Tuesday September the 23rd

ON THIS DAY in 1923,
Jan Savitt and his Orchestra recorded "720 in the Books" on Decca Records.  This item has a special place in my heart, since this was the very 78 I was assigned to introduce at the start of my radio training in 1950.

On this day in 1926, one of the most influential US jazz composers & musicians, sax player John Coltrane was born in Hamlet North Carolina.
                                                                          
Much alcohol & heroin abuse led to his early death from liver cancer at age 40.

On this day in 1930, the blind musician & Grammy-award winning singer Ray Charles (Robinson) whose life was immortalized in the hit film "Ray," was born in Albany Georgia.

He died June 10, 2004 at age 73.

On this day in 1951, the first transcontinental telecast was received by microwave on the west coast. The show "Crusade for Freedom" was broadcast by CBS-TV from New York.

On this day in 1952, Vice-Presidential candidate Richard Nixon gave his "Checkers Speech".  He defended his campaign against illegal contribution charges; even the gift of the dog Checkers to his family "could be attacked by some" he said, "but the kids love it, and we're going to keep it."

On this day in 1952, Pay Television for sporting events began -- with the Marciano-Walcott fight, coast to coast, in 49 theatres in 31 cities.
                                                              

On this day in 1957, "That'll Be the Day" by Buddy Holly & Crickets reached #1 on the charts.

On this day in 1962, the futuristic family cartoon show "The Jetsons" premiered on ABC-TV. It was the first program on the network to be carried in color.

On this day in 1966, the Rolling Stones released the song "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby."

On this day in 1967, "People Are Strange" was released to radio by the Doors.

Also this day in 1967, the Box Tops from Memphis hit #1 with The Letter. The song was #1 for four weeks and remained on the charts for 13 weeks. The Box Tops reorganized right after that first hit and never made it to #1 again.

On this day in 1968, Lucille Ball returned to TV in "Here's Lucy" on CBS.

On this day in 1969 saw the first broadcast of "Marcus Welby MD" starring Robert Young & James Brolin, on ABC-TV.

Also this day in 1969, the London Daily Mirror became a rumormonger. It printed a story saying that Beatle Paul McCartney was dead. It was the first, but not the last, time that rumor would make the rounds.

On this day in 1971, the Honey Cone scored their second gold record with "Stick-Up" on the Hot Wax label. It was a follow-up to their #1 smash, Want Ads  three months earlier.  

On this day in 1972, the song "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" by Mac Davis topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks.

On this day in 1974, comedian Cliff Arquette, who late in his career was best known on the Jack Paar Show & Hollywood Squares as Charlie Weaver, died following a stroke at age 68.

Also this day in 1974, drummer Robbie McIntosh of the Average White Band died of a heroin overdose at a party in Los Angeles.  He'd injested the drug thinking it was cocaine.  A murder charge was laid, and a man later admitted it was a revenge killing.

On this day in 1976, the first season of "Black Sheep Squadron" began on NBC under the name "Baa Baa Black Sheep".

On this day in 1980, the rock group Foreigner released their second album "Double Vision."

On this day in 1981, North Vancouver actor Chief Dan George died at 82. Although his most acclaimed work was on the big screen, George began his acting career in his 60's playing Ol' Antoine in the 1960 CBC series, Cariboo Country.

On this day in 1982, one of the big "singing cowboys" of the 1940's, Jimmy Wakely died of heart failure at age 68.
        

On this day in 1984, top honors in the 36th Annual Emmy Awards went to Hill St Blues, Cheers, John Ritter & Tyne Daly.

On this day in 1986, NBC-TV was named winner of the ratings race for the 52-week season (1985-1986). The Cosby Show and Family Ties rated #1 and #2 respectively. In fact The Cosby Show remained number one through the 1989-1990 season.

Also this day in 1986, the first season of "Matlock" began on NBC.
                                                

Still in 1986, an anti-crack rally at New York's Plaza Hotel was headlined by James Brown, Freddie Jackson, and Melba Moore.

On this day in 1990, PBS began showing the 11 hour miniseries by Ken Burns on the US Civil War.

On this day in 1992, the first episode of "Mad About You" aired on NBC.

On this day in 1998, movie star Jamie Lee Curtis, who had been featured in two TV series, "Anything But Love" & "Operation Petticoat", received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
                                                                                      

Also in 1998, actress Mary Frann died of apparent heart failure at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was 55. She's probably best known for playing Bob Newhart's wife on "Newhart."

On this day in 1999, rapper Coolio appeared on TV's "Judge Joe Brown" to settle a financial dispute with his backing band the Wyld Bunch. The judge ruled the band was due $4,000 in unpaid earnings.

On this day in 2003, Rosalie Allen died at age 79. Allen was the singer/broadcaster also known as the "Queen of the Yodelers". Allen was the first woman inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters Country DJ Hall of Fame.

On this day in 2004, radio broadcaster Bill Ballance died at age 85.
                      
Ballance is widely credited for paving the way for "shock jocks" with his controversial Los Angeles show in the 1970s which covered topics such as relationships and sex.  He also had a widely-publicized affair with a young Dr. Laura Schlessinger, and released nude pictures of her on the Internet.

Also in 2004, the fifth season of "CSI" began on CBS.

On this day in 2007, Ken Burns’ 7-part, 15-hour opus The War began on PBS, which later said that 18.7 million viewers saw the airings of "The War".


Today's Birthdays:

Actor Mickey Rooney (Black Stallion, One of the Boys) is 88.

Singer Julio Iglesias is 65.

Actor Paul Petersen (The Donna Reed Show) is 63.

Canadian director Anne Wheeler (This is Wonderland, DaVinci's Inquest) is 62.

Actress-singer Mary Kay Place (Mary Hartman, West Wing) is 61.

Singer Bruce Springsteen is 59.

Actor Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) is 49.

Actor Chi McBride (Boston Public, The Nine) is 47.

Actress Elizabeth Pena (Maya & Miguel, I Married Dora) is 46.

Country musician Don Herron (BR549) is 46.

Actor Erik Todd Dellums (Homicide, The Wire) is 44.

Actress LisaRaye (All of Us) is 42.

Singer Ani DiFranco is 38.

Singer Sarah Bettens of K's Choice is 36.

Rapper-producer-record head Jermaine Dupri is 36.

Singer Erik-Michael Estrada of O-Town is 29.

Actress Aubrey Dollar (Women's Murder Club, Point Pleasant) is 28.


Chart Toppers - Sept.23

1948
A Tree in the Meadow - Margaret Whiting
It’s Magic - Doris Day
You Call Everybody Darlin’ - Al Trace (vocal: Bob Vincent)
Just a Little Lovin’ (Will Go a Long Way) - Eddy Arnold

1957
Tammy - Debbie Reynolds
Diana - Paul Anka
Mr. Lee - The Bobbettes
Fraulein - Bobby Helms

1966
You Can’t Hurry Love - The Supremes
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
Cherish - The Association
Almost Persuaded - David Houston

1975
Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
I’m Sorry - John Denver
Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Daydreams About Night Things - Ronnie Milsap

1984
Missing You - John Waite
Let’s Go Crazy - Prince & The Revolution
Drive - The Cars
Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room - Merle Haggard

1993
Dreamlover - Mariah Carey
Whoomp! (There It Is) - Tag Team
Right Here/Human Nature / Downtown - SWV-Sisters With Voices
Ain’t Going Down (Til the Sun Comes Up) - Garth Brooks

2002
Dilemma - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Gotta Get Thru This - Daniel Bedingfield
Just A Friend 2002 - Mario
I Miss My Friend - Darryl Worley