Monday, May 27, 2013

John Lennon Interview 1969 Montreal Bed-In For Peace


It was 44 years ago this week in 1969 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrived in Montreal for their second of two cities for their Bed-In For Peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. The first city was Amsterdam. I was 16 years old at the time and had a high school radio station, FMHC Radio. I was unbelievably fortunate to be able to do an interview with John during their stay in Montreal.

Even more fortunate is that I have been able to preserve this interview and I am pleased to play it for you now. My thanks to Fred Waterer in Ste. Catharines, Ontario, a long time listener of my Treasure Island Oldies radio show for the inspiration to play back the interview.



This Week On Treasure Island Oldies - Week of May 26, 2013


May 26th, 2013 to June 1st, 2013

It's hard for me to believe that it was 44 years ago this week that I, as a then 16 year old kid, interviewed John Lennon during his Bed-In For Peace while he and Yoko Ono were staying at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. I had a high school radio station, FMHC Radio, which stood for Father McDonald Holy Cross High School, and we were fortunate enough to have guest visits from some local DJs from the Top 40 station, CFOX. One of the guests was Roger Scott, who answered the phone in John Lennon's room when I finally got through after a few days of always getting a busy signal. I reminded him that he had been a recent guest at our high school radio station and I was hoping to speak with John to ask him a few questions. Although quite busy with the press and film crews, John took the time to speak with me. And what resulted is my coveted interview with John Lennon. My thanks to Fred Waterer in Ste. Catharines, Ontario for giving me the inspiration to play the interview due to his Facebook post. Cheers, Fred. I was pleased to play back that interview on this week's show to mark the 44th Anniversary of their Bed-In For Peace. If you missed it, a Podcast has been made and is posted at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog page. Check it out and share my memories of being 16 and talking to John Lennon!

It was good to hear some great songs by The Doors in tribute to Ray Manzarek, Co-Founder of the group, who passed away May 21st at age 74. He had a long fought battle with cancer and died at a clinic in Germany. As a tribute to his passing, the Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing The Doors in a sizzling live performance of Touch Me, on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour TV show. It's Our Song Of The Week.

Hard to believe that next week it will be June already. Well with June, come several annual specials on the show.: On June 16th it's our Annual Father's Day Special, our Summer Beach Party, June 23rd and then our Annual Made In Canada Special on June 30th. Mark these dates on your calendar, you'll want to catch every one of these specials.

Happy Birthday wishes are extended this week to Bruce Toews in Winnipeg, Manitoba. And if you are about to celebrate your birthday, be sure to let me know so I can wish you Happy Birthday on the show and I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you! Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

Voice Your Choice presents Connie Francis, the Number One Female Pop Vocalist from the late 1950s through to the mid-1960s. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Breakin' In A Brand New Heart or Among My Souvenirs, both Top Ten smashes. I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Here's the Rock And Roll News for the week of May 26th

 It's also on YouTube


Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1964



See you next week.

Bye for now.


Michael

Connie Francis - Voice Your Choice


Connie Francis was born Concetta Rosa Franconero on December 12, 1938 in Newark, New Jersey. Apart from having a staggeringly successful recording career, she also appeared in several motion pictures including Where The Boys Are, Follow The Boys, Looking For Love, and When The Boys Meet The Girls.

Between 1957 and 1969, she appeared a stunning 56 times on the Billboard charts; achieved 16 Top Ten hits, plus 8 Gold Records, quite a feat for anyone! In fact, Connie is the #1 pop female singer from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.

And this week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents Connie Francis with two of her Top Ten hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Breakin' In A Brand New Heart or Among My Souvenirs. I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

The Doors - Song Of The Week

Ray Manzarek, the Co-Founder of The Doors passed away May 21st in Germany at age 74 from a long battle with cancer. As a tribute to him, here are The Doors in a live performance on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour TV show, with a great performance of Touch Me. It's our Song Of The Week.

R.I.P. Ray. Thank you.

Michael



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Ray Manzarek - Co-Founder The Doors Has Died

Ray Manzarek, a founding member with The Doors whose keyboard work was a touchstone of hits like Break On Through to the Other Side and Light My Fire, has died at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer.

The musician died at a clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by members of his family, according to a statement issued by his publicist.

Manzarek formed the Doors after a chance meeting in July 1965 on Venice Beach, Los Angeles, with Jim Morrison, a fellow alumni from the film school who was to become the band's vocalist.

After they were joined by Robby Krieger on guitar and John Densmore on drums, the band released six albums, all of which were successful. After Morrison's death in 1971, the band continued on as a trio, releasing two more albums.

Manzarek, who was born and raised in Chicago and studied at the Department of Cinematography at UCLA, Manzarek occasionally sang for the Doors and was portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan in the 1991 film biopic about the band.

"I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today," Krieger said in a statement. "I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him."

Manzarek played in several other bands after the Doors, including Nite City, a rock group which released a number of albums in the 1970s.

In 1998 he wrote a best-selling memoir about his experiences, Light My Fire: My Life with the Doors. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, a son, and three grandchildren.

Monday, May 20, 2013

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies - Week Of May 19th, 2013



May 19th, 2013 to May 25th, 2013

It's interesting how fast seven days goes by until we're back together again enjoying our favourite music here on the "Island". And if you think that seven days go by quickly, it's uncanny how fast the show's four hours go by so quickly. One thing for sure, we're never bored at Treasure Island Oldies. And it's always so cool to play not only your favourites, but also lots of Lost Treasures, songs you haven't heard in years but vividly remember nonetheless. It was great to start off the show with Shake And Fingerpop by Jr. Walker & The All Stars. It was also fun to hear Tom Northcott's 1941; haven't played it on the show since 2007! In case you missed the live show, be sure to enjoy the Archive at the Listen page. You'll hear a ton of great music.

Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Cora Quinn in Peoria, Illinois. A good friend of hers passed on her birthday information, so she had no idea I was going to celebrate her birthday on the show until she was actually listening to the live show. Good fun. And if you are about to celebrate your birthday, be sure to let me know so I can wish you Happy Birthday on the show and I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you! Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

Be sure to mark your calendar for some upcoming specials: on June 16th it's our Annual Father's Day Special, our Summer Beach Party, June 23rd and then our Annual Made In Canada Special on June 30th. Phew!! We're gonna have us some fun with these specials.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing The Kickerbockers with their smash Beatles-sounding Lies. It's our Song Of The Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents one of the longest lasting groups in history. The Dells kept their exact original line-up from the early 1060's and into the '80s with a fantastic blend of voices. And this week we have two of their great recordings for you. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Wear It On Our Face or Stay In My Corner. I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Here's the Rock And Roll News for the week of May 19th



 
It's also on YouTube
 

Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1963




See you next week.

Bye for now.


Michael

The Dells - Voice Your Choice

The Dells first recorded as The El-Rays in 1953 for Checker Records in Chicago, later signing with Vee-Jay Records in 1955. The group consisted of Johnny Funches (lead vocal), Marvin Junior (baritone lead vocals), Verne Allison (tenor), Mickey McGill (baritone), and Chuch Barksdale (bass). The line-up remained unchanged into the 1980s, with the exception of Johnny Funches, who was replaced by Johnny Carter in 1960. Funches died January 23, 1998 at age 62, while his replacement Johnny Carter died August 21, 2009 at age 75. 

These guys were hugely successful on both the R&B charts and the Hot 100 Pop charts, with 47 charted R&B hits, while they appeared on the Hot 100 charts a total of 24 times.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, we spotlight The Dells with two of their amazing hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Wear It On Our Face or Stay In My Corner. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

The Knickerbockers - Song Of The Week

Some people think that The Knickerbockers were a One Hit Wonder. The boys from Bergenfield, New Jersey appeared three times on the Top 100 charts in the mid-'60s.

This week the Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing their signature hit for youe enjoyment.

Here are The Knickerbockers with Lies. It's our Song Of The Week.

Enjoy!

Michael


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies - Week Of May 12th, 2013


May 12th, 2013 to May 18th, 2013

What a nice way to celebrate Mother's Day than with our Annual Mother's Day Special and all kinds of songs with Mother as the theme. We started off with Etta James and Tell Mama and finished the show with Connie Francis and For Mama and played dozens of other "Mom" tunes in between. Thank you for your requests and emails. And the company in the Chat Room was great, as usual. And the Dads don't need to feel left out; our Annual Father's Day Special is coming up June 16th for the Live show. Incidentally, all of our specials are listed at the Specials page. Click Listen then Specials and you'll see what is coming up to the end of the year.

I'd like to wish my mother Kathleen Godin a very Happy 93rd Birthday this week. And if you are about to celebrate your birthday, be sure to let me know so I can wish you Happy Birthday on the show and I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you! Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing Diana Ross & The Supremes with a song that was requested on this week's show, I'm Living In Shame. It's our Song Of The Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents the Godfather of Soul, the fabulous James Brown, with two amazing soul stirrers for you. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I Got The Feelin' or I Got You (I Feel Good). I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

Here's the Rock And Roll News for the week of May 12th



It's also on YouTube
 
 

Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1959




See you next week.

Bye for now.


Michael

James Brown - Voice Your Choice

James Brown was an innovator. Period! He is one of the founding fathers of funk and soul music and regarded as one of the key music figures of the 20th Century. No wonder he is referred to as the Godfather of Soul.

He was born on May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina, and raised in Augusta, Georgia. Died of heart failure on Christmas Day, December 25, 2006 at age 73. He formed his own vocal group, the Famous Flames with Bobby Byrd. And during his career that spanned six decades, he appeared an impressive 107 times on the Billboard chart between 1958 and 1986!

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents James Brown. Cast you vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I Got The Feelin' or I Feel Good (I Got You). I'll play the winning song in the 3rd hour of next week's show.

The Supremes - Song Of The Week

In keeping with this week's Annual Mother's Day Special on Treasure Island Oldies, here is a song that was requested on the show. It's Diana Ross & The Supremes with I'm Living In Shame.

Enjoy!

Michael

Monday, May 06, 2013

This Week On Treasure Island Oldies - Week Of May 5th, 2013


May 5th, 2013 to May 11th, 2013

May 4, 1997 - The premiere of Treasure Island Oldies on the Internet. It originally was a 3 hour show that aired in the afternoon Pacific time. It was not long before another hour was added and the time slot changed to its current 6 pm Pacific start time. And here we are, it's 2013 and we're celebrating the 16th Anniversary of Treasure Island Oldies! Who would have thought it would continue for so many years? Thank you very much for being such loyal listeners, many of you have been listening sing the beginning or not long after it began. And since the introduction of the Chat Room all those years ago, we have the regulars, whom I fondly refer to as the Nuts In The Hut. We have a great time visiting with each other every Sunday evening during the Live show. I truly enjoy your company every week. 

I continue to be passionate about bringing you a brand new show each week. And I'm thrilled with the number of radio stations that air my show on their stations at various times during the week. They're all part of the Broadcast Partners Network of stations. And no matter where you are in the world, it's great to have you as part of "The Island". So if you missed the Live show or want to hear it again, Click Listen at any page of the website and scroll down to either the Real Media Archive stream or the Windows media 24/7 stream, of the three most recent shows for a total of 12 hours of uninterrupted Treasure Island Oldies. My thanks as well to the Mediaontap.com Network and NeuLion.com for the streaming. It's a great working relationship we'd had since the beginning. Finally, thank you for your phone calls, emails and facebook greetings. You all sure know how to "spread good vibes".

Be sure to join me next week, May 12th, for our Annual Mother's Day Special with lots and lots of songs about Mom, Mother, Mama, and Mommy too. I look forward to this special every year as it is sure a very special day and I'm honoured to have my mom, Kathleen, still going strong and turning 93 on May 16th. I'm very lucky! So my Mother's Day Special is always for my Mom and all the moms around the world.

If you are about to celebrate your birthday, be sure to let me know so I can wish you Happy Birthday on the show and I'll play Birthday by The Beatles for you! Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com.

The Treasure Island Oldies Blog is playing the great Johnny Burnette in a live TV performance of You're Sixteen. It's our Song Of The Week. Enjoy!

Voice Your Choice presents some great blue-eyed soul from The Young Rascals. Cast you vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either I've Been Lonely Too Long or Groovin'. Tough choice! I'll play the winner in the 3rd hour of next week's show. Vote Now!

Here's the Rock And Roll News for the week of May 5th


It's also on YouTube


 


Listen to the Top 5 Countdown from 1962



See you next week and thanks again for the great 16th Anniversary celebration with you.

Bye for now.

The Young Rascals - Voice Your Choice

The Young Rascals were a "Blue-eyed Soul" group from New York City and the original group consisted of Felix Cavaliere (vocals and organ), Gene Cornish (vocals and guitar), Eddie Brigati (vocals, percussion) and Dino Danelli (drums). Felix, Gene and Eddie had all been members of Joey Dee and The Starliters (The Peppermint Twist). Gene was a recognized guitarist from Toronto.The famous Sid Bernstein signed them to Atlantic Records and their debut single, I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore became a minor hit, peaking at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. But that was just the beginning.

Between 1966 and 1971, they had 18 singles on the charts including 5 Top Ten hits and 3 Gold Records. In 1968 they removed "Young" and re-named themselves The Rascals. They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997.

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice spotlights The Young Rascals with two of their much-loved hits. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice Page for either I've Been Lonely Too Long or Groovin'.

There is going to be some difficult decision making by you before we find out the results of the votes. I'll play the winning song in Hour 3 of next week's show.

Johnny Burnette - Song Of The Week

As we celebrate the 16th Anniversary this week of Treasure Island Oldies, I thought it would be fitting for the the Treasure Island Oldies Blog to play Johnny Burnette and the classic You're Sixteen.

It's our Song Of The Week.

Enjoy!



Greg Quill Entertainment Critic and Australian Star Has Died

I knew Greg Quill, initially as a member and lead vocalist with the Australian roots rockers, Country Radio and their hit single, Gypsy Queen. I later got to know him during my years at A&M Records as a rock critic with the Toronto Star. If you are unfamiliar with that band, I am posting a video below the bull obituary below.

Michael

Greg Quill, an acclaimed Australian roots musician and longtime Toronto Star entertainment critic died in his Hamilton home Sunday afternoon. He was 66.
“Any time we strayed off work topics, it was always about his wife and daughter, and her child, and how much he loved them,” said Star book editor Dianne Rinehart. “He was a big man with a bigger heart.”
Prior to pursuing a journalistic career in Toronto, Quill was a household name in Australia. Throughout the early ‘70s his roots band, Country Radio, released a number of hit singles and albums that resulted in a number of national tours there, where he shared the same stage as Elton John and Creedence Clearwater Revival among others.

“Greg was a first-rank writer, a man with a big heart who and had an encyclopedic knowledge of music,” said acclaimed music critic Larry Leblanc. “When he wrote music he wrote poems. His writing was of extreme high quality that was well thought out and emotional. I’m just heartbroken.”
After the 1974 release of his critically acclaimed solo album, The Outlaw’s Reply, Quill received a travel grant from the Australian Arts Council and moved to Toronto to live here part-time.When he was not working with his newly formed band Southern Cross, Quill was often called upon by the local media to write about music and after a final farewell tour of Australia, became an entertainment reporter at the Star.“He was the consummate critic, a master of the undulating sentence that flowed down the page,” remembers Antonia Zerbisias, who met Quill in 1989 when both were covering television. “He could take the most mundane sitcom and, after he was done with it, even though he hated it, you always felt that he elevated it into something worth noticing.”
Up until the end, Quill was both an artist and a journalist to the core.“Just a couple weeks ago when we were planning a story on Rush, I mentioned the name of the artist who did the band’s album covers. Greg casually commented that the guy had also done an album cover for him back in the day,” recalls Janet Hurley, the Star’s entertainment editor.
“I loved the fact that this man who stood alongside us as a colleague had another history and life as a music superstar and yet in the newsroom he was simply one of us, a journalist.”
His family said on Facebook that Quill died from complications due to pneumonia and recently diagnosed sleep apnea. He is survived by his wife Ellen Davidson, daughter Kaya and a grandson, Raymond as well as by his step-daughters Angela and Tosha and three step-grandchildren, Jack, Owen and Evelyn.