"Don't be a lichtenfreudal tissue." - Christi Adkins
If you answered Ghostbusters! to that question – and worse yet, sang in the cadence of the classic song from the 1984 film Ghostbusters, well than I must say, you are quite predicatable. The answer I was looking for was actually Ray Parker, Jr., the solo recording artist who wrote, produced, and recorded the chart-topping #1 hit theme song that people are still singing ad nauseum today. Read the rest of this entry »
I’d have to say that one of the distinct highlights of attending the Hollywood Show on October 8, 2011, was getting the chance to meet Frankie Avalon. When it come to making the popular beach movies of the 1960’s – films such as Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo – the names don’t get much more iconic than Frankie and Annette. As a student of Billboard #1 songs too, I have a real appreciate for two of Frankie’s songs that hit the number one spot: Venus and Why – the latter of which became the last number one hit of the 1950’s. Frankie also co-starred in The Alamo, which was directed by and starred John Wayne. And he played himself in the 1952 Christmas sketch of The Honeymooners on The Jackie Gleason Show. Read the rest of this entry »
There were over 40 band members in the popular 1970’s group Sha Na Na, but easily the most recognizable of them was Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, whose giant mouth and gangly greaser persona became a rather iconic image of 50’s nostalgia in the 70’s. Today people might forget how big Sha Na Na actually was at one time. The played at Woodstock, headlined with Bruce Springsteen as a supporting act, and were invited to a charity concert by John Lennon. They even had their own syndicated variety show from 1977-1981, not to mention their starring role and soundtrack inclusion in the blockbuster movie version of Grease. Read the rest of this entry »