The Rock Relic

The Hit Parade Hall of Fame

by Chuck Hinson on December 26th, 2007

Okay … you wanted something that you voted on? You got it — in the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Based on the first 63,000 votes by John (or Jane) Q. Public, the first inductees include:
Paul Anka (let’s face it — the dude knows how to write classics!)
the Beatles (ummm … do I haveta give a reason??)
the Beach Boys (they put surfin’ on the map)
Ray Charles (what’d I say?), Chubby Checker (reckon Mr. Evans’ll complain about this one, too?), Bobby Darin (the first “pop” star that really rocked. If ya need proof, get his Swing Low, Sweet Chariot), Neil Diamond (the man’s a phenom, even today!), Fats Domino (the creator of piano-based rock!), the Four Seasons (these Jersey Boys deserve extra credit for outlasting disco and metal!), Aretha Franklin (no questions asked!), Ricky Nelson (one of Rick’s happiest rockers was a “B” side called A Happy Guy!), Roy Orbison (definitive country/rocker), Neil Sedaka (no Bad Blood here!), Diana Ross & the Supremes (’specially with Flo and Mary), and … oh, yeah: Elvis somebody (didn’t he have a coupla songs in the top 40 or somethin’?) …

Voting for the 2008 inductees — C’mon, Hope, put down that gun! I was just kiddin’ about Elvis! He’s still the King, and, yes, he’s definitely on the list! — will begin January 1 at http://www.hitparadehalloffame.org/. Other (non-rock) inductees include Tony Bennett (and this cat deserves it!), Pat Boone, Nat “King” Cole, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Teresa Brewer, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Clanton, Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra (no HoF should be without him!) and Patti Page.

WHERE’D THEY GET THAT NAME?? Pt. I

Have ya ever wondered how certain groups and singers got their names?? Sometimes, it can be downright interestin’!:

For example, BADFINGER (a group that Macca helped build) was the working title of the Beatles song “A Little Help From My Friends”.
THE BEE GEES (yep, we’re gonna go alphabetically, class …)
Robin said they took their name from two friends that helped them out in their early days… Bill Goode and a DJ named Bill Gates.
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS
Founder, Al Kooper named his new group that after a Johnny Cash LP called, “Blood Sweat & Tears”.
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
The band took their name from a brand of heavy asphalt roller they saw while stuck in Los Angeles traffic.
CHEAP TRICK
Maybe it’s just a “cheap trick” to get attention, but they say a Ouija board gave ‘em that name!
ELVIS COSTELLO
Yep … a combo of Elvis Presley and Lou Costello. Evidently, Declan wants to cover all bases!

LYNYRD SKYNYRD (ya ready for this one?)
Named after their high school gym coach, Leonard Skinner! Seems it was to get back at him for his strict dress code that almost got two of the group suspended …

PINK FLOYD
This British band used various names, including “The Meggadeaths” (not to be confused with “Megadeth”), “the T-Set” (not to be confused with “The Tee Set”) and “the Screaming Abdabs” (whom I’d heard way-back-when, and were ultra tight!). They settled on a name inspired by American blues artists, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.

RAMONES
They gave themselves this name to honor Paul McCartney, who used to call himself Paul Ramone at the start of his career. The members of the band all used the last name Ramone, even though it’s not their given name.

More’s comin’ up in the next post, so stay tuned! Until then, I gotta say it’s 2:30 on the East Coast, 11:30 on the West, Twilight Time in Platterland and Timeless in watch factories. So, until next time, remember to keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your nose clean and your heart with the music …

and I’ll see ya on the flip side!

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