Wednesday June the 4th

ON THIS DAY in 1917
broadcast journalist Charles Collingwood was born in Three Rivers Michigan.
              
As a protege of Edward R. Murrow he was a top-level CBS news correspondent from WWII thru Viet Nam. He went on to become chief correspondent of CBS and host of its "Eyewitness to History" series. Retiring from the network in 1982, he died from cancer Oct 3, 1985 at age 68.

In 1924, actor Dennis Weaver (below) was born in Joplin Missouri. He rose to stardom as Chester on TV's Gunsmoke, then went on to have feature roles in McCloud, Emerald Point NAS, Lonesome Dove:The Series, Pearl, Centennial, Stone & Wildfire.  He died of complications from cancer Feb 24, 2006 at age 81.
                

In 1934, the Dorsey Brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, recorded Annie's Cousin Fanny on the Brunswick label. The track featured trombonist Glenn Miller, who also vocalized on the tune.

In 1942, Capitol Record Co opened for business in Hollywood. Glenn Wallichs came up with the idea that he could send new records to influential radio announcers all around the U.S. and, maybe, add to the chances that stations would play the records. The practice would soon become common among most record labels.

In 1943, Ladies Be Seated was heard for the first time on the Blue network.  Two years later Johnny Olsen & his wife took over the daytime audience-participation show, enroute to his becoming the legendary prototype for TV quiz show announcers.

In 1944, "Leonidas Witherall" was first broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Witherall was a detective who looked just like William Shakespeare.

              
In 1949, "Cavalcade of Stars" debuted on the DuMont TV Network; Jackie Gleason was made host in 1950.

In 1955, the "Mickey Rooney Show" was aired on NBC for the last time.

In 1958, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "The Purple People Eater,'' by Sheb Wooley. Wooley played Peter Nolan on TV's "Rawhide.'' He also recorded comic recordings under the name Ben Colder and wrote the "Hee Haw'' theme song.

              
In 1962, legendary sportscaster Clem McCarthy died. McCarthy was the first to announce the running of the Kentucky Derby back in 1928 and called every Derby through 1950. He also announced early boxing matches for NBC radio.

In 1963, "Pop Go the Beatles" was first broadcast on BBC radio.

Also in 1963, the Searchers released their debut single "Sweets For My Sweet."

In 1964, the Beatles "World Tour" began in Copenhagen Denmark.

In 1965, the Rolling Stones released "Satisfaction."

              
In 1967, "The Monkees'' T-V show won an Emmy award for outstanding comedy series.

In 1973, Murray Wilson, father of three of the Beach Boys, died of a heart attack at 55. He managed the band and negotiated their first contract with Capitol Records in 1962. Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson later accused their father of verbal and physical abuse.

In 1979, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Love You Inside Out,'' by The Bee Gees.

In 1981, the final episode of "The Waltons" aired on CBS TV.  Six TV movies followed between 1982 and 1997.
              

In 1983, Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers was one of 19 Canadians killed as Air Canada DC-9, flying from Texas to Toronto, caught fire and made an emergency landing at Cincinnati. 23 of 46 passengers and crew died from smoke and flames due to a fire caused by smoking in a washroom.

In 1984, Bruce Springsteen released his "Born in the U.S.A." album.

In 1986, the first of six Amnesty International shows was held in San Francisco. A crowd of 14-thousand turned out to hear Bryan Adams, Sting, U-2 and Peter Gabriel.

Also in 1986, a Los Angeles judge ordered the producers of the ''Beatlemania'' stage show and movie to pay Apple Corps Limited, the Beatles' record and holding company, 10 million dollars. The judge ruled the show's primary purpose was to exploit commercially the Beatles' popularity. ''Beatlemania'' featured four Beatle lookalikes who performed the group's biggest hits.

In 1991, British police seized 23-thousand copies of an album (Efil4zaggin) by American rappers N-W-A. A warrant had been issued under the Obscene Publications Act. But a judge cleared the album for release five months later.

              
In 1992, the "young Elvis" stamp beat out the "Vegas Elvis" stamp in a contest conducted by the US Postal Service. More than a million votes were tallied.

In 1994, Derek (Lek) Leckenby, the lead guitarist with Herman's Hermits, died in Manchester, England of cancer. He was 48. The group had such '60s hits as "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry the eighth, I Am."  Leckenby performed with the group until a month before his death.

In 1996, a show by Metallica in the parking lot of Tower Records in San Jose, California as their "Loaf" album was released, drew 10-thousand fans. The resulting traffic jam and overworked police officers left the record store, the promoter and the band's record company facing charges of disturbing the peace, obstructing traffic and failure to get a permit.

In 1997, Ronnie Lane, bass guitarist and co-founder of the British group Small Faces, died of multiple sclerosis at his Colorado home. He was 51.

Also in 1997, the body of singer Jeff Buckley was pulled from the Mississippi River in Memphis, six days after he jumped into the city's harbour. Buckley, who was 30, was in Memphis to record an album for Columbia. His father, folk singer Tim Buckley, died at 28 of a drug overdose in 1975.

Still in 1997, actor Matthew Perry of TV's Friends entered a drug rehabilitation program for addiction to prescription painkillers.

              
Again in 1997, the final episode of "Married With Children" aired on FOX.

In 1998, Angel South, lead guitarist for the '70s jazz-rock band Chase, died in Placerville, California of prostate cancer. He was 55. South played on the band's debut album in 1971, which featured the hit single "Get It On.''

Also in 1998, Ray Charles celebrated his 50th year in the music industry by performing with an all-star reunion band at the 15th annual Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park.

Still in 1998, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire and the pop group Hanson teamed up to benefit Children's Miracle Network hospitals. The entertainers gave a private concert, which was shown via satellite on TV screens in over 1,200 Wal-Mart electronics departments and broadcast in stores over "Wal-Mart Radio."

              
In 1999, country singer Tim McGraw and more than 400 listeners are forced to evacuate his charity concert at the 7th House in Pontiac, Mich., after a woman uses pepper spray against a man she claims groped her. McGraw fell to his knees, choking, in mid-song, and frightened audience members fled the hall, coughing and holding shirts over their faces.

In 2005, Creed announced their breakup.


Today's Birthdays:

Sex therapist/TV celebrity Dr. Ruth Westheimer is 80.

Jazz singer Morgana King is 78.

Actor Bruce Dern (Big Love, Space) is 72.

Musician Roger Ball is 64.

Jazz musician Anthony Braxton is 63.

Singer Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon is 63.

Singer/actress Michelle Phillips (Knots Landing, Beverly Hills 90210, Malibu Shores) is 63.

Ex-ABC journalist Bettina Gregory is 62.

Radio host George Noory (Coast to Coast) is 58.

Bassist Danny Brown of The Fixx is 57.

Actor Parker Stevenson (Hardy Boys, Melrose Place, Baywatch) is 56.

Actress Carlene Watkins (It's Not Easy, Mary, Bob) is 56.

Actor Keith David (The Job, ER, The Big House) is 52.

Actor Eddie Velez (General Hospital, A-Team, Live Shot) is 50.

Actress Julie White (Grace Under Fire, Six Feet Under) is 47.

Singer El DeBarge is 47.

Actress Lindsay Frost (As the World Turns, Birdland, Bird) is 46.

Actor Scott Wolf (The Nine, Everwood, Party of Five) is 40.

Actor Noah Wyle (ER) is 37.

Bassist Stefan Lessard of The Dave Matthews Band is 34.

Comedian Horatio Sanz (Filmore!) is 34.

Actress Angelina Jolie (George Wallace, Gia) is 33.

Bassist JoJo Garza of Los Lonely Boys is 28.


Chart Toppers

June 4

1947
Mam�selle - Art Lund
Linda - Buddy Clark with the Ray Noble Orchestra
My Adobe Hacienda - Eddy Howard
What is Life Without Love - Eddy Arnold

1955
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado
A Blossom Fell - Nat King Cole
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
In the Jailhouse Now - Webb Pierce

1963
It�s My Party - Lesley Gore
I Love You Because - Al Martino
Da Doo Ron Ron - The Crystals
Lonesome 7-7203 - Hawkshaw Hawkins

1971
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
Want Ads - The Honey Cone
It Don�t Come Easy - Ringo Starr
I Won�t Mention It Again - Ray Price

1979
Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
Love You Inside Out - Bee Gees
We are Family - Sister Sledge
If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me - Bellamy Brothers

1987
With or Without You - U2
You Keep Me Hangin� On - Kim Wilde
Always - Atlantic Starr
It Takes a Little Rain (To Make Love Grow) - The Oak Ridge Boys