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Playing the Hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s

12/18/2025

Music notes for Dec. 18:

Happy birthday Keith Richards The Human Riff', guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of The Rolling Stones who have had over 35 Top 40 singles and albums. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created 'rock's greatest single body of riffs'

1998 - Alice Cooper's Cooper'stown restaurant opens in Phoenix (try the "Welcome To My Nightmare" chili). To celebrate, Cooper performs with his original bandmates Michael Bruce and Neal Smith - the first time the three have been on stage together in 24 years. The restaurant closed in 2017.

1982 - Hall and Oates started a four week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Maneater', the duo's fifth No.1.

1981 - Rod Stewart's concert at the Forum in Los Angeles is broadcast via satellite to an audience estimated at 35 million. Tina Turner joins Stewart for - what else - "Hot Legs."

1972 - Bob Dylan starting filming his role in the western drama Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid along with James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson. Dylan composed the score and songs for the film, most prominently 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door’. His character went by the name “Alias”.

12/17/2025

Music notes for Dec. 17:

Happy birthday Paul Rodgers, lead singer for both Free (“ All Right Now) and Bad Company. He was also part of The Firm, a band he put together with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page.

The late Eddie Kendricks born this date. He was with The Temptations for many years. It’s his lead vocal on “My
Girl” and “Just My Imagination“. His solo career produced the big hits “Keep on Truckin” and ”Boogie Down”.

2004 - Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley agreed to sell 85% of his estate to businessman Robert Sillerman in a deal worth $100m. Sillerman would run Presley's Memphis home Graceland, and own Elvis' name and the rights to all revenue from his music and films. In the deal Lisa Marie would retain possession of Graceland and many of her father's ‘personal effects.’

1986 - The Doobie Brothers reunite for a benefit concert in Palo Alto, California., which tags to a reunion and a new album.

1982 - Karen Carpenter made her last live appearance with The Carpenters when she delivered an intimate performance at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. She died at the age of 32 from heart failure, on February 4, 1983 caused by complications related to her anorexia nervosa.

1970 - The Beach Boys play a Royal Command Performance for Princess Margaret at London's Royal Albert Hall.

12/16/2025

WDGY’s Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1987

1 FAITH –•– George Michael
2 IS THIS LOVE –•– Whitesnake
3 SO EMOTIONAL –•– Whitney Houston
4 SHAKE YOUR LOVE –•– Debbie Gibson
5 GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU –•– George Harrison

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK: AT # 71 — NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP –•– Rick Astley

IT WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO #1

12/16/2025

Music notes for Dec. 16:

Happy birthday Benny Andersson, founding member of ABBA.

The late singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg born this day. Among his many hits were “Longer“, “Run for the Roses, “Leader of the Band” and “Same Auld Lang Syne”.

The late Nicolette Larson born this date. Her biggest hit was 1978’ s “Lotta Love”, a song written by Neil Young. During her all too brief career, she worked with Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, and Jimmy Buffett.

1989 - Billy Joel went to No.1 on the album chart with his 11th studio release 'Storm Front'. The album featured one of Joel's three No.1 hits, 'We Didn't Start the Fire', a fast-paced song, mentioning some of the major historical events that took place in his time, and 'Leningrad', Joel's take on the end of the Cold War.

1972 - Billy Paul started a three week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Me and Mrs Jones’.

1965 - Released as a double A side The Beatles 'Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out'. The single was hit No.1 in January 1966.

12/15/2025

Music notes for Dec. 15:

Happy birthday Dave Clark of the British Invasion band the Dave Clark Five. The London-based landed 14 Top 40 hits. After Th Beatles, they were the second British band to come to the U.S.

Happy birthday Cindy Birdsong. In 1967 she replace Florence Ballard in The Supremes.

1979 - The Buggles song "Video Killed The Radio Star" reaches its U.S. chart peak of #40 (in the UK, it hit #1 in September). On August 1, 1981, it becomes the first music video played on MTV. Record stores in areas with high cable pe*******on are baffled when folks show up looking for the song.

1973 - Charlie Rich started a two week run at No.1 on the singles chart with “The Most Beautiful Girl', the singers only No.1 single.

1969 - John Lennon played what would be his final ever gig in the England when he appeared at The Lyceum Ballroom, London, with the Plastic Ono Band in a UNICEF 'Peace For Christmas' benefit. George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Delaney and Bonnie, Billy Preston and The Who's drummer, Keith Moon also took part.

1956 - Elvis gave his final performance on Louisiana Hayride, a live radio program that was broadcast on KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana. Presley made 50 appearances on the show. At the end of the show, Horace Logan first made the now legendary phrase ‘Elvis has left the building’.

12/14/2025

Music notes for Dec. 14:

1999 - Sir Paul McCartney appeared at The Cavern Club Liverpool in front of 300 people. marked McCartney's last gig of the year and the 20th Century. His last gig at the venue was in 1963. The show went out as a live webcast and was estimated to have been watched by some three million people worldwide (a record at the time for an online audience).

1991 - Michael Jackson started a four-week run at No.1 on the album chart with his eighth studio album 'Dangerous'. The album has sold over 32 million copies worldwide making it one of the best selling albums of all time. Nine singles were released from the album spanning two years (1991–1993).

1980 - Yoko Ono called on fans to observe ten minutes of silence in memory of John Lennon. 30,000 gathered outside St George's Hall in Liverpool, while nearly 100,000 attend a memorial in New York's Central Park.

1978 - Billy Joel plays Madison Square Garden for the first time, which growing up he considered a "temple." He later becomes the first musical act to hold residency at the Garden.

1977 - At the peak of the disco era, the film Saturday Night Fever opens in theaters. The soundtrack contains two previous #1 hits and four new ones.

1969 - The Jackson 5 make their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, where they perform their debut Motown single "I Want You Back."

1968 - Marvin Gaye scored his first No.1 single when 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' started a five-week run at the top of the charts. It was Marvin's 15th solo hit. Gladys Knight & The Pips took the song to #2 the previous year.

12/13/2025

Music notes for Dec. 13:

2012 - Songwriting legend Carole King wins the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize in recognition of her lifetime achievement. She is the first woman awarded this honor, which fits with her having authored "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman," among many other chart-smashers during her five-decade career.

2002 -Zal Yanovsky, founding member of The Lovin’ Spoonful passed away. He was a member of The Mugwumps with Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot who went on The Mamas & The Papas. Formed The Lovin Spoonful with John Sebastian, they scored 6 Top Ten Hits including “Summer in he City” which got to #1. The band was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2000.

1999 - BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) publishes their list of the most-played songs on radio and TV in the 20th century. The Top 5:

"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
"Never My Love"
"Yesterday"
"Stand By Me"
"Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"

1986 - Bruce Hornsby & The Range went to No.1 singles chart, with 'The Way It Is', a song about the civil rights movement.

1985 - Phil Collins, whose song "In The Air Tonight" was used in the pilot episode of Miami Vice, plays a drug dealer in the episode "Phil The Shill."

1966 - Jimi Hendrix made his TV debut on The UK show “Ready Steady Go!' The Jimi Hendrix Experience also recorded 'Foxy Lady' on this day. The U.S, version of the album “Are You Experienced listed the song with a spelling mistake as 'Foxey Lady'.

12/12/2025

WDGYs Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1974

1 KUNG FU FIGHTING –•– Carl Douglas
2 WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN –•– The Three Degrees
3 CAN HELP –•– Billy Swan
4 CAT’S IN THE CRADLE –•– Harry Chapin
5 ANGIE BABY –•– Helen Reddy

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK AT #67 — SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL –•– Grand Funk

IT WOULD PEAK AT #3

12/12/2025

Music notes for Dec. 12:

Happy birthday Dionne Warwick. She has won six Grammy Awards and between 1962 and 1998 placed 56 singles on the Billboard chart . Warwick was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 as part of the Musical Excellence Award category, joining other legends in the class.

Happy birthday Sheila E. She rose to mainstream success with the release of her debut album, The Glamorous Life (1984), which earned her four Grammy Award nominations. In 1987, Sheila served as the musical director for Prince's Sign o' the Times Tour. She also served as musical director during his Lovesexy Tour in 1988 and 1989. She has also worked with Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.

2008 - The town where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards grew up announced it was to name streets in a new estate after Rolling Stones hits. The 13 streets in Dartford, Kent, were to be given names such as Angie Mews, Babylon Close, Sympathy Street, Little Red Walk and Satisfaction Street. Leader of the city council, Jeremy Kite, said he thought Ruby Tuesday Drive sounded a "fantastic" place to live, but police were concerned the street signs might be stolen by fans.

1987 - George Michael started a four week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Faith'. Taken from the album of the same name, it became the top-selling single of the year in 1988.

1976 - Songs in the Key of Life, the eighteenth studio album by Stevie Wonder was at No.1 on the Billboard chart. It debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming only the third album to achieve that feat, and the first by an American artist. Both the lead single 'I Wish' and follow-up single 'Sir Duke' reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album won Album of the Year at the 19th Grammy Awards and is the best-selling and most critically acclaimed album of Wonder's career.

1970 - The Doors played what would be their last ever live show with Jim Morrison when they played at the Warehouse in New Orleans. Morrison died unexpectedly on July 3, 1971, in a Paris apartment at the age of 27. His death came two years to the day after the death of Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones and approximately nine months after the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. All of these popular musicians died at the age of 27 in the same era, leading to the emergence of the 27 Club urban legend. Amy Winehouse also passed away at age 27.

12/11/2025

Music notes for Dec. 11:

Happy birthday Jermaine Jackson of The Jackson 5. His solo hits include “Daddy’s Home”, “Let’s Get Serious” and “Do What You Do”.

Happy birthday David Gates, singer, songwriter and co-founder of the group Bread eleven top 40 hits. As a solo artist, his biggest hit was ”The Goodbye Girl” from the movie of the same name. It was nominated for a Best Song Oscar, but the award that year went to “You Light Up My Life”.

1990- Led Zeppelin IV was certified Diamond with sales of over 10 million. It featured the songs “Stairway to Heaven”, Black Dog” and “Rock and Roll”.

1968 - Filming began for The Rolling Stones 'Rock & Roll Circus.' As well as clowns and acrobats, John Lennon and his fiancee Yoko Ono performed as part of a supergroup called The Dirty Mac, along with Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. It was originally meant to be aired on the BBC, but the Rolling Stones withheld it because they were unhappy with their performance. The film was eventually released in 1996.

1966 - He was still known as Reggie Dwight when his band Bluesology opened for Little Richard in London. Later Reggie said “When I saw Little Richard standing on top of the piano, all lights, sequins and energy, I decided there and then that I was going to be a rock and roll piano player.". Reggie became Elton John the next year.

1961 - Motown scored the first #1 when The Marvelettes toppedsingles chart with 'Please Mr Postman'. The session musicians on the track included 22 year old Marvin Gaye on drums. The song gave The Carpenters a #1 single in 1975.

12/10/2025

2021 - musician, songwriter, actor, and producer, Mike Nesmith Passed away. He was best known as a member of the The Monkees.. His song writing credits include ‘Different Drum’, which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys. After the break-up of the Monkees, Nesmith continued his successful songwriting and performing career, first with the seminal country rock group the First National Band, with whom he had a top-40 hit, ‘Joanne’. He was also a pioneer in the field of producing music videos.

The late Chad Stuart of the British Invasion duo Chad & Jeremy born this date. Their hits included “A Summer Song”, “Yesterday’s Gone“ and “Willow Weep for Me”.

2010 - The original hand-written lyrics to Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are A-Changin' sold at a New York auction for $422,500. Adam Sender, a hedge fund manager and art collector, outbid five others, placing telephone bids. The song, one of Dylan's most politically charged, was the title track of his 1964 album.

2007 - Led Zeppelin played their first concert in 19 years, at London's 02 Arena as part of the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones were joined on stage by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham. Jasons drumming was hailed by critics and fans as triumphant. More than one million people had taken part in a ballot for the 20,000 tickets available for the show, with all proceeds going to Ahmet's own charity. Zeppelin performed 16 songs, including two encores.

1983 - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson started a six week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Say Say Say'. It was Jackson's 10th No.1 (solo & The Jackson's) and McCartney's 29th, (solo and The Beatles).

1975 - ABBA released Fernando. The song is one of ABBA's best-selling singles of all time, with six million copies sold in 1976 alone and is one of fewer than forty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide. The song was written for group member Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

1971 - Davy Jones of the Monkees guest stars on The Brady Bunch episode "Getting Davy Jones," where Marcia tries to get the dreamy singer to perform at her prom.

1967 - Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash, aged 26. Redding and his band had made an appearance in Cleveland, Ohio on the local ‘Upbeat’ television show the previous day. The plane carrying Otis Redding and his band crashed into icy waters of Lake Monoma near Madison. Also killed in the crash were members of his band the The Bar-Kays

12/09/2025

WDGY’s Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1982:

1 MICKEY –•– Toni Basil
2 GLORIA –•– Laura Branigan
3 MANEATER –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates
4 TRULY –•– Lionel Richie
5 THE GIRL IS MINE –•– Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK AT #70 — YOUR LOVE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY –•– Sammy Hagar

IT WOULD PEAK AT #13

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