ON THIS DAY in 1904,
Dr. Bergen Evans was born in Franklin, Ohio. As an English professor he was the ultimate authority, The Question Supervisor, on CBS’s $64,000 Question in the mid 1950’s. He died Feb. 4 1978 at age 73.
On this day in 1931, singer Brook Benton 
was born Benjamin Franklin Peay in Camden South Carolina. Hits include It’s Just a Matter of Time, Endlessly, Think Twice, Kiddio, & The Boll Weevil Song. After being weakened by spinal meningitis he died of pneumonia Apr. 9, 1988 at age 56.
On this day in 1932, the soap opera “Just Plain Bill” was first heard as an early evening quarter-hour on a regional CBS network from Chicago.
It was “The real life story of people just like people we all know.” Stories centred around the town barber (just plain) Bill Davidson and his daughter, Nancy, who lived in (just plain) Hartville. It moved to NBC daytime in 1935, and continued daily for another 20 years.
On this day in 1934, Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein was born in England. He died Aug 26, 1967 at age 32.
On this day in 1935, bass player & singer Nick Massi of The Four Seasons was born. He died Dec 24, 2000, at age 65.
On this day in 1936, movie-star singers Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald recorded “Indian Love Call.” It quickly became the signature song for which both would be remembered.
On this day in 1939, U.S. citizen William Joyce, a.k.a. Lord Haw-Haw became radio host of Germany’s Reichsrundfunk Overseas Service, broadcasting propaganda out of Berlin.
Six years later to the day, Lord Haw Haw was sentenced to death for treason.
On this day in 1941, “Mama” Cass Elliott
(of the Mamas & the Papas) was born Ellen Naomi Cohen in Baltimore. She died less than 33 years later July 29, 1974.
On this day in 1951, the first broadcast of the daytime soap “Search for Tomorrow” aired on CBS-TV.
The final curtain came down some 35 years later ..on NBC.
On this day in 1953, Winnipeg-born Gisele MacKenzie took over as host & singer on NBC-TV’s Your Hit Parade. Her biggest hit during that stint (1953-57) was ‘Hard to Get’ in June of 1955.
On this day in 1955, a big night of live TV drama, as Eva Marie Saint, Frank Sinatra andPaul Newman starred in the Producer’s Showcase presentation of “Our Town” on NBC-TV(below).
On this day in 1958, Elvis Presley left Fort Hood Texas bound for New York City and a troopship headed to Germany, where he would serve a tour of duty with the U-S Army. He arrived in West Germany on October first.
On this day in 1960, former chicken plucker Chubby Checker went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Twist’.
Also in 1960, Johnny Burnette was in Hollywood to record his biggest hit and a future Gold Record, “You’re Sixteen.”
Still on this day in 1960, Decca Records released Brenda Lee‘s first #1 pop single, ‘I Want to be Wanted.’
On this day in 1961, The Beatles played a lunchtime gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
On this day in 1963, the Crystals‘
“Then He Kissed Me” debuted on U.K. charts. It had hit U.S. charts on Aug. 17, and made it to #6 for three weeks.
Also in 1963, Jimmy Dean debuted his hour-long country music variety show which ran through 1966 on ABC-TV.
Still in 1963, Ann Margret guest starred on the popular prime time TV cartoon series ‘The Flintstones,” playing the prehistoric singing superstar “Ann Margroc.”
On this day in 1966, The Lovin’ Spoonful got their first #1 single with “Summer In The City.”
On this day in 1967, the original host of radio’s “Make Believe Ballroom” (1934), and announcer for TV’s Chesterfield Supper Club,
Martin Block died at age 64.
On this day in 1968, country singer Red Foley died of respiratory failure at age 58.
Also this day in 1968, Steppenwolf was awarded a Gold Record for its biggest-selling single “Born to be Wild,” which introduced us to the term “heavy metal.”
On this day in 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Green River.’
On this day in 1970, the song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks. It was her first solo No.1 since leaving The Supremes,
Also this day in 1970, the theme lyric “She could turn the world on with her smile” aired for the first time, as The Mary Tyler Moore Show debuted on CBS-TV.
It became one of the most successful television shows of the 1970s, lasting 94 episodes & seven seasons.
Still in 1970, The Rolling Stones released one of the all-time best live albums, “Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out.”
On this day in 1973, singer-songwriter Gram Parsons died under mysterious circumstances in Joshua Tree, California, at age 26. Parsons played with The Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. His coffin was later stolen by two of his associates and set ablaze out in the desert.
On this day in 1974, Eric Clapton received a gold record for “I Shot the Sheriff”. The song had reached #1 on the charts on September 14th.
Also in 1974, Max Weinberg made his debut as the drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania.
On this day in 1978, one of the most successful albums of the 70’s, “Living In The USA” by Linda Ronstadt was released.
On this day in 1979, the first No Nukes concert was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Performers included Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Poco, Tom Petty, Carly Simon, James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen.
Also in 1979, Frank Sinatra recorded his final Top Forty entry and future signature song, “Theme from New York, New York.”
On this day in 1981, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited for a free concert to benefit New York City parks, their first joint effort in years. The concert attracted a crowd of 500,000 people in Central Park, and was taped for later broadcast to an even larger audience on HBO.
Also in 1981, The Rolling Stones album ‘Tattoo You’ started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US chart, the band’s ninth No.1.
On this day in 1983, the final episode of “M*A*S*H” was aired on CBS-TV, attracting a record viewership.
Also in 1983, the syndicated “Wheel of Fortune” began its long-running current version with Pat Sajak and Vanna White.
On this day in 1984, NBC began airing
“Highway to Heaven”.
111 hour-long episodes were produced over the next five years.
On this day in 1987, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand left ABC TV after 30 years, and went into first-run syndication. ABC had shortened the program to 30 minutes, and Clark wanted it to return to the original one-hour format.
Also this day in 1987, Michael Jackson‘s I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, from Jackson’s “Bad” LP, rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Still in 1987, Lincoln, Nebraska hosted Farm Aid III, with musical appearances by Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Joe Walsh, plus organizers Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young.
On this day in 1991, Pasadena (Calif.) was the scene for a benefit concert, “Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh!” It featured Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Michael Bolton, Randy Travis, Michael McDonald and James Ingram, all of whom had a series of duets with Charles.
On this day in 1994, NBC aired the very first episode of “ER.” The hour-long medical drama would remain a highlight of “must-see Thursdays” for 331 episodes over the next 15 years.
On this day in 1995, popcorn mogul/TV pitchman Orville Redenbacher drowned after suffering a heart attack while sitting in a whirlpool. He was 88.
Also in 1995, rocker Bryan Adams opened GM Place in Vancouver before a sold-out crowd of 18,000.
On this day in 1996, guitarist/singer George Benson was on hand as his new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled.
Also in 1996, CBC President Perrin Beatty announced 2,500 job cuts to be made in the coming months.
On this day in 1998, country music star Red Foley died aged 58. Sold over 25 million records, hosted the first popular country music series on network television, Ozark Jubilee.
On this day in 1999, the first episode of “Judging Amy” aired on CBS.
Also in 1999, Edward Cobb died of leukaemia at age 61. Singer/songwriter & producer, member of The Four Preps (1958 US No.3 single ‘Big Man’), he wrote ‘Tainted Love,’ a hit for Soft Cell in 1981.
Still in 1999, Christina Aguilera was at No.1 on the US album chart with her self-titled debut album.
On this day in 2003, police were investigating reports that Paul McCartney scuffled with a photographer when the singer went to see magician David Blaine, who was in a plastic box dangling over the River Thames. The London Evening Standard said one of its photographers had clashed with McCartney resulting in a scuffle.
On this day in 2004, country singer Skeeter Davis 
succumbed to breast cancer at age 72. She’d sung on the Grand Ole Opry for 40 years. Her big pop-crossover hit was “The End of the World.”
Also in 2004, Canadian superstar Celine Dion extended her Las Vegas show for another year. Dion was reportedly being paid $100 million for the original three-year run of five 90-minute concerts a week.
On this day in 2005, Bon Jovi performed at a Times Square theater in New York to promote their new album “Have A Nice Day” which came out the following day. The concert was beamed to more than 100 U.S. movie theaters and was also available online.
Also in 2005, U2’s Bono made a surprise appearance during Pearl Jam’s Toronto concert. They did a version of Neil Young’s “Keep On Rocking In The Free World.”
On this day in 2007, TV news star Dan Rather filed a $70-million lawsuit alleging that CBS and its former parent company (Viacom) attempted to curry favor with the Bush administration by intentionally botching the aftermath of a discredited story about the military service of U.S. President George W. Bush.
Also in 2007, White Stripes frontman Jack White joined Bob Dylan onstage in Nashville for a performance of “Meet Me In the Morning.”
On this day in 2008, a private plane carrying Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM crashed shortly after takeoff outside Columbia, South Carolina. Barker and DJ AM were seriously hurt. Four others were killed.
Also in 2008, American drummer Earl Palmer died at age 83. He worked with The Beach Boys, Little Richard (‘Tutti Frutti’), Frank Sinatra, Ike And Tina Turner (‘River Deep, Mountain High’), The Monkees, Fats Domino (‘I’m Walkin’), Neil Young and Elvis Costello, among others.
On this day in 2009, Arthur Ferrante of the piano playing duo of Ferrante & Teicher, died at age 88. Lou Teicher had died the previous year at age 83.
Also in 2009, Whitney Houston went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘I Look to You’, the singer’s seventh studio album.
This day in 2010 was Frank Zappa Day in Baltimore, the musician’s hometown. The date marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of Zappa’s infamous testimony on Capitol Hill, where the founder of The Mothers Of Invention stood his ground against Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center’s (PMRC) crusade for music censorship. A stretch of road was re-named “Frank Zappa Way” and a Zappa statue was dedicated.
On this day in 2011, former singer Dolores Hope, the widow of comedian/actor Bob Hope, died at age 102. Her husband had died 8 years earlier at age 100.
Today’s Birthdays:
Toronto-born journalist/entertainer Don Harron (CBC Morningside, Hee Haw, “Charlie Farquarson”) is 90.
“Inside the Actor’s Studio” host James Lipton is 88.
Actress Rosemary Harris (Death of a Salesman, Hallmark Hall of Fame) is 87.
Walla Walla-born actor Adam West (Batman) is 84.
Actor David McCallum (NCIS, Man from UNCLE) is 81.
Chatham Ont.-born folksinger Sylvia Tyson is 74.
Singer Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is 74.
Singer-songwriter/actor Paul Williams (Muppets Xmas: Letters to Santa) is 74.
Former commentator/Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan (Sunday Night Baseball) is 71.
Singer David Bromberg is 69.
Actor Randolph Mantooth (Emergency, As The World Turns) is 69.
Singer Freda Payne is 69.
Guitarist Lol Creme of 10cc is 67.
Actor Jeremy Irons (Elizabeth I, Dame Edna Live at the Palace) is 66.
Actress-model Twiggy Lawson is 65.
Former TV personality Joan Lunden (Good Morning America) is 64.
Actor Scott Colomby (Days of Our Lives, One Day at a Time) is 62.
Guitarist-producer Nile Rodgers of Chic is 62.
Singer-actor Rex Smith (Street Hawk, As the World Turns) is 59.
Actor/director Kevin Hooks (Prison Break, 24, White Shadow) is 56.
Actress Carolyn McCormick (Law and Order) is 55.
Country singer Jeff Bates is 51.
Country singer Trisha Yearwood is 50.
Actress Kim Richards (Hello Larry, James at 16, Nanny & the Professor) is 50.
Comedian Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live) is 49.
Former CNN news anchor Soledad O’Brien is 48.
American conservative radio/TV commentator Monica Crowley is 46.
Singer Esperonza Griffin (Society of Soul) is 45.
Actress Sanaa Lathan (The Cleveland Show, Nip/Tuck, LateLine) is 43.
Singer A. Jay Popoff of Lit is 41.
Comedian/host Jimmy Fallon (Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live) is 40.
TV personality Carter Oosterhouse (Trading Spaces, Three Wishes) is 38.
Actress/host Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives, The Biggest Loser) is 38.
Musician Ryan Dusick is 37.
Tacoma-born model /TV presenter/actress Amber Lancaster (The Price Is Right, Hard Times of R.J.Berger) is 34.
Calgary-born twin singing sister Sara Quin (Tegan & Sara) is 34.
Actor Columbus Short {Scandal, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) is 32.
Rapper Eamon is 30.
Ontario-born actor Kevin Zegers (Gossip Girl, Titans, Traders) is 30.
Actress Danielle Panabaker (The Flash, Shark, Empire Falls) is 27.
Actress Katrina Bowden (30 Rock) is 26.
Chart Toppers – Sept. 19
1944
I’ll Walk Alone – Dinah Shore
Swinging on a Star – Bing Crosby
Time Waits for No One – Helen Forrest
Soldier’s Last Letter – Ernest Tubb
1953
You, You, You – The Ames Brothers
Vaya Con Dios – Les Paul & Mary Ford
Crying in the Chapel – June Valli
A Dear John Letter – Jean Shepard & Ferlin Husky
1962
Sherry – The 4 Seasons
Ramblin’ Rose – Nat King Cole
Green Onions – Booker T. & The MG’s
Devil Woman – Marty Robbins
1971
Go Away Little Girl – Donny Osmond
Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
Maggie May /Reason to Believe – Rod Stewart
The Year that Clayton Delaney Died – Tom T. Hall
1980
Upside Down – Diana Ross
All Out of Love – Air Supply
Fame – Irene Cara
Lookin’ for Love – Johnny Lee
1989
Don’t Wanna Lose You – Gloria Estefan
Girl I’m Gonna Miss You – Milli Vanilli
Heaven – Warrant
Nothing I Can Do About It Now – Willie Nelson
1998
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
Tearin’ Up My Heart – ’N Sync
I’ll Never Break Your Heart – Backstreet Boys
How Long Gone – Brooks & Dunn
2007
The Way I Are – Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson
Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) – Fergie
Who Knew – Pink
More Than a Memory – Garth Brooks
