WEDNESDAY in Broadcast History .. March 11th

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ON THIS DAY in 1903

bandleader Lawrence Welk was born in Strasburg North Dakota.

The Champagne Music Maker was, early on, a popular staple of radio station WNAX in Yankton South Dakota.  When he settled in for 10 years at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom, his dance remotes developed a national radio following. In 1951 Welk began weekly appearances on KTLA Los Angeles, which led to an ABC television show beginning in 1955. His show was near the top of the ratings throughout the 1950’s and ’60s.  His big hit was the 1961 million seller, Calcutta.  He died from pneumonia May 17, 1992 at age 89.

In 1918, actor Al Eben was born in Philadelphia.  He is best remembered as Doc Bergman in more than 50 episodes of the original Hawaii Five-0 (1968-80) on CBS-TV.  He died July 24 2003 at age 85.

In 1919, songwriter/bandleader Mercer Ellington was born in Washington DC. As the only son of Duke Ellington, he led the Duke’s band after he died and for the musical about his life, Sophisticated Ladies.  He died of a heart attack Feb 8, 1996 at age 76.

Media/sports FOX boss Rupert Murdoch is 89.

Former ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson is 86.

Actress Nancy Kovack (Bewitched, Burke’s Law) is 85.

Accordionist Flaco Jimenez of the Texas Tornadoes is 81.

Actress Tricia O’Neil (Murder She Wrote, Hart to Hart) is 75.

Actor Mark Metcalf (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) is 74.

Singer-keyboardist Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge is 73.

Singer Bobby McFerrin is 70.

Singer Cheryl Lynn is 69.

Actress Susan Richardson (Eight is Enough) is 68.

Recording executive/TV coach Jimmy Iovine (American Idol) is 67.

Country singer Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers is 65.

Singer Nina Hagen is 65.

Singer Cheryl Lynn is 63.

Actor Robert Glenister (Law & Order: UK, Hustle) is 60.

Montreal-born actor Elias Koteas (Chicago PD, The Killing, Traffic, American Dad) is 59.

Actor Jeffrey Nordling (Desperate Housewives, Once & Again, 24) is 58.

Actress Barbara Alyn Woods (One Tree Hill, Honey I Shrunk the Kids-TV) is 58.

Actress Alex Kingston (ER) is 57.

Actor/producer/director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Chicago Hope) is 56.

Actress Emma Chambers (The Vicar of Dibbley) is 56.

Actor Wallace Langham (C.S.I., Veronica’s Closet, Larry Sanders Show) is 55.

Actor John Barrowman (Arrow, Torchwood, Doctor Who) is 53.

Singer Lisa Loeb is 52.

Singer Pete Droge is 51.

Actor Terrence Howard (Empire, Sparks, Street Time) is 51.

Keyboardist Al Gamble of St. Paul and the Broken Bones is 51.

Keyboardist Rami Jaffee of The Wallflowers is 51.

Writer/actor Johnny Knoxville (Dudesons in America, Jackass) is 49.

Singers Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte are 41.

Actor David Anders (iZombie, Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time, 24, Heroes, Alias) is 39.

Singer/actress LeToya Luckett (Rosewood, Single Ladies, Treme) is 39.

Actress Thora Birch (Day by Day, Parenthood 1990) is 38.

Actress Lindsey McKeon (Guiding Light, One Tree Hill, Saved by the Bell: The New Class) is 38.

Actress Mircea Monroe (Episodes, Hart of Dixie) is 38.

Actress Lucy DeVito (Deadbeat, Melissa and Joey) is 37.

Dancer/TV personality Melissa Rycroft (Dancing with the Stars) is 37.

Actor Rob Brown (Blindspot, Treme) is 36.

Montreal-born actor Marc-Andre Grondin (L’Imposteur, Spotless) is 36. 

Actress Ali Falkner (The Education of Eddie and Mortimer) is 34.

Actor Anton Yelchin (Huff) is 31.

Actor Reiley McClendon (The Fosters) is 30.

Actress Sacha Parkinson (Coronation Street, Mr. Selfridge) is 28.

Actress Jodie Comer (The White Princess) is 27.

 

Chart Toppers – March 11

1946
Oh, What It Seemed to Be – The Frankie Carle Orchestra (vocal: Marjorie Hughes)
Let It Snow – Vaughn Monroe
Symphony – The Freddy Martin Orchestra (vocal: Clyde Rogers)
Guitar Polka – Al Dexter

1955
The Ballad of Davy Crockett – Bill Hayes
Sincerely – McGuire Sisters
Pledging My Love – Johnny Ace
In the Jailhouse Now – Webb Pierce

1964
I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
She Loves You – The Beatles
Please Please Me – The Beatles
Saginaw, Michigan – Lefty Frizzell

1973
Killing Me Softly with His Song – Roberta Flack
Love Train – O’Jays
Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) – Deodato
’Til I Get It Right – Tammy Wynette

1982
Centerfold – The J. Geils Band
Open Arms – Journey
I Love Rock ’N Roll – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
You’re the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had – Ed Bruce

1991
Someday – Mariah Carey
One More Try – Timmy -T-
Show Me the Way – Styx
I’d Love You All Over Again – Alan Jackson

2000
Bye Bye Bye – ’N Sync
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely – Backstreet Boys
Take A Picture – Filter
Smile – Lonestar

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