Tuesday June the 17th

ON THIS DAY in 1904,
actor Ralph Bellamy was born in Chicago.  
              
He starred in the early TV series Man Against Crime, & was host of Frontier Justice.  He played FDR in two mini-series, The Winds of War and War & Remembrance, and feature roles in mini-series Wheels, Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers, Once an Eagle, & Testimony of Two Men. He died of a lung ailment Nov 29, 1991 at age 87.

In 1910, country singer/songwriter Red Foley was born Clyde Julian Foley in Blue Lick Kentucky. His hit songs include "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy", "Old Shep", "Sugarfoot Rag", "Tennessee Saturday Night," & "Peace in the Valley."  Over two decades he sold in excess of 25 million records. He was host of the 50's ABC TV show Ozark Jubilee, and later was a regular on the Fess Parker series Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  He died after a heart attack Sep 19, 1968 at age 58.

              
In 1915, country comedian/banjo player "Stringbean" was born David Akeman in Jackson County Kentucky.  He appeared regularly on radio on Grand Ole Opry, and on TV first in Ozark Jubilee & later (1969) on Hee Haw, for which most people will remember Stringbean.  He & his wife were murdered in their home by burglars Nov 11, 1973..he was 58.  

In 1941, WNBT-TV, channel 4 in New York City, was granted the first construction permit to operate a commercial TV station in the United States. (WNBT signed on the air on July 1, 1941 at 1:29 p.m.) Owned by Radio Corporation of America (RCA), the station later changed its call letters to WRCA and then WNBC.

In 1942, 'Suspense,' known as radio's outstanding theatre of thrills, debuted on CBS radio. The program kept millions of loyal listeners in suspense for the next 20 years.

In 1945, The Adventures of Topper, a brief radio series which had a much more effective run as an early TV series, debuted on NBC.

In 1954, the televised Senate Army McCarthy hearings ended.

In 1957, "So Rare" by Jimmy Dorsey Orch peaked at #2.

              
In 1961, actor Jeff Chandler, who starred on radio as detective Michael Shayne, and as Our Miss Brooks' love interest Mr. Boynton, died due to loss of blood during disc herniation surgery at age 40.  It was ruled medical malpractice.

In 1965, The Kinks arrived in New York City to start their first U.S. tour.

In 1967, Moby Grape released 5 singles simultaneously on CBS Records.

Also in 1967, the Hollies' "Carrie Ann" was released.

              
Still in 1967, "Somebody To Love" by Jefferson Airplane peaked at #5.  

In 1968, the studio bubblegum group ''Ohio Express'' received a gold record for their single ''Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.''

In 1969, jazz man Charles Mingus came out of a two-year, self-imposed retirement to make a concert appearance at the Village Vanguard in New York City.

In 1972, keyboardist Ron (Pigpen) McKernan played his final gig with the Grateful Dead at the Hollywood Bowl. He died the following March of alcohol-induced liver failure and internal bleeding.

                
Also in 1972, the No. 1 Billboad Pop Hit was "The Candy Man,'' by Sammy Davis Jr. The biggest pop hit of Davis' career, the song is featured in the film "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.''

Still in 1972, Paul McCartney released "Mary Had a Little Lamb.'' The musical version of the nursery rhyme reached No. 28 on Billboard's Hot 100 and No. 9 in Great Brit[/img]ain.

Again in 1972, "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool" by Little Jimmy Osmond peaked at #38.

In 1973, actor Luis Van Rooten, who on radio played the lead in Nero Wolfe, and a variety of supporting roles all over the TV & radio dial, died at age 66.

                  
In 1974, actress Pamela Britton, best remembered as TV's Blondie, and Mrs. Lorelei Brown on the series My Favorite Martian, died of a brain tumour at age 50.

In 1977, guitarist Michael Schenker of the British hard-rock band U-F-O went into hiding for six months rather than tell the band that he wanted to leave. Schenker, a German, later said he didn't speak English well enough to explain how he felt. He eventually split with U-F-O in 1979 to form his own group.

In 1977, Steve Winwood released his first solo album, "Steve Winwood."

                
In 1978, Grace Slick's alcoholism prevented her from going on stage with Jefferson Starship at a concert in St. Goarhausen, West Germany. Fans rioted, causing more than one-million dollars in damage. Slick left the Starship two days later.

Also in 1978, Shadow Dancing, by Andy Gibb, reached the number one spot on the pop music charts for the first of seven weeks. Gibb had two other number one hits: I Just Want to Be Your Everything and (Love is) Thicker than Water. Gibb, the youngest of the Gibb brothers who made up the Bee Gees, hosted TV's Solid Gold in 1981-82. Andy scored nine hits on the pop music charts in the 1970s and 1980s. He died of an inflammatory heart virus in Oxford, England in 1988.

              
Still in 1978, "Cheeseburger In Paradise" by Jimmy Buffett peaked at #32 on the pop charts.

In 1980, Led Zeppelin began their last tour of Europe.

In 1982, disgraced former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on "The CBS Morning News."

In 1984, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "The Reflex,'' by Duran Duran. It was the group's first No. 1 hit in North America.
              

Also in 1984, actor Chet Allen, who was TV's first Amahl in the Christmas favorite Amahl & the Night Visitors (1951), died at age 51.

In 1985, "The Discovery Channel" signed on in the U.S.  First program was "Iceberg Alley."  Discovery Channel has since expanded to at least 27 channels all over the world.

Also in 1985, Judy Norton-Taylor, who played the role of Mary Ellen on The Waltons, saw her good-girl image tarnished as she was photographed nude for Playboy magazine.

                
In 1986, singer Kate Smith, whose rendition of ''God Bless America'' made her a symbol of U-S patriotism, following a long career in 30's & 40's radio, died in Raleigh, North Carolina at age 79.

Also on this date in 1986, Stevie Wonder opened his first North American tour in five years in Seattle. The tour, which played 64 cities in the U-S and Canada, carried the same name as Wonder's ''In Square Circle'' album. It was a tribute to a new U-S holiday in honour of Martin Luther King.

In 1987, Vittoria Holman, a St. Petersburg, Florida real estate agent, sued Motley Crue and a concert promoter for hearing loss allegedly incurred at a 1985 concert. Holman and her daughter had front-row seats less than three metres from a wall of speakers. The case was settled when the band's insurance company paid more than 30-thousand dollars.

In 1988, Jack Leonard, the star vocalist for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 1935 to '39, died of cancer in Los Angeles at 73. He sang on two of Dorsey's biggest hits -- "Marie'' and "All the Things You Are.''

              
Also in 1988, Vancouver's CKWX AM 1130 moved to its new studios at 2440 Ash Street. The 1275 Burrard Street studios (above) had opened in 1956 as a statement about radio's future in the TV era.
                
In 1989, Ringo Starr announced he would tour again for the first time in several years. His first All-Starr Band included Clarence Clemons, Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, and Nils Lofgren.

Still in 1989, "I'll Be Loving You Forever" by the New Kids on the Block topped the charts ..but stayed #1 for just the one week.

In 1991, country entertainer Minnie Pearl suffered a stroke at age 78.  While it was debilitating she lived another 5 years, mostly in a nursing home.  

Also in 1991, the 100th episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" aired.
              

In 1992, Dewey Balfa, the Louisiana fiddler who took Cajun music from the bayous to a national audience, died at 65 in Eunice, Louisiana. Balfa was described as the premier ambassador for Cajun music and culture throughout the world.

In 1994, O.J. Simpson, charged with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, could not be located and became a fugitive from justice.  He was spotted in a white Ford Bronco belonging to Simpson�s friend Al Cowlings on a Los Angeles freeway. Simpson had a gun (according to Cowlings who talked to police by phone from the Bronco). The pair led police on a 60-mile, televised low-speed pursuit through L.A. Seen by a world-wide audience, it was a gripping, if not excruciatingly slow, show.

Also in 1994, Latin pop singer Jon Secada fell through the rostrum as he was approaching the stage to perform to an estimated one-billion television viewers during the opening ceremonies of the World Cup soccer tournament in Chicago. Secada could not pull himself out, and since the band was already playing, he began singing with only his head above stage level. He was eventually pulled from the hole, and moved to centre stage to finish his performance. Secada was later diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder.

              
In 1995, British pop star Cliff Richard became Sir Cliff after being awarded a knighthood.

Also in 1995, Rod Stewart set an attendance record for Wembley Stadium with a concert crowd of 90,000. The 1985 Live Aid concert drew 72,000.

In 1997, Ozzy Osbourne cancelled his solo set and his reunion with Black Sabbath scheduled for an "Ozzfest" tour stop near Columbus, Ohio. Osbourne claimed he had lost his voice. Other groups on the bill performed as scheduled, but disappointed fans set fires and damaged the outdoor facility. Twenty-three people were arrested and three were slightly hurt. Osbourne and Black Sabbath played a makeup date two weeks later.

In 1998, r&b vocalist Jody Watley said she was told "by the powers that be" at Atlantic Records that although they intended to release her album "Flowers" outside of North America, the label would not release the project in the U.S.   Watley said she received no explanation when she was informed of the decision.

              
In 2000, the Grand Ole Opry, carried since 1925 on WSM radio in Nashville, began webcasting at http://www.opry.com or http://www.wsmonline.com.

In 2005, Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller died of throat cancer in Minneapolis. He was 41.

In 2006, actor Arthur Franz died from emphysema & heart disease at age 86.  Besides his many B movie roles, he was a familiar face in scores of early TV series including Perry Mason, The F.B.I., The Mod Squad, The Virginian and Rawhide.
              

Today's Birthdays:

Tennis commentator Bud Collins is 78.

Actor Peter Lupus (TV's Mission: Impossible) is 76.

Singer Dickie Doo (born Gerry Granahan) of Dickie Doo & the Don'ts is 69.

All-night radio host Art Bell (Coast to Coast AM) is 63.

Singer Barry Manilow is 62.

Lead singer/guitarist Russell Smith with the Amazing Rhythm Aces is 59.

Vancouver hockey TV analyst John Garrett is 57.

Comedian Joe Piscopo (100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd) is 57.

Rock and contemporary Christian singer Lenny LeBlanc is 57.

Actor Mark Linn-Baker (Twins, Perfect Strangers, Hanging With Mr. Cooper) is 54.

Actor Jon Gries (The Pretender) is 51
.
Musician Philip Chevron (The Pogues) is 51.

Actor Thomas Haden Church (Wings, Ned and Stacy) is 47.

Actor Greg Kinnear (Later, Talk Soup) is 45.
  
Singer Kevin Thornton of Color Me Badd is 39.

Actor-rapper Herculeez of Herculeez and Big Tyme is 23.

Actor Damani Roberts (King of Queens, All About the Andersons) is 12.


Chart Toppers

June 17

1949
Riders in the Sky - Vaughn Monroe
Again - Doris Day
Bali Ha�i - Perry Como
One Kiss Too Many - Eddy Arnold

1958
The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
Do You Want to Dance - Bobby Freeman
Yakety Yak - The Coasters
All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers

1967
Groovin� - The Young Rascals
She�d Rather Be with Me - The Turtles
Somebody to Love - Jefferson Airplane
All the Time - Jack Greene

1976
Silly Love Songs - Wings
Get Up and Boogie (That�s Right) - Silver Convention
Misty Blue - Dorthy Moore
I�ll Get Over You - Crystal Gayle

1985
Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
Heaven - Bryan Adams
Things Can Only Get Better - Howard Jones
Country Boy - Ricky Skaggs

1994
I Swear - All-4-One
I�ll Remember - Madonna
Any Time, Any Place/And On and On - Janet Jackson
That Ain�t No Way to Go - Brooks & Dunn

2003
Miss Independent - Kelly Clarkson
Bring Me to Life - Evanescence
Get Busy - Sean Paul
Beer for My Horses - Toby Keith (with Willie Nelson)