Friday February the 22nd

ON THIS DAY in 1857
physicist Heinrich Hertz became the first person to broadcast & receive radio waves.

On this day in 1907, actor Robert Young was born in Chicago. After many romantic leads in film, he became endeared to North American audiences in two successful TV series, Father Knows Best (a role he began on radio) & Marcus Welby M.D. He died of respiratory failure July 21, 1998 at age 91.

Also this day in 1907, actor & producer Sheldon Leonard was born in New York City. He was an active supporting player in bigtime radio, portraying largely Brooklynesque characters.  He had a recurring role on The Jack Benny Show (radio & TV) as a racetrack tout.  In TV he was an ultra-successful producer, with I Spy, Make Room for Daddy, the Dick Van Dyke Show, the Andy Griffith Show, My World & Welcome To It, The Don Rickles Show, etc.  He died Jan 10 1997 at age 89.

On this day in 1920, honky-tonk piano player Del Wood, whose real name was Adelaide Hendricks, was born in Nashville. She recorded a ragtime version of a fiddle tune called "Down Yonder'' in 1951 and came up with a million-seller. Jerry Lee Lewis has cited Del Wood as one of the artists he listened to in his early years. Wood died on October 3rd, 1989 of a stroke at age 69.

On this day in 1924, Calvin Cooldige became the first president to make a radio address from the White House.  

On this day in 1925, singer Guy Mitchell (below) was born Albert George Cernick in Detroit. His gold records in the 50's include "My Heart Cries for You,"  "My Truly Truly Fair," "The Roving Kind,"  "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" and "Singing the Blues." He died in Las Vegas after surgery July 1 1999 at age 74.
                                                                                                

On this day in 1931, Maurice Chevalier recorded Walkin' My Baby Back Home for Victor Records in New York City. The same tune was recorded 21 years later by Nat "King" Cole and Johnny Ray. It became a major hit for both artists.  

On this day in 1936, r-and-b singer Ernie K. Doe was born Ernest Kador, Jr., in New Orleans. His biggest hit, "Mother-in-Law,'' reached No. 1 in 1961. He died of cirrhosis of the liver July 5 2001 at age 65.

On this day in 1945, '60s folk-rock singer Oliver, whose full name was William Oliver Swofford, was born. His big hits were Jean, & Good Morning Starshine. He died Feb 12, 2000 a few days short of his 55th birthday.

On this day in 1952, bass Don Gerrard, a native of Vancouver, made his debut with the Canadian Opera Company as the Speaker in "The Magic Flute." He moved to England in 1961 to become principal bass of the Sadler's Wells company, but continued to return to Canada to perform.

On this day in 1954, ABC Radio's popular Breakfast Club program with longtime host, Don McNeill, was first simulcast on TV.  The telecast of the show was a bomb, but the radio show continued another 14 years to break records as the longest-running program on the air.

On this day in 1956, Elvis Presley entered the music charts for the first time. Heartbreak Hotel began its climb to the number one spot on the pop listing, reaching the top on April 11, 1956. It remained #1 for eight weeks.

Also this day in 1956, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was the instrumental "Lisbon Antigua'' by Nelson Riddle & his Orchestra.

On this day in 1958, Roy Hamilton's record, Don't Let Go, became #13 in its first week on the record charts. The song was the first stereo record to make the pop charts.

On this day in 1960, lower mainland radio station CKNW 980 increased its power to 10,000 watts day/5,000 watts night.

Also this day in 1960, the instrumental "Theme From A Summer Place" by Canadian-born Percy Faith topped the charts and stayed there for 9 weeks.

On this day in 1964, The Beatles arrived back in London following their first visit to North America.

On this day in 1967, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Kind of a Drag'' by The Buckinghams. The group from Chicago was originally called the Pulsations.

On this day in 1968, Quebec Premier Daniel Johnson announced creation of Radio-Québec, a provincially owned radio and television network.

                                                                                                              
Also this day in 1968, Genesis released its first single, "The Silent Sun.'' Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks later said they wrote the song in the style of the Bee Gees to impress producer and Bee Gees fan Jonathan King.

On this day in 1969, British glitter-rock band T. Rex kicked off a British tour in Manchester. On the same bill, David Bowie, a friend of T. Rex leader Marc Bolan, performed a mime act about Tibetan Buddhist monks.

On this day in 1975, "Pick Up the Pieces" by the Average White Band topped the charts .. but only for a week.

On this day in 1976, Florence Ballard, an original member of the Supremes, died in Detroit of cardiac arrest at age 32. She had either quit or been fired from the Supremes in 1967 because of a rivalry with lead singer Diana Ross. She and her three children were living on welfare at the time of her death.

On this day in 1976, English actress Angela Baddeley who played Mrs Bridges on the popular PBS series Upstairs, Downstairs, died from pneumonia at age 71.

                                                              
On this day in 1977, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "New Kid in Town'' by the Eagles. The single, the first release from the album "Hotel California,'' was the group's first to be certified gold for selling more than 1 million copies.

On this day in 1978, the Police starred in a British TV commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum. The ad was made a few months before the band's single "Roxanne'' was released in the U-K.

Also this day in 1978, Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen were arrested in New York and charged with drug possession.

This day in 1980 saw a pivotal moment for ice hockey in the United States and the broadcasting of same. The "Miracle on Ice" U.S. victory over Russia was a dramatic, come-from-behind, 4-3, victory. The U.S. went on to defeat Finland, 4-2, two days later to win the gold medal.

On this day in 1981, Quebec fiddler Ti-Blanc Richard died in Sherbrooke at 60. He was one of Canada's leading novelty fiddlers, and combined country and traditional Quebec folk music in his repertoire. He made more than a dozen L-P's in the 1960's and '70s.

                            
On this day in 1985, actor Alexander Scourby died at 71.  One of the great voiceovers/narrators, who is immortalized on the soundtrack of the documentary TV classic, Victory at Sea.

On this day in 1986, singer Bruce Cockburn gave a cheque for 28-thousand dollars to the Council of the Haida Nation following two concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. Natives were to use the proceeds in their fight to stop logging on Lyell Island in the Queen Charlottes.

On this day in 1986, MTV aired 22 hours of the Monkees TV episodes in celebration of their 20th anniversary.

On this day in 1987, TV producer & host David Susskind, of the talk shows Open End and the David Susskind Show, died at 66.

On this day in 1989, Jethro Tull won the first ever heavy metal Grammy to be awarded. Milli Vanilli won a Grammy for Best New Artist; however it was admitted later they were not the vocalists on the album.

On this day in 1990, Alberta's k.d. lang won the Grammy Award as top female country singer in the USA.
                                                                        

On this day in 1990, a jury in Los Angeles rejected a 25-million-dollar claim that Stevie Wonder's Oscar-winning 1984 song "I Just Called to Say I Love You'' was stolen from another songwriter. Lee Chiate alleged Wonder's song, part of the soundtrack for "Woman in Red,'' was stolen from a song he co-wrote, "I Just Called to Say.''

On this day in 1992, all 34-thousand seats for two Grateful Dead shows at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton sold out in 56 minutes.  Ontario "deadheads'' started lining up a week before the tickets went on sale.

On this day in 1993, CBS announced that the network had purchased the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York for David Letterman's new T-V show. At that point, Letterman was rumored to be moving his program to Los Angeles.

On this day in 1994, violinist Papa John Creach, who became a rock star with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, died in Los Angeles at age 76.

Also this day in 1994, Vancouver's CKLG AM730 dropped its experiment in talk radio and returned to contemporary hit music.


On this day in 1995, Elton John told the British "New Musical Express'' magazine that he was hooked on cocaine in the 1980's and used to wash it down with a bottle of whiskey a night.

                                                                                                                                                   
On this day in 1995, actor Ed Flanders, best remembered as Dr Westphall on TV's St Elsewhere, committed suicide at age 60.

On this day in 1997, "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

On this day in 1998, Fox News correspondent Sandy Hume committed suicide at age 28.

On this day in 1999, the Tragically Hip became the first act to play Toronto's Air Canada Centre.

Also this day in 1999, Jimmy Chamberlin announced that he had rejoined the Smashing Pumpkins, 3 1/2 years after being ousted from the group for his involvement in the fatal drug overdose of keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin.

On this day in 2000, David Letterman returned to his CBS Late Night show about five weeks after having an emergency quintuple heart bypass operation.
                      

On this day in 2001, controversial rapper Eminem won Grammy awards for best rap solo and duo performances and best rap album. Steely Dan won their first Grammys ever, including album of the year for "Two Against Nature.'' Other winners included U-2 and Joni Mitchell.

On this day in 2002, animator & cartoon producer Chuck Jones, of the Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck & Wily Coyote shorts that were a mainstay of TV for so long, died at age 90.

Also in 2002, Parksville BC's CKCI AM1350 signed off for the last time after simulcasting its replacement  CIBH-FM "The Beach" for little more than 5 weeks.

On this day in 2004, Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin was arrested in Toledo, Ohio, for allegedly throwing a bottle into an audience and spitting on them while publicly drunk.

On this day in 2006, Apple's iTunes store sold its 1 billionth song.

                                                                          
On this day in 2007, Britney Spears checked into rehab for the third time in a week.


Today's Birthdays:

Announcer Don Pardo (Saturday Night Live) is 90.

TV producer/director Bud Yorkin (An Evening with Fred Astaire, The Jack Benny Specials) is 82.

Actor Paul Dooley (Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Practice) is 80.

Trombonist Eugene Watts of the Canadian Brass is 72.

Actor John Ashton is 60.

Actress Julie Walters (Oliver Twist, Jake's Progress) is 58.

Actress Ellen Greene (Pushing Daisies) is 57.

Actor Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives, Sex & the City, Twin Peaks) is 49.

Comedian Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live) is 42.

Actress Jeri Ryan (Shark, Boston Public, Star Trek: Voyager) is 40.

Actor Thomas Jane (61) is 39.

Actress Lea Solanga (As The World Turns) is 37.

Actor Jose Solano (Baywatch) is 37.

Drummer Scott Phillips (Creed, Alter Bridge) is 35.  

Actress Liza Huber (Passions) is 33.

Actress Drew Barrymore (Family Guy, 2000 Malibu Road) is 33.

Singer James Blunt is 31.

Actor Daniel E. Smith (Alias) is 18.


Chart Toppers

February 22

1949
Powder Your Face with Sunshine - Evelyn Knight
Far Away Places - Margaret Whiting
A Little Bird Told Me - Evelyn Knight
I Love You So Much It Hurts - Jimmy Wakely

1957
Too Much - Elvis Presley
Young Love - Tab Hunter
Love is Strange - Mickey & Sylvia
Young Love - Sonny James

1965
This Diamond Ring - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
My Girl - The Temptations
The Jolly Green Giant - The Kingsmen
I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail - Buck Owens

1973
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
Oh, Babe, What Would You Say? - Hurricane Smith
Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
I Wonder if They Ever Think of Me - Merle Haggard

1981
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt
Woman - John Lennon
Southern Rains - Mel Tillis

1989
Straight Up - Paula Abdul
Wild Thing - Tone Loc
Born to Be My Baby - Bon Jovi
Big Wheels in the Moonlight - Dan Seals