Fun in the Sun

California Beach

 Extreme weekend heat wave could bring temperatures above 120 to Western US

• A wave of record-setting, life-threatening heat is expected to blaze across the West this weekend, with temperatures in some areas projected to top 120 degrees.
• Death Valley, Calif., could even top 130 degrees Saturday through Monday, just below the world record high of 134 recorded there on July 10, 1913
• The cause is a high pressure system that will scorch a long arm of the Southwest. Temperatures in Phoenix and Las Vegas are expected to soar into the triple digits, with temperatures hovering between 115 and 120 degrees. In western parts of Arizona, temperatures could reach 125.

California Sun-The Rivieras

Summer 2013; after a terrible winter and worst spring, Mother Nature is not done with us yet.  Many people had plans for the summer vacation well in advance and we are not quitters. We’ve waited a long time for nice vacation on the beach or otherwise outdoors, whatever you do, use caution, when deciding how long to stay exposed to the elements.  The beach and clear skies are a nice combination to lure you and lull you into overstaying your time out. For many people fun in the sun, sand and surf means plenty of beer or other alcoholic beverages; a bad combination with extreme heat in the forecast (clouds better judgment).

Heat exhaustion and dehydration are known to cause casualties in weather such as we are facing in this summer’s forecast.  Drink plenty of water and don’t get over exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.  Many elderly people can’t afford air condition systems for their homes, if you have elderly neighbors consider checking up on them, better yet put it on your to do list.

Las Vegas

One of the worst vacations I ever experienced was about 10 years ago and it happened at the happiest place on earth (Disneyland-Southern California).  The lines were at least 45 minutes long for all rides, and I had to spend lots of money buying bottled water just to pour it on my children’s heads to cool them off. My idea of a nice vacation on a very hot summer day is to stay indoors in an air conditioned room, or restaurant, and then go out at night in a place like Las Vegas.  I do recall one summer vacation in Las Vegas where the temperature at 3 in the morning was 92 degrees.

For many young indestructible people (or so they think- been there done that) there will be many other vacations.  For us older folk hopefully we are smart enough to know better.  The goal is to live today to enjoy another day.  The best is yet to come….

Friday Night Fights

Sugar Ray Robinson

 One special family ritual around our house growing up with my stepfather was Friday Night Fights on television.  In the mid 1950’s televisions were still not in every home or anywhere near, and unless I am not aware most if not all sets were black and white.  Gillette Cavalcade of Sports was the one major attraction for the man of the house, and it seems that all our relatives would come over to our house to visit on Friday because we had a television set.  In all fairness to men, my uncle Rudy (best BBQ expert I’ve ever known) would make the steaks “asada.” The ladies including daughters from 16 years old and up took care of the rest of the dinner in the kitchen.

The total meal included homemade flour tortillas (piled up as much as a foot high as they came off the stove), Guacamole consisting of plenty of avocados, diced sweet onions, and diced fresh jalapeno peppers, and tomatoes (some squeezed lime), buttery and fluffy mashed potatoes, homemade refried pinto beans, homemade rice, and green salad, and of course my uncle Rudy’s expertly “grilled carne asada.”  I remember that he used to pour some of his beer over the steaks as he grilled them for additional flavor (or so he said).  I don’t remember anyone ever getting drunk at the gathering but there was plenty of beer to go around for the adult men (Lone star or Falstaff) Kool-Aid and coffee for everyone else.  For dessert there was usually fruit (in season) my favorite was a slice of ice cold watermelon.  At that time in my life if we were poor, I didn’t know it because I was one happy camper.  Another sign that we weren’t poor is the fact that we were surrounded and in harmony with all our family members.  The event I am describing took place in Texas.

The aroma throughout the house was delicious.  Even if you weren’t hungry when the cooking started, halfway through the meal preparation you couldn’t wait to be called to the table.  I remember being amazed at how fast the flour tortilla stack disappeared.  After the meal the main event would begin.  Just the theme song would send chills of excitement in expectation of a great fight.

Gillette Cavalcade of Sports Theme Song

It would be many years down the road before I would fully understand how important in the development of the boxing sport this era was.  Some of the boxers I remember included: Sugar Ray Robinson, Carmen Basilio, Chuck Davey, Chico Vejar, Kid Gavilan, Gene Fullmer, Johnny Saxton, Tony DeMarco, Charlie Powell, and many more up and coming boxers.  The excitement in the room was contagious.  The men would be yelling at their favorite boxers to encourage them.  After the event was over, win or lose, we would still fill like a letdown because we would have to wait until the next Friday night for another family get together.

Some of us in the younger family member groups would eventually be sent outside to play tag or hide and seek.  Those get together times were so essential to maintaining great family relations, communications and goodwill.  Now a days we have a family board game night whenever the family comes together, and you can hear the competition spirit going on in our dining room after a wonderful meal, (our home is the gathering plays for pay per view programs) but I miss the old family members that are no longer around.  I guess they have been replaced by me and others like my wife, etc.  Life is like that; we get promoted by attrition.  Sooner or later we rise to the respected position of love and respect.  The best is yet to come….

Secret of Long Life

Modern Medical Science

We live in a time where medical science is so improved that if ever anything could be done to prolong your life or save it, the time is now.  I also happen to believe in destiny.  Meaning that, if your time to go comes up, all the science in the world won’t buy you more time.  As an example you could be brought back from drowning while on vacation, but if your time is up you could die in a car accident on the way home.  Forgive me if you feel that my thinking is too fatalistic, but I don’t believe that I stand alone in this case.

Destiny aside, and not knowing how long we have left, I also believe that we must do all we can to improve our chances at longevity.  First thing we can do is learn about our parents and grandparents health, some people don’t realize that their life’s journey is intricately weaved with their ancestors.  Not perfectly interweaved because every human being is the product of a mother and father.  As an example I am the product of my father and mother, and my wife is the product of her mother and father.  Consequently the makeup of our children is affected by the parents and their paternal and maternal grandparents and on and on.

I’ve looked at my family tree to see how long my ancestors lived and what they eventually died from.  I checked where possible their good and bad habits, and made some decisions of what I want to improve on by duplicating good habits and discarding the bad.  At least two habits that I seem to have inherited are: being monogamous, and working hard.  Both are choices that seemed good on the surface, but that I am not convinced that I followed consciously.  I just seem to have turned out that way.  Maybe, just maybe, I turned out that way because I didn’t have the Internet (Google) to influence me.

Back to medical science, I’ve said before that two contacts to maintain great communications with, are: 

• Your medical team, and
• The Internal Revenue Service.  When I’ve said that before, I didn’t realize that the communications with the IRS were automatic (NSA- sorry I had to throw that in).

In all seriousness, if your physician suggests a series of tests to help keep you informed and in good medical condition, you should consider going along no matter how scary the tests may be.  In the case of medical, not everything that is affecting you will kill you, but in fact could make your life miserable (a preventable stroke is a good example).

I don’t always love or like my doctor, but I do respect her knowledge and caring all the time.  This is a long way to go just to say that I recently had a Colonoscopy and everything turned up perfect.  Just another example of how to reduce stress, one less thing to worry about for the next 10 years.  The best is yet to come….

Unexpected Best Christmas

Unexpected Best Christmas 1954

The following is an excerpt from a book I am presently writing (working title: East Lincoln);

By the time Christmas Eve 1954 arrived we were happy and healthy, even well fed but no gifts were in sight, and while Christmas was always wonderful, only a miracle could save this one.  Soon after dinner, my mother announced that it was time to go to bed.  It was a dry cold winter day, and the idea of being under the covers sounded like a good idea to me.  I never said anything to my parents, but I just couldn’t understand why we couldn’t have some presents to open.  Our family was not rich, but we were never broke enough that we couldn’t celebrate a nice Christmas.  The extra legal expenses, and dragged out time to become U.S. permanent residents had affected our budget.

I could still hear my parents talking as I eventually closed my eyes and fell asleep.  My sister was close by and she had also fallen asleep.  I don’t remember how much time went by, but I was awakened by a loud knock on the door, and my father was awakened from a deep sleep but ran to answer the knocks at the door that seemed to have some urgency behind them.  My first thought was that it must be Santa Claus who finally realized that he accidentally missed our house, and since we didn’t have a fireplace he decided to knock (keep in mind that I was 7 years old).

My uncle's Christmas Sleigh

As the door was opened I could hear some happy conversation going on, so I decided to get out of bed and join my father at the door.  To my surprise, the person standing there was a man that I came to equate with someone as good and kind as Santa Claus himself.  It was my uncle Ramon, he was my father’s brother, who lived in Salinas California, and was helping our immigration process from the U.S. side, with attorneys from the North side of the border.

My uncle and his family were visiting in Los Angeles for Christmas with close family members on his wife’s side, and couldn’t get our family out of his mind, so he went shopping and drove 250 miles one way to deliver (literally) a car load of Christmas gifts for everyone in my family.  He could only visit for a couple of hours because he had to get back home to his own family in time to open gifts on Christmas day.  Besides some very special toys that I still remember, he brought clothes, and blankets, food, candy, and he gave my father and mother some money that my father only accepted as a loan.

As part of the conversation, he shared with my father that he had to bribe a border guard on the Mexican side to bring the toys across the border, but that it was worth it.  The memorable toys that I still remember getting were, a police patrol car with working lights on top, and headlights and a siren operated by batteries and controlled in a small box from a wired lead about 3 feet long (he also brought extra batteries).  I also got an electric HO scale train with tracks, station, crossings and all.  My sister got a couple of large dolls, a couple of dish sets, clothes, and shoes.  My uncle owned a very successful construction company, and loved family.  I spent the rest of my life making sure that my family always has a nice life and merry Christmas (always trying to be like my uncle Ramon).  The best is yet to come….

Welcome Back

Sweat Hogs

Who says we didn’t grow up with gangs?  Our gang was the Sweathogs from Buchanan High School.  We never missed an episode, and I like many others learned to use the saying, “Up your nose with a rubber hose.”

• Welcome Back, Kotter is an American television sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan and featuring a young John Travolta. Videotaped in front of a live studio audience, it originally aired on the ABC network from September 9, 1975, to June 8, 1979. Wikipedia

·       The show starred stand-up comic/ actor Gabe Kaplan as the title character, Gabe Kotter, a wisecracking teacher who returns to his high school alma mater, the fictional James Buchanan High in Brooklyn, New York, to teach an often unruly group of remedial loafers known as the "Sweathogs." (The nickname reflected the fact that the remedial classes were held on the very top floor of the high school.) The school was based on New Utrecht High School, which was used in the opening credits, and also the high school that Kaplan attended. The school's principal was perpetually absent, while the uptight vice principal, Michael Woodman (John Sylvester White), dismissed the Sweathogs as worthless hoodlums and only expected Kotter to attempt to contain them until they inevitably dropped out.

·       Kotter, however, had attended the same remedial classes when he was a student at Buchanan, and was a founding member of the Sweathogs. Recognizing that he was his students' last chance to learn enough to survive beyond high school, he soon befriended them as they grew to recognize and appreciate his trust and faith in their potential. His devotion to the class was such that his students often visited his Bensonhurst apartment, sometime via window, but often to the chagrin of his wife, Julie (Marcia Strassman). 

Welcome Back Kotter Theme Song

The actor Ron Palillo who played Arnold Horshack passed away last year (8-14-12) R.I.P.  Throughout his life Mr. Palillo was adversely affected by the role of Horshack, because he was forever typecast (a reflection of the great acting job that he did).  Four years of wonderful entertainment and beyond with the success of John Travolta to this day.  The best is yet to come....

Memories Anyone?

Wholesome Family Fun

Back when I lived in Texas (in a galaxy far, far away).  One of my favorite past times as a nine year old was to roller skate.  My allowance was enough to accommodate the visit to the local movie theater, plus a couple of nights at the Roller Rink.  I usually finished in the top 3 whenever I participated in a dance (on roller-skates) contest.  Over a two week period I was a no show at the rink because of family illness, and when I returned I told the manager that I had stayed away for lack of money (not wanting to talk about the family illness).  The most productive little white lie I ever told.

• The music would start and off you would go…skating clockwise around the rink.  After a while there would be an announcement over the loudspeaker and everyone would skate in the reverse direction.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A member of staff was responsible for maintaining orderly behavior on the rink.  He would skate slowly backwards between the oncoming skaters and toot his whistle and admonish anyone who stepped out of line and broke the rules.                                                                                                                                                                   Pushing, speeding, skating against the flow and cutting across the rink were major offences.  It was forbidden to cut across the rink as the center was reserved for the more serious skaters to practice forward and backward figures.
• National Anthem                                                                                                                                                    After a dozen or so circuits the MC would clear the floor and the music would start up again in a lighter, more contemporary, vein (Fats Domino, Johnnie Ray, Ray Charles, Duane Eddy) and it would be time for everyone to return to the rink for a final clockwise session before the National Anthem and home time.

I was offered a job teaching young beginners to skate in exchange for food from the snack bar, and free skating.  There are few other events in my life where my skill actually went to my head.  I really enjoyed showing off my dancing on skates skills in front of the young ladies.  I also played up the fact that I worked for the Roller Rink.

How I miss the days when everything you did was fun, and not much was required of you.  It strikes me that at my tender age of nine my mother allowed me to go all over town and have fun.  I was always given money for Taxi fare, but I seldom used it, unless it was to make sure that I got home on time.  What were your fun times like?  The best is yet to come….

Sweet Sounds

Neil Diamond

If there is one major factor in my life it has to be music.  The love of my life and I clicked because of our similar taste in music.  Because I have been in the music business in one way or another most of my life I have a more varied taste (sometimes tolerance) for music than my wife does.  Just the same music is one of the many things that we have in common.  There definitely are many other things that make-up who I am, but music is definitely one factor.

Of the many musical talents that I enjoy and admire Neil Diamond has to be ranked in the top 5.  I can listen to his music on a long trip and not feel overwhelmed.  Other musician’s talents can be like chocolate, you can only take so much, before you have to switch to something else.  One of his songs that has always amazed is Sweet Caroline.  The song is so popular that year after year it finds its way into the Top 200 Most Requested songs at wedding receptions.  This by the way is not a list that I compile but rather one that is national in scope.

• Diamond spent his early career as a songwriter in the Brill Building. His first success as a songwriter came in November 1965, with "Sunday and Me", a Top 20 hit for Jay and the Americans on the Billboard Charts. Greater success as a writer followed with "I'm a Believer", "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You", "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)", and "Love to Love", all by The Monkees. There is a popular misconception that Diamond wrote and composed these songs specifically for the made-for-TV quartet. In reality, Diamond had written and recorded these songs for himself, but the cover versions were released before his own.

·       In 1966 Diamond signed a deal with Bert Berns's Bang Records, then a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. His first release on that label, "Solitary Man", became his first hit. Prior to the release of "Solitary Man", Diamond had considered using a stage name; he came up with two possibilities, "Noah Kaminsky" and "Eice Charry". But when asked by Bang Records which name he should use, Noah, Eice, or Neil, he thought of his grandmother, who died prior to the release of "Solitary Man". Thus he told Bang, "...go with Neil Diamond and I'll figure it out later". Diamond later followed with "Cherry, Cherry", "Kentucky Woman", "Thank the Lord for the Night Time", "Do It", and others. Diamond's Bang recordings were produced by legendary Brill Building songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, both of whom can be heard singing background on many of the tracks.  His first concerts saw him as a "special guest" of, or opening for, everyone fromHerman's Hermits to, on one occasion, The Who.

1970s

• After Diamond had signed a deal in 1968 with MCA Records, whose label at the time was Uni (after MCA's parent company, Universal Pictures), he moved to Los Angeles in 1970. His sound mellowed, with such songs as 1969's "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly Holy", 1970's "'Cracklin' Rosie", and 1972's "Song Sung Blue", the last two reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100. "Sweet Caroline" was Diamond's first major hit after his slump. Diamond admitted in 2007 that he had written "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy after seeing her on the cover of Life in an equestrian riding outfit. It took him just one hour, in a Memphis hotel, to write and compose it. The 1971 release "I Am... I Said" was a Top 5 hit in both the US and UK and was his most intensely personal effort to date, taking upwards of four months to complete.

If you are not a fan take a listen, who knows you too may get hooked.  The best is yet to come…

Blast from the Past

Mad Men end 6th Season no AMC

Sometimes, not always, just sometimes you don’t have to rely on your memory to relive the past.  This is one fine example of that statement.  If you enjoy the occasional television program for fun and relaxation, this program is about an advertising agency based in the 1960’s; this program is for you, Mad Men on the American Movie Channel (AMC).  The end of the 6^th season is upon us, and it promises to keep us in suspense during the off season.

• "Mad Men" may be a modern-day classic, but it's also very much the sum of its parts: Talk through the show with any friend midseason, and we guarantee someone's going ... moreto say something how "uneven" it's been. (We'll exclude the near-perfect Season 3 from this appraisal.) It's a trend that's held true for this latest, sixth season, which concludes this Sunday. The show's magnificent, saving grace, though, is that it does spectacular moments better than just about anyone: For every middling episode, with interminable scenes of Sylvia and Don figuring themselves out, we saw revelatory, earthshaking moments. - By Diane Vadino

One of my sons told my wife and me about it and we have been hooked since the very first episode of Season 1.  I suppose that like everything else the show isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoy seeing things in the plot developing and remembering that you lived through the incident, then just maybe you too will get hooked.  As an example, they covered the JFK Assassination, where everyone in the office was devastated, and most of the non-essential staff were sent home because they were beyond distraught.

Every once in a while you will see them get a contract for an advertising campaign involving a product, and you remember hearing the commercials:  “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz oh what a relief it is.”  Do you remember that commercial (Alka-Seltzer).  The similarities to real life (of bygone days) just go on forever, including the fashion, the cars, the home furniture, etc.  If you care to check it out most of you will find it entertaining.  You can catch up the past seasons on Netflix Hulu, or buy the season on DVD’s at stores like Fred Meyer, Walmart, or Best Buy to name a few. The best is yet to come…

Smashing Return

Creative Mind Times 10

• The first Superman movie in seven years is already on its way to becoming the highest-grossing film featuring Clark Kent. "Superman Returns" started with $52.5 million in its opening weekend and went on to collect $200.1 million in the U.S. and Canada — just over 50% of the movie's final $391.1 million global tally. - Box Office

You would have to know me to understand how creative and wild my imagination can get.  We finally went to see the Man of Steel, which is where the outcome was, creative mind times 10.  While I am creative I don’t like to overplay the massive explosions, destroying the city even if characters fighting, all have super powers.  Before I forget one of the most amazing things about this particular theater attendance, not surprising but definitely amazing; when the movie was over and we left the auditorium I was in a crowd of Baby Boomers, just as I pictured I would be.

I once said that if I was in charge of marketing for the Super Heroes’ movies I would show a bunch of Baby Boomers buying tickets going in, and a bunch of 8 to 13 year olds walking out wearing the same clothes as the Boomers buying the tickets.  The whole crowd was discussing the movie plot on the way out. You could feel the level of satisfaction of seeing a well done movie, pretty much the way we imagined it.  The loud explosions and high Dolby volume was probably spot on for all those Boomers that are hard of hearing anyway.

There were some low level (whispers) commentaries going on during the movie.  I know, I leaned over and explained to my wife, how the Kryptonite affects Superman, and where it comes from.  I also explained the other main characters in the storyline, such as Lois Lane, the Kent’s (adoptive parents), Perry White, etc.  Another amazing thing is how they managed to get so much of today news events into the plot, NSA type surveillance, use of drones, dis-trust for government, Internet, spying and traitors, etc.  Man of Steel definitely gets “two thumbs up from me!” There is rumor that the sequel has already been agreed to.  The best is yet to come….

Giving Your Daughter Away

My Girl The Temptations

 I have been extremely fortunate to have been involved in the Wedding Industry for the last quarter century.  I have been involved in the planning and successful execution of more ceremonies and receptions than most anyone would be willing to admit to because of the sheer numbers.  I have been blessed to see so many fathers in tears (of joy) as they give the hand of their little princesses away to what they hope and pray will be a happy, loving and long lasting relationship.

I have also seen my own family members get married; daughters, sons, sisters, cousins etc. I am very good at recommending the special music for the special moments.  There is no right or wrong song, because every event is unique and special. And on top of that everyone is different.  Someone once asked me; if I hire the same venue and the same music service, can I duplicate the success of my own wedding for my sister?  My answer was very cautiously explained; you would have to invite the same people that attended your wedding.  The outcome of the event must start with quality professional services, and the venue and decorations, cake, food and drinks must also be of quality service level. 

The one thing that will determine the success of the event is the atmosphere that is generated by the people in attendance.  The friends and relatives will spark the chemistry that will turn the event into something memorable or a ruined event by a couple of people that can’t hold their liquor and will manage to ruin the wedding for the happy couple.  I always recommend that a person of authority be assigned to maintain order throughout the event.  That person man or woman (most usually a relative, but can be hired security) will have the position to decide if someone should be banished from the event for behavior unbecoming.

Going on to a better subject; the song selection for the Father and Bride Dance is as important as the married couple’s first dance. I have many, many favorites, but there are two that come to mind without much thought; The Way You Look Tonight by Steve Tyrrel (from the movie Father of the Bride), and My Girl by the Temptations. I will write a short list of popular selections, but keep in mind that what works for you, doesn’t have to be explained to anyone.  I once recommended Butterfly Kisses to a bride, and her response was very surprising; her response was, “No thank you, my father is a leader in the community and a great example to many, but I’ve never seen that man bring his hands together in prayer.”

The Way You Look Tonight by Steve Tyrrel

Ten favorites for Father and Bride Dance:

·       Sweet Pea by Amos Lee

·       You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder

·       Daughter by Loudon Wainwright III

·       Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses

·       My Girl by The Temptations

·       I Loved Her First by Heartland

·       The Way You Look Tonight by Steve Tyrrel

·       Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) by Billy Joel

·       My Little Girl by Time McGraw

·       Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder

If you have any questions about music for an upcoming wedding please feel free to make a comment.  The best is yet to come…

Bad Moon Rising

Songwriters: JOHN C. FOGERTY

I see the bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin'.
I see bad times today.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.
All right!

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we're in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

The more things change the more they stay the same.  The song by CCR was released in 1969, just after the election of Richard Nixon.  Some people theorize that the song was a premonition of bad things to follow his presidency.  We were very involved in Vietnam, and many soldiers were dying every day.  There were riots going on all over the country including Berkley (where the song was used as its rally point).

My love for music has always risen above politics and gloom and doom.  There is a Super-Moon for 2013 approaching and it reminded me of the Bad Moon Rising and the difficulties we are facing with regard to violations of privacy, politics (sequester), tornados, hurricanes, floods, and fires.  Just as we survived the period of time between the release of this super hit song, and now I expect we will also survive the present.  After all we are Americans and the will to survive and thrive is instilled in our very being.  The best is yet to come…

One Hit Wonders

Which Is Your Favorite

Growing up for me was a time of economic struggle, but not one that people were aware of or concentrated on.  My economic struggle began when my mother and father separated and soon after divorced.  I went from being a city person to being a country boy.  It seems that everyone was oblivious to poverty, and most likely because we were still moving away from the mother of all wars (WW2).  Every day we lived was a celebration where we were grateful for what we had.

I’ve always had enough common sense and gratitude in my heart to be thankful for what I do have, and to find the good in people. The way to minimize the impact of not having all your wants is to appreciate having your needs met.  Another way to increase your enjoyment of life is to concentrate in a special interest, whatever it may be.  The attention paid to a special interest will allow you to focus on things that bring you enjoyment.  For me, music has always been that special interest.

It isn’t terribly unusual to have a person or group come into the spotlight and stay there for the duration of a long career.  Some great examples are all around us; The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Platters, the Doors, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Glen Miller Orchestra, The Supremes, Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, and on, and on.  Lightning does, however, strike a chosen few.  I will only mention a chosen few because I can easily come up with a Top 100 One Hit Wonders for the 50’s, 60’s 70’s etc.  We individually have favorites, and you may well have very different from the ones I remember. 

During the 50’s I remember:

·       Chain Gang by Bobby Scott (1956) peaked at #13 on the charts.

·       Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins (1956) peaked at #2 on the charts.

·       Mr. Lee by the Bobbettes (1957) peaked at #6 on the charts.

·       At The Hop by Nick Todd (1958) peaked at #21 on the charts.

During the 60’s I remember:

·       Let the Little Girl Dance by Billy Bland (1960) peaked at #7 on the charts.

·       Alley Oop by The Hollywood Argyles (1960) peaked at #1 on the charts.

·       Stay by Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs (1960) peaked at #1 on the charts.

·       Rama Lama Ding Dong by The Edsels (1961) peaked at #21 on the charts.

·       Silver Threads and Golden Needles by The Springfields (1962) peaked at #20 on the charts.

During the 70’s I remember:

·       Love Grows (Where Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse (1970) peaked at #5 on the charts.

·       Spirit In the Sky by Norman Greenbaum (1970) peaked at #5 on the charts.

·       For The Good Times by Ray Price (1971) peaked at #11 on the charts.

There is so many One Hit Wonders that the most I can hope to accomplish is to get the wheels in your mind turning.  Feel free to tell me about your favorite One Hit Wonder.  The best is yet to come…