You Saw Me Standing Alone

In February, 1961, disc-jockey Murry "The K" Kaufman, successor to Alan Freed at the New York station WINS, got his hands on a tape of a group named after a popular hairstyle of the period, The Marcels.

In short, the marcel hairstyle consisted of deep regular waves made by a heated curling iron.

Without informing the record label, Kaufman played The Marcels' doo-wop rendition of the Rodgers' and Hart ballad, Blue Moon, repeatedly. According to legend, as many as twenty-six times in one show.

The label rush released an album and within a month Blue Moon had topped the charts, where it would remain for 14 consecutive weeks.

Not quite a one-hit-wonder (Heartaches made number seven later in 1961), The Marcels were never able to sucessfully follow-up on the momentum of Blue Moon.

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The Moon Stood Still

Between 1955 and 1963 Fats Domino would place more than 35 songs in the Top 40. Five came in the year 1956, alone. Among those five was Blueberry Hill which was destined to become his signature song.

Blueberry Hill had a previous life as a number one hit for Glenn Miller in 1940. For Fats, it would reach number two and become his highest charting song.

Born in New Orleans, Antoine Domino teamed up with trumpeter/producer Dave Bartholomew and assumed the quite obvious stage name of "Fats" for his ample girth.

The pair would come to write and record some of the most popular Rhythm and Blues/Rock and Roll hits of the 50s and 60s, featuring Fats' mellow, honey-sweet voice combined with his rambling, honky-tonk piano style.

Among Fats' formal honors are a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986) and a Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fats Domino still lives in New Orleans with his wife Rosemary.

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Yes, I've Been To Kansas City

Joe Turner was known as "The Singing Bartender" at Kansas City's Sunset Club at 12th and Vine. He wrote Piney Brown Blues as a tribute to the club's owner who was known for his hospitality towards blues musicians.

Actually, there were two Piney Browns. "Big Piney" and "Little Piney" were brothers who migrated to Kansas during World War I from Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Big Piney, the elder of the two, was a protege of politician Felix Payne. Payne was the Mayor of Kansas City at the time and the owner of the Sunset Club and the Subway Club at 18th and Vine. His younger brother, Little Piney, managed clubs, gambling games and promoted prize fights.

It is not certain which Piney Brown is the subject of Piney Brown Blues. Depending on the source, both Big Piney and Little Piney are referenced as manager of the Sunset Club. Regardless, the Sunset Club's Piney Brown was known to have employed many musicians and to give assistance to traveling musicians who were having a hard time. As a result, the Sunset Club became the after-hours locale of choice in Kansas City at that time.

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Only Memories Remain

Willie Nelson has been releasing recordings since 1957, but it was his 1975 debut with Columbia Records, "Red Headed Stranger," which featured the pop hit Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain and spearheaded a country revival.

Though Nelson is a reknowned songwriter, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain was written in 1945 by Fred Rose, "The Song Doctor," and originally recorded by Roy Acuff. It was also one of the last songs performed by Elvis Presley.

Willie has gained additional notoriety in the last decade for owing the IRS millions in back taxes and for marijuana possession.

The former case was settled when Willie agreed to cut the IRS in on royalty payments from his album "Who'll Buy My Memories? (The IRS Tapes)." The taxman reportedly collected $3.6 million with Nelson agreeing to pay an additional $9 million over the next five years. He had owed $16 million, so it's a pretty good deal for Willie.

The pot bust was settled when a judge determined that the search of Nelson's car, which netted the contraband, was illegal and eventually dropped the case. The arresting officer, who had found Nelson napping in his car, probably thought that nabbing the singer would be good for his law enforcement career.

Listen, son, Willie Nelson is a "Son Of Texas" and a country music hero. Next time, just ask for the man's autograph and move along quietly.

Willie went on the bandwagon for the legalization of marijuana and admitted that he was a long-time regular marijuana user. "I think it should be taxed and regulated like your cigarettes," he said.

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Everybody Knows One

Hard to believe, but Neil Diamond once considered Eice Cherry and Noah Kaminsky as possible stage names. They were never used. His real name is Neil Leslie Diamond.

Diamond's musical career began when he left a fencing scholarship at NYU six months prior to graduating to accept a songwriting position with a publishing company.

Neil continues to tour, release albums and appear in movies. In the 2001 film "Saving Silverman," Diamond, playing himself, is kidnapped by over-zealous fans in a bid to keep their best friend from marrying the wrong girl.

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