Bruce Johnston, Ritchie Valens and "Donna" (Ludwig)

I've heard a lot about Ritchie Valens from Dion DiMucci from their time together on the Winter Dance Party in 1959 and Chan Romero told us about the influence Ritchie's music had on his career.  Because Ritchie died so young, I haven't met many that had a connection to him.  I was excited to get this story from The Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston and his connection to both Ritchie and Donna Ludwig as well as learning about LA's Dick "Huggy Boy" Hugg .  Here's what Bruce sent in:


In the early days of my music path (my age at the time was 16) and in the summer of 1958, I was in a Los Angeles local house band called Kip Tyler & The Flips. Our job was to back up the 'one hit wonders of the day' at dance & shows around LA County and we often backed up Ritchie Valens at the start of his recording & performing career. Ritchie's first released single at the time was "Come On Let's Go" which reached a national USA chart position of #42 in 1958. My role on stage in the band back then was to play keyboards while Ritchie played his guitar and sang. This took place a few short months before the release of Ritchie's "La Bamba" and "Donna" recordings.

Donna Ludwig

Just after Ritchie passed away in 1959, I was asked to sing backing vocals on an 'answer recording' to Ritchie Valens' album track "We Belong Together." The 'artist' was Donna
(Donna Ludwig) and she was Ritchie Valens' girlfriend (and friend) starting in the 10th grade. Donna's song was called "Lost Without You." I actually sang in my normal tenor voice instead of my future-higher-Beach Boys-vocal-range voice. The recorded backing vocals for Donna's single release had very little harmony & were mostly sung in unison.


Dick "Huggy Boy" Hugg, a local white Los Angeles DJ playing R&B music on KRKD-AM (very successfully in the fifties broadcasting live from the front window of the Dolphin's of Hollywood record store located in the South Central Los Angeles/Watts area) helped put this Donna recording project together in early 1959.

Johnny Cash postage stamp coming later this year

The United States Postal Service has announced an upcoming "Forever" postage stamp of Johnny Cash due at some point this year.  It was designed to resemble a 45rpm record.  It is part of a Music Icons series.  Stay tuned for more details!

Willie Dixon died this day in 1992

Willie Dixon died this day in 1992 at the age of 76.  One of his solo projects was titled I Am The Blues and it's hard to argue.  He was proficient at both upright bass and guitar as well as his own vocals.  His compositions have become blues standards and recorded by the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Elvis Presley, Dion, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The Yardbirds and others.  Some of his many songs include "Little Red Rooster", "I Ain't Superstitious", "My Babe", "Evil", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I Just Want To Make Love To You" and many more.

"Back Door Man"- Willie Dixon

"Little Red Rooster"- The Rolling Stones

"I Can't Quit You Babe"- Led Zeppelin

"I Ain't Superstitious"- Howlin' Wolf

"Hoochie Coochie Man"- Muddy Waters

"My Babe"- Little Walter

Ringo Starr's cover of "You're Sixteen" hit #1 in the US in 1974

Ringo Starr's cover of Johnny Burnette's "You're Sixteen" topped the US charts this day in 1974.  Johnny's version was a hit in the fall of 1960.  Here's both versions to enjoy:

Ringo Starr-

Johnny Burnette-

Happy Birthday Jack Scott

Jack Scott was born "Giovanni Dominico Scafone Jr" this day in 1936.  When he was 10, his family moved from Windsor, Ontario, Canada to Hazel Park, MI which is a suburb of Detroit.  As a teenager, he started performing as "Jack Scott".  His earlier recordings were more rockabilly while he later developed into a more country style.  His biggest songs include "Leroy", "My True Love", "The Way I Walk", "Burning Bridges", "Geraldine", "What In The World's Come Over You" among others.

"The Way I Walk"

"Leroy"

"Geraldine"

Buddy Holly & The Crickets release "Maybe Baby" this day in 1958

Buddy Holly & The Crickets release "Maybe Baby" this day in 1958.  It hit #17 in the US but got to #4 in the UK.

Unpublished photo from the Bruce Johnston Photo Archives

From left to right:  Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Daryl Dragon, Harriet Johnston, Bruce Johnston, Toni Tennille.  Photo courtesy of the Bruce Johnston Photo Archives.

The Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston sent over this great photo from the mid-70's with some of his music friends.  Barry Mann and his wife, Cynthia Weil are one of the most successful songwriting duo's in pop music.  Just a few of their hits include "Uptown" by The Crystals, "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by The Animals, "Don't Know Much" by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville, "I Just Can't Help Believing" by B.J. Thomas (as well as Bobby Vee, Elvis Presley and others), "On Broadway" by The Drifters (also co-written with Leiber & Stoller) and the most played radio and television song of the 20th Century (according to BMI) is "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers (also co-written by Phil Spector).  Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille are best known as "Captain & Tennille".  They were part of The Beach Boys touring band before they launched out as the hit duo.  Some of their massive hits include the #1 singles "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Do That To Me One More Time", "Muskrat Love", "The Way I Want To Touch You" and many more!  Along with being part of The Beach Boys (read our interview HERE), Bruce won a Grammy Award for his song "I Write The Songs" performed by Barry Manilow in 1977.  He arranged, produced and/or performed on projects for Sandy Nelson, The Rip Chords, Elton John and Pink Floyd's The Wall (which also featured vocal help from Toni Tennille) among others.  His "Disney Girls" has also been covered by The Beach Boys, Art Garfunkel, Cass Elliott, Jack Jones, Doris Day and others including Captain & Tennille as well.  To think of the impact these friends in the photo above have had on the pop music scene is quite staggering!  Thanks to Bruce Johnston for sharing this rare gem from the archives!

Carl Perkins died this day in 1998

Carl Perkins died this day in 1998 in Jackson, TN at age 65.  He was a rockabilly icon with his songwriting and guitar style on songs like "Blue Suede Shoes", "Boppin' The Blues", "Dixie Fried", "All Mama's Children", "Honey Don't", "Matchbox" and so many more.  Among those that have covered his songs are The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Kentucky Headhunters, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Dion DiMucci, Wanda Jackson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brian Setzer, Ricky Nelson, Chris Isaak, etc.

"Blue Suede Shoes"

"Matchbox" (with Eric Clapton and Johnny Cash)

"Glad All Over"

Scotty Moore & Carl Perkins talk about the early days

"Boppin' The Blues" (with Dave Edmunds and Lee Rocker)

"All Mama's Children" (with John Fogerty)

Elvis' "Aloha From Hawaii" concert was broadcast live in 1973

Elvis Presley's "Aloha From Hawaii" concert at Honolulu International Center Arena was broadcast to an estimated one billion people in 40 countries.  It aired at later dates in America and England.  The double live album was released later that year.  Check out some video highlights from the show:

Intro/ "See See Rider"

"Suspicious Minds"

"Steamroller Blues"

"Burning Love"

Molly Sue Gonzalez & The Mean, Mean Men's "Bad Example" music video!

Their Facebook page says, "We play rockabilly with a dash of blues and a heaping tablespoon of soul."  This Nashville group is making some waves with their vintage style and just released a new music video for their song "Bad Example".  It's a vintage sound with a modern flair.  Check out their website and "like" their Facebook page to stay up to date on what's happening!  You'll be hearing plenty more from them!!

"Bad Example"

http://mollysuegonzalez.com

https://www.facebook.com/mollysuegonzalezandthemeanmeanmen

Third Man Records to release 3 Document Records reissue series projects!

Third Man Records will release the first 3 projects in their Document Records reissue series on January 29th!  These exciting releases will feature the music of Blind Willie McTell, The Mississippi Sheiks and Charley Patton.  Jack White promises to keep these in print for as long as Third Man Records is around.  You can pre-order here- http://thirdmanstore.com/

Howlin' Wolf died this day in 1976

Chester Arthur Burnett (known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf) died this day in 1976.  His gravestone has a guitar and harmonica etched in it.  One of his most popular tunes, "How Many More Years", has become a blues staple.  That was recorded at Memphis Recording Service by Sam Phillips and also features Ike Turner on piano.  Wolf was one of a kind in his vocal delivery and while he's often imitated, he's never been duplicated.  Here's some of his most popular tunes:

"How Many More Years"

"Smokestack Lightning"

"Spoonful"

"Evil"

Happy Birthday Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page was born in 1944 in Heston, England.  He's certainly one of the most influential rock guitarists of all time from his early session work and to his time in the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.  Here we focus on some of his rockabilly and blues influences:

"My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" (with Robert Plant)

Led Zeppelin- "Let's Have A Party" (Elvis, Wanda Jackson, etc)

interview about It Might Get Loud documentary

Led Zeppelin- "Somethin' Else" (Eddie Cochran)

Dave Berry- "My Baby Left Me" (Jimmy Page on lead guitar)

Yardbirds- "Train Kept A Rollin'" (Tiny Bradshaw, Johnny Burnette Trio, etc)

Elvis Presley was born this day in 1935

Stool inside Sun Studios.  Photo taken December, 2011

Elvis Presley was born this day in 1935 in Tupelo, MS.  Had he lived, he would have been 78!!  Still, Elvis remains a viable force in music 36 years after his death.  Take a stroll down memory lane with Elvis and celebrate his birthday!

"My Happiness"

"Shake Rattle & Roll"

"Jailhouse Rock"

"Trouble/ Guitar Man"

"Suspicious Minds" (from Viva Elvis)

Sun Records Founder Sam Phillips was born this day in 1923

Sam Phillips was born this day in 1923.  He was best known for his legendary Sun Records label that he founded in 1952.  Sam had produced such blues acts like B.B. King, Howlin Wolf, Jackie Brenston (with Ike Turner) and many more for other labels up until he opened his own label.  The Memphis Recording Service served as the studio for the projects released on his label.  His biggest discovery at Sun was of course Elvis Presley but close behind were Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and more.  Although Sam died in 2003, his legacy and music vision continues to live on.

Here's my son Connor from our trip to Sun in December 2011.  It still looks the same today as it did back then!

The Beatles audition for Decca this day in 1962

The Beatles' John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best perform an audition for Decca Records on January 1, 1962.  In a famously bad move, Decca turned the band down a couple of weeks later saying guitar groups are on the way out.  They did record the 15 song session and 5 of those tracks were officially released on The Beatles Anthology 1 project.  They did mostly covers with 3 Lennon/McCartney originals.  Here's the song list from the session:

"Like Dreamers Do"
"Money (That's What I Want)"
"Till There Was You"
"The Sheik Of Araby"
"To Know Her Is To Love Her"
"Take Good Care Of My Baby"
"Memphis, Tennessee"
"Sure To Fall (In Love With You)"
"Hello Little Girl"
"Three Cool Cats"
"Crying, Waiting, Hoping"
"Love Of The Loved"
"September In The Rain"
"Besame Mucho"
"Searchin'"

"Searchin'"

"Like Dreamers Do"

"Money"

"Love Of The Loved"

"Crying, Waiting, Hoping"