Saturday April the 12th

ON THIS DAY in 1919
                
singer/bandleader Billy Vaughn was born in Glasgow Kentucky.  Based on chart success, he was the most successful orchestra leader of all time, with hits like Melody of Love, A Swingin' Safari, Blue Hawaii, Blue Velvet, Chapel By The Sea, Cimarron (Roll On), Hawaiian War Chant, La Paloma, Look For A Star, Orange Blossom Special, Sail Along Silvery Moon, The Shifting Whispering Sands, and Wheels. He died of cancer Sept. 26, 1991 at age 72.

In 1924, Canadian dance band vocalist Lorraine McAllister was born in Saskatoon. She was long associated with her husband Dal Richards' Orchestra, as they performed together at the Panorama Roof of the Hotel Vancouver.  Lorraine & the band were featured on CBC radio broadcasts from "The Roof" every Saturday night for more than a decade.

In 1930, singer Betty Clooney (Rosemary's younger sister) was born in Maysville Kentucky.  When the Clooney Sisters broke up Betty had her own local TV show, and made a few moderately successful recordings, then became a regular on CBS TV's Robert Q. Lewis Show & a short-lived Jack Paar Show.  She succumbed to a brain aneurism Aug. 6 1976 at age 46.

                                                                                                                    
Also in 1930, Herbert Khaury, better known as Tiny Tim, was born in New York City. With his ukelele and his squeaky falsetto voice, he became the '60s' most successful novelty act. He's most remembered for his 1966 hit "Tip Toe Through the Tulips,'' as well as his live 1968 wedding on the "Tonight Show.'' He died of a heart attack on November 29th, 1996, after performing his signature song at a benefit in Minneapolis.

In 1932, the thrill-comedy, Joe Palooka, which would also be a popular comic strip, made its debut on CBS radio.

In 1935, "The Lucky Strike Hit Parade," was first broadcast on NBC radio, with Lenny Hayton & his orchestra playing the Top 15 Songs of the week.  

                
In 1936, a Canadian radio milestone, as J. Frank Willis broadcast non-stop for 69 hours, after an explosion trapped three men in a mine at Moose River, Nova Scotia. The C.R.B.C. broadcasts were picked up by 650 stations in the US and 58 in Canada. Bottom line .. there were two survivors.  And Frank Willis was launched onto a lifelong career in radio & TV.

In 1939, one of the classic theme songs of the Big Band era was waxed for Decca, as Woody Herman's orchestra recorded Woodchopper's Ball.

In 1941, The Life of Riley family comedy was heard for the first time on CBS radio. William Bendix starred in the more successful version first on ABC, then NBC from 1944 to '51.

                                                                                                    
In 1945, one of the towering figures of the 20th Century, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used radio more effectively than any other politician before or since, died of a cerebral hemmorhage at age 63.

In 1954, Bill Haley and the Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock,'' which became the first rock 'n' roll hit to top the charts after its use in the film "Blackboard Jungle.'' It's estimated that "Rock Around the Clock'' has sold more than 23 million copies. Although he did not start rock 'n' roll, Bill Haley and the Comets put the music on the map. Although their recordings sound pretty tame today, they caused mass hysteria and riots at concerts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Also in 1954, Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was released.

                  
In 1959, supporting actor James Gleason, a familiar face in film & on 1950's TV  from Playhouse 90 to Leave It to Beaver,  died from asthma at age 76.

In 1961, Ray Charles won four Grammys, including Best Male Vocal Performance for "Georgia on My Mind.''  Percy Faith's instrumental "Theme From a Summer Place" took top honors.  

In 1964, the 100th episode of the talking horse show "Mr. Ed" with Vancouver's Alan Young, aired on CBS TV.

In 1966, Jan Berry of the surfing music duo Jan and Dean was critically injured in a car accident in Los Angeles. He was totally paralyzed for more than a year, and suffered extensive brain damage that left him basically unable to perform for more than a decade.

                                                                                                              
Also in 1966, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration'' by The Righteous Brothers.

In 1967, Jim Brown made his TV acting debut in Cops and Robbers on the NBC show I Spy, starring Bill Cosby and Robert Culp. I Spy aired from 1965 through 1968. The primary characters, Cosby and Culp, were secret agents posing as a top-notch tennis star and his trainer-companion. I Spy was the first television series to co-star a black actor.

In 1969, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" by 5th Dimension topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.

Also in 1969, Simon & Garfunkel's soon-to-be-smash "The Boxer" was released.  

              
In 1971, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young's live album "Four Way Street" was certified gold by the RIAA.

In 1972, the Rolling Stones released "Exile on Main Street."

In 1975, "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

Also in 1975, Linda Ronstadt released "When Will I Be Loved"

In 1976, actor Paul Ford, best remembered as the bumbling Colonel Hall on TV's Phil Silvers Show (Bilko)(below), died at age 74.
                                                                                                                  

In 1979, Mickey Thomas became the lead vocalist of Jefferson Starship. He was previously best known as the lead singer on the 1976 Elvin Bishop hit, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love." The group, by then called Starship, officially disbanded in 1990.

In 1984, "Louie Louie Day" was held in Olympia, Washinton.

In 1986, a pair of concerts in Irvine, California by the Grateful Dead brought more 1960's memories to life than may have been expected. More than 60 fans were arrested, many for possessing L-S-D.

In 1987, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)'' by Aretha Franklin & George Michael. It was Michael's fourth No. 1 song and Franklin's first in almost 20 years.

Also in 1987, the first episode of "21 Jump Street" starring a young Johnny Depp, aired.

            
In 1988, Sonny Bono was elected mayor of Palm Springs, Calif.

In 1989, Herbert Mills, who performed with the Mills Brothers for nearly 60 years, died in Las Vegas at age 77. The Mills Brothers weathered many changes in musical styles, beginning their hit-making career in 1931 with "Tiger Rag.'' They were still on the charts as late as 1968 with songs such as "Cab Driver'' and "My Shy Violet.'' Their 1943 recording of "Paper Doll'' sold over six million copies.

In 1990, James Brown was released from a South Carolina jail on work furlough after serving 15 months of a six-year sentence for aggravated assault.

                                                                                                        
In 1991, a milestone for the syndicated Entertainment Tonight as the 2,500th episode aired.  

In 1995, a concert featuring Sting, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen at New York's Carnegie Hall raised 1.3 million dollars for the Rainforest Foundation.

In 1997, the broadcaster who founded CFCW Camrose in 1953, Hal Yerxa died at age 76.  In the early 1950's he hosted CKDA's TelOpinion and the CKNW breakfast show.

In 1998, the pilot episode of "Junkyard Wars" aired on The Learning Channel.  It was the US version of a UK show called "Scrapheap Challenge."

In 1999, country singer Boxcar Willie, whose real name was Lecil Martin, died of leukemia at his home in Branson, Missouri. He was 67. Although he had only one Top 40 hit in the U-S, "Bad News'' in 1982, Boxcar Willie was a huge concert star in Britain and North America. In 1987, Boxcar Willie opened a theatre in Branson and became the first name entertainer to work the musical resort town year-round.

                    
Also in 1999, Canadian country music crossover queen Shania Twain became the only female artist in music history to reach 10 million units sold with back-to-back album releases. Twain's third Mercury Records release "Come On Over" was certified 10 times platinum and was granted a Diamond Award by the RIAA.

In 2000, Mavericks drummer Paul Deakin underwent open-heart valve replacement surgery. The procedure repaired a faulty valve caused by a birth defect.

in 2002, Ozzy Osbourne received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2007, Don Imus was fired from his syndicated program by CBS Radio after a week of controversy brought on by racial remarks broadcast a week earlier about the Rutgers women basketball team. One day earlier, Imus' simulcast of his show on MSNBC was canceled.  He returned on other radio & cable TV outlets 8 months later.
                                                                                              

Today's Birthdays:

Country singer Ned Miller is 83.

Actress Jane Withers ("Josephine the Plumber") is 82.

Actor Charles Napier (War & Remembrance, The Critic) is 72.

Jazz musician Herbie Hancock is 68.

Actor Frank Bank (Leave It to Beaver) is 66.

Musician John Kay of Steppenwolf is 64.

Actor Ed O'Neill (Married...With Children) is 62.

Actor Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years, Ed, JAG) is 61.

Talk show host David Letterman is 61.

Singer-actor David Cassidy is 58. S

inger J.D. Nicholas of The Commodores is 56.

Singer Pat Travers is 54.

Actor Andy Garcia (For Love or Country: Arturo Sandoval Story) is 52.

Actress Suzzanne Douglass (The Parent 'Hood) is 51.

Country singer Vince Gill is 51.

Guitarist Will Sergeant of Echo and the Bunnymen is 50.

Singer Art Alexakis of Everclear is 46.

Singer Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls is 44.

Singer Nicholas Hexum of 311 is 38.

Actor Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is 37.

Actress Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed, North Shore) is 37.

Bassist Guy Berryman of Coldplay is 30.

Actress Claire Danes (My So-Called Life) is 29.

Actress Jennifer Morrison (House MD) is 29.

Singer-guitarist Brendon Urie of Panic At The Disco is 21.


Chart Toppers

April 12

1950
If I Knew You Were Comin� I�d�ve Baked a Cake - Eileen Barton
Music, Music, Music - Teresa Brewer
Peter Cottontail - Gene Autry
Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams

1958
Tequila - The Champs
He�s Got the Whole World (In His Hands) - Laurie London
Book of Love - The Monotones
Oh Lonesome Me - Don Gibson

1966
The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler
(You�re My) Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers
Daydream - The Lovin� Spoonful
I Want to Go with You - Eddy Arnold

1974
Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver
Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede
Bennie & The Jets - Elton John
A Very Special Love Song - Charlie Rich

1982
I Love Rock �N Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
We Got the Beat - Go-Go�s
Make a Move on Me - Olivia Newton-John
Big City - Merle Haggard

1990
Love Will Lead You Back - Taylor Dayne
I�ll Be Your Everything - Tommy Page
All Around the World - Lisa Stansfield
Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart - Randy Travis