CD version of Rockin’ The Roundhouse includes two
bonus tracks, a hip new mix from internationally acclaimed modern
retroists The Courettes as well as an alternate studio version of
hugely popular "Slow Death!"
1960’s Hitmakers The Classics IV Release New Single “Your
Turn!”
There is
not a day that goes by that hits by The Classics IV are not heard on
the radio somewhere in the world! Songs like “Spooky” and “Stormy”
have permeated the airways for over 50 years! And now The Classics IV
is back with a new single “Your Turn!”
Says lead
singer Tom Garrett, “The Classics IV has a strong history of hits
with songs like ‘Spooky,’ ‘Stormy’ and ‘Traces (of Love).’ The idea
of a new song like ‘Your Turn’ is to stay relevant. Not just resting
on the past but looking forward with new music and new opportunities.
I don't know if there is a direct concept for this song. To us it's a
little old school, a little country and hopefully a little
contemporary.”
The band
recorded “Your Turn” with their great friend, Grammy Award winner
Eric Nelson at his Eclipse Studio in Normal, Illinois. Eric is a
master at his craft and his studio is top notch recording without
having to travel.
Says Tom,
“I guess the message in the song should be perfect for just about
everyone. We have all fallen in love and gotten burned at one time or
another. No matter who you are ‘Sooner or later, you’ll get your
turn.’”
Coming up
this summer The Classics IV are excited to be part of the Happy
Together Tour. They will do about 60 shows all across the country.
This their 4th time on the tour and it is great fun for the artist
and the audience alike!
The
Classics IV, one of the most popular and influential pop groups of
the 60s and 70s, originated in Jacksonville, Florida. They achieved
phenomenal success with hits “Spooky,” “Stormy,” “Traces,” and
“Everyday With You Girl,” all of which sold well over a million
copies and were awarded gold and platinum discs by the Recording
Industry of America. All four hits appeared in the 1977 film
“The Chicken Chronicles” in addition to various other movie
soundtracks including the hit HBO Series “Six Feet Under.”
By the
1970s The Classics IV accumulated a total of 16 Billboard chart hits,
solidifying them as a hit-making pop group and crediting The Classics
IV with the development of “Southern Soft Rock.” To date The Classics
IV have recorded 17 albums including “Spooky,” “Lil Bit of Gold”
“Traces” and “Golden Greats.” In 1993 The Classics IV were
inducted into The Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
The
Classics IV popularity is stronger than ever performing in a variety
of venues to rave reviews and receiving back-to-back invitations to
join the hugely popular Happy Together Tour. The group continues
captivating audiences with their professionalism, good humor, and
ingratiating personalities. In 2011 The Classics IV returned to the
studio with the release of their album, “A New Horizon,” blending the
old with the new. 2015 saw the first ever “Live Album” with the
release of “One Stormy Night – The Classics IV Live At The Ritz” and
in 2020 the group received great reviews and airplay with the first
ever Christmas release “All I want For Christmas Is You.”
I have to admit that I have been thoroughly enjoying Pat Boone's new radio show on Sirius XM's '50's Gold Channel ...
Pat is very entertaining ... and a great storyteller ...
I've only happened upon it a couple of times now ... but literally couldn't turn it off ... it was just so much fun to listen to.
All this from a guy who was there ... and definitely knows a thing or two about what things were like for a pop star at the dawn of the rock and roll era.
According to the website, Pat's show airs Saturdays at noon Sundays at noon Tuesdays at Thursdays at
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