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December 25, 2008 -- “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” These words are said many times during this holiday season, but more than words they express the good wishes of all who have been a part of the good times we have shared together throughout the years. On behalf of all of our sponsors and staff here at Geator Gold Radio and A.C. Weekly, a very healthy and happy Christmas, Chanukah, and New Year. I’ll see you at the gala New Year’s Eve party coming your way at the Trump Taj Mahal. If there are any tickets left, you can get them from Ticketmaster at 800/736-1420. But now it’s time for your questions.Geator, what are your favorite Christmas songs (other than the traditional Christmas carols)? – Janice Churgell“White Christmas” by the Drifters, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love, “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway, “Christmas Waltz” by Frank Sinatra, “Snowbound for Christmas” by the DeCastro Sisters, “A Working Man’s Prayer” by Arthur Prysock, and, of course, “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole And here’s a Christmas trivia question for you: Who wrote “Christmas Song”? Answer below.
I'm a new listener to WVLT. Your show is great! You play a song now and then -- part of the chorus is "dancing to a zydeco song." Can you let me know the artist and the title? I love it! You are refreshing and fun to listen to. – Chuck Cobb, Pennsville, NJ Glad you’re with us. That's the "Alligator Walk" by the Mojo Blues Band, a terrific group from Austria. They have their own website at mojobluesband.com, and we have a limited number of their CDs at our radio studio, 215/923-0550.
Did you know the late Jerry Wexler? What was his importance in the music industry? – Drew Anyone in the industry will tell you that Jerry Wexler was the real frontrunner for Atlantic Records. Where Ahmet Ertegun and his brother Nesuhi were the corporate guys, Jerry understood the music – he originated the term “rhythm and blues” -- and made it happen for Atlantic. He was responsible not only for making the deal to distribute Stax Records, with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, but for signing and producing Aretha, Dusty Springfield, Ray Charles, the Drifters, the Coasters, and many others. And when I was doing our syndicated TV show, Jerry was directly responsible for booking Atlantic’s stable of artists on it.
Answer to trivia question: Singer Mel Torme and his songwriting partner Bob Wells wrote “The Christmas Song” in the middle of a heat wave in Toluca Lake, California. In his autobiography, Torme said he walked into Wells’ house and saw the words “Chestnuts roasting . . . Jack Frost . . . Eskimos” on a piece of paper, which Wells had written down “to stay cool by thinking cool.” They both agreed it would make a great song, and in less than an hour they composed what became the most recorded Christmas song ever.
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!
December 11, 2008 -- Once again, greetings and salutations from the Geator with the Heater, the Boss with the Hot Sauce. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so come join me for some Christmas holly this Sunday when we have our annual Christmas Party at Memories in Margate, raising money for the Sisters of Mercy at St. Mary’s Convent in Philadelphia. We’ll open up our doors at 5, feed you a fabulous buffet from Barrels, the Aramingo Diner, and Chickie & Pete’s, and dance the night away. See you there. Now, let’s ask the Geator. Whatever happened to Tennessee Ernie Ford? We used to watch his TV show all the time. – Molly HoffmanThe Tennessee Ernie Ford Show on ABC was very popular in the early 1960s. Over the years he received many awards, including induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and three separate stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for radio, TV, and recordings. Unfortunately he and his wife, Betty, suffered from serious alcohol problems. In 1991 he died from liver failure, two years after Betty’s death and exactly 36 years after the release of his huge hit, "Sixteen Tons."
I am a Geator fan from long ago. I grew up in Perkasie, PA, which is a bit north of Philly. Where can I find a Geator T shirt? Thanks a bunch – Jody, Hooksett NHThere’s a brand-new T-shirt called "The Philly Boys" -- with a picture of Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, the World Series champs, the Phillies logo, the Liberty Bell, and yours truly. They are selling like crazy not only in the area but in California, too. We have a limited number left. For yours, contact Geator Gold Radio at 215/923-0550 or my assistant, Keely, at geatorella@yahoo.com.
Please help me out! On your shows, you used to play a fast, uptempo tune by a female group with the words "please forgive me" sung in the chorus. I cannot remember the name of the group or the title. Please refresh my memory. Thank you -- Mike (long-time fan from Philly) That’s “Please Forgive Me” by the Du-ettes, and it’s on our CD For Dancers Only, Volume 2. It was a local hit on the Du-Tone label, but other than the Philadelphia area, not many people are really aware of it. Great stomp record.Before we go, don’t know if you guys caught a documentary called Airplay at one of the film festivals down here at the shore. It was produced by Carolyn Travis and Chris Gilson, who incidentally did the award-winning documentary Wildwood Days. I must tell you, Airplay is the most comprehensive documentary on the past, the present, and even the future of radio. It’s fascinating, and the Geator is featured in it along with some of the other legendary DJs you will remember from the heyday of rock radio. We’ll keep you posted on where you can see it and where it can be purchased.
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!
