Keenerfans are remembering Paul Vance, who contributed to dozens of tunes we know by heart including the Clint Holmes’ one hit wonder, “Playground in my Mind,” “Tracy” for the Cuff Links, David Geddes’ “Run, Joey Run” and many songs for Verdelle Smith, including. “Tar and Cement.” Perhaps his most memorable was the Brian Hyland classic, “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka-dot Bikini.,” a smash hit in 1956. Vance passed away on May 30 at age 92.

Today in Detroit:

• Today in 1967, Lucille Ball won her second Emmy for her solo effort, “The Lucy Show.” Fighting tears, the comedieanne said, “The last time I won the award I thought they were giving it to me for having a baby. Now, that baby is 14 years old.”
• Today in 1972, columnist Sydney J. Harris lamented the “double talk” politicians use to avoid answering tough questions. He warned that it made “ordinary people” susceptible to outsiders like controversial Alabama Governor, George Wallace. “Populist leaders identify with the mass,” he wrote, “and then once in office have invariably proceeded to set up their own personal elite and milk the people for all they are worth.”
• Today in 1977, teen heartthrob, Shaun Cassidy joined the Osmond brothers and members of the Detroit Pistons at Windsor Stadium to help raise money for Project Concern, an international non-profit devoted to helping children.
• Today in 1979, Detroit was pitching representatives of the Democratic National Committee who were in town considering the city to host the forthcoming Presidential Convention. Motown cops even agreed to extend the current labor contract, so negotiations would not be taking place during the event. A 2017 Holy Cross study found that major conventions had only short term financial gains, primarily in the hotel and restaurant sector, often more than offset by extra expenses for operations and security.
• Today in 1982, President Reagan’s original budget proposal for the fiscal year 1983 was sent to the House floor by the House Budget Committee. But the fiscal plan, which included a deficit of about $122 billion had virtually no support in Congress.
• Today in 1987, the state Senate approved raising speed limits on many Michigan highways to 65 mph, attaching an anti-fuzzbuster measure banning radar detectors to the bill as it was sent back to the State House. Officials said it would take at least two weeks to change out the speed limit signs across the state once the law took effect.

What’s happening via JJ Duling

Ringo Starr accepted an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston this week. He recounted taking up the drums while recovering from a bout of tuberculosis and how he only gave his son Zak one lesson. After showing him the basics, Ringo said, “You’re on your own.” (Rolling Stone)

How about a trombone as a bear repellant? A British Columbia music teacher  who saw a bear lurking outside the school where he works managed to drive the animal away with a musical instrument. A video recorded by a student shows the bear become startled by Clausen’s trombone playing and hurriedly leave the area. (UPI)

Ever left something in an Uber? The ride-sharing service released its sixth annual “Lost and Found Index,” revealing some of the most common — and most unusual — items left behind in drivers’ vehicles. Phones, cameras and keys were the most common items. Some of the more unique left-behinds included tater tots, a fingernail,  grandma’s false teeth,” 500 grams of caviar, and a pizza costume. Austin, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Houston; Indianapolis are among the most forgetful Uber cities.  (UPI)

You might be surprised to learn that the Delorean is still around. The DeLorean Motor Company is still in business and plans to release an all-new electric version of the 80s classic, updated for the future, that can reach 88mph in just 4.3 seconds. We’ve got video. (Mashable)

Want a house in one of America’s 25 largest cities? You’ll have to work a minimum of 56 hours a week to afford it, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report notes that Detroit is the only big city where a single week’s worth of full-time work would pay for the city’s median monthly rent ($850) after earning an estimated $20 per hour after deductions. (Digg)

Audiences across the country are giving loving the latest Downton Abbey movie. The review site, Rotten Tomatoes certifies the film 86% “Fresh,” while 2,500+ verified audience ratings are 97% positive. The film has grossed over $32 million dollars since it’s May 20th US debut, $73 million world wide, more than covering the $61 million production budget.

Sports Shorts: 

The Yankees blanked the Tigers 13-0 on Friday.
United Soccer League Championship announced Thursday that the Detroit City Football Club’s regular-season June 18 soccer game vs. the El Paso Locomotive will be seen on ESPN.
Picture perfect weather yesterday, drew thousands of race fans to Free Grand Prix Day at Belle Isle.

Number one on Keener this week in:

(1964) Memphis, Johnny Rivers
(1965) Mr Tambourine Man, Byrds
(1966) Little Girl, Syndicate of Sound
(1967) Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Frankie Valli
(1968) This Guy’s In Love With You, Herb Alpert
(1969) Get Back/Dont Let Me Down, Beatles
(1970) Ooh Child, Five Stairsteps
(1971) It’s Too Late, Carole King

Today in History:

1824 First free press (without government approval) founded in Australia – the Hobart Town Gazette by ex-convict Andrew Bent
1940 British complete the “Miracle of Dunkirk” by evacuating 338,226 allied troops from France via a flotilla of over 800 vessels including Royal Navy destroyers, merchant marine boats, fishing boats, pleasure craft and even lifeboats
1942 Battle of Midway begins; Japan’s 1st major defeat in WW II
1942 Capitol Records opens for business
1944 General Eisenhower cancels planned D-Day invasion on June 5th after receiving unfavorable weather reports
1949 “Cavalcade of Stars” debuts (DuMont); Jackie Gleason made host in 1950
1964 Beatles 1st (and only) “World Tour” begins with two ten-song shows at 4,400 seat KB Halle in Copenhagen, Denmark; Jimmy Nicol replaces Ringo (recovering from tonsillitis) for the first five dates
1967 American guitarist Jimi Hendrix covers new Beatles song “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” at Saville Theatre (London), just days after its release, with George Harrison and Paul McCartney in the audience
1969 Beatles release “The Ballad Of John & Yoko” and “Old Brown Shoe” in the US
1969 22-year-old man sneaks into wheel pod of a jet parked in Havana and survives 9-hr flight to Spain despite thin oxygen levels at 29,000 ft
1972 The Eagles Jackson Browne / Glenn Frey collaboration “Take It Easy” (#12) starts to climb the national charts, one day after its release.
1982 “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” released in USA
1984 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen‘s 7th studio album “Born in the USA“, his biggest commercial success topped the charts in 11 countries and sold over 30 million copies, worldwide
1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre: Chinese troops clear the square of student protesters, unofficial figures place death toll near 1,000
1990 Greyhound Bus files bankruptcy
1990 Dr Jack Kevorkian assists an Oregon woman to commit suicide, beginning a national debate over the right to die
2002 Canadian singer Avril Lavigne releases debut album, “Let Go”
2018 “Ocean’s 8” film premieres, directed by Gary Ross starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Rihanna

Rock and Roll Birthdays – Via DrRock.com:

1929 Bill Mack / (Bill Mack Smith), Radio disc jockey known as the “midnight cowboy” to his legions of loyal truck-driver and country music fans across the continent, hosted the overnight show on clear channel WBAP-AM from Fort Worth, Texas beginning in 1969 and became one of the first national-level radio DJs, left in 2001 to join XM satellite radio, wrote the ballad “Blue” for Patsy Cline, who died before recording it but which later became a debut hit single for LeAnn Rimes (#26, Country #10, 1996), retired from XM in 2011 and died from complications of the COVID-19 virus on 7/31/2020, age 91.
1932 Oliver Nelson, American jazz composer and arranger (The Blues and the Abstract Truth), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1975)
1937 Freddy Fender / (Baldemar Garza Huerta), Grammy-winning Hispanic country, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll crossover singer and songwriter, his biggest hit “Before The Next Teardrop Falls” (#1, Country #1, 1975) came after a near career-ending stint in prison for marijuana possession, in the 90s joined supergroups The Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven, died from lung cancer on 10/14/2006, age 69
1944 Michelle Phillips / (Holly Michelle Gilliam), Vocals for folk-pop The Mamas & The Papas, “Monday Monday” (#1, 1966), wife of late bandmate John Phillips, film and TV actress, solo artist and backing vocals on various songs and albums by Belinda Carlisle, Cheech & Chong, the movie soundtrack to California Dreaming (1979), and others
1944 Roger Ball, Saxophonist for Scottish blue-eyed soul Average White Band, “Pick Up The Pieces” (#1, 1974)
1945 Anthony Braxton, Jazz and experimental jazz fusion multi-reedist, bandleader and composer with over 100 albums in a nearly 50 year career, currently a college music professor
1945 Gordon Waller, With Peter Asher, one half of the acclaimed British Invasion pop-rock duo Peter & Gordon, “A World Without Love” (#1, 1964) and nine other Top 30 hits in the mid-60s, died of a heart attack on 7/17/2009, age 64
1953 Jimmy McCulloch, Scottish rock guitarist and backing vocalist for one hit wonder Brit psych-pop, Pete Townshend-produced Thunderclap Newman, “Something In The Air” (#37, UK #1, 1969), later gigged with John Mayall and Stone The Crows, sessions for John Entwhistle, Peter Frampton and others, played lead guitar for Paul McCartney‘s Wings 1974-77, died from heart failure due to a heroin overdose on 9/27/1979, age 26
1954 Raphael Ravenscroft, Welsh session saxophonist, composer and author, recorded the sax break on Gerry Rafferty‘s “Baker Street” (#2, 1975), receiving only an hours’ union wages and no royalties, later worked with Pink Floyd, ABBA, Robert Plant, America and many other artists, and composed film scores and advertising jingles until his death from a heart attack on 10/19/2014, age 60
1961 El Debarge / (Eldra Patrick Debarge), With his sister and three brothers, vocals in R&B/urban contemporary dance-pop sibling quintet Debarge, “All This Love” (#17, 1983)
1974 Stefan Lessard, Bassist for pop-funk-rock jam band Dave Matthews Band, “Don’t Drink The Water” (#4, 1998)

Other Notable Birthdays: Via OnThisDay.com

1907 Rosalind Russell, American actress (Mame, Take a Letter Darling), born in Waterbury, Connecticut (d. 1976)
1917 Charles Collingwood, American news commentator (CBS, Chronicles), born in Three Rivers, Michigan (d. 1985)
1924 Dennis Weaver, American actor (Chester-Gunsmoke, Duel, Battered), born in Joplin, Missouri (d. 2006)
1937 Robert Fulghum, American author (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten), born in Waco, Texas
1952 Parker Stevenson, actor (Falcon Crest, Stroker Ace), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1956 John Hockenberry, American journalist (HEAT with John Hockenberry), born in Dayton, Ohio
1971 Noah Wyle, American actor (Dr John Carter-ER), born in Hollywood, California
1975 Angelina Jolie, American actress (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Wanted, Salt, Maleficent), born in Los Angeles, California
1992 Earvin Johnson III, son of NBA forward Magic Johnson, born in Los Angeles, California