WA2K Radio is now on the air

Thanks, Bob, for that interesting bio about Bram Stoker. The fact that Dracula was not intended to be a bad guy was rather like Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, right?

Ah, Hollywood. What a wonderful fairyland of tales. <smile>

Patti Page
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


Patti Page (born Clara Ann Fowler on November 8, 1927) is one of the best-known female singers in traditional pop music. She is unusual in that she came to traditional pop from country music, and some of her recordings are somewhat country flavored. She is sometimes considered the first major crossover artist to popularize country music to the general public. Her records span the era from 1949 to 1981.

Records vary as to whether Clara Ann Fowler was born in Claremore or Muskogee, Oklahoma. In either case, she was born into a large and poor farming family, whose mother and older sisters picked cotton. They went without electricity, so young Clara could not read after dark, as she related on TV many years later. However, she became a featured singer on a 15-minute radio program on radio station KTUL, Tulsa, Oklahoma, at age 18. The program was sponsored by Page Milk Company and so young Clara Ann Fowler became songstress Patti Page.

In 1946, Jack Rael, a band manager, came to Tulsa to do a one-nighter. He turned on the radio, and heard the musical program with the 18-year-old featured vocalist. He liked what he heard, and asked her to join the Jimmy Joy band, which Rael managed. Eventually both left the band; and Rael became Patti's personal manager and leader of the backup orchestra for many of her recordings.

In 1948, she recorded a song called "Confess," which had a portion requiring one singer to answer another. (The other hit version involved a duet of Doris Day and Buddy Clark.) Because of a low budget, a second singer could not be hired, so Jack Rael suggested that Patti sing the second part as well. The novelty of her doing two voices on one record probably contributed to the song becoming a top twenty hit for her. At the time, most record companies had a director of Artists and Repertory (the "A&R man") who tightly controlled all the choices of artist-song assignments, and Mercury Records' A&R man was Mitch Miller (who became famous later on as the A&R man who brought Columbia Records into a dominant position in pop music in the early 1950s). After doing "Confess," Patti (or Jack Rael, or both) liked the multiple-voice idea so much that she asked to do an entire song as a quartet. Miller was skeptical until Patti recorded a four-bar song demo in four different voices and played the sample for Miller. Reluctantly, he permitted it, and the song, "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming," became another big hit for Patti, her first to sell a million. Although both Mary Ford and Jane Turzy became known for it, Patti Page was the first singer to record multiple tracks on the same song, on "Confess." On some of the records, she was billed as "Vocal by Patti Page, Patti Page, and Patti Page," in at least one case ("With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming") being given quadruple billing.

As stated above, "Confess" became her first charted hit, in 1948 for Mercury Records, and reached #12 on the Billboard chart. Her first #1 hit was "All My Love", based on Maurice Ravel's Bolero, which was #1 for 5 weeks in 1950. Her biggest hit was "The Tennessee Waltz", which was #1 for 13 weeks, coming a few months later in 1950. In 1963 she changed companies, going to Columbia, but returned to Mercury in 1971. In 1973 she went back to the Columbia family, recording for Epic Records (a subsidiary). In 1974 and 1975 she had a pair of records for Avco Records, then, after a hiatus of a few years, started in 1981 to record for Plantation Records, her last label. In the 1990s she started her own label, C. A. F. Records.

In 1998 she won a Grammy as "Best Traditional Pop singer."

Many of her songs have a strong beat to them that prelude rock 'n' roll. These titles include "Mister and Mississippi", "Detour" and "Cross Over the Bridge".

In 1956 she married choreographer Charles O'Curran. They adopted two children, a daughter Kathleen, who suffers from serious drug problems, as Patti Page recounted on the O'Reilly Factor, and is incapable of taking care of her own children, as well as a son, Danny O'Curran. Patti Page and Charles O'Curran divorced in 1972. In 1990 she married again, to Jerry Filiciotto, with whom she runs a maple syrup business in New Hampshire, when not at home near San Diego, California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_Page


Tennessee Waltz :: Patti Page

I was dancing with my darling
To the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced her to my loved one
And while they were dancing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me

I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darling
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz

Oops, listeners, missed a couple of bios by our Bob, but I did find this song from old blue eyes as a companion piece to Margaret Mitchell:


Frank Sinatra - Gone With The Wind Lyrics
Gone with the wind, just like a leaf that has blown away.
Gone with the wind, my romance has flown away.
Yesterday's kisses are still on my lips,
I had a lifetime of heaven on my fingertips.
But now all is gone, gone is the rapture that thrilled my heart.
Just like a flame, love burned brightly
Then became an empty smoke dream that has gone,
Gone with the wind.

Alain Delon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Alain Delon (born November 8, 1935) is a French actor, one of the best known outside his native country.

Delon was born in Sceaux, France, and at 17 he enlisted in the French Marines, serving in Indochina as a parachutist. His breakthrough as a film star came with Plein Soleil, a 1960 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley. He also gave tremendous performances in Luchino Visconti's The Leopard and, perhaps his finest moment, Le Samouraï. His later work has not reached these heights, and his decline is characteristic of the nouvelle vague of French actors, such as Jean-Paul Belmondo.

In 1968, Delon and his wife Natalie were at the center of a massive sex, drug and murder scandal when their bodyguard Stefan Markovitch was found shot dead in a garbage dump.

In 1973, he made a duet with the French pop singer Dalida on "Paroles... Paroles...", which was a big hit in France, Japan, Canada, etc...

After a string of box office failures in the 80s and 90s, culminating in the surprising box-office failure of Patrice Leconte's film, Une Chance sur deux, Delon announced his decision to give up acting in 1997 at the age of 62.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Delon

Never heard of Delaine Delon, Bob, but thanks for the info.

Speaking of France, folks. Wonder where our Francis is?

Well, listeners, Letty has a bunch of stuff to do today, and I guess I've procrastinated long enough, but it does help to write.

Bonnie Raitt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Bonnie Raitt, (born November 8, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitar virtuoso who was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Broadway musical star John Raitt.

She began playing guitar at the age of 12, something not a lot of her high school girlfriends did, and after leaving college she began playing the rhythm and blues clubs. While admired by those who saw her perform, and respected by her peers such as blues legend Howlin' Wolf, she gained little public acclaim for her work. In 1983, struggling with alcohol and drug abuse, she was dropped by her record label, Warner Bros., and all but disappeared from the music scene.

In late 1987 she joined k.d. lang and Jennifer Warnes as female background vocals for Roy Orbison's television special, Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night. Following this highly acclaimed broadcast, she began working on new material, recording a bluesy mix of hard rock under the production guidance of Don Was at Capitol Records. After more than twenty years of singing and recording popular music, Bonnie Raitt achieved immense success with her 10th album. Released in 1989, "Nick of Time" went to the top of the U.S. charts and won three Grammy Awards. At the same time, she walked away with a fourth Grammy Award for her duet "In the Mood" with John Lee Hooker on his album "The Healer".

She followed up this success with three more Grammy Awards for her 1991 album, "Luck of the Draw", then, in 1994 she added two more Grammy's with her album "Longing in Their Hearts". "Souls Alike" was released September, 2005.

She appeared on Warren Zevon's self-titled album in 1976 with Warren Zevon's friend Jackson Browne and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.


Political activism

Bonnie Raitt is a member of the Green Party of California. [1]

Raitt's web site urges fans to learn more about preserving the environment. She was a founding member of Musicians United for Safe Energy.

In July 2004, she drew thunderous applause at the Stockholm Jazz Festival for dedicating a classic to U.S. President George W. Bush. She was quoted as saying, "We're gonna sing this for George Bush because he's out of here, people!" before she launched into the opening licks of "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)," a cover that was featured on her 1979 album The Glow.


Personal life

Raitt and Michael O'Keefe married on April 27, 1991 and announced their divorce on November 9, 1999.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Raitt


I ain't let you gonna break my heart again :: Bonnie Raitt

there ain't no use in me trying to tell you how I feel
'cause what I feel ain't what you're feeling
I don't know what we did wrong
I just know if you come home
I ain't gonna let you break my heart again

there ain't no use in me trying to find out where you've been
where you've been ain't where I'm going
'cause if I ask you where you've been
the hurting starts and it don't end
so I ain't gonna let you break my heart again , no
I ain't gonna let you break my heart again , no o

(bridge)
tears don't become me
pain ain't my friend
it seems like you enjoy my crying , baby
you always said that I was strong
but I believe that you were wrong
lately , God knows , I have been trying

there ain't no use in you trying to kiss away the hurt , baby
'cause it hurts where it's deep down inside of me and it's hiding
if you decide you're coming home
you walk in , it won't be like before
'cause I ain't gonna let you break my heart again , no
ain't gonna let you break my heart again , no no

Miss Letty, I've seen Francis

here<smile>

Ah, there's our Frenchman and chatting with Heracles' prisoner.

So, folks, that leads us to the question for the day:

What exactly does the expression, " a sop for Cerberus" really mean?

Its me.

I like Bonnie Raitt, too

Whoops! Lots of trouble posting today. Didn't even notice Katharine Hepburn born in May. How'd she slip in there? Gotta go beat up the computer again.

Good Day WA2K.

Today's birthdays:

35 - Nerva, Roman Emperor (d. 98)
1491 - Teofilo Folengo, Italian poet (d. 1544)
1622 - King Charles X of Sweden (d. 1660)
1656 (N.S.) - Edmond Halley, British astronomer and mathematician (d. 1742)
1694 - Leonhard Trautsch, German composer (d. 1762)
1706 - Johann Ulrich von Cramer, German judge and philosopher (d. 1772)
1710 - Sarah Fielding, English writer (d. 1768)
1715 - Elisabeth Christine von Braunschweig-Bevern, queen of Frederick II of Prussia (d. 1797)
1836 - Milton Bradley, American lithographer and game manufacturer (d. 1911)
1847 - Bram Stoker, Irish novelist (d. 1912)
1847 - Jean Casimir-Périer, French politician (d. 1907)
1848 - Gottlob Frege, German mathematician and logician (d. 1925)
1866 - Herbert Austin, English automobile pioneer (d. 1941)
1868 - Felix Hausdorff, German mathematician (d. 1942)
1883 - Arnold Bax, English composer (d. 1953)
1884 - Hermann Rorschach, Swiss psychiatrist (d. 1922)
1893 - Clarence Williams, American jazz pianist and composer (d. 1965)
1896 - Bucky Harris, baseball player (d. 1977)
1898 - Marie Prevost, Canadian actress (d. 1937)
1900 - Margaret Mitchell, American author (d. 1949)
1900 - Charlie Paddock, American athlete (d. 1943)
1904 - Cedric Belfrage English-born writer (d. 1990)
1908 - Martha Gellhorn, American writer and journalist (d. 1998)
1918 - Hermann Zapf, German designer
1919 - P.L. Deshpande, Indian author (d. 2000 )
1920 - Esther Rolle, American actress (d. 1998)
1922 - Christiaan Barnard, South African heart surgeon (d. 2001)
1923 - Jack Kilby, American electrical engineer, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics (d. 2005)
1927 - Patti Page, American singer
1927 - Nguyen Khanh, Prime Minister of South Vietnam
1931 - Morley Safer, Canadian journalist
1931 - Darla Hood, American actress (d. 1979)
1935 - Alain Delon, French actor
1942 - Angel Cordero Jr., Puerto Rican jockey
1947 - Minnie Riperton, American singer (d. 1979)
1949 - Bonnie Raitt, American singer
1952 - Jan Raas, Dutch cyclist
1953 - Alfre Woodard, American actress
1954 - Michael D. Brown, former Director of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency
1954 - Jeanette McGruder, American musician (P Funk)
1954 - Rickie Lee Jones, American singer and composer
1958 - Don Byron, American clarinetist
1961 - Leif Garrett, American singer and actor
1967 - Courtney Thorne-Smith, American actress
1968 - Parker Posey, American actress
1968 - Zara Whites, Dutch porn actress
1975 - Tara Reid, American actress
1976 - Brett Lee, Australian Cricketer
1979 - Aaron Hughes, Northern Irish footballer
1981 - Joe Cole, English footballer
2000 - Madison Poer, American actress


Alain Delon

McTag, that is a fantastic picture of you, Manchester.

For those of you who can't see McTag, just drop by our studio and take a look at all the marvelous pictures tacked on our bullentin board.

Any requests, Brit?

I would like to hear the old music hall song "I've Never Seen a Straight Banana", please

Here ya go, McTag:

I'VE NEVER SEEN A STRAIGHT BANANA
by Waite
as performed by "The Happiness Boys", Billy Jones & Ernest Hare


You may have seen some funny things in your time
But there's one thing you've not seen, I'd like to bet.
Would you like to know just what you have been missing?
I'll tell you in the chorus but not yet.
Now I've got you puzzled, so I'll tell you what I mean.
The thing that's in my mind, I must confess, I haven't seen.

I have never, never, never, never, I've never seen a straight banana.
I guess I must admit
That I have searched quite a bit.
They're even curved when they are served in my banana split.
I have seen them by the car-load on the Delaware & Lacawana
But have you ever?
No, I've never
I've never seen a straight banana.

I recall when I was in Alaska
I saw the sun at twelve-o'clock at night.
I've seen the waterfalls at old Niagara
I can vouch it is a most impressive sight.
But I'd like to see one certain thing
But if it's not to be,
I'd like to meet somebody else
Who saw what I can't see.

I've never, never, never, never seen a straight banana.
Although the things I hate,
Hundreds I have ate.
But I've never yet seen one banana that was straight.
I have traveled far to find one.
I've been to Chili and Havana.
But I've never, never, never, never seen a straight banana.

I've never, never, never, I have never seen a straight banana.
Once I chanced to see
A real life murder mystery
The jury found the prisoner guilty in the first degree.
All at once we heard the prisoner
Holler out, "This is the truth, your honor,
I've never, never never, never
Never, never, never, never
I've never seen a straight banana.

Hey, Raggedy. Thanks for the celeb updates, PA. Back later to comment

Hey, Bob, just don't beat up the hamster, ok? There are animal rights activists in our listening audience. <smile>

My word, Raggedy. Hardly know one of your celebs, but thanks for allowing us to see Alain Delon. Nice looking man, too. Pity about his life, however.

News from France:



State of Emergency Declared in France By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press Writer
17 minutes ago



PARIS - President Jacques Chirac declared a state of emergency Tuesday, paving the way for curfews to be imposed on riot-hit cities and towns in an extraordinary measure to halt France's worst civil unrest in decades after 12 nights of violence.



Police, meanwhile, said overnight unrest Monday-Tuesday, while still widespread and destructive, was not as violent as previous nights.

"The intensity of this violence is on the way down," National Police Chief Michel Gaudin said, citing fewer attacks on public buildings and fewer direct clashes between youths and police. He said rioting was reported in 226 towns across France, compared to nearly 300 the night before.

Perhaps Francis will give us his analysis.

a bit of a straight second banana

Great, Mr. Turtle. Wonder where that "banana" expression originated?

You know, listeners, we use expressions that are familiar to us and really don't stop to explore the origins.

OK Letty, you had me wondering.


Top Banana
This expression originated in the burlesque era. There was an extremely popular comedy skit in which the main comic was given a banana after delivering the punch line to a particularly funny joke. The skit and joke were so widely known that the term "top banana" was coined to refer to anyone in the top position of an organization. I assume the term "second banana," referring to someone in a lesser position, had a similar origin from the same skit.