Raised On Radio: National Disc Jockey Day

by Kevin Burton    The other day I was researching music and stumbled upon the Raised On Radio podcast. I thought, yeah, wish I had thought of that.    That’s me. I was raised on radio.    When I got back online to find it again, I found something entirely different called Raised On The …

Consider The Source Of The Promise

by Kevin Burton    This is the story of two songs, one title; two sources, one promise, namely, “the best.”    And, within the setting of popular music, it’s also a mini grammar lesson about comparative and superlative adjectives.    Chances are you have heard the one song, but not the other. The title of …

My Newest Venture: Screenwriting Class

by Kevin Burton    This is not exactly a call for people to get their popcorn ready, but I am now taking a screenwriting class.    If I’m not a fish out of water altogether, maybe I am a saltwater fish in freshwater. Or maybe I’m an old dog learning new tricks, to mix the …

Here’s One Rockin’ And Rollin’ Birthday Party

by Kevin Burton   The idea of a birthday party – you know, with the cake and the funny hats – has always seemed lame to me.  Today I’m changing my tune.     There is one such party I would put together and attend if I could.  Wait till you hear the musicians who share …

Younger McCartney Travels His Own Path

by Kevin Burton    The English singer known professionally as Mike McGear has a birthday today. He turns 79.    Among the greetings and well wishes, he may get a birthday call, or maybe a musical card that plays the Beatles song “Birthday,” from his brother – Paul McCartney.    Peter Michael McCartney created the …

A Heartwarming Family Fantasy Football Story

by Kevin Burton    I am 6 feet, 1½ inches tall. My wife Jeannette is only 5’4”. But I bet you five dollars we see eye to eye!    How do I know this? I let her know recently that my brother has a whopping eleven fantasy football teams. This knowledge floated for a time, …

Honoring The Musicians We Lost In 2022

by Kevin Burton   Toward the end of his life my father said it was strange getting old because many of his friends and relatives had died and he was left behind.   I understand where he was coming from. But I extend that to teachers and public figures.   Even though I don’t interact …

Musical Genius Thom Bell Dead At 79

by Kevin Burton    Just as Philly Soul is unfairly overshadowed by Motown and Stax, Thom Bell didn’t always get the credit he deserved.     The producer, arranger and songwriter died Dec. 22 at the age of 79.  I never heard his name mentioned in the 70s when I was soaking in his Sound of …

Disaster At Who Concert Still Haunts Band

   I’ve written a lot about the Beatles and Beatlemania, but there is another side to the craziness of rock and roll.    Yesterday was the 43rd anniversary of the tragedy at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati when eleven people were killed in a stampede to get into a concert by The Who. There was no …

Christmas Top 40: Up On The Housetop

by Kevin Burton    We don’t have Santa images at my house.  For us, Christmas is about Jesus.    But there is one Christmas song I have always loved that doesn’t fit that mode.  Hundreds of artists have recorded it. Possibly the most famous version was made by Gene Autry in 1953.     It was …