Kent:
I’m saddened to share that Freddy Cannon lost the love of his life, wife Jeanette, 84, earlier this week from dementia, in Southern California. She had been ill for several years, which is why Freddy has been turning down all concert dates, so he could take care of her.
Freddy and Jeanette had been together since they were teenagers growing up in Boston. They proudly brought two sons and a daughter into the world and have several grandchildren. Funeral services are being planned.
Freddy and Jeanette made two big moves in their life, both at the invitation of Dick Clark. After Freddy’s first hit, Dick said, "Why not come to Philly so we can get you on American Bandstand more often," which they did.
Then when Dick moved Bandstand to LA, the same invitation was extended and the Cannons have been in L.A. since the 60s.
Jeanette was a big-hearted Italian lady with a huge smile. She often traveled the world with Freddy on tour, but only when she could fit it in around her responsibilities of being a wonderful mom.
Tom Cuddy
I was so sad to hear the news ... I know Freddy loved her dearly and always spoke of her.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jeanette when Freddy came to Chicago to do his show at The Arcada Theatre ... and spoke to her a few times on the phone both before and after that appearance. She was indeed a kind-hearted woman who truly loved her man. We wish Freddy the strength he needs during this difficult, difficult time.
If you would like to pass along your condolences ... or simply like to help boost the spirits of this great rock 'n' roller ... please send your wishes to me and I will be happy to pass them along.
Love ya, Freddy. (kk)
We also lost legendary singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson this past weekend. Kris had been ill for some time when he passed on Saturday, September 28th, at the age of 88.
It was as a songwriter that Kris gained his greatest noteriety ... Johnny Cash gave him his first big break when he recorded "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down."
Other hits for other artists followed, included the biggest, "Me And Bobby McGee," which went all the way to #1 for Janis Joplin shortly after she, too, had died. "For The Good Times" by Ray Price, "Help Me Make It Through The Night" by Sammi Smith and Kris' own "Why Me" all became country and pop standards over the years.
He famously starred opposite Barbra Streisand in her remake of "A Star Is Born" (a role she originally offered to Elvis.) Kris was also married to singer Rita Coolidge for seven years. (Coolidge often referred to Kristofferson as her "favorite ex-husband.")
When he teamed with Cash and Willie Nelson to form The Highwaymen, they became a Country Music Supergroup, often falling into that "outlaw country" banner with their friends. He will be missed. (kk)
On a much happier note, Jim Peterik brings his World Stage show to The Des Plaines Theatre this Wednesday Night (October 2nd.)This year's line-up features special guests David Pack (former lead singer of Ambrosia) and Ray Parker, Jr. (of Raydio and “Ghostbusters” fame)
Toby Hitchcock will also be onboard to perform songs by Pride Of Lions as well as Survivor … and there just might be another surprise or two as well.
This is the first time World Stage has appeared at The Des Plaines Theatre … and there are still plenty of great seats available for the show. Hope to see you there ... THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT ... at The Des Plaines Theatre! (kk)
https://desplainestheatre.com/event/jim-peterik-world-stage/
Speaking of great shows …
Kent –
I think I recall you mentioned you were attending one of the Jeff Lynne ELO shows at the United Center in Chicago this weekend. Just wanted to give you a taste of what to expect.
I am a huge ELO fan from the beginning and have enjoyed their shows in the 70's and the last one in 2019. I was desperate to see the band on this last "Over And Out Tour," but no shows were scheduled where I live in Florida. I figured a road trip was inevitable. I’m sure you likely heard a huge storm is supposed to hit Florida today so a few days ago I decided to get out of the state ... figured now was my chance to catch the group. Bought a couple of tickets for the Washington, DC, show at the Capital One Arena, quickly planned out a few other things and hit the road on Tuesday by car.
So, how was the concert?
Everything I had hoped for and more.
The sound was incredible, the light show was amazing, the band was top-notch and Jeff sang his ass off. 20 songs were played, lasting about 90 minutes. The second half was backlogged with all the hits, but the first part was great also. You will not be disappointed!!!
The icing on the cake was the opening band, Rooney. I had heard a little bit about this power pop band (my favorite genre), but I had no clue what to expect. Led by Robert Schwartzman, this group played eleven songs of delightful ear candy with wonderful catchy harmonies. Just outstanding! Do not miss them! You will be singing along with tunes you had never heard before.
What a way to start my road trip away from the hurricane. Touring Washington for a couple of days and then heading to Cleveland and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!
Enjoy the show!
Rich Turner
Largo, FL
.jpg)
The same day I received Rich’s email, I was directed to a review of this same Washington D.C. concert published in USA Today …
As for our take on all of this, we saw Jeff Lynne’s ELO show Saturday Night (September 28th)
at The United Center here in Chicago.
(We have been to his last three shows here … and just couldn’t pass up
his final goodbye) I believe Rooney was the
opening act for one of the other shows we saw here as well. (At the other show, Dhani Harrison, George's son, opened the show ... and then joined ELO to perform The Traveling Wilbury's "Handle With Care" ... it was great!)
Most of the reviews I’ve read seem to focus on how weak and frail Jeff Lynne looks on stage … and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the motivation for making one last trip around the globe to say goodbye …
But at the show we saw, Jeff was in FINE voice, strong as ever (and this after performing back-to-back concerts here.)
Once again, he has assembled perhaps the finest group of musicians ever to take the stage, many holdovers from his previous tours. The show is precision-timed to coincide with all of the special video and laser effects ... and executed to perfection, presenting an absolute spectacle of sight and sound.
Highlights?
None ...
But that's because the entire show was outstanding from start to finish ... simply put, there were no "lowlights."
(If I had to gauge by "fan favorites," based on the way the full-house audience reacted to particular tunes, I'd have to say that "Sweet Talkin' Woman," "All Over The World," "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Mr. Blue Sky" brought the longest and loudest standing ovation cheers.)
Jeff Lynne has given us SO much great music over the past six decades, both as a songwriter, recording artist and producer ... in fact, some of Lynne's production credits (including solo material by his Wilbury bandmates George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison ... as well as The Traveling Wilburys themselves) were played during the set change between acts ... a bit self-indulging, perhaps, but a reminder nevertheless as to what a tremendous influence he has had in helping to build the soundtrack to all of our lives. (kk)
.jpg)
Also this weekend we went to see the Paul McCartney and Wings film “One Hand Clapping” at The Marcus Theater in Addison.
Filmed over fifty years ago as a television special that never aired, we find McCartney in top voice and the band primed for success after Paul, Linda and Denny Laine essentially finished “Band On The Run” (unanimously declared as Wings’ best album ever) by themselves when the other band members left them in the lurch just prior to take off to Africa to record the LP at Ginger Baker’s studio.
The group recruited guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton to piece Wings back together again, prepping the band for world tours and more chart success. (This era falls nearly two years BEFORE the Wings Over America Tour!)
It's a fascinating look behind the curtain to watch the band rehearse and record past and future Wings hits like "Jet," "Maybe I'm Amazed," "My Love," "Bluebird," "Band On The Run" and "Live And Let Die."
But the films most dramatic and dynamic moment comes during their session for "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five" from "Band On The Run." We get to watch McCartney lay down the vocals (between puffs on a cigarette) and then assume the rock star / lead singer pose for the incredible, grand finale ... not something we're accustomed to seeing Paul do, as he was typically positioned behind a bass, a guitar or a piano when he performed. The moment is nothing short of electric ... thrilling and dynamic and a real tribute to his talent and his vision. It is an AMAZING piece of artistry. (The clip below doesn't do it full justice ... but it is all I could find that is currently available.)
The movie kicks off (and ends) with commentary from current-day Paul McCartney and loops in a bit of Macca solo in the "backyard" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios, doing an acoustic set of old '50's favorites.
I'm sure it'll be available on DVD and BluRay in no time (speaking of which, where the heck is "Let It Be"?!?!) and, if you don't get the chance to see it during this special, exclusive theater run, you'd do well to pick this one up. For my money, this just may be the best McCartney ever looked and sounded as a solo artist ... in some cases, these new vocals out-perform the ones he committed to wax some fifty years ago! (kk)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_LiEjIMhoc
Speaking of Paul McCartney, Forbes is reporting a Beatles resurgence on the British charts this week.
Sitting at #58 is their “From Us To You” EP from 1964, while the so-called “last Beatles single,” “Now And Then,” climbs from #33 to #21, several months after it was first released late last year. (No clue as to WHY these tracks have proven to be popular again after all this time … other than to say that I guess Beatlemania will never truly die. I mean, here they are, competing against the likes of Taylor Swift in 2024, described several times over as "the new Beatles," some SIXTY YEARS after America first discovered them!) kk
And, since we're spewing reviews, I should also point out that we FINALLY saw Leonid and Friends for Frannie's birthday back on September 14th at Chicago's City Winery ... and it was EVERYTHING one could hope it would be by a concert by this talented group of musicians.
Best known (initially anyway) for their spot-on, note-for-note covers of music by the rock group Chicago, Leonid and Friends have expanded their set now to include a variety of other horn-driven acts and beyond. As such, the highlights of this show, for me anyway, were their live renderings of "So Very Hard To Go" by Tower of Power, "One Fine Morning" by Lighthouse, "Superstar" (!?!?!) by The Carpenters and the best version of "My Old School" by Steely Dan that I have ever heard ... and that includes both Steely Dan's original recording as well as their own live performance opening for The Eagles earlier this year. Simply outstanding. (It SHOULD have been their closing tune ... as NOTHING they could have possibly played after it would or could have topped this performance.) As for their Chicago material, "Searchin' So Long" stood out as exceptional for me. (Their version of Earth, Wind and Fire's "After The Love Has Gone" was also quite outstanding.)
Definitely go see these guys if they're appearing in your area ... you will be totally blown away by the sound their are able to achieve in a live setting. (kk)
Last Wednesday was National One Hit Wonders Day … so Ultimate Classic Rock ran their list of Top 40 One Hit Wonders favorites again … a solely subjective list of staff favorites with no rhyme or reason to any chart support back-up that would tell you how they arrived at this ranking, inaccurate as it is.
You can read their list of “favorites” here: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/one-hit-wonders/?lh_aid=1113205&lh_cid=sq2wxinnfb&utm_campaign=40_biggest_one_hit_wonders&utm_medium=email&utm_source=letterhead&utm_term=ultimateclassicrock&di=98cc979f733dbbf42cd09a4ad8791eff
And then compare it to the list Rich Appell put together several years ago for Forgotten Hits … which actually DOES take into consideration just how well these songs actually performed on the charts: https://forgottenhits.com/top_100_one-hit_wonders
Meanwhile, Billboard Magazine takes a look at their staff picks for The Top 100 Songs About The Music Industry …
From our Forgotten Hits Wardrobe Coordinator, Chuck Buell!
At the recently concluded Spring and Summer 2025 Milan Fashion Week ~~~
"Tailored shirts and suits were displayed permanently wrinkled creating a look as though they had been left in the washing machine too long when wet!" ( True! )
Once again your Fashion Plate, Me, was ahead of the curve.
I sometimes wore a similar look in College after a late night!
( This also kinda makes wearing
Tan Shoes with Pink Shoelaces, a Polka Dot Vest
and
a Big Panama with a Purple Hat Band not such a
bad fashion choice afterall! )
CB ( which stands for "Coordinated Boy!" )
More from Jim Roup …
Thanks very much for running these unseen, vintage photos of mine.
Here are a few more, featuring artists you have mentioned recently in Forgotten Hits …
Tina Louise at Spago ...
Hanging out with Bob Denver and Russell Johnson at producer Sherwood Schwartz birthday party ...
And let's not forget Dawn Wells, seen at The Pantages Theater in Hollywood ... and Jim Backus with his wife Henny, arriving at Chasen's.
Dave Mason with Leigh Taylor-Young, looking formal at Chasen's and informal at House of Blues on Sunset.
And this just in ...
I caught Kris Kristofferson and his baby boy at House of Blues on the Sunset Strip
