Errol webber5/18/2023 He was on his way to New York to perform his hit song “Blue Suede Shoes” on NBC’s “Perry Como Show.” With a fractured neck and severe concussion Perkins was forced to spend months in the hospital. In 1956, Carl Perkins was severely injured (his brother Jay was killed) in a car accident near Wilmington, Delaware. Johnny earned his first Sun royalty check, for $2.41. Released in July, it edged out Elvis at #1 in Memphis that summer and hit #14 on Billboard’s C&W chart. In 1955, at Sun Records in Memphis, John Cash, who had been renamed “Johnny” by his producer/label owner Sam Phillips, recorded “Hey Porter,” his first single. The singing banjo player had joined the Opry in 1926. In 1952, Uncle Dave Macon, the first star of the Grand Ole Opry, died in Readyville, Tennessee at age 81. In 1948, NBC Radio’s “Voice of Firestone”, a 30-minute showcase of semi-classical music, became the first commercial radio program to be carried simultaneously on both AM and FM stations. The wartime radio program brought four married couples to compete in stunts involving traditional concepts of, er, “manhood” and “womanhood”. In 1942, the quiz show, “The Better Half”, was first heard on Mutual radio. In 1930, the “Stein Song (University of Maine)” by Rudy Vallee hit #1 and stayed there for 10 weeks. His highest profile was gained via his work on David Letterman’s Late Night shows at both NBC & CBS, until he retired Aug. He was a voiceover announcer for NBC TV for almost his entire professional career. In 1924, TV announcer Bill Wendell was born William Joseph Wenzel, Jr. At one point in its history (1934-39) it was powered by 500,000 watts. In 1922, pioneer radio station WLW, Cincinnati, Ohio began broadcasting under Crossley ownership with 50 watts. He was a regular player on Mike Stokey’s Pantomime Quiz. He starred for 4 years in TV’s The Wild Wild West, and had recurring roles on Hawaii 5-0, Mr. In 1920, actor Ross Martin was born Martin Rosenblatt in Grodek Poland. She was a veteran of both A & B movies by the time TV arrived & offered her repeated roles in Wagon Train, The Millionaire & Fireside Theatre, plus scores of one-shots. In 1917, actress Virginia Grey was born in Los Angeles. He wrote the Christmas favorite The Most Wonderful Time of the Year for Andy Williams, etc. He composed the theme & music for Gilligan’s Island. He was chorale director for The Jerry Lewis Show, The Andy Williams Show, & The Dinah Shore Chevy Show. He directed the baton for TV’s Flip Wilson Show, The Captain & Tenille Special, & Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters. In 1916, orchestra leader/composer George Wyle was born in New York City. (A later generation will remember hin best for his American Express commercials, pictured above.) He died Jat the age of 97. Mike Stone in ABC TV’s 1970s police drama, The Streets of San Francisco. In a 7-decade acting career his best-known role was alongside an emerging Michael Douglas as Lt. In 1912, actor Karl Malden was born Mladen George Sekulovich in Chicago. McMicking demonstrated the city’s first 2 telephones.
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