It was an odd coincidence that the day that the world celebrated Chuck Berry’s 90th birthday—Oct. 18—was the same day that Phil Chess, the co-founder with his late brother Leonard of Berry’s historic Chicago label Chess Records—died at 95.
The Critters may be best known for one hit, the sophisticated ballad “Mr. Dieingly Sad,” which reached No. 17 in 1966—though earlier that year they had a lesser hit with a cover of Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Younger Girl.” Still, when lead singer Don Ciccon...
Bobby Vee’s voice and singing was so distinctive, as oldies radio personality Rockin’ John McDonald notes, that “you could spot a Bobby Vee record a mile away!” He and many others looked back at least that far when the great 1960s rock ‘n’ roll star died...
The Dixie Cups didn’t have a lot of hits, but the female 1960s New Orleans R&B trio left its mark.
“Their success was the product of one of the great unacknowledged mashups in rock history,” notes Aaron Fuchs, the New York-based president of Tuff City Records and sister...
