Tony At 10: FOR OLD HEARTS ONLY; BLOG # 181; FRIDAY, MAY1, 2015

THE MESSAGE:

Every now and then my Italian heritage turns me into a sentimental blob. I remember my teenage years and experiences at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto. Back then the only things that I cared about were friends, sports, music and pub trips for 10 cent draft beer.

I recall walking by the girl's residence at Loretto College on the way back from a late afternoon visit to Lundy's Lane Pub. If I was in the company of Gary Atkins we would break out in a rousing rendition of the 4 Aces, 'Love is a Many Splendored Thing'. If I was with Gerrard Byrne the song became, 'Puff the Magic Dragon'. If my companion for the afternoon was Dave Bain we chose 'The Lemon Tree' by Trini Lopez. There were other choices as well but the songs always received a standing ovation from the one or two spectators from the residence. I am sure the nuns loved us!

ROMPIN' RONNIE HAWKINS AND THE HAWKS

Known as "Rompin' Ronnie", "Mr. Dynamo", or simply "The Hawk", was one of the key players in the 1960s rock scene in Toronto. On Friday night's the gang would head on up to The Concord Tavern on Bloor Street to listen to this great group.

BACK THEN

80 YRS OLD LIVING
IN PETERBOROUGH ONT.

CLICK TO PLAY '40 DAYS'

DORIS DAY IS 91 TODAY

One of America's most popular actresses in the 1950s and 1960s, Doris Day was born Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff in Cincinnati, Ohio. At age 15 (but saying she was 18 for obvious reasons), she began touring with the Les Brown Band.

Her agent eventually arranged a screen test at Warner Brothers.

Movie audiences took to her beauty, terrific singing voice and bubbly personality, and she turned in fine performances in her movies and several hit records. She made three films for Warner Bros. in 1950 and five more in 1951.

In 1953, Doris starred in Calamity Jane which was a major hit. Several more followed: Lucky Me(1954), Love Me or Leave Me (1955), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) Pillow talk and Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960).

AT 91

THEN

CLICK TO PLAY 'SECRET LOVE'

GEORGE BABBITT OF THE VENTURES

George Babbitt, from Tacoma, Washington At age 16 he was the first drummer to play the Ventures' big hit "Walk, Don't Run," He left the band after nine months to go to college. and later became a four star general in the U.S. Air Force.

CLICK TO PLAY 'WALK DON'T RUN'

PETER PAUL AND MARY

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Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow and Mary Travers.

Manager Albert Grossman created Peter, Paul and Mary in 1961, The group began singing at The Bitter End a coffee house, nightclub and popular folk music venue in New York City's Greenwich Village

They recorded their debut album, PETER PAUL AND MARY in 1962. The album included the songs It included Lemon Tree, 500 Miles, If I had a Hammer and Where have All the Flowers Gone? In 1963 the group also released Puff the Magic Dragon. Despite urban myths that insist the song is filled with drug references, it is actually about the lost innocence of childhood. This song was re-engineered and sung tearily after a few pub trips by Tony and Gerrard but their version never made the Top Ten Charts.

CLICK TO PLAY