Monday August the 4th

ON THIS DAY in 1901
iconic jazz musician (Daniel) Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong was born in New Orleans,

He was a foundational influence on jazz, shifting the music's focus from collective improvisation to solo performers. With his distinctive gravelly voice, Armstrong was an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. Renowned for his charismatic stage presence, Armstrong's influence extended well beyond jazz, and he became widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general.  Critic Steve Leggett described him as "perhaps the most important American musician of the 20th century."  Satchmo died of a heart attack July 6, 1971 at age 69.

In 1921, the first tennis match on radio was broadcast on Pittsburgh's KDKA, the first commercial station in the United States.  Within eight months Westinghouse management figured out that sports on radio would bring in big sales revenues; so the Davis Cup match between Great Britain and Australia was aired on the radio, much to the wonderment of KDKA's listeners.

In 1922, every telephone in the U.S. and Canada went dead as the Bell System shut down all its switchboards and switching stations at 6:25 pm for one minute, in memory of Alexander Graham Bell, who had died two days earler. During this time, none of the 13 million telephones in operation could be used.  

In 1927, radio station 2XAG, later named WGY, the General Electric station in Schenectady, NY, began experimental operations from a 100,000-watt transmitter.

Later, the FCC regulated the power of AM radio stations to not exceed 50,000 watts on �clear channels� (where few, if any, stations would cause interference with each other).

Also in 1927, singer Jimmie Rodgers recorded his first sides for Victor Records in Bristol, TN.  He sang Sleep Baby Sleep and Soldier�s Sweetheart.

In 1936, singer Elsbeary Hobbs was born. He was the founding member of the group, The Drifters. Hobbs died May 31, 1996 at age 59.

In 1940, Crime Doctor introduced a new kind of radio hero to audiences. The CBS radio program presented Ray Collins as Dr. Benjamin Ordway, the show's main character, who was a victim of amnesia. He once was a criminal, but got hit on the head, and suddenly began to work as a crime fighter. Nice twist.

Dr. Ordway (Warner Baxter) co-starred with Margaret Lindsay in the first "Crime Doctor" movie (1943).

In 1954, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Sh-Boom,'' by The Crew-Cuts. The Toronto-based Crew Cuts were a doo-wop group with a clean-cut white harmony glee-club approach who got together while members of the St. Michael's Boys Choir in Toronto who lived and rehearsed on Pickering Street.

In 1956, Elvis Presley released his early smash hit "Hound Dog."


Also in 1956, the CBC carried out Canada's first televison transmission from a helicopter.

In 1957, the Everly Brothers appear on CBS TV's "Ed Sullivan Show,'' to introduce their upcoming single "Wake Up Little Susie." The song created a controversy, and some radio stations banned it, but it went on to be a smash hit.

In 1958, the first ever Billboard Hot 100 chart appeared. The number one song was Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool."

In 1964, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "A Hard Day's Night,'' by The Beatles.

In 1967, British pirate radio station "Radio 355" went off the air.


In 1974, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Feel Like Makin' Love,'' by Roberta Flack.

In 1976, Roy Thomson, Lord Thomson of Fleet died at age 82. The Toronto born barber's son became a millionaire owner of broadcasting stations and newspapers and North Sea oil holdings, and was elevated to the peerage in 1963.

In 1979, CJOR 600AM debuted "Disco Saturday Night" with Phil Roberts. The program ran for just over a year.

In 1984, Prince's "Purple Rain," album went to #1 and stayed there for 24 weeks!


In 1987, the Federal Communications Commission voted 4-0 to rescind the so-alled 'fairness doctrine' for broadcasters.

In 1990, Duncan BC's radio station CKAY 1500 Duncan became CJSU (SUN FM) 89.7.

The new stations slogan was "New station, New Sound" and was a mix of alternative and album rock. AM 1500 went silent at the end of September.

In 2000, although not yet 18 years old, LeAnn Rimes was seen barhopping - literally - in Touchstone Pictures' "Coyote Ugly.  Rimes made a cameo appearance as herself, singing the song "Can't Fight The Moonlight," as she danced on top of the bar at the end of the David McNally-directed film.

In 2004, Howard Stern announced he was dropping out of the New York gubernatorial race.  Exactly a year later on this day he announced a deal with "On Demand" subscription to offer at least 20 hours per month of his radio show on video via cable TV.



Today's Birthdays

Singer Frankie Ford ("Sea Cruise") is 69.

Singer Timi Yuro ("Hurt") is 68.

Actress Tina Cole (My Three Sons) is 65.

Actor-comedian Richard Belzer (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Homicide) is 64.

Actor Billy Bob Thornton (The Outsiders, Hearts Afire) is 53.

Actress Kym Karath (Family Affair, All My Children) is 50.

Actress Lauren Tom (Men In Trees, The Outsiders) is 49.

Producer Michael Gelman (Live with Regis and Kelly) is 47.

Drummer Rob Cieka of Boo Radleys is 40.

Actor Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) is 40.

Rapper Yo-Yo (Miss Rap Supreme) is 37.

Actor Andy Hallett (Angel) is 33. Singer-actor Marques Houston of Immature is 27.

Actors Dylan and Cole Sprouse (Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Grace Under Fire) are 16.


Chart Toppers - August 4th

1947
Peg o� My Heart - The Harmonicats
That�s My Desire - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Don Cornell)
I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder - Eddy Howard
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) - Tex Williams

1955
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
Ain�t That a Shame - Fats Domino
Learnin� the Blues - Frank Sinatra
I Don�t Care - Webb Pierce

1963
So Much in Love - The Tymes
Fingertips - Pt 2 - Little Stevie Wonder
(You�re the) Devil in Disguise - Elvis Presley
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash

1971
You�ve Got a Friend - James Taylor
Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
Draggin� the Line - Tommy James
I�m Just Me - Charley Pride

1979
Bad Girls - Donna Summer
Good Times - Chic
Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
You�re the Only One - Dolly Parton

1988
Roll with It - Steve Winwood
Hands to Heaven - Breathe
Make Me Lose Control - Eric Carmen
Don�t We All Have the Right - Ricky Van Shelton

1997
I�ll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) - Backstreet Boys
Mo Money Mo Problems - The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy & Mase
Carrying Your Love with Me - George Strait

2006
Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
Unfaithful - Rihanna
Me & U - Cassie
The World - Brad Paisley