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If you have an interest in a specific category, your navigation is to the left. Or click on the featured items below--articles on home decor, travel, obits, food, music, & TV. To change the size of the text or the spacing, use the A+ and A- blue buttons above.  THE SPINNERS Few groups have successfully changed their lead singer 4 times and gone on to obtain Top 40 hits with each one of them. Going from ‘50s doo-wop, to ‘60s Motown soul, to the ‘70s R&B “Philly Sound,” to two Disco hits in 1980, the Spinners fall into an unusual category. But as they changed musically with the times, seamless harmonies were always their most prominent trademark. Languishing under the super-groups (The Four Tops, Temptations, & Miracles) for years at Motown, they finally broke through in the 1970s establishing themselves as the leading R&B group of that decade. Read More... SAD NOTE: Original member Pervis Jackson (top right),who recently was touring with the group—last appearing July 19) passed away at age 70 on August 18. Known for his deep bass voice, he was nicknamed 12:45, after the phrase he sang in one of the Spinners’ biggest hits, “Games People Play.”  JOHN PHILLIP LAW
1937 - 2008
Despite 50 starring roles in international films, John Phillip Law never quite attained the stature of A-list actor. But as a huge consolation prize, he ensured a place in pop culture history as Pygar, the strikingly blond, bronzed, but blind angel in one of the biggest cult films ever—1968’s “Barbarella.” Read More... BOOMERHEADSTONES  ISAAC HAYES1942 - 2008 Isaac Hayes’ enduring musical theme song, “Theme from Shaft, ” is only part of a huge legacy. Younger audiences know him as “Chef” from “South Park.” But his writing credentials and contributions to soul, R&B, disco, and pop music are highly regarded by both music critics and fans. In a career that spanned over a half century, Hayes was able to infuse an energy so infectious into his records that they are as fresh today as they were decades ago. Read More... BOOMERHEADSTONES  NAPOLEON XIV One of the wildest and weirdest novelty records of all times—“They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” was performed by songwriter/sound engineer/singer Jerry Samuels, aka NAPOLEON XIV. The song skyrocketed up to #3 on the charts in the summer of 1966. But when a number of radio stations stopped playing it after protests from various groups, it promptly zoomed back down. Read More... BOOMERHEADBANDS DODY GOODMAN 1914 - 2008 Nutty to the core, Dody Goodman could get a laugh saying hello. An improbable early show-biz career as a ballerina switched course as soon as she opened her mouth on “The Jack Paar Show” in 1958. Her comic timing made her perfect for the talk and game show circuit. She also accumulated two signature acting roles: the befuddled mother of “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and the equally confused school secretary at Rydell High in “Grease.” Read More... BOOMERHEADSTONES TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW PART 4
THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW
The inside look at Tommy James & the Shondells' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show as remembered by Tommy. Also what is Tommy's favorite of his many hits? Read More... BOOMERHEADBANDS DANCING WITH THE STARS Here are the 20 daring Baby Boomers (including the recently eliminated Season 6 threesome) ranked from #20 to #1 who have shown their stuff on the popular ABC dance competition/ reality show. Read More... BOOMERHEADTV ERIC BURDON & THE ANIMALS
The Animals had their beginnings as the blues-based Alan Price Combo. But things started to change when deep-voiced Eric Burdon joined in 1962 as lead singer. The band’s name was switched to The Animals. Eric became a dynamic front man as he would howl and growl his way through the group’s repertoire. "House of the Rising Sun" remains one of the true classic rock and blues songs of the era. Read More.... BOOMERHEADBANDS  DICK MARTIN1922 - 2008
You can bet your sweet bippy that anyone who grew up in the 1960s will recognize his name. He was one-half of the comedy team who hosted THE revolutionary break-through variety show of the decade. Dick Martin (right) of Rowan & Martin and more importantly “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” has died in Los Angeles at the age of 86. Read More... BOOMERHEADSTONES THE GRASS ROOTS A baby boomer favorite, The Grass Roots had over 20 hits from 1966 to 1972, being on the Billboard charts for a record-breaking 307 consecutive weeks (1967-1972). Quite a nice run for a group with such an unusual genesis—the band name was registered even before the actual band was formed! Read More.... BOOMERHEADBANDS
BEATLES TOUR--LONDON
I was a little nervous as I embarked upon My Magical Mystery Tour. I had gone on other “LondonWalks” tours, but this was different. I had been raised on the Beatles – I can’t remember a time when the Beatles weren’t a part of my life. Who would my fellow walkers be? Would they really be fans? Or just people out for a stroll? Read More... BOOMERHEADTRIPS R.I.P.
3 MEMORABLE SUPPORTING ACTORS
STANLEY KAMEL
1943 - 2008 Long-time character actor Stanley Kamel passed away on April 8. His 40+ year career goes all the way back to “Mission: Impossible.” But he is best known for his final role—Dr. Charles Kroger, psychiatrist to TV’s number one obsessive-compulsive detective, Monk. Read More... 
IVAN DIXON 1931-2008 Known primarily from his years as a regular on TV hit “Hogan’s Heroes,” Ivan Dixon had a long career as an actor and director. But along the way he appeared in some important African-American productions in three mediums (stage, film and television) always garnering excellent reviews. Ivan passed away on March 16 at the age of 76. Read More...  STEPHEN OLIVER 1941- 2008
Known for playing rugged hotheads in B-movies and TV and sporting a most impressive pompadour haircut, Stephen Oliver had his most acclaimed role early in his career in the enormously popular TV series “Peyton Place.” Unfortunately, he was unable to parlay this success onto the A-list like fellow co-stars Mia Farrow or Ryan O’Neal. But even though he languished in B-movies, his portrayals always brought the quality of the film up a notch. Stephen Oliver died at age 66 on April 5. Read More... MIKE SMITH
of THE DAVE CLARK 5
1943 - 2008
 He was the voice of a musical group that rivaled the Beatles in 1964—but his name has gone largely unnoticed. Mike Smith, the rather anonymous lead singer & keyboard player of The Dave Clark 5, displayed his singing or what Rolling Stone called outstanding "soul-shouting” on 17 Top 40 hits between 1964 and 1967. Mike Smith passed away on February 28 just days before the group would be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Read More... BOOMERHEADSTONES  GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP
He is blessed with a rich and distinctive voice that can soar over lush orchestrations. He fronted a band decked out in Civil War regalia that produced 6 songs dripping in melodrama. In 1968, the group actually sold more records than the Beatles! Just a year earlier, they had been headlining at a San Diego bowling alley lounge. It’s the story of Gary Puckett & the Union Gap! Read More...
 A JAUNT THROUGH HAIGHT- ASHBURY
The Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco played a unique part in the history of baby boomers. The attraction culminated in the Summer of Love in 1967, as throngs of teenagers flocked to the area. Peace, Love, Flower Power. Tune in. Drop out. The counterculture seems so long ago. Fast-forward 40 years, and a jaunt down Haight Street is definitely in order for baby boomers who want to reminisce about a time that has passed. Read More... BOOMERHEADTRIPS
 CHARLES M. SCHULZ MUSEUM CREATOR OF "PEANUTS" Just 45 minutes north of San Francisco, there is a little gem of a museum that many baby-boomers will enjoy. Read More...
. .  TRANSFORMING YOUR TREASURES
Need to downsize, but you just hate to throw away that sentimental knick-knack or piece of furniture? Sometimes it just has to go! However, some baby boomers are re-inventing their "treasures." Read More...
 CREATIVE RE-IMAGININGCleaning out your garage, attic, or closet? Find an interesting piece of junk while out on a stroll? Unleash your imagination! Read More... TOMMY ROE
Known mainly for memorable bubble gum hits like “Dizzy” and “Sweet Pea,” Tommy Roe’s successful early rocker era (“Sheila”, “Everybody”) is sometimes overlooked—as are his songwriting credentials. He wrote many of his Top 40 records (11 in all) between 1962 and 1971, making him one of the most commercially successful singer/songwriters in the singles market and AM Radio. Starting out in a Billy Holly mode and ending up vying for title of bubble-gum king, Tommy Roe has had a dizzying career. Read More...BOOMERHEADBANDS ALL THE BOOMERHEADSTONES
of 2008 including Suzanne Pleshette
Allan Melvin ("Sam the Butcher")
Buddy Miles
Vampira   The list and obits of the Boomer Favorites we have lost this year.....  MRS. MILLER
The operatic warbling of Mrs. Miller singing the rock tunes of the mid-sixties is truly a bizarre novelty. It was 1966 when the 59-year-old choir lady/housewife released 2 of her off-kilter pop albums. Tackling such songs as the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” and Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”, she sang in the style of your Aunt Mildred at a music recital. The cringe-worthy results proved hilarious and she extended 15 minutes of fame into a lucrative 18 months of enjoyable parody. In the process, Mrs. Miller would become one of the first successfully marketed “so-bad–it’s-good” commodities. Read More... BOOMERHEADBANDS  TOMBSTONE ARIZONABOOMERHEADTRIPS
2007 DEATHS OF BABY BOOMERS & THEIR FAVORITES
Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Fogelberg, Evel Knievel, Mr. Whipple, and
   the rest.... Here is the list (and obits too) of some of the people we loved and lost in 2007. Read More... MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS
They scorched up the charts circa 1965-1967. Their brand of rock-pop craziness could yank you out of your seat and throw you into a frenzy. They specialized in revved-up re-tellings of old rocker songs. Their signature song and biggest hit was the wild and crazy “Devil With A Blue Dress On”. The song is a classic. Read More...  THE STANDELLS
The Standells snarled their way up the charts in 1966 with the enduring smash hit “Dirty Water.” The swaggering bravado of lead singer and former-Mouseketeer (!) Dickie Dodd’s vocals, along with the bluesy and raunchy arrangement make this a favorite among current garage and punk bands and baby boomers twice their age. Read More... FORT SUMNER, NEW MEXICO
A visit to Fort Sumner is vital in any Billy the Kid odyssey. This rural town is where Sheriff Pat Garrett killed Billy in 1881. There are 2 museums plus Billy the Kid's actual gravesite. Read More...
  THE “GHOST TOWN” OF LINCOLN,NEW MEXICOIt was the site of Billy the Kid’s most infamous escape and the turbulent Lincoln County War. It now stands bizarrely frozen in time, enabling you to literally touch the history of the Wild West. Read More... BOOMERHEADTRIPS  SOUP'S ON!POTATO LEEK SOUP IN AN ACORN SQUASH "BOWL" Getting those 5 servings per day of vegetables is lots more fun when you can eat your bowl...in this case potato leek soup dished up in an acorn squash. Read More... BOOMERHEADCHEF
 ROSWELL UFO MUSEUM! It was 1947. Sightings of “flying discs” were being reported from various sections of the country. The nation was ready and looking..... Read More...
 MR. ED What do George Burns, Francis the Talking Mule, and Studebaker have in common? They were all instrumental in bringing the first of the fantasy sitcoms of the ‘60s onto our TV screens. Before Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and My Favorite Martian, MR. ED had us suspending our belief, by making us accept a talking horse as a reality. Read More... BOOMERHEADTV
LESLEY GORE stands tall in the girl-group category where she is strangely categorized. The diminutive solo artist won over early baby-boomers in 1963 with her #1 smash hit “It’s My Party.” It was the first and biggest song of her career and embodied the trials and tribulations of young teen-age girls across America. Poor Lesley, that evil Judy, and what was Johnny thinking! Read More... BOOMERHEADBANDS LEAVE IT TO BEAVER TURNS 50 Besides “I Love Lucy” there are very few black and white sitcoms from the ‘50s that are still actively seen on TV. This chestnut is one of them. “Leave it to Beaver” has quietly gone into iconic stature leaving fellow family sitcoms (Father Knows Best, My Three Sons, Ozzie & Harriet, & Donna Reed) in the dust. Why is that? It’s got to be more than its catchy title. Read More.... BOOMERHEADTV
 CHARLES LANE1905 - 2007 Baby boomers hail him as the quintessential “meanie”, appearing in almost every sitcom of the 60s and 70s. Bespectacled and ever-scowling, Charles Lane was one of our most recognizable character actors. But say the name “Charles Lane” to most people and you would get a blank stare. Lane specialized in smaller roles playing the miserly banker, the grumpy civil servant, or the impatient businessman. Read More...
BOOMERHEADSTONES  BOBBIE GENTRY Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe” stands out as one of the greatest narrative recordings of the rock era. Interspersed with mundane dinner table conversation giving this masterpiece an eerie flavor, the song weaves an intriguing tale of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of one Billie Joe MacAllister--circumstances that people still debate 40 years after the record was released! Read More... ARTHUR LEE & LOVE Eclectic cult rock group, “Love”, will be of specific interest to older West Coast babyboomers. Even though Love never quite made it big nationally, their influence on the 60s music scene was substantial during their brief heyday. Their third album, “Forever Changes”, is included on many contemporary music critics’ best album lists. Read More.. BOOMERHEADBANDS
ALSO: BUCKINGHAMS, PETTICOAT JUNCTION, BOBBY "BORIS" PICKETT , STEPPENWOLF , PETRIFIED FOREST, ORIGINAL ERNIE PYLE GRAVESITE AND MORE!
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