BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, JANUARY 11TH 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE SECOND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH AT 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we start 2026 we look forward to a very good year at BRC and we start with BRC member David as he presents Part 2 of a video in which he played the first part last October. The video took us back to the beginning of the Group Harmony Sound also known in some circles as Doo Wop. Interviewing some of the early greats of that genre it was very informative. Hope you can make the meeting and catch the last part.
NATIONAL DJ DAY
January 20th is National DJ Day, so don’t forget to say thanks to all the DJ’s whether current or one from the past. We get or got our music, news, weather and local happenings from these guys and gals. Thanks for being there when we turned on the radio or now the internet!!
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES – ARTISTS WE LOST IN 2025
Once again we look back at the musicians, singers and performers that we lost in 2025. This is very sad particular to those in the Baby Boomer and pre-Boomer generations. Growing up listening to all those great songs by artists that seemed to be forever young we realize that time goes by and life doesn’t stand still. That is what BRC and groups such as ours do, we try to keep the music alive for all generations to enjoy. Thanks for memories!
Brenton Wood – Jan 26, 1841 – Jan 3, 2025. R&B singer known for his hits ‘The Oogum Boogum Song’ and ‘Gimme Little Sign’.
Peter Yarrow – May 31, 1938 – Jan 7, 2025. Member of the folk group, Peter, Paula and Mary.
They had hits such as ‘Lemon Tree’, ‘If I Had A Hammer’, ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’, ‘I Dig Rock And Roll Music’ and ‘Leaving On A Jet Plane’.
Sam Moore – October 12, 1935 – Jan 10, 2025. Sam of the R&B / Soul duo, Sam & Dave. If you were there you will remember ‘Soul Man’, ‘Hold On! I’m Comin”, ‘Soothe Me’, ‘I Thank You’ and ‘You Don’t Know Like I Know’.
Click to hear a medley of ‘Hold On! I’m Coming’ and ‘Soul Man’
Melba Montgomery – October 14, 1938 – Jan 15, 2025. Country singer who had over 30 C/W hits including seven that were duets with George Jones. Those hits were before George had his duet hits with Tammy Wynette. Born in Tennessee, raised in Florence, Alabama.
Garth Hudson – August 2, 1937 – Jan 21, 2025. Multi-instrumentalists known for being the keyboardist in The Band. Garth was the last surviving original member of The Band.
Marianne Faithful – December 29, 1946 – Jan 30, 2025. One of the early female singer of the British Invasion of music in the mid-sixties. Had the hits ‘As Tears Go By’, ‘Come And Stay With Me’ and ‘Summer Nights’.
Tommy Hunt – June 18, 1933 – Feb 12, 2025. Original member of The Flamingos, one of the great Group Harmony groups of the 1950’s and 60’s. Hits like ‘Lovers Never Say Goodbye’, ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’ and ‘Love Walked In’. Hunt went solo in 1961.
Gordon Henry ‘Snowy’ Fleet – August 16, 1939 – February 17, 2025. Drummer for the Australian rock group The Easybeats. The Easybeats had a #16 hit with the iconic “Friday On MY Mind’. If you were there I am sure you sang along with that one…..and loud.
Click to hear ‘Friday On My Mind’
Jerry Butler – December 8, 1939 – Feb 20, 2025. What a voice. Jerry was an original member of The Impressions and then went solo in 1958 having a very successful career. With The Impressions he sang lead on ‘For Your Precious Love’. As a solo artists he had the hits ‘He Will Break Your Heart’, ‘Moon River’, ‘Let It Be Me’ and ‘Only The Strong Survive’.
Click to hear a medley of ‘For Your Precious Love’ and ‘Moon River’
Roberta Flack – February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025. R&B singer who had big hits like ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’, ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ and ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’.
Robert John Pedrick, Jr – January 3, 1946 – February 24, 2025. Recorded early as Bobby Pedrick having a minor hit at age 12 with ‘White Bucks And Saddle Shoes’. Later would record as Robert John and have a dozen or so hits including the #1, ‘Sad Eyes’.
Joey Molland – June 21, 1947 – March1, 2025. Original member of the English group Badfinger. Played guitar and keyboard. The band had numerous hits including ‘Come And Get It’, ‘No Matter What’, ‘Day After Day’ and ‘Baby Blue’. Joey was the last surviving member of the original members.
Jesse Colin Young – November 22, 1941 – March 16, 2025. Founding member of The Youngbloods. They had the icon 1969 hit, ‘Get Together’. He would go solo in 1972.
Johnny Tillotson – April 20, 1938 – April 1, 2025. Singer, songwrietr and an early ‘teen-idol’ singer. Tillotson had over 30 pop hits including ‘Poetry In Motion’, ‘Keeps Right On A-Hurtin”, ‘Talk Back Trembling Lips’ and ‘Send Me The Pillow You Dream On’.
Johnny Rodriquez – December 10, 1951 – May 9, 2025. C/W singer songwriter with nearly 50 C/W hits including 6 #1 hits.
Billy Earheart – February 21, 1954 – May 13, 2025. Original member of The Amazing Rhythm Aces. He played keyboards for the group. The group had the 1975 #14 pop hit, ‘Third Rate Romance’ which also crossed over to the C/W charts going to #9.
James Lowe – March 5, 1943 – May 22, 2025. You may not know the name but if you were there in 1966 – 67 you sang along with his lead vocals on The Electric Prunes, ‘I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)’ and ‘Get Me To The World On Time’.
Click to hear a medley of ‘I Had Too Much To Dream…’ and ‘Get Me To The World…’
Rick Derringer – August 5, 1947 – May 26, 2025. Born Richard Dean Zehringer, Rick was the guitarist and leader of The McCoys. They had a #1 hit in 1965 with ‘Hang On Sloopy’. Another one of those songs you sang along with and out loud if you were there. They had a total of seven songs make the pop charts. Rick also had a top 40 hit as a solo artists with ‘Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo’.
Click to hear a medley of ‘Hang On Sloopy’ and ‘Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo’
Sylvester Stewart, aka Sly Stone – March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025. Founding member of Sly And The Family Stone. Leader of the development of psychedelic soul and funk music. Hits included ‘Dance To The Music’, ‘Everyday People’, ‘ Stand’, ‘I Want To Take You Higher’, ‘Hot Fun In The Summertime’ and ‘Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin’. And his performance at Woodstock was outstanding.
Brian Wilson – June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025. Founder of The Beach Boys. Singer, writer, producer, multi-instrumentalists, etc. Did it all. The list of songs goes on forever but if you were there or an avid listener now, you know them all and the importance that The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson had on the music world.
Lou Christie – February 19, 1943 – June 18, 2025. You have to know that Lou Christie was born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco. Lou would have a #1 pop hit with ‘Lightning Strikes’. Other hits you will remember are ‘The Gypsy Cried’, ‘Two Faces Have I’, ‘Rhapsody In The Rain’ and I’m Gonna Make You Mine’. ‘Rhapsody’ would be banned by many radio stations before a ‘clean’ version was released. The lyrics ‘We were makin’ out in the rain’ did not go over so well with station program directors so ‘Fell in love in the rain’ replaced the original line.
Click here to hear a portion of the banned version and the complete hit version of ‘Rhapsody…’
Mick Ralphs – March 31, 1944 – June 23, 2025. Mick formed the band Bad Company. He was the guitarist and songwriter. Originally started with Mott The Hoople. For Bad Company he wrote ‘Ready For Love’, ‘Can’t Get Enough’ and ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’.
Lalo Schifrin – June 21, 1932 – June 26, 2025. Composer who you may not know but you will remember these compositions. Theme from Mission: Impossible (which is still used in the Tom Cruise films of the same title), Theme from Mannix, the scores from the movie Cool Hand Luke and Bullit.
Connie Francis – December 12, 1937 – July 16, 2025. Before Connie was 25 she had sold over 40 million records. ‘Who’s Sorry Now’, ‘My Happiness’, ‘Lipstick On Your Collar’, ‘Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool’, ‘Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You’ and ‘Vacation’ were just a few of her many hits. One of my early favorites.
Ozzy Osbourne – December 3, 1948 – July 22, 2025. Lead singer of Black Sabbath and solo artists. Black sabbath was one of the early Heavy-metal rock bands.
George Kooymans – March 11, 1948 – July 22, 2025. Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. George was an original member of Golden Earring. He wrote their hit ‘Twilight Zone’ and their iconic ‘car song’, ‘Radar Love’.
Click to hear a medley of ‘Radar Love’ and ‘Twilight Zone’
Jeannie Seely – July 6, 1940 – August 1, 2025. C/W singer who had over 30 C/W hits and crossed over onto the pop charts with the 1966 hit, ‘Don’t Touch Me’. Grand Ole Opry member since 1967.
Bobby Whitlock – March 18, 1948 – August 10, 2025. Keyboardist who recorded with Sam & Dave, Booker T. & The MG’s, Delaney & Bonnie and was a member of Derek & The Dominoes. Give a listen to Derek & The Dominos recording of ‘It’s Too Late’. Eric Clapton is the lead singer but the backing vocals by Whitlock makes the song.
Chuck Girard – August 27, 1943 – August 11, 2025. One of original members of The Hondells. They had the fun ‘motorcycle tribute’ song, ‘Little Honda’. Hey….you had to be there. How many of you bought a Honda 50 or something like it because of this song???
Tom Shipley – April 1, 1941 – August 24, 2025. – Member of Brewer & Shipley who had the hit ‘One Toke Over The Line’.
Mark Volman – April 19, 1947 – September 5, 2025. Founding member of The Turtles. The group gave us such hits as ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’, ‘Happy Together’, ‘She’d Rather Be With Me’ and ‘Elenore’.
Bobby Hart – February 18, 1939 – Sept 10, 2025. Along with Tommy Boyce, Boyce and Hart had a dozen pop hits including the 1967 hit, “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite’. The duo also were composers who wrote ‘Pretty Little Angel Eyes’. ‘Come A Little Bit Closer’ and many hits for The Monkees including ‘Last Train To Clarksville’.
Sonny Curtis – May 9, 1937 – September 19, 2025. Singer, songwriter who worked with Buddy Holly and continued as part of The Crickets after Holly went solo. Wrote the theme song to the Mary Tyler Moore Show , ‘Love Is All Around’.
Chris Dreja – November 11, 1946 – September 25, 2025. Co-founder and guitarist for the English rock band, The Yardbirds. Dreja switched from guitar to bass when Jimmy Page was added to the band.
John Lodge – July 20, 1943 – October 10, 2025. Joined The Moody Blues in 1966 as vocalist and bassist. Wrote their hit, ‘Ride My See-Saw’.
Ace Frehley – April 27, 1951 – October 16, 2025. Original lead guitarist for the rock band, Kiss. Ace worked as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix when he was 18. He knew what he wanted to do.
Donna Jean Thatcher-Godchaux – August 22, 1947 – November 2, 2025. Born in Florence, Alabama, Donna would become a session singer with the group Southern Comfort working in Muscle Shoals, Alabama where she backed Percy Sledge on ‘When Man Loves A Woman’. She also sang backup on Elvis’ version of ‘Suspicion Minds’. She moved to California met future husband Keith Godchaux and the two would become members of The Grateful Dead.
Jimmy Cliff – July 30, 1944 – November 24, 2025. Jamaican singer who was one of the early reggae singers. Had 5 pop hits but has two recordings in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame which never even charted. Those are ‘The Harder They Come’ and ‘Many Rivers To Cross’. His recording of ‘Sitting In Limbo’ is well worth listening to.
Steve Cropper – October 21, 1941 – December 3, 2025. Guitarist, songwriter extraordinaire. Cropper was with Booker T. & The MG’s and his song writing consists of ‘Green Onions’, ‘Knock On Wood’, ‘In The Midnight Hour’, ‘Mr. Pitiful’ and ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay’. In the Sam & Dave song ‘Soul Man’ you can hear the phrase “Play it, Steve”. This is referencing Cropper’s guitar playing.
Carl Carlton – May 21, 1952 – December 14, 2025. R&B singer, songwriter. He had the 1974 hit, ‘Everlasting Love’.
Joe Ely – February 9, 1947 – December 15, 2025. Guitarist, singer, songwriter. Did session work with Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt.
We also lost a member of the Birmingham Record Collectors Music Hall Of Fame family recently. Rick Fortenberry, an original member of The Rockin’ Rebellions played guitar for the group as well as did some backing vocals.
All these musicians were a part of the lives of so many of us back in the day and we want to be sure to remember them for the music they left us to enjoy.
BRC RADIO
And don’t forget that BRC radio is still on the BRC website. Our 3 hosts play all kinds of music including hit songs from the 1950’s – present. You will hear LP cuts, charted songs and songs that received little or no air-play, and all genres. Just go the birminghamrecord.com and click on the ‘RADIO’ icon and chose a show.
Latest shows :
See ya,
Charlie