Saturday February the 23rd


ON THIS DAY in 1904                                                        
                                                                                                                                  
author/radio journalist William L. Shirer was born in Chicago.  He was CBS correspondent in Berlin as World War II broke out, then gave up broadcasting to write several books about Hitler's rise & fall. He died Dec 28, 1993 at age 89.

On this day in 1927, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill into law that created the Federal Radio Commission, "to bring order out of this terrible chaos." The president was speaking, of course, of the nation's then unregulated radio stations. The name was changed to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 1, 1934.

                                                                                
On this day in 1937, crooner Bing Crosby sang with Lani McIntyre and his band, as "Sweet Leilani" was recorded on Decca Records. The Oscar-winning song was featured in the movie "Waikiki Wedding".  

On this day in 1957, Porter Waggoner joined the Grand Ole Opry following three successful singles -- "Satisfied Mind,'' "Eat, Drink and Be Merry'' and "What Would You Do (If Jesus Came to Your House).'' Waggoner's syndicated T-V show, seen on more than 100 stations in the U-S and Canada, introduced Dolly Parton to a wide audience in the 1960's.

On this day in 1963, "He's So Fine'' by the Chiffons was released. It would spend 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including four weeks at number one.

On this day in 1964, the Beatles made their third appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Their performance had been pre-recorded the afternoon of February 9th -- just hours before the group made their live American T-V debut on Sullivan's program.

On this day in 1965, US film comedian Stan Laurel died of a heart attack at 74.  His movies with partner Oliver Hardy were staples of early TV.

                                                                                
On this day in 1970, Ringo Starr guest starred on "Laugh-In." It was his first solo TV appearance.

Also this day in 1970, the first public presentation of the Junos, the annual awards of the Canadian recording industry, took place in Toronto. The Guess Who won for best group that year.

Again in 1970, blues singer Lonnie Johnson made his last appearance in what was billed as a ''Blue Monday'' concert at Massey Hall in Toronto. Four months later Johnson was found dead in his Toronto apartment. He was 71.

Still on this date in 1970 . . . the Doors were awarded a gold album for "Morrison Hotel.''

                                                                                                                                      
On this day in 1971, actor James Franciscus starred in "Longstreet", a made-for-TV movie that became a series in the fall of that year.

Also this day in 1971, George Harrison was fined & had his driving license suspended for 1 year as a result of several speeding tickets and a dispute with the police.

On this day in 1974, actress Teri Garr appeared on the Bob Newhart Show in "Confessions of an Orth."

Also this day in 1974. Columbia Records released Billy Joel's "Piano Man."
                                                                

On this day in 1978, the Eagles won the best L-P Grammy for "Hotel California,'' but did not attend the awards ceremony. "Hotel California'' was the Eagles' third consecutive number one album, and sold 11-million copies. "Rumours'' by Fleetwood Mac won the Album of the Year award, and Debbie Boone also was honored.

On this day in 1979, Dire Straits began their first tour of the United States and Canada. Their impressions of the U-S became the theme of the second L-P, "Communique,'' released six months later.

On this day in 1980, the song "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

On this day in 1983, the rock group, Toto, won Grammy Awards for the hit single, "Rosanna", and the album, "Toto IV", at the 25th annual ceremonies in Los Angeles. The group received four other awards to tie the 1965 record of six Grammies (Roger Miller).

On this day in 1985, the TV show, "Gimme a Break", broke with tradition & was broadcast live before a studio audience. It was the first sitcom to be seen live since television's Golden Age in the 1950s.

On this day in 1988, Michael Jackson kicked off his first solo U-S tour in Kansas City. He opened with the same song with which he started the 1984 Victory Tour with his brothers -- "Wanna Be Starting Something.''

On this day in 1989, singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes was jailed in Atlanta for failure to pay child support and alimony. Hayes owed more than 346-thousand dollars to his former wife, from whom he was divorced in 1986. He claimed he had been unable to make enough recordings and book enough concert dates to raise the money.

On this day in 1991, "All the Man That I Need" by Whitney Houston topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

On this day in 1992, rockers Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) & Courtney Love (Hole), got married.

                                                                                  
On this day in 1993, Little Richard received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.

On this day in 1994, "Daltrey Sings Townshend," an evening of Roger Daltrey performing songs by his Who-bandmate Pete Townshend, debuted at Carnegie Hall in New York. Daltrey and a host of guest stars, including Lou Reed, Sinead O'Connor and Alice Cooper, were backed by a 65-piece orchestra. Daltrey later took the show on a North American tour, but without the array of guest stars. He performed with local symphony orchestras.

Also in 1994, a judge in Los Angeles dismissed a suit brought by Martha Raye against Bette Midler. Raye had said Midler stole her life story for the movie "For the Boys.''

                                                                                                                                  
On this day in 1995, Melvin Franklin, bass singer for the Temptations, died in Los Angeles a week after being admitted to hospital following a series of seizures. He was 52. Franklin and Otis Williams were the only original members of the Temptations to continue performing with the group into the 1990's.

On this day in 1995, James Herriot, the British author whose books were the basis for the TV series All Creatures Great & Small, died at 78.

On this day in 1997, Tony Williams, one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 1960's, died of a heart attack in Daly City, California. He was 51. Williams won a Grammy Award in 1995 for "The Tribute to Miles Davis," an album made with ex-Davis sidemen Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Wayne Shorter.

Also this day in 1997, NBC TV showed the Spielberg movie "Schindler's List" with minimal interruption, attracting the incredible audience of 65 million viewers.

                      
On this day in 1998, actor Philip Abbott, best known as the boss Arthur Ward on the series "The FBI," died of cancer at age 74.

On this day in 1999, jazz critic Stanley Dance, credited with coining the term "mainstream jazz,'' died of pneumonia at a health-care facility near his home in Vista, California. He was 88. "Mainstream jazz'' was how Dance described the music played by veterans of the big bands who were forced to adapt to smaller groups in the 1950's.

Also on this date in 1999, Perry Kibble, keyboardist and songwriter with the disco group A Taste of Honey, died of heart problems at his home in Calgary. He was 49. A Taste of Honey, formed in Los Angeles in 1972, won the Best New Artist Grammy in '79, the year after their "Boogie Oogie Oogie'' topped the charts.

Again in 1999, country singer Garth Brooks attended spring training camp with the San Diego Padres as a non-roster player. The Padres Foundation agreed to contribute to the Touch 'Em All Foundation in lieu of a salary to Brooks.

On this day in 2000, Sean "Puffy" Combs was indicted on charges of bribing a witness. According to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Combs offered money and jewelry to his driver, and asked him to claim ownership of a gun that police recovered from the Comb's car following a Dec. 27, 1999, shooting at a New York nightclub.

Also on this day in 2000, Carlos Santana won eight Grammy awards, tying Michael Jackson's 1983 record for most Grammys on a single night. "Supernatural'' won the biggest honour, Album of the Year. Christina Aguilera beat out Britney Spears to win the Grammy for Best New Artist. Sting was the surprising winner in the Male Pop Vocal category for "Brand New Day'' and the award for pop album, giving him a career total of 14 Grammy awards. Shania Twain and Eminem won two Grammys apiece. Sarah McLachlan claimed her third career Grammy for female pop vocal performance for "I Will Remember You'' and Diana Krall won her first Grammy for best jazz performance for "When I Look in Your Eyes.''

                                                                                                        
On this day in 2003, Norah Jones won five Grammys, one for every category in which she was nominated, including album of the year. The Grammys show opened with Simon and Garfunkel, the first time they had performed together in a decade.

On this day in 2004, big band singer Don Cornell died at 84 from advanced emphysema and diabetes.  Between 1950 and 1962, Cornell chalked up hits such as "It Isn't Fair,'' "I'm Yours,'' "The Bible Tells Me So,'' "Most of All,'' "I'll Walk Alone'' and "Hold My Hand.''

Also this day in 2004, the finale of "Sex and the City" aired on HBO.

On this day in 2006, British-born John Martin, the inventor of the syndicated T-V show "The New Music'' died. He died in a Toronto hospital from complications from esophageal cancer. He was 57. Influence magazine called Martin the "father of rock video in Canada.''


Today's Birthdays:

Quebec singer/actress Monique Leyrac is 80.

Actor Johnny Seven (Ironside, Amy Prentiss) is 78.  

TV reporter Sylvia Chase (20/20) is 70.

Actor-director Peter Fonda (Supernova, Capital City) is 68.

Actress Jada Rowland (The Hamptons, As the World Turns, The Doctors) is 65.

White blues guitarist Johnny Winter is 64.

Steel guitarist Rusty Young of Poco is 62.

Bass guitarist/singer Steve Priest of the '70s British rock group Sweet is 58.

Actress Patricia Richardson (Home Improvement) is 57.

Guitarist Brad Whitford of Aerosmith is 56.

Singer Howard Jones is 53

Singer/guitarist David Sylvian of the British rock group Japan is 50.

Guitarist Michael Wilton of Queensryche is 46.

Actress Kristin Davis (Sex and the City, Melrose Place) is 43.

Actor Marc Price (Hearts are Wild, Family Ties) is 40.

Bassist Jeff Beres of Sister Hazel is 37.

Guitarist-keyboardist Lasse Johansson of The Cardigans is 35.  

Rocker Tommy McCarthy of "No Authority" is 27.

Actress Dakota Fanning (Taken) is 14.


Chart Toppers

February 23

1950
Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Bing Crosby
There’s No Tomorrow - Tony Martin
The Old Master Painter - Snooky Lanson
Chatanoogie Shoe Shine Boy - Red Foley

1958
Don’t/I Beg of You - Elvis Presley
Sail Along Silvery Moon/Raunchy - Billy Vaughn
Short Shorts - The Royal Teens
Ballad of a Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash

1966
Lightnin’ Strikes - Lou Christie
These Boots are Made for Walkin’ - Nancy Sinatra
My World is Empty Without You - The Supremes
Waitin’ in Your Welfare Line - Buck Owens

1974
The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) - Aretha Franklin
Another Lonely Song - Tammy Wynette

1982
Centerfold - The J. Geils Band
Open Arms - Journey
Shake It Up - The Cars
Only One You - T.G. Sheppard

1990
Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul with The Wild Pair
Two to Make It Right - Seduction
Escapade - Janet Jackson
On Second Thought - Eddie Rabbitt