Here’s some GREAT news …
Billy Joel made a surprise, unannounced return to the stage this past week, making his first live performance since cancelling his tour after revealing his brain disorder diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
The event took place on January 2nd at the Wellington Amphitheater in Florida during a celebration commemorating the village’s 30th anniversary.
Ironically, it was during a performance by the Billy Joel tribute band, Turnstiles, that Joel took the stage. (He owns property in the Wellington area.) While his appearance was rather informal, Billy performed both “We Didn’t Start The Fire” and “Big Shot.” His wife Alexis Roderick was there as well as their daughters Della and Remy, who danced alongside him as the crowd cheered and chanted his name. (Joel’s popularity soared again this year after HBO ran a two-part, five hour documentary profiling his incredible career.)
“I wasn’t planning on working tonight,” he joked to the audience. The performance marked his first time back onstage since February of 2025. (He announced he had been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a condition caused by a build up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that can affect balance, vision, hearing and cognitive function in May, at which time he cancelled all of his remaining scheduled concerts for 2025 and 2026, some of which involved major stadium dates in which he would have shared the stage with either Sting, Rod Stewart and/or Stevie Nicks. Shows were booked throughout the United States and the United Kingdom and as of yet, nothing has been rescheduled.) Under medical advice, Joel began a program of physical therapy and was instructed to refrain from live performance while his condition was being managed.
No mention of any other shows or warm-ups were made … at this point, he seems committed to following his doctors’ advice and completing the necessary therapy. Still, the fact that he was able to get back up there and do even just two songs is pretty encouraging … and the reaction is proof that the fans still love him and want him to make a full recovery so he can hit the road again. (kk)
Now how cool is this?!?!?!
We've given a fair amount of press recently to the new Rolling Stones "mini single" issued to commemorate the 60th anniversary of "Satisfaction."
Well now comes word that MORE Rolling Stones mini-singles are on there way ...
As well as an actual player to play these things!!!
From Bob Merlis ...
Crosley Radio Unveils Exclusive Rolling Stones RSD3 Mini Turntable and 3” Records for Record Store Day 2026
Limited-Edition Release Includes Six Iconic Singles in Reproduced Original Picture Sleeves
Crosley Radio is celebrating its 18th year as a founding sponsor of Record Store Day with the launch of the The Rolling Stones RSD3 Mini Turntable, a collectible turntable that channels the legendary energy of The Rolling Stones. Available at participating record stores on Record Store Day, April 18th, 2026, this limited-edition release is a must-have for collectors and music fans alike.
Small, bold, and unapologetically rock ’n’ roll, The Rolling Stones RSD3 Mini Turntable comes with a matching storage crate that holds up to sixteen 3-inch records and showcases exclusive Rolling Stones artwork. The package includes six 3-inch singles, each featuring reproduced picture sleeves originally released in the U.S.:
Get Off of My Cloud – #1 on both sides of the Atlantic, September 1965
Play With Fire – B-side to The Last Time, February 1965
Heart of Stone – A Top Twenty US chart hit at #19 on Billboard Pop, December 1964
Mother’s Little Helper – #8 on US Billboard Pop chart, June 1966,
Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow? – Top Ten UK #5 & US #9 on pop charts, 60thAnniversary, September 1966
Honky Tonk Women – #1 on both sides of the Atlantic, July 1969
Despite its compact size, the RSD3 Mini Turntable delivers, with a pre-mounted Audio-Technica cartridge, adjustable pitch control, supported platter, and a built-in speaker. For bigger sound, users can connect via Bluetooth to external speakers. Portable power options include micro-USB or four AA batteries, making it perfect for on-the-go listening. Full-size features such as a dust cover, headphone jack, and post adapters for large-hole records ensure the mini player performs as impressively as it looks.
“We’re thrilled to add this Rolling Stones product to our exclusive Record Store Day releases,” said Crosley Radio President Keith Starr. “Combining Crosley’s passion for records with the band’s legendary legacy creates a collectible we know fans will be excited to spin.”
Available at participating independent record stores on Record Store Day, April 18th, 2026. Quantities are limited.
For a list of participating Record Store Day locations, visit https://recordstoreday.com/stores.
Chuck Buell sent me a copy of the "Satisfaction" mini-single as a Christmas gift ... a VERY much appreciated holiday surprise.
And, speaking of Chuck Buell, he weighs in today with this ...
A Bubble-gum Poppin' Follow-up from Chuck Buell ...
You posted in FH …
>>>About a year ago we tabulated your votes for "The Best Bubblegum Tunes of All Time. Here’s how you guys voted then. (kk)
… (with "Sugar, Sugar" topping the list!)
I mentioned the other day that Ron Dante and I once worked together on a Special Radio Station Promotion when I was the Morning Guy on K-Best 95 in San Diego. It was a contest where I asked listeners to write lyrics (and some might have sung theirs, too) why they loved San Diego and Dante would produce a version of the winning song.
The Winner was a song written to the tune of . . . yep! "Sugar, Sugar!" And Ron did his signature singing and production with it!
So, just for Fun, here it is!
CB (which stands for "Coastal-Bay Boy!")
Ron Dante has been a friend of Forgotten Hits for many years. In fact, I hope to meet up with him again when The Happy Together Tour hits the Chicago area next year.
When I told him that he topped our Bubblegum Countdown, here’s what he had to say:
Hi Kent -
This is so cool. Glad to have my records on the show.
It is quite something to have your record still being talked about after all these years. I'll let my fans know to tune in.
Hope you are well, bud.
I'm just off the Happy Together Tour and it was a blast every night. Tons of fans showed up and sang along with every song.
I have a new vinyl album coming out later this month. It's my Fun House record on pink vinyl.
Rock on, bud!
Ron
As I’m sure you saw when you met him, he’s a great guy … and a real talent. Ron has never stopped working in the music business. Setting his own recording career aside in the early ‘70’s, he became Barry Manilow’s producer on Barry’s first NINE hit albums … and has worked with any number of artists since (as well as continuing to record his own music.) Ron tells me that prior to taking off for about 55-60 shows on The Happy Together Tour (starting on May 24th), he’ll be doing The Flower Power Cruise, starting on March 28th. (kk)
‘60’s FLASHBACK: The first time I ever interviewed Ron Dante, I asked him about his first hit record back in 1965, a novelty hit parody of the #1 smash “Leader Of The Pack,” released by The Detergents as “Leader Of The Laundromat.”
kk: Who’s that bangin’ on the piano?
RD: Lee Pockriss banged the piano.
Hard-hitting journalism at its very best!
(I’ve always been very proud of that one! Lol)
The interview dates back to 2006, a couple of years before we launched the Forgotten Hits web page. (It truly is a miracle that I was able to find a copy of it!) Three years prior to that, we had done a special feature piece on The Archies (which came up again in our interview.) Look for bits of those various conversations running tomorrow and Tuesday in Forgotten Hits. (kk)
Happy to recommend the new two hour CNN Chevy Chase documentary, "I'm Chevy Chase ... And You're Not."
I can honestly say that I was never much of a fan ... and the general consensus of just about everybody interviewed for this thing is that he was a complete asshole, a term nearly everybody uses to describe him. (To Chase's credit, he seems to accept the diagnosis in stride ... if that many people feel that way, then it must be true.)
Still, like him or not, this profile is very well done ... WAY better than the recent John Candy documentary which I had really been looking forward to. I'm sure you can find it On Demand. My rating: an 8 1/2 out of 10. (kk)
The Beach Boys ran a nice tribute to Brian Wilson on their final posting of 2025 …
From Tom Cuddy ...
Why This Song? | Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
https://youtu.be/Gqf7sqQP0BE?si=SbCqSoeYtQhqbZek
Actually, this sounds like a kinda cool series ... will have to check out a couple of other episodes. (kk)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2PCfyoeILT0x8AWn8ES3-onWWUCU-XFU
Well, Freddy Lennon wasn't the best vocalist, was he … but that has not stopped everyone. He is obviously relating his life, but why? Is it to get forgiveness from John, the public who protected John, or himself? If John did have something to do with stopping him, it would seem to me to be because he didn't want him to be in the limelight for portraying a victim, when he ultimately did the same thing to John. Life is not sugar coated.
P.S. Are you the lead dog in that Running With Scissors video?
Just asking for a friend ... 
Shelley
Kent,
Sam McCue, a Southeast Wisconsin rock and roll "legend," died December 11th at the age of 84. Sam was the lead guitarist and vocalist for The Legends, the most popular Milwaukee band of the early 1960's. The Legends were signed by Capitol Records and had regional hits like “Say Mama” and “Bop-A-Lena,” but were swallowed up by Beatlemania and the British Invasion. The Legends regularly played at the Muskego Beach Ballroom, consistently drawing crowds approaching 2,000. From 1964 until 1973, Sam was the lead guitarist and musical director for the Everly Brothers and was on-stage at Knott's Berry Farm when Phil Everly smashed his guitar and stormed off, ending the brothers partnership for a decade. After that, Sam did music work in California before eventually returning to Wisconsin. Ask any early baby-boomer from Milwaukee who was the most popular rocker in the area and you they will likely respond "Sam McCue.”
Bob Verbos
Did you get a chance to watch that Everly Brothers video we posted the other day?
Here’s the link again in case you missed it … and interview with Ron Coleman, also on stage of the big Everly Brothers blow-up: https://youtu.be/SkpTSv-x7-E?si=rDxHcLksB4OLBbhk
Not being familiar with The Legends, I checked “The WRIT Radio Surveys” book by Joel Kiedrowski and Ken Freck and see that the band charted five times on the Milwaukee charts. The tunes you mentioned, “Say Mama” and “Bop-A-Lena” reached #2 and #25 respectively in 1962. Both were released on the Ermine record label, probably a local Milwaukee label. They went on to record for both Capitol in 1963 and Warner Brothers in 1964, charting locally with “Run To The Movies” (#35, 1963) and “Here Comes The Pain” (#22, 1964.)
Digging a little deeper, Vernon Joynson’s book “Fuzz Acid And Flowers” says that The Legends were also referred to as Sam McCue’s Legends and The Canadian Legends (which is really odd since the group hailed from Milwaukee!) He shows that they released 13 singles and two albums, so it sounds like they were pretty highly regarded at the time. (I’m sure Gary Myers’ book on the Wisconsin scene, “Do You Hear The Beat,” would shed even more light on these guys. Maybe we’ll hear from him after we post this. He’s been a long-time Forgotten Hits reader and contributor.) kk
Join us at the Moonlight Theatre for a very special afternoon celebrating one of radio’s most influential voices.
🎙️ The Voice That Rocked America – The Dick Biondi Story
📅
Sunday, January 25
⏰ 2:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 1:00 p.m.)
📍
Moonlight Theatre, St. Charles, IL
This award-winning documentary honors legendary DJ Dick Biondi, the first American radio personality to play a Beatles record and a true pioneer of rock ’n’ roll radio.
🎬 Event Highlights:
• Hosted by DJ and radio historian Scott Childers
• Special guests Joe Cantafio (JADE 50’s) and Bob Blom
• Live Q&A with filmmaker Pamela Enzweiler-Pulice
• Full bar and food menu
• Biondi merchandise, raffles, and more
🏆 Winner of Best of Fest at the Route 66 International
Film Festival
🎟️ Tickets: $25
💙
Proceeds support the completion and promotion of the documentary
Experience Dick Biondi’s legacy the way it was meant to be shared — on the big screen, with a live audience, laughter, and heart.
Get your tickets today — we hope to see you there!
Pam Pulice
From Jim Roup ...
Happy 91st birthday 🎉🎂🥳! December 30th to actor/dancer Russ Tamblyn and brother of Larry of The Standells. Seen here with daughter at a Westwood Village movie premiere. Russ told me to say hello to my dad. They worked on several movies at MGM studios.
Jim
The official first new chart of the brand new year shows just how much musical diversity was going on at the time. ALL of this music got played together, side by side ... and nobody even gave it a second thought. Boy, radio sure was fun back then! (kk)
FREAKY VIDEO OF THE WEEK!!!
We all love Karen Valentine, right? I mean, how can you not love her; she's just as cute as can be.
Well, see how you feel after you watch this video from "The Ed Sullivan Show" ...
obviously just lip-synced to the Eydie Gorme hit record.
(Seriously, what was the point of this???)
All I can say is ... YIKES!!!
Let me know if you have nightmares tonight!!!
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
A brand new television station launches in Chicago. (1/4/66)
It's WFLD, Channel 32, and requires a special UHF antenna
That station still exists today and is Chicago's Fox Network
