Rod Lauren (1940-2007)

Rod Lauren, the name RCA-Victor chose for Roger Strunk was an example of how a record company created singers out of next to nothing. Roger was a small club performer with an instrumental group called The Buddies when RCA spotted him on the West Coast and signed him. The company budgeted $50,000 to launch Rod’s first disk, bombarded dealers with promotional material, emphasizing the sullen good looks kids went for. For six weeks Rod toured the country wooing the jocks, bouncing from teen-age dance to teen-age dance. Unfortunately, the result was one charted song, “If I Had A Girl” and not much more success. Rod recorded many very nice “teeners” that never made it to radio. We’ll be playing some of these “songs you should have heard” on Tunedex Memories. He turned to acting and fared much better. In addition to bit parts on various television shows, he co-starred in a lot of “B-Movies”. One in particular, “The Crawling Hand” has gained cult status.

Sadly, the Police in Tracy City California have ruled Roger Lawrence “Rod” Strunk’s death a suicide. He was found bleeding from a second story fall on July 11^th. While unconfirmed, the source of his unhappiness may have been the scrutiny he had been under for the death of his wife of 23 years, Filipino actress Nida Blanca. Mrs. Strunk had been found stabbed to death in 2002, and after the funeral, Rod returned to Tracy City to be with his mother who was dying of cancer. Philippine authorities attempted to extradite Rod but never provided US officials with enough evidence to warrant the move.

Rod stayed in California after his mother’s death and was working at Tracy City’s public -access station, Channel 26. A friend said that more recently he was helping to plan the 50 year reunion for Tracy High School’s Class of 1957. Rod is survived by a sister, Sharolyn Grove.  Many of Rod’s early recordings can be heard on TUNEDEX MEMORIES!

Don & Juan – from painting apartments to climbing the charts with a bullet…

Claude Johnson had a taste of success and his first “15 minutes of fame” with the group The Genies. They hit the charts with “Who’s That Knockin’” in 1959, but quickly fell into the “one-hit wonder” category. In just a couple of years, with little or no success with follow-up recordings, the group disbanded. Claude found himself painting apartment with another singer friend, Roland Trone. The painting went a little quicker when they sang, and as luck would have it, they were “discovered” while on a painting gig. Claude jumped at the chance to record again. He became “Juan” and Roland became “Don”. Claude had written a song called “What’s Your Name” and the duo took that song all the way to number 7 on the National charts for BigTop records. A follow-up single “Magic Wand” charted, but with little or no impact. Their last recording for BigTop was the Burt Bacharach composition “True Love Never Runs Smooth”. While they had no success at all, Gene Pitney released his version and went to number 21. They moved to Mala records next but once again, they simply couldn’t rediscover the magic of “What’s Your Name” and called it quits in 1967. Roland died in 1982, and Claude passed in 2002.

You’ll hear all these songs and MORE at: TUNEDEX MEMORIES

The Jamies are connected to Fenway Park?

One of the more enduring “songs of the summer” was “Summertime Summertime” which was a Top 40 hit for the the Jamies in 1958. The song has the distinction of hitting the Top 40 again when it was re-released in 1962. The Jamies were from Dorchester, Massachusetts. They were led by and got their name from brother and sister, Tom and Serena Jameson. Jeannie Roy and Arthur Blair rounded out the group. The Jamies were discovered by then Boston DJ Sherm Feller. Sherm went on to be a legendary PA announcer at Fenway Park and entertained many a frustrated Red Sox fan over his 26 year career. Sherm co-wrote “Summertime Summertime” with Tom Jameson and got them a demo opportunity with Archie Bleyer, owner of Cadence records. Archie’s daughter was there that day and liked the demo, so Archie booked them for studio time. When his daughter heard the recording and decided she no longer liked it, Archie threw the record away. Sherm Feller offered to buy it, but Bleyer insisted that he simply take it, assuming it would never sell. Sherm wen to Epic records, got a $2,000 advance and began the group on a tour to promote the record. In the five weeks between July 18^th to Labor day it sold a quarter of a million copies. When it was re-released, it sold another quarter of a million copies. Archie Bleyer lost, Sherm Feller won, the Jamies had at least brief success, although they will forever be considered a “one-hit wonder” and after his DJ and music career was over, the fans of the Boston Red Sox won. Sherm never did see the Red Sox win the world series, but he did have a hit record to his credit.

Hear the Jamies here: TUNEDEX MEMORIES

Boots Randolph (1927-2007)

Boots Randolph has died at the age of 80. Mr. Randolph suffered a cerebral hemorrhage June 25 and had been hospitalized in a coma. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dee Baker Randolph, his son, Randy, his daughter, Linda O’Neal and his brother Bob.

Randolph played regularly in Nashville nightclubs for 30 years, becoming a tourist draw for the city much like Wayne Newton in Las Vegas and Pete Fountain in New Orleans. He recorded more than 40 albums and spent 15 years touring with the Festival of Music, teaming with fellow instrumentalists Chet Atkins and Floyd Cramer. He also was part of the Million Dollar Band on the TV show “Hee Haw.”

As a session musician, he played on Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender,” Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Round the Christmas Tree” and “I’m Sorry,” Al Hirt’s “Java” and many others. He had his biggest solo hit with “Yakety Sax,” which he wrote. “Yakety Sax” was used on the TV program “The Benny Hill Show” more than two decades after the tune was on the charts. He charted 13 albums on the pop charts from 1963 to 1972. His other single hits included “Hey, Mr. Sax Man” in 1964 and “Temptation” in 1967.

Randolph was born Homer Louis Randolph in Paducah, Kentucky. He said he didn’t know where or why he got the nickname “Boots,” although his Web site at the time of his death suggested it was to avoid confusion because he and his father shared the same first name.

He graduated from high school in Evansville, Ind., then joined the Army and became a member of the Army Band. After his discharge, he played primarily jazz at nightclubs for $60 a week. He finally landed a recording contract with RCA in Nashville in 1958 and also was hired as a musician for recording sessions.

Randolph had his own nightclub in Nashville’s Printer’s Alley for 17 years, closing it in 1994 because of declining business and to spend more time with his family. He played regularly at other nightclubs before and after that. He had lived in Nashville since 1961.

Listen for Hot 100 entries by Boots at:  TUNEDEX MEMORIES

Jimmie Rodgers recovering from brain surgery….

The first 45 I bought was “Oh Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again” by Jimmie Rodgers. With limited funds, I did the best I could keeping up subsequent releases on the Roulette label. With an appreciation for folk music and upbeat arrangements, he was one of my favorite singers. But I lost track of him when I went in the Air Force. I was in the Philippines when his world came crashing down.

Jimmie Rodgers, had gold records, movie appearances, and even his own television show, but in December 1967, he was the victim of a near death brutal beating allegedly involving the Los Angeles police department that left him alone abandoned in his car, waiting to die.

He underwent emergency brain surgery and a large portion of his skull was removed and replaced with a 24 square inch metal plate. During various attempts to regain his career he was struck down with recurring brain seizures. After years of multiple surgeries, he slowly regained his mobility and a fraction of his life.

Over the past 40 years he has lived in pain and undergone constant subsequent surgeries to maintain scalp closure over the plate. Each episode left him susceptible to brain infections and possible death. The medical profession had given up all hope of finding a solution to Mr. Rodgers deteriorating condition until June of this year. Dr. Richard Jordan, a Neurosurgeon in North Little Rock, Arkansas, concluded that a possibility existed whereby the skull had slowly re-generated bone itself.

Dr. Jordan removed the plate to find his hypothesis correct in that miraculously his skull had experienced complete bone re-growth. While the newly formed skull bone is still soft, for the first time in 40 years, Jimmie is without persistent pain, sleepless nights and the fear of death due to brain infection. Jimmie is now back at home in California with his wife Mary and is expected to make a full recovery. He has completed his autobiography, and is currently exploring publishing and film outlets and working on a novel, several screenplays and unpublished songs.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jimmie almost 6 years ago. He was very gracious and down to earth. He drives an old pick-up truck and as he eased into his seventies, he was content to just play golf everyday. He was talented enough to qualify as an instructor despite the daily agony that plagued him. With this successful surgery, I wish him nothing but birdies for the future. Welcome back Jimmie and keep swinging!

We play “Fabulous Flipsides” of Jimmie’s 45’s – listen now at Tunedex Memories

Remember the Bermudas?

I’ve added a new “blogroll” entry for the MySpace page for Rickie Page and The Bermudas and the many groups she performed in. You can listen to “Donnie” and other great cuts and check your record collection for the many group names the girls recorded under!

We of course, already play tunes by these talented ladies, so be sure to listen for them at TUNEDEX MEMORIES!

Bill Pinkney (1925-2007)

Bill Pinkney, 81, the last survivor of the original members of the musical group the Drifters, died July 4th at a hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was scheduled to perform for Independence Day festivities. A Daytona Beach police spokesman said Pinkney was found dead in his hotel room, but the death was not considered suspicious. Family members said he had heart problems.

Pinkney wasn’t with the Drifters when they recorded their biggest hits, which included “Under the Boardwalk,” “Up on the Roof” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” He left the group in 1958, five years after it was formed, because of an argument over money. His distinctive bass voice can be heard on the Drifters’ version of the holiday classic “White Christmas” used in the 1990 movie “Home Alone.”

Even though he left the group, Pinkney hung on to the Drifters’ name and went on to lead a group that toured as the Original Drifters. He fought for laws allowing performers or bands to claim an affiliation with a classic group like the Drifters or the Coasters only if at least one member recorded with the original group.

Seven members of The Drifters, including Pinkney, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Born in Dalzell, S.C., in 1925, Mr. Pinkney grew up singing in gospel choirs and picked cotton in South Carolina before entering the Army. He was awarded a Bronze Star and Silver Star after serving in Europe during World War II. He also pitched for the New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League in the late 1940s and early ’50s.  You’ll hear lots of Drifters tunes on “the Honor Roll of Hits” exclusively at TUNEDEX MEMORIES!