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The Dance Contests
One way to spotlight the songs, the dancers, and the dances on American Bandstand was to hold dance contests. Kids in the studio loved them, and the viewers did, too. The rules were simple. Contestants had to sign up to get a number, then once a week they pinned numbers on their backs, much like they did in the dance marathons in the thirties. During the contests, viewers cast ballots for their favorite dancers. Each contest lasted three or four weeks, after which winners were announced on the air. Several of the winners confessed that the voting was done more on popularity merit. Still, they took their prizes, which ranged from portable TVs to juke boxes.
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73 year-old Dale Hawkins lost his battle with colon cancer Saturday (February 13). He had been in a hospice in Little Rock, Arkansas since Tuesday. Delmar Alan Hawkins was born in 1936 in Goldmine, Louisiana, a cousin (it's said) of Ronnie Hawkins. Dale made a name for himself in the clubs in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he played alongside artists like Johnny Horton and Merle Kilgore. It was at KWKH radio there in 1957 that Dale, with 15 year-old James Burton on guitar, recorded the legendary "Susie Q." The "swamp pop" classic was leased to Checker Records in Chicago and got to #27, staying on the charts for 19 weeks. It's follow-up, "La-Do-Dada" the next year, topped at #32. And while Dale only charted two more times-- with "A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring" (#88-1958) and "Yea-Yea (Class Cutter)" (#52-1959), his legendary status had already been solidified. Dale went on to produce albums for the Five Americans, Jon And Robin & the In Crowd and the Uniques. He also was a vice-president at Abnak and Bell Records and hosted his own TV show in Philadelphia. His most recent album was 2007's "Back Down To Louisiana." Dale was named to the Louisiana Music and Rockabilly Halls of Fame and "Susie-Q" was named one of the 500 "Songs That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll" by the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Legendary producer Bob Keane, who owned the Del-Fi record label and launched the careers of Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens and Bobby Fuller, died of kidney failure Saturday (November 28) at the age of 87. Born Robert Kuhn in Manhattan Beach, California in 1922, Bob was a big band clarinetist who headed his own band at the age of 17 and later led Artie Shaw's orchestra. In the '50s, he helped start Keen Records, where as head of artists and repertoire he lured Sam Cooke away from gospel music and produced "You Send Me." A falling out over the ownership of Keen caused Bob to form Del-Fi Records, where in 1958 he discovered teenager Ritchie Valens playing at a movie theatre in Pacoima, California. Bob soon became the youngster's producer and manager. With hits like "Come On, Let's Go", "Donna" and "La Bamba," the future looked bright for Ritchie until the infamous 1959 plane crash snuffed out his young life. Tragedy also struck Bob's biggest '60s artist-- Bobby Fuller, whose body was found inside his mother's car outside his apartment. Though the official cause of death was ruled a suicide, most believe Bobby was the victim of foul play. He left behind such hits as "I Fought The Law" and "Love's Made A Fool Of You" on Bob's Mustang label. Over the years, Bob produced or released hits by Johnny Crawford, Ron Holden and Little Caesar & the Romans. He released some of the earliest efforts of Frank Zappa (who also worked as a producer for him) and hired a young Barry White as an artist and producer, as well. Though he retired from the music industry for awhile in the late '60s, interest in Ritchie's death and the desire to promote his own son's musical careers led Bob to re-form Del-Fi in the '90s. Bob's autobiography, "The Oracle Of Del-Fi," was published in 2006.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Little Richard is asking fans to pray for his speedy recovery after undergoing hip surgery at a Tennessee hospital.The Rev. Bill Minson, a family friend, says the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had been in some pain leading up to the surgery but continued to maintain a rigorous performing schedule. Minson says the 76-year-old asked him to tell fans "to get ready to rock 'n' roll with him in the new year (2010) because he's coming back strong."The Macon, Ga., native now lives in Tennessee. He is recovering at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
73 year-old Dale Hawkins lost his battle with colon cancer Saturday (February 13). He had been in a hospice in Little Rock, Arkansas since Tuesday. Delmar Alan Hawkins was born in 1936 in Goldmine, Louisiana, a cousin (it's said) of Ronnie Hawkins. Dale made a name for himself in the clubs in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he played alongside artists like Johnny Horton and Merle Kilgore. It was at KWKH radio there in 1957 that Dale, with 15 year-old James Burton on guitar, recorded the legendary "Susie Q." The "swamp pop" classic was leased to Checker Records in Chicago and got to #27, staying on the charts for 19 weeks. It's follow-up, "La-Do-Dada" the next year, topped at #32. And while Dale only charted two more times-- with "A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring" (#88-1958) and "Yea-Yea (Class Cutter)" (#52-1959), his legendary status had already been solidified. Dale went on to produce albums for the Five Americans, Jon And Robin & the In Crowd and the Uniques. He also was a vice-president at Abnak and Bell Records and hosted his own TV show in Philadelphia. His most recent album was 2007's "Back Down To Louisiana." Dale was named to the Louisiana Music and Rockabilly Halls of Fame and "Susie-Q" was named one of the 500 "Songs That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll" by the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Oldies concert promoter Richard Nader, whose first "Rock & Roll Revival" was in New York City in 1969, sparking a revival in fifties artists and music. Richard died Tuesday (December 1) of Parkinson's disease.
Legendary producer Bob Keane, who owned the Del-Fi record label and launched the careers of Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens and Bobby Fuller, died of kidney failure Saturday (November 28) at the age of 87. Born Robert Kuhn in Manhattan Beach, California in 1922, Bob was a big band clarinetist who headed his own band at the age of 17 and later led Artie Shaw's orchestra. In the '50s, he helped start Keen Records, where as head of artists and repertoire he lured Sam Cooke away from gospel music and produced "You Send Me." A falling out over the ownership of Keen caused Bob to form Del-Fi Records, where in 1958 he discovered teenager Ritchie Valens playing at a movie theatre in Pacoima, California. Bob soon became the youngster's producer and manager. With hits like "Come On, Let's Go", "Donna" and "La Bamba," the future looked bright for Ritchie until the infamous 1959 plane crash snuffed out his young life. Tragedy also struck Bob's biggest '60s artist-- Bobby Fuller, whose body was found inside his mother's car outside his apartment. Though the official cause of death was ruled a suicide, most believe Bobby was the victim of foul play. He left behind such hits as "I Fought The Law" and "Love's Made A Fool Of You" on Bob's Mustang label. Over the years, Bob produced or released hits by Johnny Crawford, Ron Holden and Little Caesar & the Romans. He released some of the earliest efforts of Frank Zappa (who also worked as a producer for him) and hired a young Barry White as an artist and producer, as well. Though he retired from the music industry for awhile in the late '60s, interest in Ritchie's death and the desire to promote his own son's musical careers led Bob to re-form Del-Fi in the '90s. Bob's autobiography, "The Oracle Of Del-Fi," was published in 2006.
Aaron Schroeder, who wrote over 2,000 songs-- most notably the Elvis Presley hits "It's Now Or Never," "Good Luck Charm," "Stuck On You," "Big Hunk O' Love" and "I Got Stung", died Wednesday (December 2) of a form of Alzheimers-like dementia in Englewood, New Jersey. He was 83. All-told, he wrote 17 songs that the King recorded, four of which went to #1. Aaron also produced the Gene Pitney hits "Town Without Pity," "(The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" and "Only Love Can Break A Heart." It's said that his songs were recorded by such diverse artists as the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Dione Warwick, Perry Como, Sammy Davis, Jr., Art Garfunkel, Nat King Cole and Arlo Guthrie-- including Annete's "First Name Initial," Frank Gari's "Utopia," "Rubber Ball" by Bobby Vee and Pat Boone's "Twixt Twelve And Twenty". He later worked with animators Hanna-Barbera, providing songs and recordings for children's shows including the theme for "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?".Oldies concert promoter Richard Nader, whose first "Rock & Roll Revival" was in New York City in 1969, sparking a revival in fifties artists and music. Richard died Tuesday (December 1) of Parkinson's disease.
Legendary producer Bob Keane, who owned the Del-Fi record label and launched the careers of Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens and Bobby Fuller, died of kidney failure Saturday (November 28) at the age of 87. Born Robert Kuhn in Manhattan Beach, California in 1922, Bob was a big band clarinetist who headed his own band at the age of 17 and later led Artie Shaw's orchestra. In the '50s, he helped start Keen Records, where as head of artists and repertoire he lured Sam Cooke away from gospel music and produced "You Send Me." A falling out over the ownership of Keen caused Bob to form Del-Fi Records, where in 1958 he discovered teenager Ritchie Valens playing at a movie theatre in Pacoima, California. Bob soon became the youngster's producer and manager. With hits like "Come On, Let's Go", "Donna" and "La Bamba," the future looked bright for Ritchie until the infamous 1959 plane crash snuffed out his young life. Tragedy also struck Bob's biggest '60s artist-- Bobby Fuller, whose body was found inside his mother's car outside his apartment. Though the official cause of death was ruled a suicide, most believe Bobby was the victim of foul play. He left behind such hits as "I Fought The Law" and "Love's Made A Fool Of You" on Bob's Mustang label. Over the years, Bob produced or released hits by Johnny Crawford, Ron Holden and Little Caesar & the Romans. He released some of the earliest efforts of Frank Zappa (who also worked as a producer for him) and hired a young Barry White as an artist and producer, as well. Though he retired from the music industry for awhile in the late '60s, interest in Ritchie's death and the desire to promote his own son's musical careers led Bob to re-form Del-Fi in the '90s. Bob's autobiography, "The Oracle Of Del-Fi," was published in 2006.
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