Thursday April the 10th

ON THIS DAY in 1910
          
pianist & society band leader Eddy Duchin was born in Cambridge Mass.  He became famous for his engaging onstage style, his elegant if not flawless piano style made popular through his many radio broadcasts, and his courageous fight against leukemia, which he lost Feb. 9 1951 at age 40.  Tyrone Power played him in the biographical film The Eddie Duchin Story.

In 1911, composer/pianist Martin Denny was born in New York City. He gained fame as one of the most successful producers of exotica music, a type of big band music with Latin rhythms and overtones of Pacific Ocean culture.  Hits include Quiet Village, The Enchanted Sea, A Taste of Honey & Ebb Tide. He died in Hawaii Mar 2, 2005 at age 93.

In 1921, actor Chuck Connors was born in Brooklyn to parents who hailed from Newfoundland.  He was a professional ball player before making 20 films, but only became a name star in 1958 when he began a 5-year run as star of ABC-TV's The Rifleman.  Later he hosted Thrill Seekers, and co-starred in another series, Arrest & Trial.  He died of lung cancer & pneumonia Nov. 10 1992 at age 71.  

          
Also in 1921, actor/singer/songwriter Sheb Wooley was born near Erick, Okla. He wrote the theme song for the TV show "Hee-Haw'' and the No. 1 novelty song "The Purple People Eater.''  He was named CMA Comic of the Year, and had a recurring role on TV's Rawhide. He died after a long battle with leukemia Sept 16 2003 at age 82.

In 1922, the Sprott-Shaw Schools of Commerce & Wireless Telegraphy and Radio Specialties Ltd. in Vancouver started CJCE on AM 750 with 5 watts of power; the birth of what would later become CKMO/C-FUN.

In 1927, comedian "Alvin" Junior Samples (below) was born in Cummings Georgia. He is best remembered for his 14 years on TV's Hee Haw. He'd broken into show biz when as a stock car driver, he'd told on radio (at some length) how he'd caught the biggest fish his home town had ever seen.  The hilarious broadcast was made into a best selling record.  He suffered a fatal heart attack Nov. 13 1983 & died at age 57.
              

In 1928, saxophonist Fraser MacPherson, one of the most respected jazz musicians in Western Canada, was born in Winnipeg. A resident of Vancouver from 1948 on, MacPherson received international attention in 1975 with his L-P, ''Fraser: Live at the Planetarium.'' MacPherson died of cancer September 27th, 1993 at age 65.

In 1932, Nate Nelson, lead singer of the Flamingos, was born in Chicago. The rhythm-and-blues group scored their first U-S hit in 1953 and hit the charts as late as 1970. "I'll Be Home" and "I Only Have Eyes For You" were two of their biggest hits. Nelson joined the Platters in 1962. He suffered a heart attack & died June 1st, 1984 at age 52.

In 1941, baritone Joseph Saucier, who's thought to be the first French-Canadian musician to have made recordings in this country, died in Montreal at 72. Saucier was one of the most admired Canadian singers in the early years of the 20th century.

          
In 1952, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Wheel of Fortune'' by Kay Starr.

In 1953, singer Eddie Fisher was discharged from the Army and arrived home to a nice paycheck of $330,000 in record royalties. Fisher sold 7 million records for RCA Victor while on furloughs. "Anytime" was just one of several hits recorded during his stint in the Army.

In 1954, the song "Wanted" by Perry Como topped the charts and stayed there for 8 weeks.

In 1956, singer Nat "King'' Cole was beaten up on stage by six anti-black vigilantes in Birmingham, Alabama. The white audience did not come to his aid.
          

In 1957, Ricky Nelson sang for the first time on TV's "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.'' He performed "I'm Walking.''

In 1958, rhythm-and-blues singer Chuck Willis died in an Atlanta hospital after stomach surgery. At his last recording session two months earlier, Willis cut two songs whose titles became strangely ironic -- "What Am I Living For'' and "Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes.'' They became hits after his death.

Also in 1958, Bobby Darin recorded "Splish Splash."

In 1961, Del Shannon performed "Runaway" on "American Bandstand."

In 1962, Stuart Sutcliffe, the Beatles' original bass guitarist, died at 21 following a brain hemorrhage in Hamburg, West Germany. Sutcliffe was invited in 1959 by fellow art student John Lennon to join his group, The Quarrymen, even though Sutcliffe couldn't play. He left the group in 1961.

In 1965, the English group Freddie and the Dreamers reached the top of the U-S charts with "I'm Telling You Now.''
          

In 1967, the 13-day strike by the American Federation of Radio-TV Artists (AFTRA) came to an end less than two hours before the 39th Academy Awards went on the air. Emcee Bob Hope was the host/referee as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and A Man for All Seasons duked it out for the most Oscars. They split right down the middle, with Seasons winning by a nose when it was named Best Picture.

Also in 1967, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit "Somethin' Stupid,'' by Nancy and Frank Sinatra. The duo became the only father-daughter team to ever top the pop chart.

In 1968, "In The Heat Of The Night" was named best picture at the Academy Awards.

In 1970, the progressive rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer was formed when drummer Carl Palmer joined keyboardist Keith Emerson and singer-guitarist Greg Lake.

Also on this date in 1970, Doors lead singer Jim Morrison offered to display his genitals to a Boston audience. The group's keyboardist, Ray Manzarek, physically removed Morrison from the stage. Morrison had been arrested in Miami a year earlier for "lewd and lascivious behaviour" during a performance.

          
In 1971, John Denver made his first appearance on the charts with "Take Me Home Country Roads."

In 1972, "The French Connection" won the best picture and best director at the Academy Awards. Gene Hackman was named best actor for his role in that film. The best original song award went to the "Theme From 'Shaft.'"  Hosts of the  festivities were Helen Hayes, Alan King, Sammy Davis Jr., and Jack Lemmon.

In 1977, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Don't Give Up on Us'' by David Soul. Soul starred as detective Ken Hutchinson in TV's "Starsky and Hutch.''

In 1980, actress Kay Medford, who made repeat appearances on TV's Dean Martin Show, To Rome With Love, Barney Miller, & Love American Style, died of cancer at 65.  

In 1986, Linda Creed, a songwriter considered among the pillars of the Philly Sound in soul music, died at her Pennsylvania home after a long illness. She was 37. Working with Thom Bell, Creed composed more than 20 hit songs for such artists as Teddy Pendergrass, Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis. She also wrote "The Greatest Love of All," Whitney Houston's chart-topping 1986 hit.

          
In 1987, newsman Dick Smythe ended an 18-year run at Toronto's CHUM-FM and walked across the street to CFTR-FM.

In 1989, Alabama was named artist of the decade by the Academy of Country Music. The country-rock band had 21 consecutive number-one hits, including "Feels So Good,'' "The Closer You Get'' and "Roll On.'' The last two winners of the honour had been Marty Robbins and Loretta Lynn.

In 1991, actress Natalie Schafer, famous as Lovey Wentworth Howell on TV's Gilligan's Island, died at 90 from cancer.

                  
Also in 1991, Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block agreed to tape public service announcements warning against doing drugs, driving drunk, and starting fires. The deal was an exchange for having arson charges against him reduced by a Louisville, KY, judge.

Still in 1991, actor Kevin Peter Hall, who was Harry in TV's Harry & the Hendersons, died of AIDS at age 35.

In 1992,  Sam Kinison the loud mouth comedian died in a car crash on a California highway at age 38. The 17-year-old driver was arrested.

In 1993, youths rioted outside a Jakarta stadium after being denied entrance to a Metallica concert. The Indonesian news agency reported 13 people were taken to hospital, and cars and houses were damaged.

                  
In 1994, Charles Kuralt hosted his last episode of "Sunday Morning" on CBS TV. Charles Osgood was his replacement.
    
In 1996, an Oasis concert ended abruptly in Vancouver shortly after it began when the British rock band walked off stage. Guitarist Noel Gallagher had been hit in the eye with a coin and his brother Liam was struck in the head by a shoe. Extra police were called in, but the fans left peacefully.

Also on this date in 1996, Celine Dion performed the first concert at Montreal's Molson Centre.

In 1998, Eddie O'Jay, one of the pioneers of black radio broadcasting, passed away at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y. following complications from two heart attacks. The veteran soul group the O'Jays were named by him.

          
Also in 1998, an appeals court in San Francisco ruled The Kingsmen were owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties from their 1963 recording of "Louie Louie." The band's contract gave them nine per cent of the profits or licensing fees, but never received a cent from two companies who held the recording rights.

In 1999, voice actress Jean Vander Pyl died of lung cancer at age 78.  She was Margaret the wife in radio's Father Knows Best, and had multiple roles in TV's The Jetsons & The Flintstones.  

In 1999, Paul McCartney joined such stars as Elvis Costello, George Michael and Chrissie Hynde to perform "Let It Be'' at a London charity concert. The show honoured McCartney's wife, Linda, who had died of breast cancer a year earlier.

Also in 1999, the song "No Scrubs" by TLC topped the charts and stayed there for 4 weeks.

Again in 1999, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were the musical guests on NBC TV's "Saturday Night Live."

          
In 2000, actor Larry Linville, who gained fame as Major Burns on TV's M*A*S*H, died at age 60, of pneumonia following a cancer operation.

Also in 2000, Sony Music Entertainment announced plans to make its first commercial digital downloads available to U.S. consumers. Sony said it would offer about 50 hit songs from Lauryn Hill, Pearl Jam, Michael Jackson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and others.

In 2001, rapper Eminem was given two years probation on a weapons charge. He was arrested the previous June for allegedly using a gun to hit a man kissing his wife.

Also in 2001, Kevin Olmstead of Ann Arbor, Michigan, won two million, 180-thousand dollars on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire." It's the largest prize ever given out on a T-V game show.

In 2002, the Statler Brothers announced their final tour dates. The group said they planned to continue making music after their retirement from touring.
        

In 2003, three gunmen shot at a convoy of cars, one of which carried Snoop Dogg.


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Harry Morgan (Dragnet, MASH, December Bride) is 93.

Actress Liz Sheridan (Seinfeld, Alf) is 79.

Actor Omar Sharif (Peter the Great, Mysteries of the Great Pyramids) is 76.

Actor Poncie Ponce (Hawaiian Eye) is 75.

Sportscaster John Madden is 72.

Singer Bobbie Smith of The Spinners is 72.

Sportscaster Don Meredith (Monday Night Football) is 70.

Reggae artist Bunny Wailer is 61.

Singer Terre Roche of The Roches is 55.

Actor Peter MacNicol (Numb3rs, Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope) is 54.

Bassist Steven Gustafson of 10,000 Maniacs is 51.

Singer-producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is 50.  

Musician Brian Setzer is 49. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 48.

Singer Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves is 48.

Actor Jeb Adams (Baa Baa Black Sheep, Once Upon a Texas Train) is 47.

Drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander of Primus is 43.

Actor-comedian Orlando Jones (The Evidence, Mad TV) is 40.

Singer Kenny Lattimore is 38.

Rapper Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest is 38.

Blues singer Shemekia Copeland is 29.

Actress Chyler Leigh (That 80's Show, The Practice, Reunion) is 26.  

Actor Ryan Merriman (The Pretender, Veritas: The Quest) is 25.

Singer-actress Mandy Moore (Entourage, Mad TV) is 24.

Actor Hley Joel Osment (Murphy Brown, Thunder Alley) is 20.

Singer-actress AJ Michalka of Aly and AJ is 17.




Chart Toppers - April 10

1948
Manana - Peggy Lee
Now is the Hour - Bing Crosby
I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover - The Art Moonie Orchestra
Anytime - Eddy Arnold

1956
Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
The Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter
(You’ve Got) The Magic Touch - The Platters
Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins

1964
Can’t Buy Me Love - The Beatles
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Suspicion - Terry Stafford
Understand Your Man - Johnny Cash

1972
A Horse with No Name - America
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
I Gotcha - Joe Tex
My Hang-Up is You - Freddie Hart

1980
Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl - Spinners
Call Me - Blondie
Sugar Daddy - Bellamy Brothers

1988
Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car - Billy Ocean
Out of the Blue - Debbie Gibson
Devil Inside - INXS
Famous Last Words of a Fool - George Strait