Monday March the 3rd

ON THIS DAY in 1920
                                                                                                    
actor James Doohan was born in Vancouver.  Although indelibly associated with Star Trek in the role of Scotty the Chief Engineer, Doohan's early career saw him taking part in some 4000 radio shiws and 400 TV productions split between Toronto and New York.  He was cast as Timber Tom, the Canadian equivalent of Buffalo Bob, on the CBC's version of Howdy Doody.  He died of pneumonia & Alzheimers July 20 2005 at age 85.

In 1922, radio station WWJ Detroit began broadcasting. The call letters are still in use today as WWJ Newsradio 950.

n 1927, bluesman Herman (Junior) Parker was born in West Memphis, Arkansas. Influenced and aided early in his career by Sonny Boy Williamson, Parker cut his first records for the Sun label in 1952. His "Feelin' Good'' hit the rhythm-and-blues top 10 the following year.  And, Elvis Presley recorded Parker's "Mystery Train'' for Sun in 1955. Junior Parker died in 1971 following eye surgery.

In 1928, country singer Dave Dudley was born in Spencer Wisconsin.  His big hit was "Six Days on the Road", and he specialized in trucking songs such as "Truck Drivin' Son-Of-a-Gun", "Trucker's Prayer" and "Anything Leaving Town Today". He died Dec 22 2003 at age 75.

Also in 1928, singer/songwriter Don Gibson was born in Shelby North Carolina. His major song successes include "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Oh Lonesome Me", "Blue Blue Day", "Sea of Heartbreak" & "Lonesome No. 1." He died Nov 17 2003 at age 75.

In 1931, singer and bandleader Cab Calloway recorded his theme song, "Minnie the Moocher," said to be one of the first million-selling jazz records.
    
In 1940, Artie Shaw and his orchestra recorded "Frenesi" on RCA Victor.

in 1945, mystery fans remember this day when they gathered around the radio set to listen to the Mutual Broadcasting System as Superman encountered Batman and Robin for the first time. POW! ZING! BONK!

In 1952, "Whispering Streets" debuted on ABC radio, remaining on the air until Thanksgiving week, 1960. The end of that show brought down the curtain on what is called "the last day of the radio soap opera" (November 25, 1960).

                                                                    
In 1955, a truck driver from Tupelo, Mississippi made his first TV appearance. Elvis Aron Presley was featured on Louisiana Hayride.

In 1957, Samuel Cardinal Stritch banned rock 'n' roll from Chicago archdiocese Roman Catholic schools.

In 1961, the first Supremes single, "I Want a Guy" was released.

In 1962, Vancouver's CKWX AM 1130 published its last Top 40 Survey, relinquishing the field to CFUN 1410.  The final #1 was "Stranger on the Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk.

In 1965, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "My Girl'' by The Temptations (below). The song was written by Smokey Robinson.
                                                                                                      

In 1966, Canadian Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles. The group laid the groundwork for country rock, and several members later found success in Poco and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

In 1966, singer Lou Christie was striking gold for Lightnin' Strikes, which turned out to be his only million seller.  

Also in 1966, John Lennon was reported in a London newspaper as saying the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus Christ.'' Lennon later apologized for the remark.

In 1966, actress/comedienne Alice Pearce, who had her own show in the early days of TV, and was memorable as Gladys Kravitz in the hit sitcom Bewitched, died of ovarian cancer at age 52.
    
                                                                  
In 1967, Eric Burdon and the Animals refused to do a show in Ottawa unless they were paid in advance. Three-thousand members of the audience went on a rampage, causing five-thousand dollars damage.
    
Also on this date in 1967, the Jeff Beck Group, featuring Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, made what news reports termed a disastrous debut in London.

In 1974, actress/singer Barbara Ruick died of a cerebral hemmorhage at age 43. The daughter of the first Lux Radio Theatre announcer Melville Ruick, & radio/TV actress Lurene Tuttle was a regular on both the Jerry Colonna TV Show & The Johnny Carson Show (1955) and made a few records for the MGM label.

In 1974, "Nova" debuted on PBS.  It was based on the BBC TV series "Horizon."

                     
In 1977, Bruce Springsteen dropped in to a Kiss recording session, where he contributed some guitar licks to the song "Love Gun."

In 1978, Van Halen opened its first tour at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. The group's contract specified that M&Ms be provided to the group during the stint with the brown candies removed.

In 1982, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana lapsed into a coma in Italy after taking a combination of Valium and champagne.

In 1982, the re-formed Mamas and Papas, with Spanky McFarlane replacing the late Mama Cass Elliot and MacKenzie Phillips replacing step-mom Michelle Phillips, made their debut in New York City.
    
In 1983, a Cleveland member of the Hell's Angels told a U-S Senate panel that the California branch of the biker gang had had a contract out on Mick Jagger ever since the Rolling Stones' disastrous appearance at Altamont in 1969.
    
In 1984, "Woke Up In Love'' by Exile reached the top of the country charts. It was the group's first number-one hit.
                                                                                              
In 1985, the TV show "Moonlighting" with Cybill Shepard & Bruce Willis (below), premiered on ABC.
                                                                                                              
    
In 1986, the pilot episode of "Matlock" aired on NBC.

In 1987, musical comedy star Danny Kaye, who had his own TV variety show, died at age 74.
    
In 1990, the 100th episode of "ALF" aired on NBC.

In 1991, Arthur Murray, the dean of ballroom dancing instructors, died in Honolulu at age 95. He became a household name in 1942 when Jimmy Dorsey and the King Sisters had competing versions of the hit "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry."

Also in 1991, Celine Dion won Juno Awards for Best Album and Best Female Vocalist; Colin James won Best Single and Top Male Vocalist; Rita McNeil won Best Female Country Vocalist; Prairie Oyster won Best Country Group; Blue Rodeo won Best Group; Tragically Hip won the Juno for Entertainer of the Year.
    
                                                                          
In 1993, guitarist Carlos Montoya, who helped transform flamenco from Spanish folk music into an internationally popular style, died in Wainscott, New York. He was 89.
    
Also this date in 1993, Van Halen paid the city of West Hollywood, California, 10-thousand dollars after three-thousand fans turned up at the Whisky nightclub where 200 tickets were being sold for a surprise concert. The city demanded payment for police used to control the crowd.
    
In 1994, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee was put on probation for a year after pleading no contest to carrying a gun at Los Angeles International Airport.
    
In 1995, REM drummer Bill Berry underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage two days after falling ill during a concert in Lausanne, Switzerland.
    
In 1998, gangsta rapper C-Bo was jailed in Sacramento, California after prison officials said lyrics on his album "Til My Casket Drops" violated provisions of his parole which banned him from promoting the gang lifestyle or anti-law enforcement sentiments. Officials cited anti-police lyrics such as -- "So when they try to pull you over, shoot 'em in the face, y'all."

Also in 1998, Madonna's album "Ray of Light" was released.
    
                
In 1999, Shania Twain turned up in an unlikely place when she was seen hanging on Nancy's wall in the form of a poster in the "Nancy" comic strip.
  

Today's Birthdays:  

TV commentator/host John McLaughlin (McLaughlin Group) is 81.

Actor Joe Conley (The Waltons) is 80.

Singer/guitarist Mike Pender {The Searchers) is 66.

Actress Hattie Winston (Becker, The Electric Company) is 63.

Singer Jennifer Warnes is 61.

Actor-director Tim Kazurinksy (Sat. Night Live) is 58.

Singer-guitarist Robyn Hitchcock is 55.

Actress Miranda Richardson (Blackadder) is 50.

Rapper Tone-Loc is 42.

Guitarist John Bigham (Fishbone) is 39.

Actress Julie Bowen (Boston Legal, Ed) is 38.

Country singer Brett Warren of The Warren Brothers is 37.

Actor David Faustino (Married...With Children) is 34.

Actress Jessica Biel (7th Heaven) is 26.
  

Chart Toppers

March 3

1950

Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Bing Crosby
There’s No Tomorrow - Tony Martin
Music, Music, Music - Teresa Brewer
Chatanoogie Shoe Shine Boy - Red Foley

1958
Don’t/I Beg of You - Elvis Presley
A Wonderful Time Up There/It’s Too Soon to Know - Pat Boone
Tequila - The Champs
Ballad of a Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash

1966
These Boots are Made for Walkin’ - Nancy Sinatra
The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler
My World is Empty Without You - The Supremes
Waitin’ in Your Welfare Line - Buck Owens

1974
Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
Spiders & Snakes - Jim Stafford
Boogie Down - Eddie Kendricks
Another Lonely Song - Tammy Wynette

1982
Centerfold - The J. Geils Band
Open Arms - Journey
Shake It Up - The Cars
Lord, I Hope This Day is Good - Don Williams

1990
Escapade - Janet Jackson
Dangerous - Roxette
Roam - The B-52’s
No Matter How High - The Oak Ridge Boys