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ROCKOLLECTIONS: TRIBUTE/MEMORIAL 2007 PT.5

Well after some vacationing, I am back from the dead with some more dead, lol!
Oh, I need a rest from my rest.
Picking up from where we left off, Liz Claiborne passed away last year, the famous clothing designer.
I’ve got something from the Kinks for her.
The guy who wrote Unchained Melody died, Hy Zaret. Interesting story in that he was supposed to write it for a 1955 movie called Unchained, but he refused to include the word “unchained” anywhere in the song.
Give a listen, he didn’t!
Also, we lost Boots Randolph, whose instrumental hit was equally famous for being the theme song for a very funny British comedian. You should recognize it immediately.
Bill Pinkney the last remaining original Drifter died in 2007. He was the distinctive bass singer who left the group just before their major successes.
As this was broadcast just one day after St. Pat’s, I thought I would do my Mom proud by going back to Tommy Makem and the Clancys for one more. This one a folk song you should know.
Hilly Crystal, founder and owner of the legendary CBGB’s died last year. So one from the early punk band Television for him.
Speaking of television, Alice Ghostley of the show Bewitched died- she will never be MORE Ghostley!
I will leave you with a couple of questions.
What would you play for some upcoming late folks such as Tom Snyder and famous mime Marcel Marceau?
Come back and hear what I chose.

Tags: Alice Ghostley, Bewitched, Bill Pinkney, Boots Randolph, CBGB's, Clancy Brothers, Drifters, Hilly Crystal, Hy Zaret, Kinks, Liz Claiborne, Mike Pell, Rockollections, Television, Tommy Makem, Unchained Melody

ROCKOLLECTIONS: TRIBUTE/MEMORIAL 2007 PT.4

I had to get this one up, and jump ahead in our chronological order, to have it out there for St. Patrick’s Day!
Tommy Makem died in 2007, and along with the Clancy Brothers put out some wonderful music, Irish and otherwise.
They were legitimate folkies, and if you think they had no rock & roll roots you are mistaken.
Don’t forget, at that 30th Anniversary for Bob Dylan, they were there with the likes of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Roger McGuinn, Tracey Chapman, Dylan himself, and many others. And they are on the resulting album singing Dylan with all those rock luminaries.
So a few from them, including Moonshiner, a love song to whiskey!
And as I said in the show, back when I was drinking, I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard, and sang, those songs!
Interestingly, Kitty Carlisle and Tom Poston died 13 days apart. They were both panelists on the same TV game show for years- I can’t remember Carlisle ever NOT being on it!
That prompted me to play some John Lennon.
We lost Bobby “Boris” Pickett last year, of Monster Mash fame- I will play something far more obscure by him.
Then it is one for and from Zola Taylor, of the Platters.
And we will end this one with one-hit-wonder Freddie Scott, who I was surprised for some reason to learn was 74 when he died.
Being temporarily part of the living, I think I may take some time off to celebrate my birthday, or as I call it, the Ides Of Mike- an 11 day bacchanal.
But we will continue where we left off.
And Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

Tags: Bobby "Boris" Pickett, Freddie King, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Mike Pell, Monster Mash, Platters, Rockollections, St. Patrick's Day, The Clancy Brothers, Tom Poston, Tommy Makem, Zola Taylor