Wednesday

Ask the Geator

November 27, 2008 -- Once again, greetings and salutations. Hope your Thanksgiving is plentiful with family and friends, and the start of a great holiday season. And now that the holidays are here, remember our annual Christmas Party at Memories in Margate on Sunday, December 14, from 5 to 10 pm, raising money for the folks at St. Mary’s Convent. Also, you won’t want to miss the premiere this weekend of the PBS special Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia – Saturday at 5:30 pm in the Lehigh Valley and 8 pm in Philly, and Sunday at 8 pm on South Jersey’s WNJS. Now, time to ask the Geator.


During the mid-1960s, dancers used to do a line dance to the Olympics’ song "Mine Exclusively." Was the dance called the “Slow Fizz"? Do you play this hit and do the dancers still do the line dance to it? -- Joe Hindelang

Yes, they do, but it’s the Wagner Walk, occasionally with some of the steps from the Slow Fizz incorporated into it. The Olympics have been around since the ‘50s, with hits like “(My Baby Loves the) Western Movies” and “Shimmy Like Kate.” I play “Mine Exclusively” all the time, and it’s on the CD For Dancers Only, Volume 3.




The lead singer in "The Zircons" 1963 cut of "Lonely Way" sounds hauntingly like Jimmy Beaumont. Since the Skyliners disbanded from 1963-1974, is it possible that Jimmy actually did sing lead in the Zircon version? -- Ric

No, that’s another Jimmy -- Jimmy Gerenetski of the Zircons, whose vocal similarity to Jimmy Beaumont probably encouraged them to cover the Skyliners’ original 1959 recording of “Lonely Way.” On the Zircons version -- which became the top-selling a capella single of 1964 -- the harmony sounds so much like the Skyliners that you might think it’s Jimmy Beaumont on lead. But in my opinion the breathing and phrasing are dead giveaways that it’s not.




Any updates on the January 18 show at the Kimmel Center and who will be on the bill? – Mike T.

As you know, the Rhythm & Blues Foundation is now located in Philadelphia, and we wanted to highlight some of the stars. So for the first time ever in Philly, we’re bringing you the legendary Darlene Love. Don’t have to tell you the songs – “Today I Met the Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” “Wait Till My Bobby Gets Home,” the voice of the Crystals with “He’s a Rebel,” and so many other hits. We’ve also got Tommy Hunt, the original lead of the Flamingos, coming in from London with the remaining members, plus Gary U.S. Bonds, Brenda Holloway, Eugene Pitt of the Jive Five, Kenny Vance & the Planotones, plus a salute to the Sound of Philadelphia with Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, the Intruders, and the Tymes. Better get your tickets quick on this one. It’s already half sold out, and a perfect gift for the holidays.




Got a question for Jerry? Send it to AskTheGeator@acweekly.com or Geator Gold Radio, 626 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For info on Jerry’s appearances, check out geator.net -- and keep on rocking, ‘cause you only rock once!

Ask the Geator

November 13, 2008 -- Once again, greetings and salutations. Hope all is well. As you know, the Geator is revving up for the holidays with the Geator Gold guys and gals. The next big event, the Turkey Trot, will be Wednesday, November 26, at the legendary Thomas’ on Main Street in Manayunk. And a quick reminder – get your tickets for New Year’s Eve with the Geator and the gang at the Taj in the Tiara Ballroom. They’re available at ticketmaster.com, 800/736-1420, or in person at the Taj box office (open Wednesdays through Saturdays, noon to 6 pm). Now, let’s ask the Geator.

Warren Beatty was on TV receiving a lifetime achievement award. Has he retired from the movies? -- Phil & Lil

I doubt it, although his last movie, 2001’s Town and Country, was a complete flop. Warren’s more of a political activist and family man, but he hasn’t yet found a way to combine activism and filmmaking. We’ll see.

And here’s a trivia question: Besides Faye Dunaway, which of these actresses were considered for the lead role in Bonnie and Clyde? a) Tuesday Weld, b) Natalie Wood, c) Ann-Margret, d) Shirley MacLaine, e) Jane Fonda? Answer at the end of the column.




I have been trying to find out anything about Eddie and Bobby Nixon. They were dancers years ago on the Steel Pier show with Ed Hurst. I danced on the show a few times. Do you know what he is up to and how he and his brother are doing? -- Chris Myers

Unfortunately I lost contact with the Nixon brothers years ago. When I last saw Eddie, he was not in the best of health. At that time Bobby was doing promotions for a local organization and was booking events, I believe, for the Spirit of Philadelphia. Many of the dancers still follow me at the Geator get-togethers and club appearances. I’ll ask around.




What CD has "Don't You Know” from Rico and the Ravens? I listened to it for years on one of your albums but have since lost it in many moves. Thanks -- Brian Flanagan

Great song by a local group out of the Norristown-Bridgeport area. Rico’s real name was Ricky Martin, not to be confused with the current Latin star. “Don’t You Know” was a one-hit wonder and it was put on one of the compilation oldies albums that Post Records produced. I don’t recall it on any of my albums, but it’s a great choice for perhaps one of my future CDs.




Answer to this week’s trivia question: All of the above. However, Warren’s sister, Shirley MacLaine, was actually the number one choice to play Bonnie until Warren, who was producing the picture, decided to take the role of Clyde himself.




Got a question for Jerry? Send it to AskTheGeator@acweekly.com or Geator Gold Radio, 626 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For info on Jerry’s appearances, check out geator.net -- and keep on rocking, ‘cause you only rock once!