Sunday June the 22nd

ON THIS DAY in 1846
Adolphe Sax patented his invention -- the saxophone. Sax had invented the instrument early in the 1840's, and by the time the patent was granted there were 14 different saxophones -- seven for orchestras and seven for bands. The saxophones designed for bands are the ones in common use today.

              
In 1939, Bing Crosby and Connee Boswell (above) joined in song to perform An Apple for the Teacher, on Decca Records.

Also in 1939, the first actual telecast of a beauty contest took place from Flushing Meadows.

In 1941, CBS news correspondent Ed Bradley (below) was born in Philadelphia.  He is best remembered for his 26 years on the newsmagazine 60 Minutes. During his earlier career he also covered the fall of Saigon, was the first black television correspondent to cover the White House.  He received 19 Emmy Awards. He died from complications of leukemia Nov 9, 2006 at age 65.
              

In 1954, broadcast journalist Don Hollenbeck, who covered WWII for NBC & then joined CBS, becoming a frequent contributor to "You Are There", being in poor health, committed suicide at age 49.

In 1955, writer Wyllis Cooper, who created the late night radio thriller Lights Out in 1934, and a decade later produced the equally eerie Quiet Please for Mutual Radio, died after a long illness at age 56.  

In 1959, The "Battle of New Orleans", by Johnny Horton, started week number four at the top of the nation's music Tunedex. The song was number one for a total of six weeks. It was Horton's only number one record and million-seller. He had big hits, however, with movie music: Sink the Bismarck and North to Alaska (from the film by the same title, starring John Wayne) -- both in 1960. Horton, from Tyler, TX, married Billie Jean Jones, Hank Williams' widow. Tragically, Johnny Horton was killed in a car crash on November 5, 1960.

              
In 1959, Chuck Berry's "Memphis" was released.

In 1961, the Beatles record Aint She Sweet, Cry for a Shadow, When the Saints Go Marching In, Why, Nobody's Child & My Bonnie, during their gig in Hamburg.

In 1961, the final episode of "You Bet Your Life"/"The Groucho Show" was aired.

In 1963, Fingertips Pt 2, by Little Stevie Wonder, was released. It became Wonder's first number one single on August 10th. Wonder had 46 hits on the pop and R&B music charts between 1963 and 1987. Eight of those hits made it to number one.

Also in 1963, the Safaris' "Wipe Out" was released.

                
In 1964, Barbra Joan Streisand signed a 10-year contract with CBS-TV worth about $200,000 a year. Both CBS and NBC had been bidding for Streisand's talents.

In 1967, the drug possession trial of Rolling Stone members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards opened in London.

In 1967,  the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Windy'' by The Association.

In 1968, the Jeff Beck group made its debut. Singer Rod Stewart was so shy he hid behind speakers for the first few songs.  The band broke up after two L-P's and several North American tours.

Also in 1968, Herb Alpert used his voice and his trumpet to run to the top of the pop music charts. This Guy's in Love with You became the most popular song in the nation this day. It would rule the top of the pop music world for four weeks. It was the only vocal by Alpert to make the charts, though his solo instrumentals with The Tijuana Brass scored lots of hits. Alpert performed on 19 charted hits through 1987.

In 1968, Mason Williams' "Classical Gas" was released.

              
In 1969, singer and movie star Judy Garland died in London at age 47. Despite frequent reports of her ill health, drinking binges and drastic weight changes, the public was shocked at the news. Garland's movie hits included ''The Wizard of Oz,'' containing the classic song ''Over the Rainbow,'' and ''A Star is Born,'' in which she sang ''The Man That Got Away.'' She also appeared frequntly on radio, and TV, where she headlined her own show in the 1960's.

Also in 1969, the rock supergroup Blind Faith -- Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Rick Grech -- released their only album.

Still in 1969, 50-thousand people showed up for Toronto's first rock festival, the Toronto Pop Festival. Headliners included The Band, Chuck Berry, Procul Harum and Blood, Sweat and Tears.

In 1970, Mike Dann resigned as senior vice-president of CBS to join the Children's Television Workshop, the Sesame Street people. Dann became the first major commercial TV industry leader to join forces with a non-commercial operation such as the CTW. As part of his deal, Dann was able to remove the letters A, B, C, N and S from the alphabet, doing what he couldn't do at CBS: eliminate ABC and NBC.

In 1979, actor Emory Parnell, who was the factory foreman on TV's Life of Riley, and a regular on the series Lawman, suffered a heart attack & died at age 85.

                
In 1981, Mark David Chapman, a 25-year-old drifter, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of John Lennon. On December 8th, 1980, Chapman shot Lennon seven times in front of the former Beatle's New York apartment building -- just hours after Lennon gave Chapman his autograph.

In 1984, Aerosmith launched a comeback tour in New Hampshire.

In 1985, "Heaven" by Bryan Adams topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

In 1987, Fred Astaire, America's greatest song and dance man (below), died in Los Angeles at 88. Astaire's debonair style dominated movie musicals in the 1930's as he co-starred in 10 films with Ginger Rogers. His other partners included Cyd Charisse, Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn. Astaire was also a top recording artist in the '30s, with such number-one hits as ''Night and Day'' from ''The Gay Divorcee,'' ''Cheek to Cheek'' from ''Top Hat'' and ''The Way You Look Tonight'' from ''Swing Time.'' As well, his 1951 duet with Jane Powell, ''The Liar's Song,'' is said to have sold a million copies over the years.
              

Also in 1987, composer Joseph Meyer, who wrote the music for such standards as ''Crazy Rhythm'' and ''If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie),'' died in New York at 93. Eddie Cantor made ''Susie'' a number-one hit in 1925. Meyer also co-wrote the words and music for ''California, Here I Come'' with Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. Jolson took that song to the top of the charts in 1924.

In 1988, tenor Dennis Day, who sang and performed in comedy sketches on Jack Benny's radio and t-v shows from 1939 to '65, died in Los Angeles of Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 72.

In 1990, Corinthian (Kripp) Johnson, a founding member of the Dell-Vikings, died in Pontiac, Michigan of cancer. He was 57. One of the first racially-integrated rock 'n' roll groups, the Dell-Vikings had two top-10 hits in 1957 -- "Come Go With Me" and "Whispering Bells."

              
Also in 1990, Billy Joel became the first rock artist to perform at Yankee Stadium.

In 1992, legendary WABC Program Director and consultant, Rick Sklar, died from complications during routine surgery.

Also in 1992, rap star Hammer escaped injury in a shooting at a park in Albuquerque that wounded three members of his touring crew. Police initially said it was a drive-by shooting, then indicated it appeared to be an "internal thing." A Hammer spokesman claimed the wounded were "victims of an act of violence."

In 1993, the illegitimate daughter of Hank Williams reached an out-of-court settlement that ended her eight-year fight for a share of the country legend's songwriting royalties. Cathy Yvonne Stone's share cut into the royalties passed down to Hank Williams Junior. Stone, who performs under the name Jett Williams, was born five days after the elder Williams died in 1953.

                
In 1995, Michael Jackson announced he would re-record a song from his "HIStory" album to remove lyrics condemned as anti-Semitic. The new version of "They Don't Care About Us" removed the lines "Jew me, sue me" and "kick me, kike me." Jackson said the song was intended to demonstrate the ugliness of racism. But Jewish groups said the message would be lost on young people hearing the offensive language. Two million copies of the album with the offending lyrics had already been shipped, and they were not recalled.

Also in 1995, the U-S-based Country Music Television video channel announced it was obtaining a 20 per cent interest in Canada's New Country Network. The U-S channel was removed from Canadian cable systems when the Canadian channel was launched the previous January.

In 1996, "Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.

In 1998, Sir Paul McCartney personally chose and arranged the 45,000 flowers that decorated Manhattan's Riverside Church where the friends and family of Linda McCartney gathered to say a candlelit good-bye to the wife of the former Beatle.

In 2000, comedian Dennis Miller was added as an announcer on ABC's "Monday Night Football."

In 2001, Doobie Brothers drummer Mike Hossack was in a serious motorcycle accident near Sacramento.

              
Also in 2001, the final episode of "Xena: Warrior Princess" aired.

In 2002, syndicated advice columnist Ann Landers died of multiple myeloma at age 83. Landers, whose real name was �Eppie� Lederer, was the twin sister of another advice columnist, Abigail Van Buren (of Dear Abby).  Ann Landers had her own 5-minute CBS Radio show for several years.

In 2005, the man who brought local radio (CJAV) to Port Alberni BC, and operated the Valley's Cable Television for 25 years, Harold Warren died at age 90.

In 2008, actress & TV personality Dody Goodman died at age 92.
                                                                
She became a ditzy regular guest on Jack Paar's Tonight Show; later she would have recurring roles on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Different Strokes.  


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Ralph Waite (The Waltons, Carnivale) is 80.
  
Singer-actor Kris Kristofferson (Dead Man's Gun, Pair of Aces) is 72.

Actor Michael Lerner (Clueless, Kingdom Hospital, Courthouse) is 67.

ABC News reporter Barry Serafin is 67.

Fox News anchor Brit Hume is 65.

Singer Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon is 64.

Actor Andrew Rubin (Jessica Novak, Hometown) is 62.

Singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan of The Turtles is 61.

Actor David L. Lander (Squiggy on Laverne and Shirley) is 61.

Singer Todd Rundgren is 60.

Singer Alan Osmond of The Osmonds is 59.

Actress Meryl Streep (Angels in America, Holocaust) is 59.

Actress Lindsay Wagner (The Bionic Woman, Against All Odds) is 59.

Guitarist Gary Moffet of Canada's April Wine is 59.
  
Ontario-born actor Graham Greene (Red Green Show, Into the West) is 56.

Singer Cyndi Lauper is 55.

Actor Chris Lemmon (Thunder in Paradise, Knots Landing, Brothers & Sisters) is 54.

Actor Tim Russ (Star Trek Voyager) is 52.

Rock musician Garry Beers of (INXS) is 51.

Rock musician Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies) is 49.

Actress Tracy Pollan (Family Ties, Anna Says) is 48.

New Westminster-born actor Nicholas Lea (Kyle XY, Whistler, Once a Thief) is 46.

Actress Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy, NYPD Blue) is 44.

Singer Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones is 44.

Singer Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies is 38.

Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub (24, Larry Sanders Show, Veronica's Closet) is 37.
  
NBC TV personality Carson Daly is 35.

Guitarist Chris Traynor of Helmet is 35.

Actor Donald Faison (Scrubs) is 34.

Actress Lecy Goranson (Roseanne) is 34.

TV personality Jai Rodriguez (Queer Eye For The Straight Guy) is 29.

Actress Lindsay Ridgeway (Boy Meets World) is 23.


Chart Toppers

June 22

1945
Sentimental Journey - The Les Brown Orchestra (vocal: Doris Day)
Dream - The Pied Pipers
Laura - The Woody Herman Orchestra
At Mail Call Today - Gene Autry

1954
Little Things Mean a Lot - Kitty Kallen
Three Coins in the Fountain - The Four Aces
Hernando�s Hideaway - Archie Bleyer
I Don�t Hurt Anymore - Hank Snow

1963
Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto
Hello Stranger - Barbara Lewis
Blue on Blue - Bobby Vinton
Act Naturally - Buck Owens

1972
The Candy Man - Sammy Davis, Jr.
Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond
Nice to Be with You - Gallery
The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. - Donna Fargo

1981
Stars on 45 medley - Stars on 45
Sukiyaki - A Taste of Honey
A Woman Needs Love (Just like You Do) - Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
But You Know I Love You - Dolly Parton

1990
It Must Have Been Love - Roxette
Poison - Bell Biv DeVoe
Step By Step - New Kids on the Block
Love Without End, Amen - George Strait

1999
Livin� La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me) - Blessid Union Of Souls
Write This Down - George Strait