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Muhammad Ali - A Few Personal Recollections.

I posted this on Facebook on June 4th, 2016 - the day after The Greatest left us. Even though it is not music trivia, I wanted to keep it for posterity. MUHAMMAD ALI – A FEW PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS He was undoubtedly THE GREATEST athlete of our generation. So many fond memories of this giant of his sport. I remember my father’s excitement when he won the Light Heavyweight Gold Medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Fast-forward to 1964 – I was a patient at Hospital del Maestro being treated for meningitis. In my room there was a coin-fed tiny little TV set. My dad, my dear uncle Jorge (Tio Gol) Juncos and I watched, to the tune of many quarters, as a young Cassius Clay pulverized Sonny Liston to become World Champion. A few years later I had the privilege of seeing him in person! My dad took me to Hiram Bithorn Stadium to a Chegui Torres fight. As part of the pre-fight card Ali fought an exhibition round against a sparring partner. I will never forget that moment for as long as...
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"Oh Well" by Fleetwood Mac.

OK, back to the 60s: This 1969 Peter Green composition was Fleetwood Mac's only chart hit before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined in '74. It's stop-and-go technique was copied by Led Zeppelin in "Black Dog". The Rockets' cover was a Top 40 hit in '79. Song? Answer: "Oh Well" by Fleetwood Mac. My, how their sound changed once Stevie and Lindsey joined - and the rest, as they say, is rock & roll history! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b19PcuJsQbA&list=RDb19PcuJsQbA&start_radio=1
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"Little Green Apples" by O. C. Smith.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This Louisiana-born minister cut his teeth as frontman for the Count Basie Orchestra in the early 60s. His biggest hit came in '68-'69 with a Bobby Russell ballad that peaked at #2 on Pop and R&B, earned him an RIAA Gold Record and won the '69 Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Country Song. Covered by, among many others, Roger Miller and Patti Page. Artist? Song? Answer: "Little Green Apples" by O. C. Smith. Always liked that tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnhrBGzcN3Q&list=RDHnhrBGzcN3Q&start_radio=1
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"Lollipop" .

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: Julius Dix(s)on and Beverly Ross penned this 1958 pop (hint, hint!) standard for Ronald and Ruby. Even though they took it to #20, they couldn't perform it in public or appear on TV with it, as they were an interracial couple, fairly unusual at the time. The Chordettes' cover became an international hit, peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 and at #3 R&B. Song? Answer: "Lollipop". Fun memories of Camp Foster when Lauren was in Indian Guides. One of the groups did a hilarious skit to "Lollipop". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkn17PLnBfk&list=RDdkn17PLnBfk&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rYoRaxgOE0&list=RD3rYoRaxgOE0&start_radio=1
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"Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" by Lobo.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: Roland Kent LaVoie joined The Rumours with the late great Gram Parsons in 1961. He adopted his stage name in '71. He hit the singles charts 14 times over a 4 year period in the early 70s. This 1972 tune about being in love with someone you can never have (and her having no clue!) peaked at #8 Pop and #1 Adult Contemporary. Stage name? Song? Answer: "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" by Lobo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qcia2VhGsY&list=RD8Qcia2VhGsY&start_radio=1
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"Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills.

OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: This 1978 international megahit was written and recorded by a Canadian pianist in '74. Described as "bubblegum pop", the piano with disco accompaniment instrumental peaked at #3 in the U.S. and consistently charted in the Top 10 throughout Europe and Asia. Hit? Artist? Answer: "Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills. I'm sure Bill Murray's Nick The Lounge Singer would have been more than glad to add lyrics, just like he did with the Star Wars Theme ("Star Wars/Nothing but Star Wars/Give me those Star Wars/Don't let them end!"). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gMZ6QWv62s&list=RD8gMZ6QWv62s&start_radio=1
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"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by The Casinos.

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: This John Loudermilk/Phil Langley doo-wop classic was released in 1967 and peaked at #6 Pop. The original group consisted of 9 men and it took them 9 years to crack the Top Ten. Langley was 15 at the time - inspired by a teenage breakup. Sold it for $1,500! Top 10 Country covers by Eddy Arnold and Neal McCoy. Song? Group? Answer: "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by The Casinos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT9Xs42n4kg&list=RDPT9Xs42n4kg&start_radio=1
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