Although he was born in California, Robin Luke grew up in Hawaii and was still attending high school there when he was 'discovered'. Promoters saw him as a possible Ricky Nelson-style teen idol and for a few years he did very well. He's now mostly remembered for his 1958 Top Ten hit "Susie Darlin'," but … Continue reading Robin Luke – Hawaii’s Own Teen Idol
Category: Oldies
The Final Frontier Remains Unexplored
Well, I guess I'm not going to the moon, and certainly not to Mars or any other planet in the Solar System for that matter. And it would appear that traveling to distant stars is not going to happen for me either. But there was a time when I was convinced I'd do all that … Continue reading The Final Frontier Remains Unexplored
Count Five Could Only Total One Hit
Although seldom discussed now, Count Five (or Count V as they were sometimes billed) had a brief moment in the spotlight during the pop music smorgasbord that existed in the 1960s. Nearly reaching the top of the charts with the addictive "Psychotic Reaction" got the band off to a great start, but it never really … Continue reading Count Five Could Only Total One Hit
Lennons Transcended Lawrence Welk’s Square Universe
Although Lawrence Welk has shown up here on the ol' GMC more than once, his appearances have mostly been in a supporting role, as in When Lawrence Welk Became Cool, a piece about jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges. I've always maintained that during my teen years I pretty much considered Welk and his music hopelessly square, … Continue reading Lennons Transcended Lawrence Welk’s Square Universe
Kingsmen Inspired By Fabulous Wailers
I probably should begin by apologizing for the awkward title of this piece but it is a reasonably accurate statement, even if it needs further elaboration. The Kingsmen, a fractious group that has existed in one form or another in almost every decade since its inception in the 1950s, is most remembered for "Louie, Louie." … Continue reading Kingsmen Inspired By Fabulous Wailers
A Head Full Of Newbeats
One thing that most of us have in common is the ability to fixate on a particular song and hear it playing endlessly in our head. And to make matters worse, rather than being one we like it's often one that rubs us the wrong way. At the risk of offending their fans (or the … Continue reading A Head Full Of Newbeats
The Mystery Of The Disappearing Slide Rule
I saw an article recently about some of the odd things collectors look for, and I was surprised to see that old slide rules are considered a collectible now. It got me wondering what ever happened to the one I had to buy a half-century ago as a condition of attending a prestigious engineering college. … Continue reading The Mystery Of The Disappearing Slide Rule
Getting Together With The Youngbloods
Although I often write about the music of the 1960s, I usually add the disclaimer that I wasn't really much of a fan of most of it at the time. I was conservative in most ways, including my tastes in music, but in later years I began to appreciate and enjoy what I would have … Continue reading Getting Together With The Youngbloods
Garnet Mimms And His Babies
Garnet Mimms was one of the best soul artists around in the 1960s, with a solid background in gospel-singing and tons of talent, and when he hit the top of the R&B charts with "Cry Baby," it looked like he was on his way to a long career. But the 1963 mega-hit would end up … Continue reading Garnet Mimms And His Babies
A Half-Century Of Lulu
I would think that most of the folks who find their way to the GMC on a regular basis would be familiar with a 1960s British singer named Lulu -- or at least will remember her huge number-one pop hit, "To Sir With Love." As you will also recall, it was the theme of a … Continue reading A Half-Century Of Lulu
Geezer Music Club 