Regular visitors to the GMC know that we like to occasionally turn the spotlight on one of the lesser-known rockabilly singers from the early days of rock and roll. Guys who might not have reached the level of stardom enjoyed by the likes of Elvis or Jerry Lee Lewis but still managed to make their … Continue reading Billy Lee Riley – True To His Roots
Category: Oldies
Skip & Flip – A Brief Burst Into The Spotlight
If you were around in 1959 or are just a fan of the music of those days, then you might remember a couple of songs that had a lot in common. Both "It Was I" and "Cherry Pie" almost made it to the Top Ten on pop charts -- number 11 to be exact -- … Continue reading Skip & Flip – A Brief Burst Into The Spotlight
Saluting Silly Songs – A Classic With Staying Power
Although it might be a little tough to define the requirements for our Saluting Silly Songs feature, I know a good candidate when I see and hear one, and it starts with the title. I'm sure most of us remember "Da Doo Ron Ron" by the Crystals, but what you might not know is that … Continue reading Saluting Silly Songs – A Classic With Staying Power
The Tale Of The Singing Edsels
The Ford Edsel became such a well-known failure, it's difficult to remember that when it was launched in September of 1957 it carried high expectations. Its advanced technology and styling was meant to be revolutionary, so it's easy to see why a singing group of the era would latch onto the name. But even though … Continue reading The Tale Of The Singing Edsels
Ral Donner Was Caught In The Elvis Trap
Given the longevity of the GMC, I guess it's inevitable that we would have featured multiple variations of Elvis. By that I don't mean Mr. Presley himself -- although he has made plenty of appearances here -- but rather various other versions of the King. Among those already covered are several entertainers who were often … Continue reading Ral Donner Was Caught In The Elvis Trap
Earworms – The Immaculate Exception?
As I said in the first edition of Earworms, the songs that get stuck in your head are usually not those that were big hits. Or to put it another way, the biggest sellers are already pretty familiar so it seems to me that they'd pop into your head once in a while anyway. But … Continue reading Earworms – The Immaculate Exception?
The Surprising Story Of Sam The Sham
You might be surprised to learn that biggest-selling record to ever come of out of Sun Studio in Memphis was not recorded by Elvis Presley or Johnny Cash or any of their famous contemporaries. It was instead 1965's "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. You might also find it a little strange … Continue reading The Surprising Story Of Sam The Sham
The Skyliners Introduced A Classic Heartbreaker
If you set out on a quest to find the ultimate teenage heartbreak song from the 1950s, there would be plenty of candidates. I can think of a few myself and I'm sure the same is true for you. But I bet we'd both include the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You" on our list. … Continue reading The Skyliners Introduced A Classic Heartbreaker
She Was Known As ‘Miss’ Toni Fisher
In the early days she was often billed as 'Miss' Toni Fisher, and DJ Wink Martindale once said that the reason for that was to assure fans that she was indeed a girl, in spite of her powerful voice. Whether that's true or not, she did make a big splash in 1959 with her unforgettable … Continue reading She Was Known As ‘Miss’ Toni Fisher
Five-Star Favs – It’s Disco Time!
You might be a little surprised to find that this edition of Five-Star Favs features a disco song, but I've always said that I like a lot of different kinds of music. And in fact, today's choice is one of the songs that helped create the disco craze back in the 1970s, but I don't … Continue reading Five-Star Favs – It’s Disco Time!
Geezer Music Club 