April 2nd, 1965

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

4/2/65 – Now international pop stars, Freddie and the Dreamers record “Do The Freddie”  (The dance craze never really catches on - it is essentially what we in grade school at the time referred to as "Jumping Jacks!!!")

April 1st, 1965

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

4/1/65 – Rodney King is born … 

On March 3rd, 1991, he will be beaten nearly to death by Los Angeles policemen in a case that was broadcast around the world.   

When three of the four police officers who took part in the beating were acquitted of the charges the following year (a decision couldn't be reached on the fourth officer), riots broke out in Watts and continued for the next six days, leaving 63 dead and nearly 2400 others injured.

A civil rights case was initiated in 1993, this time finding two of the police officers guilty of using excessive force.  (The entire incident was filmed from the balcony of his nearby residence by George Holliday ... and the video was broadcast repeatedly on national news reports thereafter.)  King was ultimately awarded $3.8 Million in damages in a separate civil lawsuit in 1994.

King accidentally drowned in 2012.

A Monday Morning Quickie

After we heard the exciting news that Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings were getting back together again to do a new tour next year, featuring not only their Guess Who hits but also selections from each of their solo careers (including Randy's BTO stuff), I have to admit that I just can't wait to see it!!!  (As previously mentioned, Frannie got us 2nd Row Seats for their 2020 show that was ultimately cancelled due to Covid.)

Randy is talking about doing a 30 song, 2 1/2 hour show ... and now that they own the Guess Who name, fans will get to see the REAL geniuses behind all of this great music.

Here's a brief clip of one of their earliest previous reunions, circa 1977, from a Canadian TV special ...

Stripped down to just its bare essence ... and then beautifully executed

Watch all the way to the end to see a vintage clip of The Guess Who performing a send-up of an old 50's rock and roll classic!  (kk) 

The Sunday Comments ( 03 - 30 - 25 )

Billy Joel will be the subject of a two-part documentary airing on HBO/Max later this summer.  Titled “And So It Goes,” the series promises to provide:

“An expansive portrait of the life and music of the superstar musician, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting. With unprecedented access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews, the documentary intimately explores the life and work of Joel, whose music has endured across generations.

“For those who think they know Joel’s story, as well as those who are not as familiar, this two-part film is both a revelation and a surprise. Viewers will be drawn to his story and astounded at how autobiographical his songs are and how complex his story is. We are gratified that Bill trusted us with his story, which we have told as honestly as possible, diving into territory which has not been explored before.”

Tom Hanks is listed as an executive producer, as are actor Sean Hayes, Gary Goetzman, Todd Milliner and Steve Cohen.

Joel is currently sidelined from his tour, having to miss eight concert dates due to surgery.  He is scheduled to resume the tour on July 5th in Pittsburgh.  (kk)

When Yolanda Saldívar was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Latin music superstar Selena in 1995, she was promised the possibility of parole 30 years later.

That 30 years is now … and last Thursday (March 27^th), Saldívar was denied parole by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

In an official statement, The Texas Board posted on its website:

“After a thorough consideration of all available information, which included any confidential interviews conducted, it was the parole panel’s determination to deny parole to Yolanda Saldivar and set her next parole review for March 2030.  The reason provided by the panel for denial was the Nature of the Offense: The record indicates that the instant offense has elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim’s vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others, such that the offender poses a continuing threat to public safety.”

Selena’s family, along with the late star’s widower, Chris Pérez, issued a statement of their own just after the board announced its decision:

“Today, we are grateful that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has chosen to deny parole for Yolanda Saldívar.  While nothing can bring Selena back, this decision reaffirms that justice continues to stand for the beautiful life that was taken from us and from millions of fans around the world far too soon.”  (kk)

>>>Our condolences go out to all the fans who THOUGHT they were seeing Kiss’ final live performance back in December of 2023.  They just booked a new series of shows in Las Vegas, scheduled to take place in November of this year.  Kiss (featuring Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer and Bruce Kulick) will perform (sans make-up) on the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th of November at The Virgin Hotels in Vegas.  Interestingly enough, Kiss sold the rights to their name, their likeness and all of their music as part of the avatar deal … so I’m not quite sure how they’re getting away with this legally … but it’s more the MORAL angle that I take issue with.  Duping and deceiving your life-long fans is never a good thing … and now asking them to shell out big bucks to come see you AGAIN is really a bit despicable in my mind.  (kk)

You're kidding on Kiss, right? The avatar deal made them millions, and could very easily allow them to license their former "I.P." back from Pophouse any time they wanted! Everybody wins...

Bob Frable

I'm not so sure about "everybody" ...

It still sucks for all the fans who bought into the big goodbye -

and are now being targeted for expensive Las Vegas packages to see them yet again - only without make-up this time

(Maybe that's part of the deal??? They can't LOOK like Kiss??!?!)

I'm not so sure ... but the whole marketing strategy is to the so-called "Kiss Army" ... their legion of loyal fans who have already paid ONCE to see their farewell performance.  Sorry, but this sounds like a major money grab to me.)  kk 

 

Hello Kent,

I just finished listening to Fred Winston Part 2 on Rewound Radio and absolutely loved it.  Fred has always been one of my favorite radio personalities.  Unfortunately, I missed Part 1 last week as I was on a cruise in Asia.  If you happen to know of anyone who recorded part one, could you send it to me using a link on Google drive?  Or I can send you a link to mine and you can drop it there.  It saddens me that I missed part one, but you are my only hope of hearing it.  I thank you for everything you do for all of us fans of "Forgotten Hits" who absolutely love the work you do for us keeping our memories alive.

Bill Tietz

Euless, Texas

I don't personally have a copy ... but am putting it out to the list to see if we can snag you a copy.

The entire program was EXTREMELY well done ... kudos to everyone involved.  I have ALWAYS loved Fred Winston ... and felt that he sometimes didn't get his fair shake when it came to his contributions to great Chicago radio.  He was always one of the best ... consistently entertaining ... and just seemed to be having so much fun doing it.

Once before, Rewound posted a link where you could listen to their Larry Lujack tribute for about a week after it aired ... but it doesn't sound like they have any plans to do so with this one ... 

But don't give up hope ...

The folks on our list LOVE these kinds of programs ... and I'm sure SOMEBODY out there has a copy of Part One that they'd be willing to share.  Stay tuned!  (kk)

kk …

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?

Forest Hills Stadium (Queens, N.Y.) vs. Neighbors = Concert Noise Level Too High.

It’s A 13,000 Seat Open Air Venue.

Concert History = Bob Dylan + Aretha Franklin + Harry Belafonte + Beatles.

They Claim Noise Is So Bad Some Have Sold Their Houses & Moved.

If It Can't Be Settled In Court, They Might Have To Cancel 15 Summer Concerts.

FRANK B.

If their concert history dates back this far, this can’t be something NEW that they’re dealing with (regarding the noise level) … it’s had to have been going on for DECADES!

I did a little bit of research and found a New York Times article that says the venue goes thru this ritual every year with complaints from their neighbors … but issued the statement that “Forest Hills Stadium is moving forward with our 2025 concert schedule as planned and our permitting timeline is on its standard schedule.”

The stadium was built in the 1920’s and began holding music concerts in the 1960’s … but shut down for years due to falling to disrepair.  Then, in 2013, after extensive renovations, the stadium (which seats 13,000) began holding concerts again.  Complaints from neighbors have been par for the course ever since … although at first, neighbors seemed a bit more tolerant when there were only a few concerts per year, the venue has now gone to a full blown summer schedule … and the folks that live there are tired of the, the littering, the loitering and the general congestion that these events cause.  One neighbor in the Times article said, “My hope is that there is a resolution, but the resolution has to respect this neighborhood and the residents of this neighborhood. I love the concerts. I do want to see them continue.”  I guess time will tell … concerts are scheduled to begin on May 31^st and run thru October.  (kk)  

The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre hosting The Kinks through April.

www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/sunny-afternoon/

Ken Voss

I don't know about you, but I ALWAYS thought about Shakespeare when I listened to The Kinks!!! (say what?!?!)  Anyway, check out this clip ... it actually looks pretty cool!  (kk) 

Also from Ken ...

It's baseball season ...

Back in 1993, the American Breed did "Rock with the Sox" (Pumpkin 90393) 1993 cassette-only release

“Rock with the Sox” https://youtu.be/LT8ioUL-vps

A 1974 Cat Stevens concert in Japan is being released on May 2^nd.  Previously released as part of Record Store Day last November, it will now see wide release on CD.  Tracks include “Wild World,” “Oh Very Young,” “Sitting,” “Where Do The Children Play?,” “Lady D'Arbanville,” “Another Saturday Night,” “Hard Headed Woman,” “Peace Train,” “Father & Son,” “King of Trees,” “A Bad Penny” and “Bitterblue​.”  (kk)

And from Clark Besch …

49 string guitar???

Have you heard about this guy?

I saw this amazing story this week in my old hometown of Dodge City, Kansas' newspaper!

With this guy's guitar, I think the band BOSTON could be a solo act!

How?????  WHY????  Would you like to see him play the rock songs listed!

Here he is on 49 strings guitar playing Michael Jackson bit, but he makes it all his own:

Kent,

Towards the end of today's FH, the word biscuit was brought up. Reminded me of just two records that were played here in the OKC area. Don't know if you are familiar with them. The first was Oklahoma's own Gene Sullivan doing PLEASE PASS THE BISCUITS on Columbia from 1957. My dad always loved that song. And the final one was a novelty record from 1960 called THE BIG TIME SPENDER by a group known as Cornbread & Biscuits on the Maske record label which made our local survey. Incidentally, Gene Sullivan was half of the singing duo, Wiley and Gene. Sullivan had his own recording studio here in the city for many years.

Larry

Here's a cool clip …

Here's a recently posted clip of George Harrison, 1992, doing his Beatles classic with new words.  After all, the Taxman is coming for you and I SOON! 

"If you get ahead, I'll tax your hat — if you get a pet, I'll tax your cat — if you wipe your feet, I'll tax your mat — if you're overweight, I'll tax your fat ..."

He doesn't do the heavy lifting on the guitar solos but still great to hear/see him.

Clark Besch

Keep in mind that Paul played the lead on the record, too … maybe George just never bothered to learn it!  (lol)  

Cool clip … and he looks good … much better than he did in the Anthology series (but I think he was probably pretty sick by that point.)  I wonder what this was for … and where’s the rest of it?!?!?  (kk)

Noise 11 has a cool story about the time that Christopher Cross subbed for Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple!!! (Yes, you read that right!)

https://www.noise11.com/news/fun-fact-christopher-cross-once-filled-in-for-ritchie-blackmore-in-deep-purple-20250327

More great shots from Jim Roup …

March 26th Birthday 🎂 greetings to Diana Ross at a Motown gathering at Drai's.

Steven Tyler attends daughter Liv's movie premiere with Mark Hudson in the background.

Martin Short at a Hollywood event

From Frank B …

For Your Next This And That Segment …

Barry Jenkins To Direct Zendaya In Ronnie Spector Biopic "BE MY BABY"

June Carter Cash To Join Country Music Hall Of Fame This Year.

FB

We love these dance videos ... and this is a good one ...

Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth rockin' and rollin' to Led Zeppelin, like you've never seen them before.  (I just LOVE when the band comes in to kick this sucker off!)  kk