The Beatles

The Beatles

         THE BEATLES WERE FREAKING AMAZING !


The Beatles came on the scene like a tidal wave. Nothing, not even Elvis or Frankie Sinatra had taken over so big or so fast. All of a sudden the radio stations were playing non stop Beatles music.

The Beatles

1964 was the year the Beatles changed the music industry the way Elvis changed music ten years before. The Beatles would last ten years (1960 to 1970). Their sales however, have continue to this day. 

The Beatles

If you read my little story on Elvis you probably realize I liked his music but was never what you might call a consummate fan. I was and remain the same about the Beatles. They had a great impact on the industry. They broke new ground just as Elvis. They sold more records than anybody in history and that record stands even today.

The Beatles

But I just never got into that "be all and end all" status with them. Again, I listened, I rocked and I rolled. I liked them. I just have artists I enjoyed a great deal more. I know I am in the minority but I promised to tell these stories as I feel them. 

The Beatles

By the time 1964 came around I was a married teenage father. I was working and going to school so maybe it's not fair to the Beatles to say "I was just not that into them". Maybe I was preoccupied with marriage, fatherhood, jobs and school. It doesn't matter what you were doing during 1964 or how old, everyone knew about the Beatles. They were flooding the airwaves. It was too much. I began to punch the radio buttons trying to find someone other than the Beatles. Even the Beatles wannabe's were sometimes a relief.

The Beatles

Here are a list of Beatles honors and there are tons.


They were the Best Selling Band in Music History.


They sold more albums than any other act ever.

The Beatles

They were named #1 on Billboards list of Top Selling 100 Artists.


They won 7 Grammy Awards


They won 15 English Ivor Academy Awards.


They were named among the Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential people.

The Beatles

Queen Elizabeth the Second Knighted all four of the Beatles.


They received an Academy Award for the music in the movie "Let it Be".

The Beatles

For their sales information and awards I have included a link below. What they achieved is simply unbelievable. 




I hope the Beatles fans don't get to mad at me about my lack of enthusiasm. I am first and foremost a blues rock kind of a guy. I really didn't find my genre until a few years later.

The Beatles

My program was installed long before I had heard of the Beatles or I might have enjoyed them more. It's just a personal thing. Please excuse it.

The Beatles

What I do appreciate most about the Beatles is the fact they helped open the door for the biggest expansion in types and styles of rock and roll. 

The Beatles

They had an irreverence that brought some much needed levity into what was rapidly becoming an overly serious business. I liked the idea of them trying to push something new into every recording session. They did that not only in the music but the technology and recording technique as well.




      Web Site    Mucho Info      Videos     Record sales      R&R  

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye

Well I Heard it through the grapevine, not much longer would you be mine..honey, honey yeah


I don't know if that's really how the song goes but it's the way it's been buzzy through my head since the first time I heard it. I was passing the church with the Schilling Annex, can't remember the name or type, on Popular Avenue in Memphis and here comes Marvin Gaye on the radio. Everybody liked his music well enough but this one made you damned near pull off the road and just listen. 

Marvin Gaye

Gaye went on to do a lot of great music. He won all kinds of awards and 25 years after his death he is still winning awards and earning possibly more than he did while alive. And that was a ton. Marvin Gaye was one of the top revenue generators not only for MoTown but for all American Artists of that period. The Beatles didn't seem to phase him. Maybe he and Stevie Wonder were the alternative to the Beatles because both of them did well while opposing the British invasion. Other American artists and especially the groups seemed to almost disappear once 1964 hit them.

Marvin Gaye

I enjoyed listening to Marvin. I think pretty much all of my age group liked his music. His first hits came along about the time we were getting out of high school or entering college. He stayed with us and we with him for the next twenty years. As those years wore on we began to hear of difficult times for Marvin but he kept producing good records so we just kind of wrote it off as not too serious. Then the news came that his father had had to shoot him to protect himself from a drug addled star. Man that was hard to take.

Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell

Marvin made a ton of money. But my research doesn't tell me why he was always broke. He was about to go to prison at one point for lack of paying his child support. Later the IRS said he owed them millions and he fled the country. I don't know if that ever got settled. 

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was one of the most successful singer, drummer, songwriters in Rock and Roll history. He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and I think, but am not sure, that he is also in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Marvin Gaye

He was named Rolling Stone's #18 out of 100 Top Artist of All Times. From 1963 to 2001 he had 41 Top 40 Hits on Billboard's Pop Charts. Also on the Pop charts he had 18 Top 10's. and 3 #1 hits.
At the same time he was hitting on the Rhythm and Blues charts even higher. He had 60 Top 40's, 38 Top 10's, and 13 #1 Hits.

Marvin Gaye

That info is on his singles. His album sales were just as impressive. This guy was a major voice in the industry. I might be nuts but Marvin's drum playing on Little Stevie Wonder's first big hit, "Finger Tips" is just as amazing as his singing. If you get a chance try to listen to it. The drums are everything.

Marvin Gaye

Here are some links for entertainment and information. I hope you can spend a little time with Marvin. It always does me good.


P.S.      I don't want to take one thing away from Marvin Gaye but I have to say something. Marvin was blessed with great, creative genius as well as being a terrific singer that is true. BUT..after going back and listening to "Heard it Through the Grapevine", I have to say a part of his good fortune comes from the fact that he started off with Motown Records and their initial direction and backing. 

Marvin Gaye

Maybe more importantly, that association put him in the studio with what I consider the best collective group of musicians on the planet, The Funk Brothers. When you listen to his music, listen to them and you'll see what I mean. They helped anyone they worked with, no matter how good the artist, the Funk Brothers could make them better.




       Info          Videos           R&R            Watch this

Little Stevie Wonder

Little Stevie Wonder

I know ! I know ! He changed his name from Little Stevie Wonder to Stevie Wonder. But this is a history blog so I am sticking with the way we knew him from the first. Besides, I like the memories that come from his Little Stevie Wonder days.

Stevie Wonder

What a talent. He was just a kid but he had more natural talent than most of the grown up folks around him. I think we were 17 the first time we heard Stevie on the radio. That would be about right because he is five years our junior. When "Finger Tips" came over that old 53 Chevy's radio, it darned near blew me out of the drive in theatre.

Little Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

If you are younger and did not have the opportunity to experience the  commercial phenomenon called "the drive inn" or better known as the "submarine races", you missed something special. The drive in movie theatres were a must on the summertime teenage social calendar. On Friday or Saturday night it was the place to be with your best gal. Musically, the "passion pits" were also magic. 

Little Stevie Wonder

In 1963, very few cars, even in the deep south, had air conditioning. Therefore you might have fifty cars filled with teenagers all close to each other and with the windows down. Since we teenagers typically ran with a herd mentality we listened to the same popular radio stations. Theatre rules said no radios because everyone was supposed to be there to watch the movie. Naturally, we had them on low while dealing with the real business at hand. 

Stevie Wonder

Back to Stevie Wonder and that special first time I heard him. On a sweltering summer night some disc jockey in some far away town played twelve year old Little Stevie Wonder. He was playing bongoes and  harmonica while singing "Finger Tips". Some back seater yelled out "turn it up".  With that teen battle cry, almost every car in the White River Drive Inn cranked up their radios. With the radios blasting, kids were jumping out of backseats and dancing on the gravel parking lot. Everybody sang along, as we would for many years to come.

Stevie Wonder

"Finger Tips" had some special magic creating the need to sing along. Marvin Gaye was beating the hell out of the drums. His bandmates, who would become known as the Funk Brothers, were absolutely tearing it up. It was a great tune. The bass, drums and harp alone could have carried it but it had so much, so much, more.

Stevie Wonder

With this scene in mind, we were all introduced to Little Stevie Wonder. The song went to number one. As would many, many more. 

Stevie Wonder

The Beatles didn't phase Wonder. He had hit after hit after hit. He was every bit as hot as anyone from Britain. He would stay on top as long as he wanted. He was and is a fantastic writer, arranger, producer, singer, multiple instrument wizard and band leader. The only reason Stevie's hits stopped coming after many, many years was because he stopped making them. I honestly believe if he wanted to go back to his usual hard working self he could be producing number ones again any time he wanted.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder's talent has no limits. I am not going to try to list all his awards or accomplishments. I am going to link you to the appropriate sites and let you read the huge list yourself. However, I think he may have been the most successful of the rock era musicians. If not, I don't who it could be. He won every kind of lifetime achievement award available. He won twenty or so Grammy's, had a gillion Top 10 hits, you name it, he's done it. 

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

From the first time, in that drive in movie, I don't think anyone ever expected anything less that a stalwart career. And that is what he gave us. Well done Little Stevie Wonder !

Stevie Wonder

     Finger tips     Videos   




    Info   Web site     R&R  

Bo Diddley

Early Bo Diddley

I messed up. Bo Diddley should have been with the 1955 group. I missed him. In choosing the artists I use the Billboard charts.


Unfortunately, if they are left off the charts for any reason, I don't know to pick them up. For instance, if someone like Bo Diddley, did not chart well or if Billboard didn't list him. I would have no way of knowing about him.

Bo Diddley

I should have picked up Bo Diddley when I reviewed 1955. Unfortunately, he never shows up on the singles charts, all the way through 1963. I don't know why. I know by 63, I had his albums and my friends did as well. I still don't get it. I am embarrassed and owe an apology to the memory of the old "gunslinger".

Bo Diddley

I can't believe he wasn't charting. Something has to be amiss. Every band that ever played a high school dance or a frat party during the late fifties or throughout the sixties had to know his songs. Bo Diddley meant party music. 


In the summer of 1963 my cousin and I had a cabin for a couple of weeks on North Alabama's Lake Wilson. We had a ski boat, tiny record player, one Bo Diddley album and a bunch of Ian Flemming paperbacks. With some groceries and a few cold beverages. We had everything we needed. 

Wish I still had this Bo Diddley album.

Bo Diddley was an innovator. Bo Diddley was a guitar slinger who showed his generation what the next wave of guitar music would sound like. Bo lived a long life and died of natural causes at home.

Bo Diddley

There is so much information and so many awards for this man I am going to direct you to the wikipedia link and ask you to explore it for yourself. I will tell you this. He won every pioneer type music award known to mankind. He was treated well and respected by his peers. I don't think you can say that about the way he was treated by some of the labels in his early days. But that was the way it was for the pioneers. Here are the links.......

Bo Diddley

 Info      Web site   


      Videos        R&R

Gene Pitney

Gene Pitney

Gene Pitney was cool. He had to be cool. He sang the title song to one of our favorite movies. "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". Lee Marvin was Liberty, Jimmy Stewart was the lawyer who had to put his law books down and John Wayne was the silent hero. 


Hell of a movie. Hell of a song. I can't think of anyone else whose voice was so unique as to put his signature on this synopsis song. He did it so well that here it is almost fifty years later and I can still hear his distinct sound describing what happened in the movie.

Gene Pitney

In my research I learned I was wrong about this song and it's relationship with the movie. I thought the song was in the movie. It wasn't. This song was a heck of a hit. The movie was a huge hit. I don't know if either of them would have done near as well without the other. Don't get me wrong, they were both excellent products individually. However, when coupled I think it increased sales for both exponentially. Just guessing.... it's a hunch. 

Gene Pitney

The funny part is the song written by Bacharach and David was not used in the movie as planned. It was released separately due to legal wrangling between the song writers and the movie folks.


Gene had one hit and then really "broke through" by singing movie themes. His first was "Town without Pity" starring Kirk Douglas. To be followed by "Liberty". Meanwhile he was climbing the charts with singles separate from the movies.

Gene Pitney

Gene Pitney was a favorite among the teenage market. As mentioned, his voice was unique and set him apart from the group of "Bobby's". His songs were refreshing and typically carried a nice story. The movie gigs gave him much more credibility and star power than his peers with more Top 40 credits. I think the movie angle gave Gene an edge to creating a career that would last longer than most.

Gene Pitney

Gene Pitney sold records. He was not only an excellent singer, he was a great writer, a multi instrument musician and top producer. He charted in the U.S. something like 31 times. But maybe the key to his financial success is his efforts in the U.K., Europe and Australian markets. He was hotter in Australia than the U.S. When his sales were down in one country they would be up in another. This Gene Pitney was not only a great artist he was a smart businessman.

Gene Pitney

Gene is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Hit Parade Hall of Fame and performed at Carnegie Hall. Gene died of a heart attack while on tour in the U.K. He was 66.










      Info      Hit     Web site      Videos     Foundation     R&R

Bobby Vinton

Bobby Vinton

In the stories of 1962 I have had to address the eventual demise of of the artists careers due to the "British invasion". When it came time to do Bobby Vinton, I expected to learn the same fate had come to this Polish singer from Pennsylvania. But no ! His career did just the opposite. 


Bobby Vinton had a really good run of 7 years. His "hot" period overlapped the Beatles juggernaut. Vinton had 30 hits evenly spread out from 1962 right on through 1968.  He continued to chart regularly through 1977. Numbers wise, Bobby Vinton was a machine. He produced 47 charted hits between 1962 and 1981. Of those 47, he had 32 in the Top 40, 10 in the Top 10 and 4 Number 1's with two of those in 1964, the same year as the Beatles breakthrough.

Bobby Vinton

I haven't a clue how this baby face singer could withstand the big hit. I don't get it. Sure we enjoyed Bobby Vinton's music. My junior year of high school was his first big year. He had a number one and two more Top 40's. During my senior year, 1963, the year before the Beatles, he had another number one and four more Top 40's. In 1964, the year of The Beatles, he soldiered on with two number one's and five other Top 40's. That was weird! Almost all the American groups  crashed and burned that year. To make things even stranger, Bobby went on to have four Top 40 in 65 and 6 charted hits in 66.

Bobby Vinton

My conclusion is that the "British" invasion didn't affect Bobby Vinton's career at all. Absolutely freaking amazing !!! Why was he different ? How was he insulated from basically all competition no matter how world shaking?????


I have two ideas. He was singing love songs about teenagers to his teenage market. that baby face made him appear to be the same age as his market. Yes, he was a little corny but so are teenagers. Yes, he was a little sugary but so are teenage girls. It's all I can figure. He sang lyrics that put him in direct touch with that hormonally challenged heart of the teenage girl. Billboard Magazine called him, "the all time most successful love singer of the Rock era".


He went on to make movies with John Wayne, host television shows from 75 to 78,  and operate his own Branson, Missouri concert theatre for many, many years. Bobby Vinton is one of the few rock and roll era artists who ran a great business from 1962 until his voluntary retirement some thirty years later. "Blue Velvet" did him well.

Bobby Vinton

Bobby was the top male vocalist from 1962 until 1972. During that time he had more # 1 hits than Elvis or Frank Sinatra. His is in the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. His star is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, Duquesne University.


But no, he's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I guess a little too much Pat Boone and not enough Elvis. Go figure. 

Bobby Vinton

Mister Bobby Vinton, you are now officially inducted into the only Hall of Fame that matters.
           
             






                    "The Fan's Hall of Fame."






    Web site       Info         Mo Info        Videos         Hit       Walk