Friday January the 9th

On This Day in 1898
              
English comedienne & singer Gracie Fields was born Grace Stansfield in Lancashire.  Her hit records like Sally, Now is The Hour, Walter Walter, & The Biggest Aspidistra in the World were played all over the British Commonwealth & especially on English Variety Shows on Vancouver radio stations CJOR, CKWX & CKMO.  'Our Gracie' died from pneumonia Sep 27, 1979 at age 81.

On this day in 1915, actor
Fernando Lamas

was born in Buenos Aires.  After a big screen career as a Latin lover, Lamas guest starred on TV over a 25 year period. He appeared repeatedly in the series Run for Your Life, It Takes a Thief, Mission Impossible, The Mod Squad, Switch, & the Love Boat.  He was still working when felled by cancer Oct 8, 1982 at age 67.

Also this day in 1915, actress Anita Louise was born in New York City.  In a 48 year film career starting as a child in the silent era, she guested on many early TV shows and had a running role in the series My Friend Flicka.  She suffered a stroke & died Apr. 25, 1970 at the age of 55.  

On this day in 1928, singer Domenico Modugno was born in Italy.  He is best known in North America for his version of the song Volare, titled Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu, a huge hit in 1958. He died from a heart attack Aug. 6 1994 at age 66.  

                                                                                                                      
On this day in 1935, future TV star Bob Denver was born in New Rochelle NY.  His two TV shows, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis & Gilligan's Island are memorable milestones in TV.  He died Sep 2, 2005 following surgery for throat cancer at age 70.  

On this day in 1940, for the first time, television was used to present a sales meeting to convention delegates in New York City. They sat around watching a test pattern and listening to a loud tone before someone realized that TV wasn't practical to use, yet.

On this day in 1941, Sammy Kaye and his orchestra recorded "Until Tomorrow" on Victor Records.
                                                                
This song became the sign-off melody for Kaye and other big bands.

Also this day in 1941, the first demonstration of small-screen color television was given by the Columbia Broadcasting System. The TV failed miserably, since RCA had pretty much wrapped up the patent process on color TV at the time.

On this day in 1959, the western TV series "Rawhide" starring Clint Eastwood premiered on CBS TV. The show ran for 7 years.

On this day in 1961, "Wonderland by Night" by Bert Kaempfert topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

On this day in 1963, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Go Away Little Girl'' by Steve Lawrence.

On his day in 1964, The Temptations recorded the song "The Way You Do The Things You Do" at Motown Studios in Detroit.

                                                                                                                  
On this day in 1965, "Beatles '65" was the number-one album in the U.S. for the first of nine straight weeks (thru Mar 6). The tracks were: "No Reply", "I'm a Loser", "Baby's in Black", "Rock and Roll Music", "I'll Follow the Sun", "Mr. Moonlight", "Honey Don't", "I'll Be Back", "She's a Woman", "I Feel Fine", and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby".

On this day in 1973, the Rolling Stones' plans to tour Asia were halted when Japan refused to grant Mick Jagger a visa. The Japanese turned down Jagger's request on account of his 1969 drug bust.

On this day in 1979, country vocalist/guitarist Sara Carter died at 80. Known for her deep and distinctive singing voice, she was the lead singer on most of the recordings of the historic Carter Family act (which included June Carter Cash) in the 1920's and 1930's.

On this day in 1979, a benefit concert called A Gift of Song was held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The performers were Olivia Newton-John, Rita Coolidge, the Bee Gees, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, John Denver, Kris Kristofferson, Abba and Earth, Wind & Fire

On this day in 1984, "WHERE'S THE BEEF?" was heard in a Wendy's commercial for the first time uttered by Clara Peller. Dave Thomas spent $8 million on the ads that promoted hamburger sales plus T-shirts, baseball caps, records, greeting cards and countless other items bearing the picture of the elderly cult star.

On this day in 1987, actor Arthur Lake, who played Dagwood for years in Blondie movies & radio shows, died of a heart attack at age 81.

On this day in 1988, the song "So Emotional" by Whitney Houston topped the charts but only for one week.

On this day in 1989, CBS's "Pat Sajak Show" made its debut on late night T-V, but was unable to compete with the likes of Johnny Carson and David Letterman.

On this day in 191, actress Delta Burke filed suit against the producers of "Designing Women." She claimed they wrote her out of the show.

On this day in 1992, supporting actor Steve Brodie died of cancer at 72.  In a 45 year film career he appeared in scores of TV shows ..and had a recurring role as the sheriff in 1955's Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp.

Also this day in 1992, Sting guest starred on the TV cartoon series "The Simpsons," as "Radio
Bart."

On this day in 1994 at noon, CKBD 600 AM "The Bridge" officially signs on in Vancouver as Canada's first contemporary Christian music (CCM) radio station with Rich Mullens:  "Awesome God".

On this day in 1995, English satirist & writer Peter Cook died from gastrointestinal bleeding at age 57.  He is widely regarded as the leading figure in the British satire boom of the 1960s, in such shows as Beyond the Fringe.  A frequent performer on British TV he was described as 'The funniest man who ever drew breath.'

Also this day in 1995, "Rolling Stone" released its annual music awards with the people voting Green Day as best new band, Pearl Jam as best band and Nirvana tapped as artists of the year. Among the magazine's critics' picks, Courtney Love is voted artist of the year, R.E.M. as best band and Green Day best new band.

On this day in 1996, the first episode of "3rd Rock from the Sun" aired on NBC.

On this day in 1997, a heart attack sent Frank Sinatra back to hospital, two months after suffering a mild heart attack & stroke, and two years after his final concert.   He died 16 months later at age 82.

                                                                                                                        
Also this day in 1997, David Bowie celebrated his 50th birthday with a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, just one day after his actual birth date. The concert featured special guests the Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Frank Black, Robert Smith, Sonic Youth and Placebo.

On this day in 1999, Guru (Gang Star) was robbed outside a small recording studio in Woohaven, Queens. The three masked men stole $10,000 in jewelry.

Also this day in 1999, the first episode of "Providence" aired on NBC.

On this day in 2001, ABC-TV aired "The Mole" for the first time.  
Hosting was Anderson Cooper.
        


Today's Birthdays:

Musician Les Paul (many hits w/Mary Ford) is 94.

Author Judith Krantz (mini-series Till We Meet Again, I'll Take Manhattan, Mistral's Daughter, Scruples) is 81.

Sportscaster Dick Enberg is 74.

Singer Joan Baez is 68.

Actress Susannah York (We'll Meet Again) is 68.

Guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin is 65.

Singer Buster Poindexter is 59.

Singer Crystal Gayle is 58.

Actor J.K. Simmons (The Closer, Law & Order) is 54.

Guitarist Eric Erlandson (Hole) is 46.

Actress Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck) is 44.

Guitarist Carl Bell of Fuel is 42.

Singer Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth is 42.

Singer Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band is 42.

Actress-director Joey Lauren Adams (Second Noah, Married With Children) is 41.

Singer A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys is 31.

Singer Paolo Nutini is 22.


Chart Toppers

January 9

1945
Don�t Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
There Goes that Song Again - Russ Morgan
I�m Making Believe - Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots
I�m Wastin� My Tears on You - Tex Ritter

1953
Why Don�t You Believe Me - Joni James
Don�t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como
Glow Worm - The Mills Brothers
Don�t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Skeets McDonald

1961
Wonderland by Night - Bert Kaempfert
Exodus - Ferrante & Teicher
Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
North to Alaska - Johnny Horton

1969
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
I�m Gonna Make You Love Me - Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations
Daddy Sang Bass - Johnny Cash

1977
You Don�t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) - Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Broken Down in Tiny Pieces - Billy "Crash" Craddock

1985
Like a Virgin - Madonna
The Wild Boys - Duran Duran
Sea of Love - The Honeydrippers
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind - George Strait