Tuesday February the 26th

ON THIS DAY in 1887
                                                                                                          
actor William Frawley was born in Burlington Iowa. After 35 years in film he hit the bigtime in the role of Fred Mertz on TV's I Love Lucy.  When that series ended he joined the cast of another longrunning hit My Three Sons. He collapsed of a heart attack on March 3, 1966, aged 79, walking along Hollywood Boulevard after seeing a movie.

On this day in 1914, actor Robert Alda was born in New York City.  Originally a song & dance man, he moved into radio & Broadway stage work.  He was host of two early TV shows (By Popular Demand, What's Your Bid?) and had recurring roles in the series Supertrain, Love of Life & Days of Our Lives.  He guested twice in his son's hit series MASH.  He died May 3 1986, from an embolism caused by a stroke, at age 72.

On this day in 1916, comedian/actor Jackie Gleason (below) was born in Brooklyn. One of the true giants of television, he never won an Emmy. He played the lead in the failed The Life of Riley in 1949, before finding the perfect variety format on Dumont's Cavalcade of Stars in 1950.  His Saturday night sketches, including The Honemooners, moved to CBS in 1952, where they remained for most of the next two decades. His mood music recordings, and his non-comedic acting, were also career highlights. Gleason died of liver & colon cancer June 24, 1987 at age 71.  
              

On this day in 1919, actor Mason Adams was born in Brooklyn. His unique voice was much in demand during the days of bigtime radio, notably in the title role on the popular soap opera Pepper Young's Family.  He is best remembered today as the newspaper boss of Lou Grant in the TV show of that name, and for his commercial voice-overs (i.e. Smuckers Jams).  He died from natural causes Apr 26, 2005 at age 86.

On this day in 1920, actor Tony Randall was born Leonard Rosenberg in Tulsa Oklahoma.  He began in radio, playing Reggie (with an English accent) on I Love a Mystery, among many roles.  His star took off with his supporting role in TV's Mr. Peepers, followed by the series The Odd Couple, The Tony Randall Show, Love Sidney, and bigscreen movies.  Late in life he was a frequent guest with David Letterman. Randall died in his sleep May 17, 2004 of pneumonia following heart surgery.  He was 84.

On this day in 1926, actress Cynthia Stone was born in Peoria Illinois.  She was featured in three early TV series, That Wonderful Guy, The Ad Libbers & The Don Ameche-Frances Langford Show, then had a recurring role on Dr. Kildare.  She died in Dec 1988 at age 62.

On this day in 1932, country singer Johnny Cash (below) was born in Kingsdale, Arkansas.  In 1954, Cash met guitar player Luther Perkins and bass player Marshall Grant. As Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, they sold a million copies of "I Walk the Line'' on the Sun label in 1956.  Cash signed with Columbia in 1958; his string of hits for his new label included "Ring of Fire,'' "A Boy Named Sue'' and "Folsom Prison Blues.''  Johnny died of complications from diabetes that resulted in respiratory failure on September 12, 2003.  He was 71.
                                                                                                        
    
On this day in 1933, actor/comedian Godfrey Cambridge was born in New York City. The Broadway actor broke into TV in a big way as a comedian via his appearances with Jack Paar & Merv Griffin.  As well as variety shows, he had guest roles on episodic TV over a 15 year period. His compulsive eating probably contributed to his untimely death Nov. 29 1976 on the set of the TV movie Victory at Entebbe in which he was to have played General Idi Amin.  He was only 43.
        
On this day in 1937, Canadian composer, arranger and vibraphonist Hagood Hardy was born in Angola, Indiana. He grew up in Oakville, Ontario and in the 60's returned to the US where he played with the likes of Herbie Mann, Martin Denny and George Shearing. Hardy returned to Canada in the late '60s, becoming a leading composer of radio and TV jingles. In 1975, his single "The Homecoming," written as a Salada Tea commercial, became an international award-winning hit.   Hardy died of cancer Jan. 1st, 1997 at age 59.

On this day in 1942, a big banquet, Biltmore Hotel style, was the setting for Hollywood's 14th Academy Awards. President Franklin Roosevelt was heard via radio, thanking the film industry for its WWII defense preparedness work. The final course served up Oscars in sealed envelopes to John Ford (Best Director, "How Green Was My Valley"); Gary Cooper (Best Actor, "Sergeant York"); & Joan Fontaine (Best Actress, "Suspicion.")

On this day in 1945, Bob (Bear) Hite, one of the founders of the 60's blues rock group, Canned Heat, was born in Torrance, Calif.  Canned Heat had hit singles with "On the Road Again,'' "Going Up the Country'' and "Let's Work Together.'' He died of a heart attack April 5 1981 at age 36, and the group ceased to exist.    
            
On this day in 1950, Scottish singer/monologist Harry Lauder, whose recordings were heard frequently on British Empire radio shows in the 30's and 40's, died at about 75.

On this day in 1955, Billboard reported that, for the first time, the 45rpm single format was outselling the 78s.

On this day in 1959, comic/actor Lou Costello of the radio/TV & film comedy team Abbott & Costello, died of a heart attack at age 52.

On this day in 1961, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Pony Time'' by Chubby Checker.

On this day in 1967, comedian Harry McNaughton, one of veteran vaudvillians who made radio's It Pays to be Ignorant (1942-51) such a unique entertainment, died at age 70.

On this day in 1970, the Beatles album "Beatles Again" was released in the U.S. It contained the song "Hey Jude."

On this day in 1972, Harry Nilsson started his second week at number one with that toe-tapping ditty, "Without You". The whiny love song stayed at the top for a total of four weeks.

On this day in 1975, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Best of My Love'' by The Eagles. The song was the group's first No. 1 hit.
                                                                                                                  
On this day in 1977, The Eagles' "New Kid in Town" landed in the top spot on the pop music charts, but for just one week.

On this day in 1977, bluesman Bukka White, also known as Booker T. Washington, died in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 70. His guitar-playing influenced B.B. King and many others while echoes of his singing style can be heard in the voice of 1960's folk artist Ritchie Havens.
    
On this day in 1979, the sitcom "Flatbush" debuted on CBS TV. But the ethnic stereotypes it presented offended Brooklyn's Borough president, and the show was cancelled after 3 episodes.  

Also this day in 1979, the Sex Pistols and their manager, Malcolm McLaren, went to court to divide the band's earnings. It was revealed that only 60-thousand dollars of the group's 1.5-million-dollar gross was left.

On this day in 1983, Charley Pride's "Why Baby Why" topped the country charts. The song was written by George Jones (who found national fame with his own version in 1955) and Darrell Edwards.

                                                                            
Also this day in 1983, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" hit #1 in North America. The LP spent a total of 37 weeks at number one. "Thriller" was certified for sales of more than 26 million copies by the Recording Industry Association of America, and was in a tie with the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1974" as the best-selling album of all time.

On this day in 1985, a 23.8 share of the TV audience watched "The Grammy Awards". The award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Male was presented to Phil Collins for his "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"; Best New Artist for the year was Cindi Lauper and the Best Album of the year award, for "Can't Slow Down", was presented to Lionel Richie. Tina Turner was a big winner, copping Best Song, Best Record and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female for "What's Love Got to Do with It".
    
On this day in 1987, the first four Beatles albums, in their original British formats, were released on compact disc in North America. ''Please Please Me,'' ''With the Beatles,'' ''A Hard Day's Night'' and ''Beatles For Sale'' were the first of 13 Beatles C-D's made available during the year.
    
On this day in 1989, Roy Eldridge, one of the great innovators of the jazz trumpet, died in New York at the age of 78.  
    
Also on this date in 1989, Bruce Cockburn was forced to cancel a show in Ottawa after falling and injuring his nose while taking the stage.A show the next night in Montreal went ahead as scheduled.
    
On this day in 1990, Cornelius Gunter, lead singer for the Coasters, was shot to death in Las Vegas.  He was found slumped over the steering wheel of his car after being shot twice in the head.  

On this day in 1990, the 100th episode of "MacGyver" aired.
    
On this day in 1993  actress Constance Ford, who appeared in episodic TV over 40 years, and had a running role on the soap Another World for 25 years, died of cancer at age 64.

On this day in 1993, singer Bobby Brown and one of his backup singers were fined 580 dollars each in Augusta, Georgia for public lewdness.  Brown and Queline Young were charged with simulating sexual acts during a concert.
    
On this day in 1995, Led Zeppelin bandmates Robert Plant and Jimmy Page began their reunion tour in Pensacola, Florida.  They played plenty of Zeppelin classics but ignored the audience's shouts for ``Stairway to Heaven.''

On this day in 1997, actor David Doyle (below), who played Bosley on 110 episodes of TV's Charley's Angels, died of a heart attack at age 67.  
                                                                                                    

    
Also this day in 1997, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson of Rush became the first rock musicians to be inducted into the Order of Canada. The Canadian government created the honour in 1967 to recognize "significant achievement in important fields of human endeavour."
    
Again this date in 1997, Celine Dion won two Grammy Awards for "Falling Into You" -- album of the year and best pop album.  At the time, "Falling Into You" had sold more than 21 million copies worldwide.  LeAnn Rimes and Toni Braxton also scooped up two Grammys each but the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences wouldn't let them perform at the ceremonies because they had sung at the rival American Music Awards.
    
On this day in 1998, a Texas jury rejected an $11 million lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who blamed Oprah Winfrey for price drop after on-air comment about mad-cow disease.

On this day in 2002, it was reported that NBC extended Conan O'Brien's contract with "Late Night" for four more years.

Also this day in 2002, Alanis Morissette's third album "Under Rug Swept" was released.
  
On this day in 2004, Rosie O'Donnell and girlfriend Kelli Carpenter were married at City Hall in San Francisco.

On this day in 2006, Drew Lachey leaped to victory with professional partner Cheryl Burke on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
                  


Today's Birthdays:

Game show host Tom Kennedy (Name That Tune, You Don't Say, Split Second) s 81.

Singer Fats Domino is 80.

Actress Barbara Meek (Archie Bunker's Place, Big Brother Jake) is 74.

Actor Jack Knight (Street Time, James at 15, Lotsa Luck) is 70.

Guitarist Paul Cotton of Poco is 65.

Actor-director Bill Duke (Karen Sisco, Palmerstown USA) is 65.

Impressionist Marilyn Michaels is 64.

Singer Mitch Ryder is 63. British 60's songstress Sandie Shaw is 61.

Keyboardist Jonathan Cain of Journey is 58.

Singer Michael Bolton is 55.

Bassist-keyboardist Jim Crichton of the Canadian group Saga is 55.

Actor Greg Germann (Ally McBeal) is 50.

Actress Jennifer Grant (Beverly Hills 90210) is 42.

Singer Erykah Badu is 37.

R&B singer Rico Wade of Society of Soul is 36.

Singer Kyle Norman of Jagged Edge is 33.

Singer Corinne Bailey Rae is 29.

Country singer Rodney Hayden is 28.


Chart Toppers  

February 26

1945
Accentuate the Positive - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
I Dream of You - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Freddy Stewart)
Don’t Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
I’m Losing My Mind Over You - Al Dexter

1953
Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como
Till I Waltz Again with You - Teresa Brewer
Keep It a Secret - Jo Stafford
Kaw-Liga - Hank Williams

1961
Pony Time - Chubby Checker
There’s a Moon Out Tonight - The Capris
Surrender - Elvis Presley
North to Alaska - Johnny Horton

1969
Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Can I Change My Mind - Tyrone Davis
Until My Dreams Come True - Jack Greene

1977
New Kid in Town - Eagles
Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
Fly like an Eagle - Steve Miller
Say You’ll Stay Until Tomorrow - Tom Jones

1985
Careless Whisper - Wham! featuring George Michael
Loverboy - Billy Ocean
Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On - Mel McDaniel