ON THIS DAY in 1908
a “Saturday Evening Post” advertisement
offered a chance to buy, for the first time, a two-sided record. The Columbia Gramophone Company’s “Double-Disc” Records, so called because there was a song on either side, sold for 65 cents.
On this day in 1915, influential Nashville-sound record producer Owen Bradley was born. Besides the top country talents of his era, Bradley also worked with Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Buddy Holly, and Conway Twitty. He died Jan 7 1998 at age 82 from respiratory problems.
Also this day in 1915 the first transatlantic radiotelephone message was transmitted from Arlington, Virginia to Paris.
On this day in 1917, Grammy-winning jazz & bebop trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was born in South Carolina. He was famous for his puffed cheeks & bent trumpet. He died Jan 6 1993 at age 75.
On this day in 1920, radio announcer & TV director Hy Averbach was born in Minneapolis. He died Oct. 14 1997 after surgery, a week before his 77th birthday.
On this day in 1921, Canadian actor Robert Clothier was born in Prince Rupert, BC. His defining role was as Relic in all 209 episodes of the CBC TV series, Beachcombers. He died Feb 10 1999 at age 77.
On this day in 1924, it was a big night for a big band in New York’s Cinderella Ballroom. The crowd loved the Wolverine Orchestra from Chicago and the guy on the cornet, Bix Beiderbecke, the “young man with a horn”, who now was “discovered.”
Also this day in 1924, actress Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie (Norton’s wife) on TV’s “The Honeymooners,” was born in Detroit. Happy 99th Birthday, Ms. Randolph!
On this day in 1945, popular longtime Vancouver deejay Fred Latremouille was born in Nanaimo. From 1962 to 2oo7 he was a witty, intelligent program host at a number of Lower Mainland radio outlets, for a large chunk of that time as the first voice listeners heard at the start of a weekday. Fred also was a much-in-demand personality on CBC and other local TV outlets. He succumbed to liver ailments at his Arizona retirement home March 5 2015 at age 69.
On this day in 1948 the first Facsimile (FAX), was demonstrated through high-speed radio transmission. It was demonstrated in Washington D.C.
On this day in 1957, “Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis topped the charts .. but only for one week.
Also in 1957, Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra recorded the future #1 hit instrumental, “Sail Along Silv’ry Moon.”
On this day in 1958, orchestral strings were used for the first time in a rock and roll tune. 
During what would prove to be his last recording session (at Decca’s Pythian Temple Studios in New York) Buddy Holly waxed “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” in just one take; it was written by Paul Anka. The now-iconic track wasn’t released until after Holly’s death in February of 1959. (Other future Holly classics recorded that day were True Love Ways, Moondreams, and Raining in my Heart.)
Also in 1958, Ricky Nelson recorded his ninth Top Ten single, “It’s Late.”
On this day in 1961, Bob Dylan completed recording his first album for Columbia Records. The self-titled album was recorded over just two days at a cost of $400.
On this day in 1962, British hit-maker Cliff Richard appeared on CBS TV’s “Ed Sullivan Show,” singing his #1 song in the UK, “Living Doll.”
On this day in 1965, Brenda Holloway, The Kingsmen and the Dave Clark Five guested on ABC TV’s prime time music showcase “Shindig!”
Also this day in 1965, musician Bill Black died four months after brain tumour surgery at age 39. He played double bass on Elvis’ early records, and went on to have a string of instrumental hits as “Bill Black’s Combo” from 1959-62.
Still this day in 1965, big band singer and WW2 pinup Marie McDonald died due to a drug overdose at age 42.
Again in 1965, unsatisfied with a first attempt The Beatles started from scratch on recording ‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)’; they had it finished in just three takes. The Fab Four also began working on another new John Lennon song ‘Nowhere Man.’
On this day in 1966, actress Gertrude Hoffman, who played Mrs Odetts on the TV sitcom My Little Margie, died at age 95.
On this day in 1967, the song “To Sir with Love” by Scotland’s Lulu topped the charts and stayed there for 5 weeks.
On this day in 1972, Chuck Berry‘s “My Ding-a-Ling” hit #1 in the U.S. It was number one for two weeks. YouTube presents, Chuck Berry and…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYnt3RTwl0M
Also in 1972, The O’Jays guested on the syndicated TV music show “Soul Train.” They played their #1 song “Back Stabbers,” already a Gold Record.
On this day in 1975, Elton John was on hand to receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On this day in 1976, Keith Moon played his last show with The Who at the end of a North American tour at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens.
On this day in 1980, radio pitchman Gilbert Templeton died. Canada’s ‘grand old medicine man’ peddled his patent medicines, T-R-C’s and Raz-Mahs for decades over the airwaves.
On this day in 1985, the Cinemax cable TV special “Carl Perkins and Friends,” honoring the 30th anniversary of his hit “Blue Suede Shoes,” was taped in London with special guests George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and Dave Edmunds. The special was seen on US cable the following New Year’s Day.
On this day in 1988, Canadian rock/folk musician Robbie Robertson‘s self-named first album as a solo artist was certified Gold.
Also this day in 1992, a $35 million lawsuit was filed by Elton John against the TV show “Hard Copy.” The suit claimed the gossip show had falsely stated John had moved to Atlanta so as to be nearby an AIDS treatment center.
Also in 1992, actor Jackson Weaver, known far & wide as the voice of Smokey the Bear, died of complications from diabetes.
On this day in 1995, vocalist Maxene Andrews, 
one of the singing Andrews Sisters (pictured left), suffered a fatal heart attack at age 79.
Also this day in 1995, Mariah Carey‘s Daydream was the number one album in the U.S. The album featured the smash hits Fantasy and One Sweet Day (both debuted on the singles chart at #1).
Still in 1995, Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon was found dead on his tour bus from an accidental drug overdose. He was 28. The band rose to fame in 1993 with the hit “No Rain.”
Again in 1995, Green Day singer Billie Joe was arrested and fined $141 after mooning at the audience during a gig in Milwaukee.
On this day in 1996, a former executive of EMI Records, Jay Barbieri, announced the official launch of the first Internet record label, J-Bird Records at http://www.j-birdrecords.com. The record label is the first of its kind, a label that operates almost exclusively on the World Wide Web.
On this day in 1997, Elton John’s Candle in the Wind 1997, his tribute to the late Princess Diana, was declared by The Guinness Book of Records to be the biggest-selling single recording ever. In just 37 days it sold 31.8 million copies worldwide, eclipsing the previous record held by Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. The Crosby classic sold an estimated 30 million singles — but over more than 50 years!
On this day in 1998, Kiss members Paul Stanley and Bruce Kulick were sued for copyright infringement over the song “Dreamin’,” which the suit alleged sounded too similar to the Alice Cooper hit “Eighteen.”
On this day in 1999, Santana’s “Supernatural” album hit number one on the Billboard album chart. It was Santana’s first number one album since “Santana Three” in 1971.
On this day in 2001, concerts at Madison Square Garden and the RFK Stadium in Washington were expected to raise millions in funds for victims of the Sept 11th terrorist attacks. Stars who appeared included Michael Jackson, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, *NSYNC, P Diddy, James Brown, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, The Who and Elton John.
On this day in 2003, BC radio man Bob Hall died at his home in Salmon Arm at age 73. His career began at Port Alberni’s CJAV in Port Alberni in 1949, with stops at CHWK Chilliwack and CKOV Kelowna. In 1965 he and CKOV co-worker Walter Gray were awarded radio licenses for Salmon Arm and Revelstoke.
Also in 2003, actor Fred Berry, who hit the bigtime as Rerun in the 70’s TV sitcom What’s Happening, died of heart trouble at the age of 52.
Still in 2003, Elton John signed a three-year, $50 million deal to perform 75 shows at Las Vegas’ Caesar’s Palace.
On this day in 2004, Bo Diddley postponed a concert in Lancaster California to stay in Florida and have a toe amputated, a sad result of his diabetic condition.
On this day in 2005, the new owners of radio stations in Courtenay and Powell River shuffled formats. Magic FM’s adult contemporary format moved to CHQB 1280 Powell River, while FM 98.9 in Courtenay was now called “Jet FM,” playing “The Island’s Best Rock.”
On this day in 2006, internationally reknowned film & TV producer/director and CKVU-TV Vancouver co-founder Daryl Duke died in West Vancouver at the age of 77.
Also in 2006, BBC broadcaster John Peel left over £1.8m and over 25,000 vinyl records in his will. Peel died suddenly at the age of 65 from a heart attack in 2004.
Still in 2006, Evanescence were at No.1 on the US album chart with their second album ‘The Open Door.’ It became the 700th No.1 album in Billboard since the chart became a weekly feature in 1956.
On this day in 2007, Kid Rock and five members of his entourage were arrested after an argument with a man escalated into a fight in a restaurant in Atlanta. Kid Rock also had the No.1 album on the Billboard chart with ‘Rock N Roll Jesus’ his eleventh album release, and first to debut at #1.
Also in 2007, a free copy of Ray Davies (of The Kinks) solo album, “Working Man’s Café,” was distributed in the Sunday Times of London. “Personally, it’s about reaching as many people as possible,” said Davies.
Still in 2007, the National Geographic Channel aired a special called Incredible Human Machine featuring Steven Tyler‘s vocal cords. It included high-definition footage of the Aerosmith frontman’s larynx taken during his throat surgery in the spring of ‘06.
On this day in 2008, Jackson Browne played the Dream Believe Achieve Inspiration Gala in L.A. Proceeds went to nonprofit groups that “provide educational, recreational and cultural opportunities” for South Los Angeles youths and their families.
On this day in 2010, ‘I Met The Walrus‘, an animated video telling the story of a young Beatles fan, Jerry Levitan, meeting John Lennon in a hotel room, was named one of the top 25 ‘most creative YouTube videos ever’. Over 23,000 videos were submitted from 91 countries.
Also in 2010, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler sang the US National Anthem at the Boston Bruins home opener. He was there to help the hockey team’s foundation kick-off their season-long fundraising raffle for a customized Bruins motorcycle built by Tyler’s motorcycle company, Dirico Motorcycles.
On this day in 2011, Trinidadian bandleader Edmundo Ros, whose British recordings of latin melodies were radio staples in Canada and the US in the 1940’s and ’50’s, died at age 100. His 1949 recording of “Wedding Samba” sold 3 million copies.
On this day in 2012, hit country music lyricist Tim Johnson died after a long battle with liver and colon cancer at age 52. His credits include ‘I Let her Lie,’ a 1995 hit for Daryle Singletary, ‘God Only Cries,’ a 2006 single for Diamond Rio, and more recently, Jimmy Wayne‘s ‘Do You Believe Me Now’ and Kellie Pickler‘s ‘Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind.’
On this day in 2013, Sid Bernstein, the concert promoter who staged early US shows by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, died aged 95. Bernstein booked The Beatles for their legendary show at Shea Stadium in New York in 1965, which was the first concert to be staged in a stadium. Bernstein also promoted the Fab Four’s gigs at Carnegie Hall in New York on their first US tour in 1964.
Also in 2013, Arcade Fire appeared on ‘The Colbert Report‘ as the ‘Reflektors’ (the title of their fourth album). During the pre-performance interview, host Stephen Colbert jokingly told Arcade Fire’s Winn and Will Butler, “I’m just glad you’re not like Arcade Fire, though. Those guys: kind of pretentious.” The Butlers laughed off the dig and performed “Normal Person.”
On this day in 2014, Boston radio Legend Dale Dorman died following a long illness at age 71. In a four-decade on-air career he played top 40 hits on WRKO through the 1960s and 70s before moving to Kiss 108 for 20 years, then ended his career working at CBS’s WODS, “Oldies 103” until 2008.
On this day in 2015, Marty Ingels, an actor, talent agent and industry raconteur who was married to Shirley Jones for nearly 40 years, died following a massive stroke at age 79. He co-starred in the 1962 ABC-TV comedy “I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster” about two carpenters.
On this day in 2016, standup comic and actor Kevin Meaney, who made numerous appearances on late-night TV, starred in the CBS sitcom Uncle Buck, and was famous for delivering the line, “That’s not right,” suffered a heart attack and died at age 60.
On this day in 2018, comic actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus of TV’s Seinfeld and The Veep was presented with the Mark Twain Prize, comedy’s top honor, at a ceremony in New York.
Today’s Birthdays
Actress Joyce Randolph (The Honeymooners, The Jackie Gleason Show) is 99. (see 1924 above)
Keyboardist Manfred Mann is 83.
Guitarist Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the M-G’s is 82.
Singer Elvin Bishop is 81.
TV judge Judy Sheindlin (Judge Judy) is 81.
Actress Paula Kelly (Night Court, Santa Barbara) is 80.
Singer Kathy Young (A Thousand Stars) is 78.
Actor Everett McGill (Twin Peaks) is 78.
Trumpeter Lee Loughnane (LAHK’-nayn) of Chicago is 77.
Actor Dick Christie (Small Wonder, The Bold & the Beautiful) is 75.
Portland-born country singer/songwriter/actor Tom Everett (Journeyman, Profiler, Picket Fences) is 75.
Actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Show Me a Hero, 100 Centre Street, One Life to Live) is 74.
Author/actress/former US First Daughter Patti Davis (Romance Theater, For Ladies Only) is 71.
Guitarist Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go’s is 70.
Singer/songwriter Steve Lukather of Toto is 66.
Singer Julian Cope is 66.
Actor Shea Farrell (Hotel, 1990s TV series The Untouchables) is 66.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Lukather of Toto is 66.
Actor Tony Ganios (Wiseguy) is 64.
Actress Melora Walters (Big Love, L.A. Doctors) is 63.
Actor Nathan Anderson (Girl Positive, Zenon: Z3, Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution) is 54.
Singer-bassist Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age) is 52.
Actress Saffron Burrows {Boston Legal) is 52.
Montreal-raised actor Sasha Roiz (Grimm, Caprica, Delta State) is 50.
Keyboardist Charlie Lowell of Jars of Clay is 50.
Actress Nakia Burrise (Power Rangers Zeo, Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse) is 50.
Actor Andrew Scott (Sherlock) is 47.
Actor Jeremy Miller (Growing Pains) is 47.
Producer/actress Lindsay Crystal (The Daily Show) is 46.
Actor David Clayton Rogers (H+, Jane By Design) is 46.
Singer Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion is 46.
Actor Will Estes (Blue Bloods, American Dreams) is 45.
Actor Michael McMillian (True Blood) is 45.
Actress Kim Kardashian (Keeping Up w/the Kardashians, Dancing With the Stars) is 43.
Actor Matt Dallas (Kyle XY) is 41.
Actor Aaron Tveit {Graceland, Gossip Girl) is 40.
Toronto-born actress Charlotte Sullivan (Rookie Blue) is 40.
Model/singer Amber Rose (Dancing with the Stars) is 40.
Actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman (unREAL, SGU Stargate Universe) is 39.
Actress Alana Husband (Intelligence, Caitlin’s Way) is 39.
Toronto-born actor Mark Rendall (King, Arthur, Jane & the Dragon) is 35.
Actor Glen Powell (Scream Queens) is 34.
Actress Natalie Distler (Rescue Me) is 34.
Country singer Kane Brown is 30.
Actress Ashley Liao (Fuller House, The Kicks) is 22.
Chart Toppers – Oct. 21
1949 You’re Breaking My Heart – Vic Damone Someday – Vaughn Monroe That Lucky Old Sun – Frankie Laine Slipping Around – Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely
1958 It’s All in the Game – Tommy Edwards Topsy II – Cozy Cole It’s Only Make Believe – Conway Twitty City Lights – Ray Price
1967 To Sir with Love – Lulu How Can I Be Sure – The Young Rascals Expressway to Your Heart – Soul Survivors I Don’t Wanna Play House – Tammy Wynette
1976 Disco Duck (Part 1) – Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots Lowdown – Boz Scaggs If You Leave Me Now – Chicago You and Me – Tammy Wynette
1985 Take on Me – a-ha Saving All My Love for You – Whitney Houston Part-Time Lover – Stevie Wonder You Make Me Want to Make You Mine – Juice Newton
1994 I’ll Make Love to You – Boyz II Men All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow When Can I See You – Babyface She’s Not the Cheatin Kind – Brooks & Dunn
2003 Here Without You – 3 Doors Down Baby Boy – Beyoncé Knowles featuring Sean Paul Harder To Breathe – Maroon 5 Real Good Man – Tim McGraw
Today in Broadcast History compiled by Ron Robinson
