Tuesday January the 15th


On This Day in 1899  
                                                                                                            
Goodman Ace was born in Kansas City.  He was a radio/TV actor/writer/columnist/humorist. He co-starred with wife Jane in the unique daily 15-minute radio "laugh novelty" Easy Aces, which dramatized to comedic effect their "real" lives together. Later he wrote radio scripts for Danny Kaye, Perry Como & The Big Show.  He died March 25 1982 at age 83.

On this day in 1909, one of the great drummers of the big band era Gene Krupa was born in Chicago.  His work on Benny Goodman's 1934 hit Sing Sing Sing turned him into a national celebrity.  He left Goodman in 1938 to set up his own band, which at times in the 1940's with big string sections swelled to as many as 40 players.
                                                                  
He died from leukemia Oct. 16 1973 at age 64.  

On this day in 1913, actor Lloyd Bridges was born in San Leandro Calif.  He became a TV star with the series Sea Hunt, the most successful syndicated program of its time. He is the father of still active brothers Beau & Jeff Bridges.  He died of natural causes March 10 1998 at age 85.

On this day in 1942, Kenny Sargent, "one of the handsomest singers ever to grace a bandstand," vocalized with the Glen Gray Orchestra on Decca Records "It's the Talk of the Town".

On this day in 1945, Canadian-born Art Linkletter starred on the CBS radio debut of "House Party". The show continued on the air for 22 years, including a long stint on CBS television. Linkletter wrote books about experiences with kids on the show. Remember, "Kids Say the Darndest Things?" This segment of the show -- and Art's resulting books -- were among the most popular of early daytime television, and in fact, were also syndicated on Canadian radio.  

On this day in 1953, Harry S. Truman became the first U.S. President to use Radio and TV to deliver his farewell upon leaving office.

On this day in 1959, CJDC TV went on the air in Dawson Creek, BC on channel 5 as a CBC TV affiliate.

On this day in 1960, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Running Bear'' by Johnny Preston. The singer was a protege of the Big Bopper, a DJ who wrote this song before his death in 1959.

On this day in 1961, Motown Records signed The Supremes.
                                                                  

On this day in 1963, the Board of Broadcast Governors (today's CRTC) recorded its hearings for the first time; the tapes were distributed to radio and TV stations by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.

On this day in 1964, Johnny Rivers began a year-long stint as the spotlight artist at the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles. He helped turn the club into a hot spot, and about six weeks later his hit album "Johnny Rivers At The Whisky A Go-Go" would be recorded.

Also this day in 1964, Vee Jay records filed a lawsuit against Capitol and Swan Records over manufacturing and distribution rights to Beatles recordings.

On this day in 1965, the rock group The Who released their 1st album "I Can't Explain."          
                                                                                                                

On this day in 1967, Ed Sullivan told The Rolling Stones to change the lyrics and the title to the song, "Let's Spend the Night Together", or "be off my riiiillly big shew!" So, the Stones gave in... changing the tune to "Let's Spend Some Time Together".

Also this day in 1967, the Buckinghams began recording "Don't You Care."

On this day in 1971, ex-Beatle George Harrison released "My Sweet Lord."

On this day in 1972, the song "American Pie" by Don McLean topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

On this day in 1973, the Rolling Stones announced that they would put on a benefit concert for the people of Managua, Nicaragua. The area had been devastated by an earthquake on December 23rd. Nicaragua was the home of Jagger's wife, Bianca.

                                                              
On this day in 1974, the sitcom "Happy Days" began an 11 year run on ABC.

On this day in 1975, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Mandy'' by Barry Manilow. The song was Manilow's first single to reach Billboard's Hot 100 singles pop chart.

On this day in 1977, "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" by Leo Sayer topped the charts and stayed there for just a week.

Also this day in 1977, the Coneheads debuted on "Saturday Night Live."

On this day in 1981, "Hill Street Blues" premiered on NBC-TV.

On this day in 1982, Harry Wayne Casey, leader of KC and the Sunshine Band was partially paralyzed in an automobile accident in Miami. His recovery took about a year.

On this day in 1983, actor Sheppard Strudwick died of cancer at age 75.  A familiar face in many early live TV productions he was cast in many of the long-running soaps including As The World Turns, Another World, One Life to Live, and Love of Life.

On this day in 1985, CJSW FM started FM broadcasting from the University of Calgary playing "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads.  For the previous 30 years, the station had been heard only on campus.

On this day in 1987, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Shake You Down'' by Gregory Abbott.

On this day in 1991, Sean Lennon's remake of his father's "Give Peace A Chance" was released to coincide with the United Nation's midnight deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. The lyrics were updated to reflect concerns of the 1990's.

On this day in 1992, Johnny Cash, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Isley Brothers were among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On this day in 1993, songwriter Sammy Cahn died of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles at age 79. Cahn won Academy Awards for "Three Coins in the Fountain,'' "All the Way,'' "High Hopes'' and "Call Me Irresponsible,'' which along with his many other contributions to the Great American Songbook, were featured on radio & TV for decades.

                                                                                                                    
On this day in 1994, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson died in his sleep at age 52. Nilsson never fully recovered from a heart attack the previous February. He had his first hit with the No. 6 song "Everybody's Talkin' '' from the movie Midnight Cowboy.'' His biggest hit was the million-selling 1971 song "Without You,'' which topped Billboard's singles chart for four weeks.

On this day in 1995, the first episode of "Star Trek: Voyager" aired.

On this day in 1996, orchestra leader/arranger Les Baxter died at age 73.  On radio he was musical director for "The Halls of Ivy, " and the Bob Hope & Abbott and Costello Shows.  
                                                          
As leader & arranger for Capitol records in the '50's he arranged many of Nat Cole's hits, and produced his own instrumental successes "Ruby", "Unchained Melody" and "The Poor People Of Paris".  Early in his career he sang with Mel Torme's Meltones.

On this day in 1998, James Brown was admitted to a hospital for treatment for an addiction to painkillers at the age of 64. He was released six days later.  

Also this day in 1998, Junior Wells, a pioneer in blues harmonica dies of lymphoma at the age of 63. Wells was known for his sweeping harmonica solos punctured with sharp, staccato wails.

On this day in 2000, actress Fran Ryan, who had running roles on the TV series Green Acres, The Doris Day Show and General Hospital, died of natural causes at age 83.

On this day in 2005, actress Ruth Warrick died from pneumonia at age 89.  A radio singer & actress with Orson Welles in his Mercury Players, she was active in early live TV, taking running roles in The Guiding Light and As The World Turns.  But she will be best remembered for playing the priggish socialite Phoebe Tyler on All My Children for 35 years, right up to her death.

Also this day in 2005, NBC held an all-star telethon to raise money for victims of the tsunami in south Asia. Performers included Madonna, Elton John, Brian Wilson, Lenny Kravitz, John Mayer, Nelly and Eric Clapton.


Today's Birthdays:

Actress Margaret O'Brien (Testimony of Two Men, Ironside, Playhouse 90) is 71.

Singer Don Van Vliet (aka "Captain Beefheart")  is 67.

Actress Andrea Martin (SCTV, My Big Fat Greek Life, Martin Short Show) is 61.

Canadian talk show hostess Dini Petty (City Line) is 60.

Actor-director Mario Van Peebles (Fiona Rude Awakening, One Life to Live) is 51.

Actor James Nesbitt (Ballykissangel) is 43.

Singer Lisa Lisa of Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam is 41.

Actor Chad Lowe (ER, Life Goes On, Melrose Place) is 40.

Actress Regina King (24, Leap of Faith, The Boondocks) is 37.

Actor Eddie Cahill (CSI: New York) is 30.  

Rapper/reggaeton artist Pitbull is 27.


Chart Toppers

January 15

1951
Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page
The Thing - Phil Harris
My Heart Cries for You - Guy Mitchell
The Golden Rocket - Hank Snow

1959
The Chipmunk Song - The Chipmunks
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters
My Happiness - Connie Francis
City Lights - Ray Price

1967
I’m a Believer - The Monkees
Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
Good Thing - Paul Revere & The Raiders
There Goes My Everything - Jack Greene

1975
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
You’re the First, the Last, My Everything - Barry White
Junior’s Farm/Sally G - Paul McCartney & Wings
Ruby, Baby - Billy "Crash" Craddock

1983
Down Under - Men at Work
The Girl is Mine - Michael Jackson /Paul McCartney
Dirty Laundry - Don Henley
I Can’t Even Get the Blues - Reba McEntire

1991
Justify My Love - Madonna
High Enough - Damn Yankees
Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Janet Jackson
Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks