Happy 50th Anniversary-The Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie”! BFYP’s Mike Korgan, Producer

Memories, Music & Mike!

It’s International “Louie Louie” Day!* “OK! Let’s give it to ‘em … right now!”

Alright, granted, I’m writing this less than two hours before midnight (beer in hand), but I posted early this morn on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter – what?! You didn’t see it?!

And here, I thought everyone followed Blast from Your Past … Riiiight … like everyone follows your social networks, too. Wow, we are all soooo self-absorbed these days. I’ll follow you, if you’ll follow me. LOL!

Let’s trip down Memory Lane to a simpler kinda life. What a magical musical time, the Sixties.

WFDU-FM’s The Vintage Rock & Pop Shop ROCKS!

Yipes! So much for resolutions, vows, priorities … whatever name you want to give those first-of-the-year dedications to organization and turning over New Year leaves.

I blew it already – totally missed January’s article! Ah, the story of my life. I’ve missed a lot of fun while trying to deal with life’s frustrating anomalies.

BUT fun is IN for February! Blast from Your Past is having another special to help support The Vintage Rock &Pop Shop – the fun and entertaining 1950s/’60s nostalgia show hosted by Ghosty on WFDU-FM!

New Jersey’s Farleigh Dickinson University operates WFDU-FM 89.1, a public broadcast radio station, on which several shows are featured. February is their annual fundraising month, and to keep Ghosty’s show on the air for another year, we need to head on over and donate to the cause – let’s keep Rockin’ On!

Blast from Your Past’s Boomer Gift Guide – Let’s Rock!

As much as I’d like another eleven months before the Holidays take over, that isn’t going to happen. Sigh. And though I refuse to decorate or shop for Christmas until Thanksgiving Day, I shall not deprive you early-bird shoppers from great new Blast from Your Past Holiday Gift Packages!

I just finished updating the BFYP Boomer Gift Guide, and completed the pages for two exciting BFYP Custom Gift Packages that I hope you’ll think someone on your gift list can’t do without.

The first Gift Package has only FOUR available, so if you know someone who would love a replica Classic Car (scale model) and a copy of Blast from Your Past! Rock & Roll Radio DJs: the First Five Years 1954-1959 – along with a couple of other fun nostalgic items, click here to check them out.

I lucked into four cool Yafa Pen Special Edition Nostalgic Car collectibles from 2004 and paired them with a book, a reproduction Radio Music Survey and more, for only $27.95 (a $38 value). Choose from:
* 1955 Thunderbird convertible with royal blue metal-flake (remember those paint jobs?!)
* 1955 Thunderbird convertible in classic black
* 1957 “Fuelie” Corvette hardtop in hunter (Xmas!) green
* 1965 classic Mustang in hunter (Xmas!) green
Click here for more details, lots of pictures, and purchase your favorite. But hurry – when they’re gone, they’re gone! But there’s more gifting to be done …

The Many Faces of Wolfman Jack

January 21, 1938 ~ July 1, 1995
“Have Mercy, Baby!”

Wolfman Jack 1972 TV Time magazine

It’s Halloween month and no one loved Halloween and howling at the moon more than Wolfman Jack.

Some people are just larger-than-life. They exude personality and charisma in a way that makes many jealous and others swoon.

Frank Sinatra. Elvis. The Beatles. Sean Connery. Tom Cruise. (Oh, all right …) Justin Bieber. (I know they’re all guys … but guys don’t generally “swoon” over charismatic celebs … like Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, or Katy Perry.)

Radio DJ Jim Higgs with Wolfman Jack circa 1972

And then there was Wolfman Jack.

Collectibles – Big Boomer Business

Ever notice how “second-hand” has become “vintage” and “old” is now “collectible”? By trade, I’m a writer – I notice these things. As an eBay buyer / seller, it’s important to know the differences.

Peace-Love-and Rock & Roll!

And for Baby Boomers, it’s especially advantageous to have at least a passing knowledge about what has value that may be gathering dust in a garage or attic. After all, if you start digging out those old 1950s toys or 1960s music memorabilia, or peace signs from the 1970s, you might be able to fund your retirement!

Driving (Cruising!) Takes a Back Seat to Social Networking

Oh no, Joe, say it ain’t so! Cruisin’ is takin’ a bruisin’ and we may find we’re losin’ it forever to the new order of life.

What on God’s green Earth am I talking about? “Cruisin’ the Main,” baby … or for the too-young-to-know-what-it’s-about, cruising Main Street on a Friday or Saturday night in your ride. Man … those were the days!

Hip old talk aside, the popular pastime of the 1950s – 1970s or so, was known by several names: Cruisin’ the Strip, Cruisin’ Downtown, Cruisin’ the Drag, or as in my area, Cruisin’ the Main (Main Street).

The Past is not always Pleasantly Nostalgic

You know, I try to keep things light on this blog – Blast from Your Past is all about looking fondly back at your youth, favoring articles that hopefully evoke a smile or two.

However, in light of the past week’s Colorado massacre, we are disturbingly reminded that looking back is not always pleasing.

The memories of the survivors will forever be tainted with the blood of that night. Whoever they were when they walked into that theatre is not who they are now – for better or for worse.

When Rock & Roll Rescued Radio

Can you imagine your life without radio? OK, well maybe these days you can. But fifty-plus years ago our lives were ruled by the airwaves—not the digital waves. There was no Internet … no Facebook … no (gasp!) Twitter. Not even television!

Radio was our source for minute-to-minute news, event information, entertainment, and of course, gossip. It was our connection to the world outside our homes, neighborhoods, and country.

Families gathered ‘round the ol’ Zenith console in the living room after supper (yes, after, not during). As tall as your little brother, it stood majestically in a smooth, burnished mahogany; a beautiful piece of furniture commanding the center of the room while your parents listened to the evening news. You struggled with your homework then slipped into your jammies. The family settled on the sofa for an hour of The Life of Riley. Ah, that was the life!

Give … Give … Blast from Your Past Giveaway!!

As a Goodreads.com member, I’m trying to learn all the ins-and-outs of their great promotional possibilities. I discovered their Giveaways last week and promptly set up a St. Patrick’s Day contest for Blast from Your Past!

What fun … readers looking for cheery, vintage entertainment will receive free author-signed copies of Blast from Your Past! Rock & Roll Radio DJs: the First Five Years 1954-1959. So tell me, do ya feel lucky?! Click and enter!

Enjoy the moment ... again!

BFYP-the First Five Years nominated – Global eBook Awards 2011

It’s true! Blast from Your Past! Rock & Roll Radio DJs: the First Five Years 1954-1959 is in the running for an award in the Entertainment category of Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards competition. Want to support the DJs of your youth? Please vote here.

Dan Poynter of course, is THE definition of independent author, having self published since 1969. As the prominent guru in the industry, it’s only natural that he be the first to offer an awards program in this new independent publishing platform. Kudos to Dan.

You’ll find lots of other wonderful ebooks to vote on there, as well, in nearly every popular genre, so dive on in … it’s an avid reader’s paradise. But don’t forget to stop first, at the voting site for Blast from Your Past! … the First Five Years. If you don’t have your very own copy yet, it’s available to buy or download a sample at Amazon. Enjoy the moment … again!

The First Five Years (1954-1959) were the best!