Doctor Don

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Playing the Hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s

01/02/2026

Music notes for Jan. 2:

Daryl Dragon rom The Captain & Templar passed way. Dragon's familiar image and stage name came from his time as a keyboard player with the Beach Boys from 1967 to 1972. Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love gave him the nickname "Captain Keyboard", and it stuck; Dragon began wearing a nautical captain's hat to go along with the name.[7] On Bob Smith's 1970 double LP The Visit, Dragon is credited as Captain Keyboard.

1993 - With “The Last Song" charting at #24, Elton John logs his 23rd consecutive year with a song in the Hot 100, breaking Elvis Presley's record. Elton's streak started in 1970 with "Border Song" and continues into 2000 with "Someday Out Of The Blue," stretching the new record to 31 years.

1975 Suzi Quatro lands the cover of Rolling Stone magazine with the headline, "Suzi Quatro flexes her leather." With a string of UK hits under her cowhide, she's ready to conquer her home country (born and raised in Michigan), but fails to break through. The magazine does get the attention of Happy Days producers, who cast her on the show as Leather Tuscadero, sister of Pinky Tuscadero. Suzi did score a #4 hit in 1979, “Stumblin In” a duet with Chris Norman from the band Smokie.

1971 - The George Harrison album 'All Things Must Pass' started a seven week run at No.1 on the album chart, making Harrison the first solo Beatle to score a No.1 album. The triple album included the hit singles 'My Sweet Lord' and 'What Is Life', as well as songs such as 'Isn't It a Pity' and the title track that were turned down by The Beatles.

1969 - The Beatles begin work on what becomes their Let It Be album and accompanying film. The project is filled with tension as the band quarrels over the songs and the direction of the band. Both the film and the album are eventually released after the band breaks up.

1969 - Led Zeppelin played the first of four nights at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles during the bands first North American tour. Support group was the Alice Cooper band.

01/01/2026

Music notes for Jan. 1, 2026

Happy New Year!!

2025 - Wayne Osmond passed away. His was the lovely baritone voice of the group that sold over 75 million records.

1982 - ABBA made their final live appearance as a group when they played in Stockholm.

1975 - Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham officially join Fleetwood Mac, bringing with them the songs "Rhiannon" and "Landslide."

1972 - Three Dog Night become the first rock band to ride on a float in the Rose Bowl parade. Three of their hits (including "Joy To The World") play on a loop as they traverse the route.

1967 - The Doors made their first live television appearance lip-synching their first single 'Break on Through' on Shebang, KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles. The single peaked No. 126 on the US chart mainly due to lack of airplay after censors objected to the drug use implied by the line "she gets high", which is repeated in the middle section of the song.

1964 - The first edition of the BBC TV show Top Of The Pops was transmitted from an old church hall in Manchester, England. Acts miming their latest releases included The Rolling Stones, (I Wanna Be Your Man), The Dave Clark Five, (Glad All Over), The Hollies, (Stay), and The Swinging Blue Jeans, (Hippy Hippy Shake). The first song played was Dusty Springfield's 'I Only Want To Be With You'. Also featured on disc and film, The Beatles (I Want to Hold Your Hand), Freddie & the Dreamers, Cliff Richard and the Shadows and Gene Pitney.

1962 - The Beatles and The Tremeloes both audition for Decca Records, with The Beatles performing 15 songs at the label's studio in London. Decca signs The Tremeloes but passes on The Beatles, reasoning that "guitar groups are on the way out."
It is considered one of the biggest mistakes in music industry history.

12/31/2025

Music notes for Dec. 31:

The late Donna Summer born this date. Summer amassed a total of 32 chart singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in her lifetime, including 14 top-ten singles and four No.1 singles. She was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach the top of the Billboard 200 chart.

The late John Denver born this date. Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he wrote himself. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified Gold and Platinum in the with estimated sales of more than 33 million copies.

Singer Natalie Cole passed away in 2015. The daughter of Nat 'King' Cole, she hits such as s 'Miss You Like Crazy', This Will Be', 'Inseparable', and 'Our Love'. In the 1990s, she re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable... with Love, which sold over seven million copies and also won Cole numerous Grammy Awards.

Happy birthday Burton Cummings, lead singer of The Guess Who from 1965 to 1975. He had a successful solo career after the group disbanded.

2008 - At halftime of the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, 40,148 fans perform the "Y.M.C.A." dance while the Village People perform, establishing a Guinness World Record. It is the most memorable part of the game, which Oregon State wins 3-0 over Pittsburgh.

1996 - Paul McCartney became a Sir after he was listed in the Queen's New Year's Honours List. When receiving the award McCartney dedicated his knighthood to fellow Beatles George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon and the people of Liverpool.

1985 - Rock Hall of Famer Rick Nelson and six others die in a plane crash in Texas. During his heyday, he placed 35 songs in Billboard’s Top 40 chart.

1972 - Dick Clark begins a new holiday tradition as his first New Year's Rockin' Eve concert is broadcast on NBC; guests include Three Dog Night , Al Green, Helen Reddy and Billy Preston.

1970 - Paul McCartney filed a suit against the rest of The Beatles to dissolve their partnership. According to the court documents, McCartney's main reason for wanting to legally break up the group stemmed from the decision taken by the others to to appoint Rolling Stones manager Allan Klein as their manager. McCartney didn't trust Klein and had wanted his new in-laws, Lee and John Eastman, to look after their affairs. The suit took more than four years of court hearings, with the group officially disbanding in January 1975.

12/30/2025

WDGY’s Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1965:

1 OVER AND OVER –•– The Dave Clark Five
2 TURN! TURN! TURN! (To Everything There Is a Season) –•– The Byrds
3 I GOT YOU (I Feel Good) –•– James Brown and the Famous Flames
4 LET’S HANG ON –•– The Four Seasons
5 THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE –•– Simon and Garfunkel

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK: AT #48 — A MUST TO AVOID –•– Herman’s Hermits

IT WOULD PEAK AT #8

12/30/2025

Music notes for Dec. 30:

Happy birthday singer, songwriter record producer Jeff Lynne, co-founder of the Electric Light Orchestra. From 1972 to 1986 fifteen Top 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. With the Traveling Wilburys he had the 1988 hit 'Handle With Care'. As a producer Lynne has worked with George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Joe Walsh and others.

The late Davy Jones of The Monkees born this date. At one time, he wanted to become a professional jockey. Davy sang lead on “Daydream Believer” and Valleri. Fun fact: Davy was on the same Ed Sullivan Show as The Beatles in February 1964. He was in the Broadway cast of “Oliver” that sang two songs. Jones played the part of The Artful Dodger. Watching from the side of the stage and seeing the amazing reception the Fab Four received convinced Jones he wanted to become a pop star.

Mike Nesmith of The Monkees also born this date. After leaving Monkees he continued to be a successful song writer and movie producer.

Happy birthday Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary. In 1972 after the group had disbanded, Paul wrote and sang “The Wedding Song” at Peter’s wedding in Willmar. Paul was the best man.

1967 - The Beatles' "Hello Goodbye" becomes their 15th #1 single.

12/29/2025

Music notes for Dec. 29:

Happy birthday Yvonne Elliman. In 1977, the Bee Gees were working on Saturday Night Fever and wrote 'How Deep Is Your Love' for her, but the band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted the Bee Gees to perform it. Instead, she recorded 'If I Can't Have You'.. She had two other 70’s hits: “Love Me” and “Hello Stranger”

The late Marianne Faithful born this date. She was a singer, songwriter and actress and one time girlfriend of Mick Jagger. She achieved popularity in 1964 with the release of her hit single 'As Tears Go By' (written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards).
It made it to #22. In 1966, The Stones released their version. It was a #6 it.

Happy 40th birthday Alexa Ray, daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley.

1973 - Te late Jim Croce scored his second No.1 single of the year when 'Time In A Bottle' went to the top of the charts. Croce was killed in a plane crash on the way to a concert on September 20th of that year.

1966 - Working at Abbey Road studios, London, Paul McCartney began work on his new song ‘Penny Lane’. The song's title is derived from the name of a street near John Lennon's house, in the band's hometown, Liverpool. McCartney and Lennon would meet at Penny Lane junction in the Mossley Hill area to catch a bus into the centre of the city.

12/28/2025

Music notes for Dec. 28:

The late Alex Chilton, lead singer for The Box Tops born this date. He was only 17 when he san the hit song “The Letter”. Other Box Tops hits include “Soul Deep” and “Cry Like a Baby”

Happy birthday keyboard virtuoso Edgar invented a keyboard he could wear around is neck so he could move around the stage. The instrumental “Frankenstein” hit #1 while the follow up “Free Ride” went to #14. His 1972 album They Only Come Out at Night, peaked at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 200 and stayed on the charts for 80 weeks.

1983 - Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys died in a tragic diving accident. With the help of President Reagan he was given a burial at sea, normally reserved for Naval personnel. Dennis was the only genuine surfer in The Beach Boys.

1978 - Rolling Stone magazine voted Some Girls by The Rolling Stones 'Album of the Year.' The cover designed by Peter Corriston, featured The Rolling Stones in garish drag alongside select female celebrities and lingerie ads.

1974 - Helen Reddy went to No.1 on the singles chart with 'Angie Baby', the singers third No.1. The song was turned down by Cher.

1968 - The Beatles went to No.1 on the album chart with The White Album the group's 12th No.1 album. A double album, its plain white sleeve has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed, which was intended as a direct contrast to the vivid cover artwork of the band's earlier Sgt. Pepper's.

1963 -The magazine The New Yorker publishes an interview with Beatles manager Brian Epstein in their "Talk Of The Town" column about the band's upcoming Ed Sullivan gig - the first major press the group has received in the US.

12/27/2025

Music notes for Dec. 27:

The late Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues born this date. It’s his voice reciting the poem in “Nights in White Satin”. He left the group following the recording of the band's ninth album Octave in 1978. Pinder was renowned for his technological contributions to rock music, most notably in the development and emergence of the Mellotron in 1960s rock music.

2008: Singer, songwriter, guitarist, Delaney Bramlett passed away. . Was a member of Delaney, Bonnie & Friends and worked with George Harrison, The Everly Brothers, John Lennon, Janis Joplin, J.J. Cale, and Eric Clapton. Delaney & Bonnie scored two hits, “Never Ending Song of Love” and “Only You Know and I Know”.

1980 - John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album started an eight-week run at No.1 on the chart. 'Just Like Starting Over' started a five-week stay at No.1 on the singles chart.

1975 - The Staple Singers went to No.1 on the singles chart with 'Let's Do It Again' the group's second No.1.

1969 - Led Zeppelin II was at No.1 on the album charts, (the band's first album to reach No.1.
It went on to sell over six million copies in the US alone.

1964 - The Supremes appeared on the Ed Sullivan TV Show for the first time, singing 'Come See About Me.' They would go on to appear on the show 20 more times (14 with Diana Ross), more than any other musical act.

12/26/2025

WDGY’s Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1988

1 EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN –•– Poison
2 MY PREROGATIVE –•– Bobby Brown
3 LOOK AWAY –•– Chicago
4 GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT –•– Anita Baker
5 WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL –•– Boy Meets Girl

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK AT #80 — SURRENDER TO ME –•– Ann Wilson & Robin Zander

IT WOULD PEAK AT #6

12/26/2025

Music notes for Dec. 26:

2012 - Fontella Bass, singer, pianist, who had the 1965 No.4 hit “Rescue Me” passed away.

1999 - soul and R&B, singrer- songwriter Curtis Mayfield died aged 57. He was a member of The Impressions who had hits such as “It’s Alright” and “People Get Ready” and the solo hits “Freddie’s Dead” and ”Superfly”.

1970 - George Harrison started a four week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'My Sweet Lord', making him the first Beatle to score a No.1 hit. The song was originally intended for Billy Preston.

1968 - Led Zeppelin started their first North American tour supporting Vanilla Fudge and Spirit at Denver Auditorium. Tickets for this Sunday night concert cost $5. That’s $46 today.

1967 - BBC Television broadcast The Beatles movie ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ in black and white. The next day, the British press and the viewing public pronounce the film an utter disaster. The negative reaction was so strong that a US television deal for broadcasting the movie was cancelled.

1964 - The Beatles started a three week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'I Feel Fine'. It was the group's 6th No.1 of the year in which they had 30 entries on the chart, giving them a total of 18 weeks at the top of the charts.

12/25/2025

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY WDGY FACEBOOK FRIENDS!!

The late Jimmy Buffett born this date. Not just a wonderful entertainer, he was also a brilliant businessman he was one of the world's richest musicians, with a net worth of $1 billion!!

2006 - We lost a legend when the Godfather of Soul passed away.

1982 - David Bowie and Bing Crosby's "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth," an unlikely duet broadcast five years earlier on Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas TV special, becomes an even more unlikely hit.

1981 - Michael Jackson phoned Paul McCartney and suggested they write and record together, the first result being ‘The Girl Is Mine’. The song was a #2 hit. “Say Say, Say” was also a major hit.

1976 - Boston’s debut single, "More Than A Feeling," reaches its chart peak at #5. When it was released, group leader Tom Scholz still had his day job working for Polaroid.

1968 - Led Zeppelin arrived in the United States for the very first time in preparation of their debut North American tour. The group were paid an average of $1,500 for each show. That’s $14,000 today.

1960 - Twelve-year-old James Taylor gets his first guitar as a Christmas present.

12/24/2025

Music notes for Dec. 24:

1988 - Poison started a three-week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn.' Bret Michaels from the band said the inspiration for the song came from a night when he was in a laundromat in Dallas waiting for his clothes to dry, and called his girlfriend on a pay phone. Michaels said he heard a male voice in the background and was devastated; he said he went into the laundromat and wrote 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' as a result.

1977 - The Bee Gees started a three week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'How Deep Is Your Love', the group's 4th No.1. It stayed in the top 10 for 17 weeks giving it the longest chart run in history.

1976 - The Eagles sixth album, Hotel California spent the first of eight non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard chart. The band's first LP with Joe Walsh and last with bassist Randy Meisner. Some of the album was recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami. While the band were recording Black Sabbath were recording Technical Ecstasy in an adjacent studio and The Eagles were forced to stop recording on numerous occasions because Black Sabbath were too loud and the sound was coming through the wall.

1965 - Over in the U.K., The Beatles had the No.1 album in the for the third Christmas in a row. Rubber Soul was at the top of the LP chart, following Beatles For Sale in 1964 and With The Beatles in 1963. The Fab Four would repeat this feat again in 1968 with The Beatles (The White Album) and again in 1969, with Abbey Road.

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