Sunday January the 27th


On This Day in 1885  
the "father of the American musical" Jerome Kern was born in New York City. He composed many of the classic show tunes aired by radio & television from the dawn of broadcasting, including Ol' Man River, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Lovely to Look At, The Way You Look Tonight, & The Last Time I Saw Paris. He died of a cerebral hemmorhage Nov 11, 1945 at age 60.

On this day in 1895, songwriter Harry Ruby was born Harry Rubinstein in New York City.  Met his longtime partner Bert Kalmar in vaudeville, and together wrote hit songs (Who's Sorry Now, Three Little Words, A Kiss to Build a Dream On, Nevertheless) until Kalmar's death in 1947. Their partnership is portrayed in the 1950 MGM musical Three Little Words starring Fred Astaire and Red Skelton.  He died Feb 23, 1974 at age 79.

On this day in 1905, character actor Howard McNear was born in Los Angeles.  He was active in the radio era, playing Doc Adams on Gunsmoke, and on TV was Floyd the Barber on the Andy Griffith Show.  He suffered a debilitating stroke during the Griffiths' show 3rd season, and thereafter was filmed sitting down.  He died after a second stroke Jan. 3 1969 three weeks short of his 64th birthday.

On this day in 1918, pianist/bandleader Skitch Henderson was born Lyle Russell Cedric Henderson at Birmingham England.
                                                                    
After World War II he was Bing Crosby's musical director on radio. He is best remembered as the bandleader on NBC-TV's Tonight Show with Steve Allen & Johnny Carson; he also was an occasional co-host subbing for Carson.  He died Nov 1 2005 at age 87.

On this day in 1921, actress Donna Reed was born Donna Belle Mullenger in Denison Iowa.  After an impressive career in films she starred in TV's Donna Reed Show for six seasons, and later had a recurring role as the 2nd Miss Ellie on Dallas. She died of pancreatic cancer Jan 14, 1986, just days short of her 65th birthday.

On this day in 1927, United Independent Broadcasters Inc. began a Radio network which consisted of 16 stations. It later evolved into CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

                                                                                                                  
On this day in 1927, television journalist Nancy Dickerson was born in suburban Milwaukee.  She became CBS News' first female correspondent in 1960, and covered Washingto for NBC News from 1963-1970.  In 1971 she left the network to become an independent producer, making documentaries for PBS, &c.  In '96 she helped anchor the PBS Presidential Election returns. She died Oct. 18 1997 at the age of 70, after a stroke.

On this day in 1931, NBC radio introduced listeners to "Clara, Lu 'n' Em" on its Blue network (later, ABC radio). The show became the first daytime radio serial when it was moved from its original nighttime slot.

On this day in 1936, actor Troy Donahue was born Merle Johnson in New York City.  Early in his career he appeared in several Warner Bros. TV series, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, & Surfside 6. He died Sep 2, 2001, after a heart attack, at age 65.  

On this day in 1948, the Wire Recording Corporation of America announced its first magnetic wire recorder. The "Wireway" machine with a built-in oscillator sold for $149.50.

                                                                              
On this day in 1950, Ed Wynn took home the Emmy for Most Outstanding Live Personality and his show, "The Ed Wynn Show", received the award for Best Live Show. Coincidentally, this same night, Wynn's comedian friend, Milton Berle[b], was awarded the Emmys for Most Outstanding Kinescope Personality for his performance on The Best Kinescope Show, "The Texaco Star Theater", on NBC television.

On this day in 1956, the [b]"CBS Radio Workshop" was heard for the first time. This first broadcast featured Aldous Huxley narrating his classic, "Brave New World".

Also this day in 1956, Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel'' was released on RCA Victor.

On this day in 1958, Little Richard interrupted his music career to enter a theological seminary run by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Huntsville, Ala., where he would later receive a degree and be ordained.  He was inspired after his plane caught fire while flying over the Philippines.

On this day in 1961, the hour-long "Sing Along with Mitch" [Miller] premiered on NBC TV.

On this day in 1962, the song "Peppermint Twist - Part I" by Joey Dee & the Starliters topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

On this day in 1964, the album "Introducing the Beatles" was released in the US.

Also this day in 1964, the Rolling Stones appeared as judges on the British TV show "Juke Box Jury."

On this day in 1967, the Beatles signed a 9 year worldwide contract with EMI records.

On this day in 1968, The Bee Gees played their first American concert, as a group. They earned $50,000 to entertain at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. This is identical to what the Beatles were paid to perform at the Hollywood Bowl a few years earlier.

                                                                                                                
Also this day in 1968, Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was released, seven weeks after the singer's death. It became #1 on March 16 and remained at the top spot for a month. Redding & 4 members of his band were killed in a plane crash at Lake Monona near Madison, WI.  "The Dock of the Bay", his only number one song, was recorded just three days before his death.

On this day in 1970, "Senator" Ed Ford, a comedian who was a longtime panellist on the joke-telling radio show Can You Top This?, died at age 72.  

On this day in 1971, David Bowie arrived for his first visit to the U.S. He did not perform, but received a lot of publicity for wearing dresses in Texas and Louisiana.

On this day in 1972, singer Mahalia Jackson died of heart failure in Chicago. She was 60.

On this day in 1973, the song "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder topped the charts, but stayed #1 for only a week.

                                                              
On this day in 1976, the TV series "Laverne and Shirley" debuted. The show was cancelled in 1983.

On this day in 1984, John Lennon & Yoko Ono released their "Milk & Honey" album.

Also this day in 1984, the Eurythmics began a grueling 175-date world tour in Australia.

On this day in 1986, German-born actress Lilli Palmer, one-time wife of Rex Harrison, who had her own "Lilli Palmer Show" (anthology drama) on US TV, and appeared 7 times on the Ed Sullivan Show, died of cancer at age 71.

On this day in 1991, Whitney Houston sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV. It turned out she actually sang over a pre-recorded version of the anthem.

On this day in 1993, Warner Brothers Records announced it was releasing rapper Ice-T from his contract due to what it called "creative differences." The previous summer, the record company was in the middle of the controversy over Ice-T's song "Cop Killer."

On this day in 1994, actor Claude Akins, who starred in the TV series Movin' On & The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, died of cancer at age 75.

On this day in 1994, songwriter Stanley Adams, who wrote "What a Difference a Day Makes", & the English lyrics to La Cucaracha, who was president of ASCAP for over 25 years, died at age 86.

On this day in 1997, Tin Pan Alley composer Gerald Marks, best known for the songs "All of Me" & "Is it True What They Say About Dixie," died at the age of 96.

On this day in 1998, two male dancers for risque rapper Kinsu, Keith Allen and Antonio Robinson, appeared in San Antonio County Court to answer charges of indecent exposure. The two had been arrested earlier in the month for dropping their overalls and ripping off their undergarments in front of a crowd of 35,000.

Also this day in 1998, U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on NBC's "Today" show. She charged that the allegations against her husband were the work of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."

On this day in 2002, Stephen King's three-part, six-hour miniseries "Rose Red" began airing on ABC-TV.

On this day in 2004, the Federal Communications Commission fined Clear Channel Radio for apparently airing indecent material over several broadcast stations during several days. The Commission proposed the highest fine the law provides resulting in a $27,500 for each of 26 apparent indecency violations for a total of $715,000.


Today's Birthdays:

Singer Bobby "Blue" Bland is 78.

Actor James Cromwell (Six Feet Under, Citizen Baines) is 68.

Actor John Witherspoon (The Boondocks, Tracy Morgan Show) is 66.

Rocker Nick Mason of Pink Floyd is 63.

Singer Nedra Talley of The Ronettes is 62.

Country singer Cheryl White of The Whites is 53.

Guitarist Richard Young of The Kentucky Headhunters is 53.

Actress Mimi Rogers (The Loop, X Files, Geena Davis Show) is 52.

Guitarist Janick Gers of Iron Maiden is 51.  

NBC football analyst Cris Collingsworth is 49.

Singer Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies is 47.

Keyboardist Gillian Gilbert (New Order) is 47.

Actress Bridget Fonda (Chris Isaak Show) is 44.

Actor Alan Cumming (The L Word) is 43.

Singer Mike Patton (Faith No More) is 40.

Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 40.

Rapper Tricky is 40.

Guitarist Michael Kulas of James is 39.

Actor Josh Randall (Ed, Courting Alex) is 36.

Country singer Kevin Denney is 32.


Chart Toppers

January 27

1947
For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole
A Gal in Calico - Johnny Mercer
Ole Buttermilk Sky - The Kay Kyser Orchestra (vocal: Mike Douglas & The Campus Kids)
Rainbow at Midnight - Ernest Tubb

1955
Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
Let Me Go, Lover! - Teresa Brewer
Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) - The Penguins
Loose Talk - Carl Smith

1963
Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers
Hey Paula - Paul & Paula
Tell Him - The Exciters
The Ballad of Jed Clampett - Flatt & Scruggs

1971
Knock Three Times - Dawn
Lonely Days - Bee Gees
Stoney End - Barbra Streisand
Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson

1979
Le Freak - Chic
Y.M.C.A. - Village People
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? - Rod Stewart
Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For - Crystal Gayle

1987
At This Moment - Billy Vera & The Beaters
Open Your Heart - Madonna
Control - Janet Jackson
Cry Myself to Sleep - The Judds