Happy birthday, Joey Dee!

Joey Dee (of Joey Dee and The Starliters fame) was born on this date in 1940 in Passaic, New Jersey. A big Happy 66th to the Peppermint Twister himself, shown above left with fellow Starliters David Brigati, center, and Bob Valli, right, in a photo from the group's appearance at Safety Harbor (Florida) Marina in March of 2006. To see three album's worth of Starliters concert pix, go to my Photosite homepage where you'll find the rest of the pix from Safety Harbor plus a bunch from Storman's Nightclub in Clearwater, FL (Wind Beneath My Wings 2006) from this past February, and Largo, FL from April. Have a great birthday, Joseph!

Wine and Orlando

Handsome and talented 1970's singing sensation Tony Orlando (of Dawn) recently appeared at Disney World's EPCOT in Orlando, Florida - yes, you read right, Orlando performed in Orlando - for three days as part of the center's annual Flower Power concert series. Joining Tony O was the lovely and talented Toni Wine (of The Archies), on vocals and keyboards. Along with Irwin Levine, Toni Wine wrote "Candida," the first single for Dawn, in 1970, before the group's name was formally expanded to Tony Orlando and Dawn; Toni also cowrote "A Groovy Kind of Love," the Mindbenders hit, with Carole Bayer Sager. Toni can be heard singing backgrounds on a variety of tracks including "It Hurts To Be In Love" by Gene Pitney and "Always On My Mind" by Willie Nelson, but she's probably best known as the female voice of The Archies; she shared lead vocals with Ron Dante on the group's megahit "Sugar, Sugar" in 1969. In addition to "Candida," Tony Orlando and Dawn had hits with "Knock Three Times" and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree." Tony and Toni appear together in concert at venues all over the U.S. For info, check out the itinerary on their websites.

To see the photos I took at Tony's first two shows at EPCOT on May 30, 2006, please visit my Photosite album.

The Dixie Cups Fansite Updates

The official fan site for The Dixie Cups has just been updated! Check out the new Merchandise Page, where you can purchase items such as photos and CDs personally autographed by the ladies themselves; and the newly expanded Photo Gallery featuring a bunch of never-before-seen backstage photos from The Dixie Cups' appearance at the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden in September 2005.

Also, while you're checking out the site, don't forget to sign the Guestbook; and feel free to post comments or questions for The Dixie Cups on the official message board. All links are on the homepage.

Bubblegum U

Hey oldies fans,

Check out the newest website from the folks at Scram Magazine - the comprehensive and educational Bubblegum University! Find a comfy chair and bring food 'cause you're gonna want to visit here awhile. They've got the lowdown on everyone from Ron Dante to Jeff Barry to Joey Levine. Take a look at it!

The Dixie Cups - Official Fan Site

For fans of the delightful New Orleans trio who brought the world such tunes as "People Say," "Iko Iko," and the #1 smash hit "Chapel of Love," Oldies Connection is proud to present The Dixie Cups: The Official Fan Site!

This brand-new tribute site will evolve with new additions and content including more photos and possibly a Merchandise page and message board. So don't forget to bookmark the site and check back often.

The Neil Brian Goldberg Story

New on Oldies Connection - Neil Brian Goldberg!

Even if you don't know his name, you know his work. Neil Goldberg has written tunes for a diversity of artists like The Monkees, The Archies, Tom Jones, and Robin McNamara. One of the most prolific of the Jeff Barry-run Steed Records' stable of tunesmiths, Neil Goldberg talks about his interesting, peripatetic and multifaceted life and career in Do It In The Name of Love: The Neil Brian Goldberg Story, by Don Charles. Just follow the link from the Oldies Connection homepage.

A Jeff Barry Birthday

Anybody who's ever grooved to songs like "Baby, I Love You," "(And) Then He Kissed Me," "Hanky Panky," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Chapel of Love," "Leader of the Pack" and "I Honestly Love You" is already familiar with the work of legendary Brill Building songwriter-producer Jeff Barry. Born in Brooklyn, New York on April 3, 1938, Jeff was one of the pioneers of the Girl Group sound in the early- to mid-1960's, penning dozens of songs with then-wife Ellie Greenwich and Wall of Sound producer Phil Spector. Jeff would go on to produce hits such as "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees and "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies. "Sugar, Sugar," which was written by Jeff with Andy Kim, sailed up the U.S. charts to the #1 spot and became the RIAA Record of the Year for 1969.

In honor of Jeff's forthcoming birthday, I've set up a special QuickTopic message board for friends and fans to post their birthday greetings. If you'd like to add your birthday wishes for Jeff, please click here.

Board registration is not required to post.

Bubblegum Achievement Awards DVD Release

Attention Bubblegum Music fans!

For info on ordering a DVD of Scram Magazine's 2005 Bubblegum Achievement Awards, which includes performances by Ron Dante and Toni Wine among others, visit this page:

Lost in the Grooves: Bubblegum Achievement Awards DVD Release

Long live Bubblegum!!!!!!!

They say there's 'Always Magic in the Air'

For a thorough, entertaining, and thoroughly entertaining look into the careers and lives of seven powerhouse songwriting teams from New York City's Brill Building, located at 1619 Broadway, and its near neighbor at 1650 Broadway, pick up a copy of Ken Emerson's Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era. Always Magic in the Air (its title taken from a line in the song "On Broadway," which was written by four of the scribes - Leiber, Stoller, Mann and Weil - profiled in the book) is not just an autobiography of fourteen people but a wealth of information on the history of rock and roll, particularly the heavily Latin-influenced sounds that emanated from the Brill courtesy of its young staff songwriters. In addition to the teams of Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, the dynamic duos portrayed in Always Magic... are Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman, Burt Bacharach/Hal David, Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield, Gerry Goffin/Carole King, and Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich.

To read my review on the book, click on the link below:

Stuff 'n' Laura's Pop Culture Cantina: Mad Hot Book Review #1

And to visit my dedicated page for the book which includes some words by both myself and author Ken Emerson as well as links to various online reviews, the product page on Amazon.com, a couple of archived radio interviews with the author, and a message board for people to post their comments about the book, go here:

Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era

Happy reading!

More Joey Dee and The Starliters Pix!

The lovely and talented Joey Dee and The Starliters (OK, so they're not all that "lovely" but they are good to look at - and listen to!) put on their usual great show at the Safety Harbor (Florida) Marina on Sunday, March 5, 2006, wrapping up the two-day Harbor Sounds food and music fest. To see photos of Joey Dee and fellow group members David Brigati (an original Starliter and brother of Eddie Brigati from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Young Rascals), at left in the above pic, and Bob Valli (sibling to Frankie of 4 Seasons fame), right, visit Classic Pop Music Concert Pix and click on the appropriate link on the homepage.