Sunday July the 27th

ON THIS DAY in 1916,
actor Keenan (Francis Xavier Aloysius) Wynn was born in New York City.
              
His father was the great burlesque,radio and TV buffoon Ed Wynn while his maternal grandfather, Frank Keenan, earned distinction as a Shakespearean tragedian.  After establishing himself in film as a strong character actor Keenan played a succession of supporting parts on radio & TV, including recurring roles in the series Dallas & The Last Precinct.  He was still playing radio roles as late as 1973 in the syndicated Zero Hour. He died from cancer Oct 14, 1986 at age 70.

In 1920, Henry D. (Homer) Haynes of the country comedy duo of Homer and Jethro was born near Knoxville Tennessee.  The partnership lasted 39 years -- from 1932 until Homer's death.
              
Their specialty was parodies of popular songs. Among their hits in a 20-year recording career for R-C-A Victor were "The Battle of Kookamonga,'' a takeoff on Johnny Horton's hit, "Battle of New Orleans,'' and "That Hound Dog in the Window,'' which parodied Patti Page's "How Much is That Doggie in the Window.''  Homer died after a heart attack August 7, 1971 at age 51.

In 1925, Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, one of the most popular string bands of the 1920's, held their first recording session. Among the songs waxed for Columbia was "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down,'' which has been revived by Joan Baez and other contemporary folk singers.

In 1931, Okanagan Broadcasters Ltd. was incorporated, in preparation for the conversion of radio station 10AY to CKOV at 1230 khz. with 100 watts.  By 1934 it had migrated to 630 khz where it remained for the next 73 years.

              
In 1942, Peggy Lee recorded her first hit record -- in New York City. With the backing of the Benny Goodman band, Miss Lee sang Why Don’t You Do Right for Columbia Records.

In 1959, brothers, Santo & Johnny (Farina) of Brooklyn saw their one and only hit record, the instrumental Sleepwalk released. Sleepwalk was number one for two weeks.

In 1961, The Tokens recorded their soon-to-be-smash hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" at a studio in New York.

In 1962, the Canadian Talent Library began operations, to help radio cope with the 30% quota that would be imposed a few years later.

              
In 1965, the Don Harron-Norman Campbell musical "Anne of Green Gables'' premiered at the Charlottetown Festival.

In 1971, a musical version of ''Two Gentlemen of Verona'' premiered at the New York Shakespearean Festival. The music was by Montreal-born Galt McDermott, and it won the Tony Award for best musical of the 1971-72 Broadway season.

In 1974, Louisiana bluesman Lightnin' Slim, whose real name was Otis Hicks, died in Detroit of a stomach tumour. He was 61.

              
Also in 1974, NBC-TV removed Dinah’s Place from its daytime programming roster. The move brought Dinah Shore’s 23-year association with the Peacock Network to a close.

Still in 1974, John Denver’s biggest hit song reached the top of the Billboard singles chart. Annie’s Song, written for his wife, became the most popular song in the U.S. Denver had three other #1 songs: Sunshine on My Shoulders, Thank God I’m a Country Boy and I’m Sorry.

Again in 1974, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" was released.

In 1976, John Lennon was granted permanent residency in the United States, ending a lengthy legal battle.

Also in 1976, Tina Turner filed for divorce from husband Ike, ending a brutal 16-year marriage and a successful musical partnership.
              
Ike & Tina Turner had a string of hits in the 1960s and '70s, including "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" and "Proud Mary." But eventually Tina had enough of Ike's physical abuse and womanizing and left him.

In 1979, "Broadway Opry '59: A Little Country in the Big City,'' a 59-concert series featuring such performers as Waylon Jennings, Conway Twitty and Tanya Tucker opened in New York. The series closed after only half a dozen poor-selling concerts.

In 1983, Metallica began their first tour entitled "Kill 'em all for one." The tour ended on September 3, 1983.

Also in 1983, Madonna's self-titled debut album was released.

                  
In 1984, British actor James Mason died at his Swiss home of a heart attack at age 75.  He guested on US radio & TV, especially in the mini-series AD, George Washington, The Search for Alexander the Great, Search for the Nile, and Jesus of Nazareth.

Also in 1984, Anne Murray's single 'Just Another Woman in Love' made it to #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart..

In 1985, "Everytime You Go Away" by Paul Young topped the charts and stayed there for just the one week.

In 1986, composer-arranger Leroy Holmes died in Los Angeles at age 72. He conducted the NBC Tonight Show Orchestra when Ernie Kovacs was hosting.  His 1954 recording of the theme from the film "The High and the Mighty'' sold one-million copies.

Also in 1986, Jon Moreland stabbed himself repeatedly with an 18-centimetre hunting knife during a Los Angeles concert by the British rock group the Cure. Moreland told police he did it because he couldn't have the woman he loved. The 18-thousand fans thought the stabbing was part of the show and cheered Moreland on.

                
Still in 1986, Queen played what was billed as the largest rock show ever held in Eastern Europe before 80-thousand fans in Budapest. Queen became the first Western act since Louis Armstrong in 1964 to play ithe Hungarian capital.

In 1987, ''I Just Can't Stop Loving You,'' Michael Jackson's first single in nearly five years, was released.

In 1990, singer Bobby Day, famed for his 1958 hit "Rock-in Robin," died of cancer in Los Angeles. He was 60. Day also wrote and recorded the original version of "Little Bitty Pretty One," but Thurston Harris had the hit in 1957.

In 1991, about two-thousand youths rioted in Penticton, BC after a concert by rap star MC Hammer; they smashed and looted downtown stores, and wrecked tourist establishments along the beach. 90 were jailed, with 60 treated for injuries.

                
Also in 1991, Bryan Adams’ (Everything I Do) I Do It For You hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the pop chart for 7 straight weeks.

In 1993, NBC TV was awarded 1996 Olympic US broadcast rights for $456 million.

In 1998, it was announced that Dancin' in the District, Nashville's weekly downtown concert series, would become a 21-and-over event due to issues with underage drinking.

In 1999, Harry "Sweets" Edison, a soft-spoken trumpet star from the Count Basie band who elegantly backed singers such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Jimmy Rushing and Frank Sinatra, died at age 83.

              
In 2000, HBO aired "NSYNC Live" from New York's Madison Square Garden.

In 2001, jazz saxophonist Harold Land died of a stroke at his Los Angeles home at 72. He performed with such greats as Thelonius Monk, Billie Holliday and Tony Bennett for over five decades.

Also in 2001, Lynyrd Skynyrd bass guitarist Leon Wilkeson died in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida at 49. Wilkeson helped found the southern rock band in 1973 and survived the plane crash four years later that killed three band members.

Still in 2001, singer Cookie Rankin of Cape Breton's musical Rankin family married Nashville producer George Massenburg in Mabou, Nova Scotia.

              
In 2003, singer-actor-comedian Bob Hope died of pneumonia at his home in Toluca Lake, California at the age of 100.


Today's Birthdays:

TV producer Norman Lear (All in The Family, Maude, Good Times) is 86.

Singer Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows is 79.

Actor Jerry Van Dyke (Coach) is 77.

Singer Nick Reynolds (Kingston Trio) is 75.

Actor Don Galloway (Ironside, General Hospital) is 71.

Actor John Pleshette (Knots Landing, Murder One) is 66.

Acadian folksinger/songwriter Edith Butler is 66.

Singer Bobbie Gentry is 64.

Actress-director Betty Thomas (Hill Street Blues) is 60.

Singer Maureen McGovern is 59.

Actor Maury Chaykin (A Nero Wolfe Mystery, Emily of New Moon) is 59.

Actress Roxanne Hart (Chicago Hope, Dream On, Medium) is 56.

Country guitarist Duncan Cameron of Sawyer Brown is 52.

Country singer Stacy Dean Campbell is 41.

Singer Juliana Hatfield is 41.

Actor Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck) is 40.

Comedian Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) is 36.

Singer Pete Yorn is 34.

Chart Toppers - July 27th

1944
I’ll Be Seeing You - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Frank Sinatra)
Swinging on a Star - Bing Crosby
Amor - Bing Crosby
Straighten Up and Fly Right - King Cole Trio

1953
Song from Moulin Rouge - The Percy Faith Orchestra
April in Portugal - The Les Baxter Orchestra
I’m Walking Behind You - Eddie Fisher
It’s Been So Long - Webb Pierce

1962
Roses are Red - Bobby Vinton
The Wah Watusi - The Orlons
Johnny Get Angry - Joanie Sommers
Wolverton Mountain - Claude King

1971
Indian Reservation - Raiders
You’ve Got a Friend - James Taylor
Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
Bright Lights, Big City - Sonny James

1980
It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me - Billy Joel
Magic - Olivia Newton-John
Little Jeannie - Elton John
Bar Room Buddies - Merle Haggard & Clint Eastwood

1989
Toy Soldiers - Martika
Express Yourself - Madonna
Batdance - Prince
What’s Going on in Your World - George Strait

2007
Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal) - Fergie
Umbrella - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Hey There Delilah - Plain White T’s
Lost in This Moment - Big & Rich