http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005TWBU6M “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” was Connie Francis’ last number one song. It was written by Benny Davis and Murray Mencher (who wrote under the name of Ted Murry.) Connie’s father, who had been instrumental in getting … Continue reading →
Bruce Channel was born Bruce McMeans in 1940 in Jacksonville, Texas. Music was a hobby in the McMeans house and Bruce soon learned to play the harmonica and eventually, the guitar. His family moved around a lot, following the work, … Continue reading →
Gene Chandler was the guy who performed wearing a cape, a tux, an eye monocle and carrying a cane. He was a “duke” in every sense of the word. The song “Duke of Earl” is truly a rock and roll … Continue reading →
Like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, Joey Dee was a Jersey boy. He was born Joseph DiNicola on June 11, 1940 in Passaic, New Jersey. He was musical in high school, learning the clarinet and playing in the school … Continue reading →
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” has such a fresh 60s sound that it is surprising to me that it was written in 1939. It was originally written by a man from South Africa named Solomon Linda and he recorded it with … Continue reading →
“Please, Mr Postman” had five writers, Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland and Robert Bateman. This is probably because the song came out of Motown. They were famous for having teams of people write their songs. In fact … Continue reading →
Jimmy Dean wrote “Big Bad John” in an hour and a half on a plane ride to Nashville, Tennessee. “Big John” is based on an actor Jimmy had run across while he was performing in summer stock theater. The actor’s … Continue reading →
Dion Francis DiMucci was born July 18, 1939 in the Bronx, New York, son of an Italian-American couple. His father was a vaudeville entertainer and often took Dion on tour with him. Dion grew up loving the music of performers … Continue reading →
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PIMLKG Ray Charles started out on Atlantic Records which recorded some of the greatest black performers of the Fifties. After the success of “What’d I Say” which hit number six on the pop chart and number one on the R&B … Continue reading →
On February 3, 1959, the music died. That was one of the most important days in music history as the plane carrying Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens crashed shortly after takeoff in a cornfield near Crystal Lake, … Continue reading →