Wednesday in Broadcast History .. October 9th

actor Hank Patterson (Gunsmoke, Green Acres) was born in Alabama. He died at age 86 Aug 23 1975 of bronchial pneumonia.

On this day in 1888, silent screen star & director Irving Cummings was born in New York City.  In 1952 he became the 3rd & final permanent host on the long-running Lux Radio Theatre, after Cecil B. DeMille & William Keighley.

On this day in 1890, radio’s first female evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson  was born Aimee Kennedy at Ingersoll, Ontario.  Her packed tent meetings led to her first broadcasts in 1923 in Los Angeles. Her main message was no divorce, no dancing and no cosmetics, but in 1926 she divorced McPherson, and disappeared for a time with her radio station manager. Her career faltered, and she divorced a third husband, and died of an apparent accidental drug overdose in 1944.

On this day in 1904, actor Wally Brown was born in Malden Mass.  After beginning as a fast-talking monologist in vaudeville, Brown had an undistinguished B movie career.  He spent his last 10 working years in TV, including regular roles in I Married Joan, Cimarrion City, and Daniel Boone. He also served as a regular on radio’s Abbott and Costello Show. He died at 57 in November 1961.

On this day in 1905, actor Howard St. John (Studio One,The Investigator, Hank) was born in Chicago.  He died at 68 in March 1974 following a heart attack.

On this day in 1914, actor Edward Andrews was born in Griffin Georgia.  His stage career beginning at 12 led to Broadway & movies & much episodic TV.

He was cast as a regular in only one series (Broadside in ’64).  He died at age 70 March 8 1985 after a heart attack.

.On this day in 1915, legendary jazz singer Lee Wiley was born at Fort Gibson Okla. She died Dec 11 1975 at 60 due to cancer.

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On this day in 1922, ethnic actor Fyvush Finkel (Picket Fences, Boston Public) was born in Brooklyn. He died Aug. 14 2016 at age 93. Also this day in 1922, actor Philip Sterling (Sisters, St. Elsewhere) was born. He succumbed to bone disease in Nov. 1998 at age 76.

On this day in 1929, 22-year old singing cowboy Gene Autry made his first record as a duet with Jimmie Long and two Hawaiian guitars, “My Dreaming Of You” b/w “My Alabama Home.”

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On this day in 1931, early crooner Russ Columbo recorded his biggest hit,  ‘Prisoner of Love’ — on RCA Victor records. On this day in 1935, “Cavalcade of America” was first broadcast on radio.  The CBS show (until moving to NBC 1939-53) featured some of Hollywood and Broadway’s most famous stars in leading roles in the half hour dramas about obscure incidents and people in American history. The DuPont Company introduced its slogan on “Cavalcade of America” …”Better things for better living through chemistry.”

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On this day in 1937, master program director John Rook was born in Chillicothe Ohio.  Beginning in the late 1960’s he took first WLS Chicago, then WCFL Chicago and then KFI Los Angeles to dominance in audience share, and consulted dozens of other stations to success.  He died March 1 2016 at age 78.

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On this day in 1938, Bluegrass entertainer Bill Monroe made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. On this day in 1940, leading Beatle

& songwriter John Lennon was born in Liverpool, allegedly during a German air raid. He was shot to death at age 40 on Dec 8, 1980.

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On this day in 1943, ABC Radio presented “Land of the Lost” for the first time. The opening phrase for the show was, “In that wonderful kingdom at the bottom of the sea…” This children’s adventure-fantasy serial took the audience underwater where the main characters, Isabel and Jimmy, were guided by their friend, a red fish named Red Lantern and played at first by Junius Matthews and later, by Art Carney. Land of the Lost found a large loyal audience and remained on the air until 1948.

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On this day in 1944, bass & French horn player John Entwistle of The Who was born in suburban London England. He died at age 57 June 27 2002 from a heart attack brought on by cocaine abuse. On this day in 1953, “Topper” debuted on CBS-TV.  Anne Jeffreys played Marion Kirby, Robert Sterling was George Kirby and the title character of Topper was played by Leo G. Carroll. Topper was called the first of the “spirit” shows of the day. Marion and George Kirby had died along with their dog Neil (a St. Bernard) in an avalanche while on a skiing vacation. The three characters, now ghosts, returned to their home — now occupied by Topper.

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On this day in 1957, singer Perry Como was in RCA Victor’s New York studios to record his final #1 hit, “Catch a Falling Star.”

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On this day in 1958, singer Eddie Cochran

recorded one of his biggest rockabilly hits, “C’mon Everybody.”

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On this day in 1959, singer Bobby Darin

became the youngest entertainer (at 23) to headline at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. YouTube presents Bobby Darin and his 1959 hit song “Mack the Knife” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBTITHA8twI

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On this day in 1961, “Hit the Road Jack”

by Ray Charles topped the charts and stayed #1 for 2 weeks. YouTube presents, Ray Charles and “Hit the Road Jack” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I

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On this day in 1962,  the gravel-voiced ex-vaudevillian Lulu McConnell  (above, 2nd from the left), a panel member on It Pays to Be Ignorant on both radio & TV, died at age 80. On this day in 1964, The Beach Boys were in Capitol Records’ Hollywood studios to wax ‘Dance Dance Dance’, with Glen Campbell playing the lead guitar intro. It would soon become their twelfth Top 40 hit.

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On this day in 1965, the Beatles’ “Yesterday,” single goes #1 & stays #1 for 4 weeks.

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On this day in 1966, John Lennon and Yoko Ono met for the first time at a London art gallery.

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On this day in 1967, trumpeter Doc Severinson

came out of the orchestra to become musical director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, replacing Skitch Henderson.

Doc went on to play with various symphony orchestras and even became the owner of a custom trumpet company in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Also in 1967, popular deejay “Murray The K” Kaufman was fired from New York’s WOR-FM because of what was called his “inability to live with direction” from format-radio pioneer & consultant Bill Drake.  The so-called “Fifth Beatle” would soon turn up on Toronto’s CHUM 1050.

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On this day in 1968, The Beatles recorded “Long Long Long” and “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road.”On this day in 1970, CBC-TV aired the NHL debut of the Vancouver Canucks against the Los Angeles Kings.  Jim Robson did the TV play by play, while Montreal TV icon Danny Gallivan did the CKNW radio broadcast, assisted by Al Davidson.  Barry Wilkins scored the very first Canucks goal.

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Also in 1970, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn were paired for the first time to record “After The Fire Is Gone” for Decca Records. It would soon become Ms. Lynn’s first #1 country hit.

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On this day in 1971, Rod Stewart was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Maggie May.’ On this day in 1973, Priscilla Presleywas divorced from Elvis — in Santa Monica, CA. “Cilla” got $725,000 in cash, $1,200 per month in alimony, half interest in a $750,000 home plus a 5% interest in two of Elvis’ publishing companies. The split was amicable, and the two remained close friends.

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Also this day in 1973, and still speaking of riches, Paul Simon was awarded a Gold Record for his hit, Loves Me Like a Rock. On this day in 1975, as John Lennon turned 35, Yoko Ono presented him with a newborn son, Sean Ono Lennon.

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On this day in 1976, one hit wonders Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘A Fifth Of Beethoven.’

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On this day in 1978, Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel died of cancer aged just 49. Artists who recorded his songs include Ray Charles, Scott Walker, Alex Harvey, Frank Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Nina Simone and Terry Jacks.

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On this day in 1979, Howard Stern began his first morning show on WCCC in Hartford Conn, marking the beginning of what is now known as the irreverent Stern style of broadcasting.

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On this day in 1980, John Lennon celebrated his 40th birthday by releasing the single “(Just Like) Starting Over.”

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On this day in 1981, during what would be the largest grossing tour of the year The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, with Prince opening the show. He was not a hit, and the crowd booed him from the stage after 15 minutes.

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On this day in 1984, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit is “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” by Stevie Wonder. The song from the Gene Wilder film “The Woman in Red” won an Academy Award.

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On this day in 1985, a 2.5-acre garden memorial was dedicated to John Lennon by his widow, Yoko Ono.  The memorial in New York City’s Central Park is named Strawberry Fields.

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On this day in 1986, Joan Rivers debuted her new “The Late Show”                                 on the fledgling FOX network — opposite former boss Johnny Carson on NBC. Reportedly, Rupert Murdoch paid up to $25,000 a week for Joan’s lovely gowns. She was fired less than 8 mnths later. Carson quipped, “The (Rivers) show proves that all that glitters is not watched.”

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On this day in 1987, Columbia records released Bruce Springsteen‘s eighth studio album, “Tunnel of Love,” recorded largely without the E Street Band. On this day in 1990, radio stations around the world played “Imagine” to honor John Lennon. Had he lived John would have turned 50 that day.

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On this day in 1993, Nirvana‘s In Utero entered the Billboard pop album chart in the #1 spot.

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On this day in 1999, Milt Jackson, who was for more than 50 years the premier vibraharpist in jazz and a founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet, died in Manhattan of liver cancer at age 76.

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Also in 1999, Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z were at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Heartbreaker.’ On this day in 2000, actor David Dukes (Sisters, The Winds of War, War and Remembrance) suffered a fatal heart attack at age 55. Also in 2000, John Lennon‘s views on everything from the breakup of the Beatles to his attitude toward revolution and drugs, deemed too controversial to print 30 years before, were revealed in a the book “Lennon Remembers, The Complete Rolling Stone Interviews.”

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Still in 2000, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band reunited at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for a performance of their signature song, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”Longtime member John McEuen joined Jimmie Fadden, Jeff Hanna, Jimmy Ibbotson and Bob Carpenter for the filming of an IMAX movie, that traced the roots and branches of country music. YouTube presents Johnny Cash and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and “Will the circle be unbroken” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3afUrkx_VwM

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Again this day in 2000, the 100th episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond” aired on CBS.

. On this day in 2001, early TV late-night personality & model Dagmar (NBC’s Broadway Open House) died at the age of 79.

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On this day in 2002, on what would have been the Beatle’s 62nd birthday, the man who killed John Lennon, Mark David Chapman was denied parole for a second time.

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On this day in 2003, for the first time Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart had only African-American performers occupying the Top 10 spots. Again in 2003, the Queen honored Sting with a CBE (Commander of the British Empire.)

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On this day in 2005, one of Steve Allen’s original “Men on the Street” Louis Nye died of lung cancer at age 92.  He started acting on radio’s soaps, his last appearances were in a running role on TV’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

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On this day in 2006, internet search giant Google agreed to acquire YouTube, the video-sharing Web site, for $1.65 billion US in stock.

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Also in 2006, Barbra Streisand lost patience with a persistent heckler at her Madison Square Garden show and yelled at the troublemaker “Shut the f— up!”

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On this day in 2007, most of the late George Harrison‘s solo music made its digital debut as iTunes released its version of his albums. The music of the other three Beatles had beaten Harrison’s to the digital revolution.

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Also in 2007, The Police had to postpone a pair of concerts in Belgium and Germany because frontman Sting was suffering from a “serious” throat infection and doctors advised him to rest.

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On this day in 2008, longtime vegetarian Paul McCartney was furious with a McDonald’s outlet in Liverpool that was displaying his picture. He called it a lousy way to attract customers, asking “What sort of morons do McDonald’s think Beatles fans are?”Also in 2008, Chris Cornell‘s “Ground Zero,” from his “Scream” album, was featured on the series premiere of ABC’s short-lived drama series “Life On Mars.”

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On this day in 2010, radio & TV newscasts were dominated with the good news that drillers in Chile had reached the underground chamber where 33 miners were trapped…but alive.

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On this day in 2011, longtime New York Oldies DJ Bill Brown died at age 69. He did middays (plus a Saturday morning shift) at WCBS-FM for 36 years.

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Also this day in 2011, Paul McCartney got  married for a third time (the late Linda Eastman and Heather Mills were his first two wives). At a service at Old Marylebone Town Hall (where Paul married Linda in ’69), the 69-year old ex-Beatle wed 51-year old Nancy Shevell of New Jersey, the daughter of a trucking company owner, who had been introduced to him by TV’s Barbara Walters.

On this day in 2012, veteran voice of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings Budd Lynch died at age 95.  After doing radio play-by-play from 1949 to 1975 he became the Red Wings’ public address announcer and community relations director.  Despite having only one arm he was the longest-tenured employee in team history.

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On this day in 2013, Paul McCartney gave a surprise performance at the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts in Astoria, Queens, which was founded by singer Tony Bennett in ’01.  Said Paul, “This beats going to class.”

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On this day in 2014,

 

comedienne and actress Jan Hooks, who came to prominence as a cast member of Saturday Night Live (1986-91), succumbed to cancer at age 57. She went on to make repeated appearances in the last two seasons of CBS-TV’s Designing Women, as well as on NBC’s Third Rock from the Sun.

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On this day in 2016, Jane Pauley made her first appearance as the new host of CBS Sunday Morning, replacing Charles Osgood.

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On this day in 2017, 

 retired Vancouver talk show host Rafe Mair died at age 85.  After working in the oil and insurance businesses, then as a lawyer, a city councillor in Kamloops and a BC cabinet minister, in 1981 he started his radio talk show career at Vancouver’s CJOR AM 600 at age 49.  Laid off in 1984 he moved to CKNW where he remained on air .. and a ratings leader .. for the next two decades. He wrapped up his ‘open line’ career back at AM600 2003-04, and became a guest commentator for CBC radio & TV, as well as columnist for various publications including the online Tyee. 

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Also in 2017, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “Greatest Hits” was #2 on the Billboard chart in the week following Petty’s death. The ’94 compilation was lodged behind Canadian country singer Shania Twain’s comeback album “Now.”

On this day in 2018, the 46th Annual American Music Awards were held in Los Angeles & aired live on ABC.  Taylor Swift and Camila Cabello were the big winners, with four awards each.

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Today’s Birthdays

Actress Lorna Raver (The Young & the Restless) is 81.

R&B singer Nona Hendryx (LaBelle) is 80.

Singer Jackson Browne is 77. Spokane-born actor

Gary Frank (Family) is 74.

Actor Richard Chaves (War of the Worlds) is 74

Actor Robert Wuhl (Arli$$) is 73.

Actress-TVpersonality Sharon Osbourne (The Talk, America’s Got Talent, The Osbournes) is 72.

Actor Tony Shalhoub (Monk, The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel, BrainDead, Wings) is 71.

Actor Scott Bakula (NCIS: New Orleans, Men of a Certain Age, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) is 70.

Actor/TV host John O’Hurley (Family Feud, Seinfeld, To Tell the Truth, General Hospital) is 70.

Accordion player James Fearnley of The Pogues is 70.

Vancouver-born actor/writer/producer Linwood Boomer (Little House on the Prairie, The Mindy Project, Malcolm in the Middle) is 69.

Actor Michael Paré {South Beach, Houston Knights) is 66.

Actress Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Nashville, Friday Night Lights, Beverly Hills Buntz) is 64.

Jazz saxophonist Kenny Garrett is 64.

Actress Sheila Kelley (Gossip Girl, Sisters, L.A. Law) is 63.

Actress/TV director Jean Sagal (Two & a Half Men, Double Trouble, Picket Fences) is 63.

TV writer/producer Liz Sagal (Sons of Anarchy, Midnight Texas) is 63.

Rock singer-musician Kurt Neumann (The BoDeans) is 63.

New Brunswick-born actor John Ralston (Degrassi: the Next Generation, Good God, Living in Your Car, Life with Derek). is 60.

Writer/producer Guillermo del Toro (The Strain) is 60

Country singer Gary Bennett (BR549) is 60.

Singer/songwriter P.J. Harvey is 55.

Actor Jason Butler Harner (Ray Donovan, Alcatraz) is 54.

Actress Erin Daniels (The L Word) is 52.

Actress Jennifer Aspen (Rodney, Party of Five)  is 51.

Country singer Tommy Shane Steiner is 51.

Actor/TV host Steve Burns (Blue’s Clues) is 51.

Actor Kieren Hutchison (One Tree Hill, Wildfire) is 50.

Singer/musician Sean Lennon is 49.

Comedian/actor Nick Swardson (Reno 911, Chozen) is 48.

Actor Randy Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210, Sunset Beach) is 47.

Actor Brandon Routh (Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, One Life to Live) is 46.

Actor/voicist Chris O’Dowd (Puffin Rock, Monsters vs. Aliens) is 46.

Musician Lecrae is 46.

Actor Zachery Ty Bryan (Home Improvement) is 44.

Actor Colin Donnell (Chicago Med, Arrow) is 42.

Actress Spencer Grammer (Greek, As the World Turns) is 42.

Actor  Gethin Anthony (Game of Thrones, Aquarius) is 41.

Actress Jayden Cole (Life on Top) is 39.

Actress Angelica Chitwood (Algo’s Factory) is 38.

Comedian Melissa Villasenor (Saturday Night Live) is 37.

Actor Tyler James Williams (Criminal Minds, RePlay, The Walking Dead, Go On, Everybody Loves Chris) is 32.

BC-born actress Autumn Chiklis (The Shield) is 31.

Country singer Scotty McCreery (American Idol) is 31.

Nanaimo BC-born actress Joelle Ferland (Dark Matter,Kingdom Hospital, Home Alone: the Holiday Heist) is 30.

Model Bella Hadid (Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show) is 28.

Actor Jharrel Jerome (Mr. Mercedes) is 27.

Actor  Louis Hynes (A Series of Unfortunate Events) is 23.

Chart Toppers – Oct. 9

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1946 To Each His Own – Eddy Howard Five Minutes More – Tex Beneke South America, Take It Away – Bing Crosby& The Andrews Sisters Wine, Women and Song – Al Dexter

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1955 Love is a Many-Splendored Thing – The Four Aces Autumn Leaves – Roger Williams Moments to Remember – The Four Lads The Cattle Call – Eddy Arnold

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1964 Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann Dancing in the Street – Martha & The Vandellas I Guess I’m Crazy – Jim Reeves

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1973 Half-Breed – Cher Loves Me Like a Rock – Paul Simon Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder You’re the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me – Ray Price

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1982 Jack & Diane – John Cougar Eye in the Sky – The Alan Parsons Project Who Can It Be Now?  – Men at Work Yesterday’s Wine – Merle Haggard/George Jones

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1991 Good Vibrations – Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch/Loleatta Holloway Emotions – Mariah Carey Do Anything – Natural Selection Where are You Now – Clint Black

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2000 Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down Music  – Madonna Come On Over (All I Want Is You) – Christina Aguilera That’s the Way – Jo Dee Messina

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2009 I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas Run This Town – Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West Down – Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne Small Town USA – Justin Moore

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Today in Broadcast History compiled by Ron Robinson