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"Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 20s (oh, wait, we ARE in the 20s - the ol' guy is just trying to keep up with the music of the time!): This Filipino American California native co-wrote this chart-topping, melodramatic and intense pop-rock breakup anthem with Dan Nigro. A toxic relationship with a manipulative older boyfriend who exploited her for her fame and left her feeling powerless, blaming herself for ingnoring red flags. At first it was thought it was about Taylor Swift but this was denied by all parties. #1 Billboard Hot 100, RIAA Certified Platinum. She became the first artist to have each of the lead singles from her first three albums top the charts. She has a congenital 60% hearing loss in her left ear. Artist? Song? Answer: "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo. I had forgotten about this beautiful and haunting tune until I recently heard it on America's Got Talent, where the marvelous South Korean dance troupe Come Here performed an intricate synchronize...
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"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" by Lou Rawls.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: Philadelphia composer Kenny Gamble was going through a painful divorce, which served as an inspiration for a smooth-soul classic co-written with Leon Huff. It was recorded in 1976 at Sigma Sound in Philly by a Chicago-born baritone, becoming his signature song. A confident statement that his deep devoted love is irreplaceable. It has since become a Philly-soul and disco/hustle classic. By far the singer's biggest hit, it topped the R&B and Easy Listening charts, #2 Billboard Hot 100, #6 Dance, RIAA Certified Gold. Song? Singer? Answer: "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" by Lou Rawls. Fond memories of my junior year of med school in Philly. Sigma Sound Studio was not far from where I lived. It seemed like this song was playing everywhere you went. In the mid-fifties, Lou Rawls spent 3 years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. He left us in 2006 due to lung cancer. Man, oh man...
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"Bubbly" by Colby Caillat.

OK, girls and boys, back to the aughts: By far, the biggest hit for this Malibu native came in 2007 with her debut single, a bouncy pop-folk tune which she co-wrote with Jason Reeves. The joyful feeling of falling for someone new. #5 on Billboard's Hot 100, 6X Platinum. Ironically, she auditioned for American Idol twice and was rejected both times. In 2018 she started fronting Gone West, a country-pop quartet. Since they disbanded in 2023, she has pursued a solo Country career in Nashville. Artist? Biggest hit? Answer: "Bubbly" by Colby Caillat. I love this little feel-good gem! Wonderful version by Lily (Pappas) Bjorklund and The Remains with my dear friend and colleague Dr. Harry Hoffman on guitar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWGqoCNbsvM&list=RDAWGqoCNbsvM&start_radio=1
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"Little Honda" by The Hondells.

OK, boys and girls, more 60s one-hit wonders. It was 1964 and producer Gary Usher brought together this "pseudogroup" composed of session musicians to cover a Brian Wilson/Mike Love tune about a popular Japanese motorcycle. "Gifted" to the "group" by Brian Wilson. Two of the "members", Glen Campbell and Tony Tedesco, were already part of the acclaimed "Wrecking Crew". They appeared singing it on "Beach Blanket Bingo" with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. It peaked at #9 in Billboard's Hot 100. The Beach Boys also released it that same year on their "All Summer Long" album. Pseudogroup? Song? Answer: "Little Honda" by The Hondells. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHmRxpumtB4&list=RDIHmRxpumtB4&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZOGlgVldAs&list=RDqZOGlgVldAs&start_radio=1
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"Júrame" por María Grever.

Okey, más boleritos de los 20s (1920s): Esta compositora mejicana (1884-1951) estudió bajo Claude Debussy y Franz Lenhard. Compuso mas de 800 canciones. Su primer éxito, cuando aún relativamente desconocida, fue grabado en el 1926 por el gran José Mojica. Compuso también "Muñequita Linda", "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado", "Alma Mia" y "Vida Mia". ¿Compositora? ¿Primer éxito? Respuesta: "Júrame" por María Grever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZAFxQT_vkk&list=RDHZAFxQT_vkk&start_radio=1
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"This Night" by Billy Joel.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 80s: It was 1982 and Billy Joel had a brief romance with supermodel Elle Macpherson. She inspired him to write a 1983/84 doo-wop classic. The chorus is based on Beethoven's "Pathétique Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor)". Even though it is public domain, he credits "L. v. Beethoven" as co-composer. Killer sax work by Mark Rivera, whose father was Puerto Rican (man, those P.R.s are everywhere!). Song? Answer: "This Night" by Billy Joel. I had just about completely forgotten about this little gem until I heard it again as part of the score for the 2002 musical "Movin' Out", featuring Billy's music and choreographed by the magnificent Twyla Tharp. It has since become one of my favorite Billy Joel tunes. It takes true musical genius to convert the 2nd movement of Beethoven's Pathétique Piano Sonata into doo-wop but, doggone it, the pulls it off! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR28C4__TXQ
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Andrew Gold.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: This L.A. born and based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist had two major hits as a solo artist - "Lonely Boy" in 1976 and "Thank You for Being a Friend" in 1978. He also arranged and played the famous guitar solo on Linda Ronstadt's 1974 "You're No Good". Beatle-esque and melodic, featuring signature pre-bends. Artist? Answer: Andrew Gold. Sadly, he left us in 2011 at age 59. He also arranged most of Art Garfunkel's solo work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0vJNp5asqc&list=RDe0vJNp5asqc&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boAv-Bu4MrI&list=RDboAv-Bu4MrI&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voNEgCKzves&list=RDvoNEgCKzves&start_radio=1
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