Happy Birthday, Denny!

Happy Birthday, Dennis Wilson! December 4, 1944 - December 28, 1983. Drummer & co-founder of The Beach Boys. He is the BB I most identify with. You are missed - and loved, Denny.

Check out this re-imagined version of Denny's "Forever". Also, check out his solo PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE (1977) here. POB has appeared on several "best-of" lists including Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die," Mojo's "Lost Albums You Must Own" and "70 of the Greatest Albums of the 70s" lists. In 2005, it was ranked #18 in GQ's "The 100 Coolest Albums in the World Right Now!" list.

Photos 1, 2 and 4 by Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean).

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Josh Groban makes me want to puke.

I can listen to Michael Bublé. Or Harry Connick, Jr. James Blunt, for that matter. But - I can not listen to Josh Groban massacre Christmas carols. Or any other song, for that matter. Ever.

Cool your jets, Groban groupies. I didn't say he can't sing. I just don't like his voice. There's no fluctuation. There's no character. It's not distinct. The timbre is timbre-less. His voice is like fish with no tartar sauce, a brat sans mustard or waffles without our homemade maple syrup (or any syrup, for that matter). Bland. Period.

Fine. You judge. Here's Groban's "O Holy Night" and here's Johnny Mathis' rendition. Who's voice is better?

There are probably thousands of singers in professional choirs all over the world whose voices sound just like Groban's. Big deal. What sickens me even more is that Grobad dated this hottie for three years. Here's to a Grobad-less Christmas - and a Grobad-less year!

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TGIF! presents....Andy Williams' "Softly, As I Leave You!"

Andy Williams passed away this week at the age of 84. Inarguably, one of the prominent velvet voices of all time, Williams left a legacy of music that has brought me joy throughout my life. Here's one of my favorite songs covered by Andy, the theme from the made-for-TV hit film, "Brian's Song".

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TGIF! presents...The Beach Boys' "Do It Again". Redux!

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TGIF! presents....Terri Nunn & Berlin's "Metro"!

What can I say about Terri Nunn that I haven't already said on this blog? Having only met her once, she embodies everything I appreciate in a woman - which would make her the ideal catch in a perfect world. She makes you feel like you're the only one in the audience.

Terri & Berlin performed at Milwaukee's Pridefest this past Sunday. This is the 4th time I've seen her perform - last time was in 2009 when I saw her show 3x in one year just before I moved back to Milwaukee from Los Angeles. She looks better than she did in the 80's and her voice is just as good.

I only wish more people had turned out to see this performance - kind of embarrassing when less than 1/4 of the bleachers are filled at the Miller Stage. And mind you - Terri has been taken in by the LGBT community as sort of their poster girl (or one of them, and she's straight). I guess most of the crowd that was there (which was scant) wanted to be in the techno tent instead.

Honestly, if no one had shown up and I had Terri all to myself, that would be fine.

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So long, Dick Clark. You get a 100.

Great song and interview with my boys, The Beach Boys, on their first American Bandstand appearance. You will be missed, Mr. Clark.

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TGIF! presents....Jan & Dean's "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena".

Jan Berry's (on left) birthday is April 3. Wanted to get this posted in time. He passed away in 2004 and would've been 71 this year.

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Safe journey, Eric Lowen...

Eric Lowen, of the singer/songwriting team Lowen & Navarro, passed away yesterday after a 9-year battle with ALS. I was acquainted with both Eric & Dan (Navarro), originally turned on to their music by my high school friend, Tina, and have seen them perform several times. Eric's courage and strength while battling his illness was quite remarkable. I also became friends with Eric's caregiver of 5 years, Julie and it was Julie who called me last night about Eric's passing.

Eric put up a helluva fight, outlasting his illness many years in comparison to others. His music will live on and will continue to inspire. I feel blessed to be privy to all that he was - and still is.

Here's Eric singing one of my favorite L&N's tunes, "If You Loved Me Like That".

This job is not a chosen one, it chooses one. It has never been easy and it is getting harder now, but I would never trade the experience for anything. The mysterious and magical thrill of writing a song, the charge of being in front of an audience, and also the exhilaration of speaking in the language of music with other musicians. It will end for me, but the songs will go on and the memories are mine forever... - Eric Lowen

I encourage you to explore the music of Lowen & Navarro. They are quite excellent. Thank you, Eric...and God Bless you.

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TGIF! presents..."Your Wildest Dreams" by The Moody Blues!

I'm a big "Moody" fan. Got it from my father. This is one of my favorites. And it goes out to a long lost friend of mine....I hope she is well. I miss her.

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TGIF! presents...The Monkees' "Valleri"!

I met Davy Jones somewhere between 1987-89 while I was working in the sales department of WKLH Classic Hits 96 in Milwaukee. I told him this song was my favorite Monkees' tune. Short guy - surrounded by four babes.

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TGIF! presents....The Doors' "Peace Frog"!

Not a huge Doors fan but this may be my favorite. And I like the name. Oh - a BONUS "TGIF! presents..." can be watched here.

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LIGHTFOOT! Gordo joins U.S. Songwriters Hall of Fame!

'About time' is all I gotta say. Saw him on two occasions and I was very pleased both times.

The 73-year-old Canadian, to me, is one of the most prolific "poets" in music. Ever. Read about Gordo's "feting" here. And listen to his most popular classic here - "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

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TGIF! presents...The Civil Wars on Letterman!

The Civil Wars are meticulous about promoting their touring - from pics to videos. Here's one in New York prior to their appearance on Letterman. The show starts around the 1:30 mark. In anticipation of the duo performing on Sunday's Grammy's (they're nominated for two Grammys), here they are - John and Joy - performing "Poison and Wine".

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More news on The Civil Wars...

Not that Civil War. These guys.

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Carl Wilson Remembered.

Carl Wilson, one of the founding members of The Beach Boys (brother to Brian and Dennis) passed away 14 years ago today. I never met Carl but I've met his sons several times -Jonah and Justyn. If they are any measure of what their father was like....

Here's a Carl solo tune, "Heaven" . Enjoy.

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TGIF! presents...Mary Hopkins' "Those Were the Days"!

For Gerard, Jane, Janelle, Doug and all my friends in Iowa.

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A Civil Wars' Christmas tune.

A

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Happy Birthday, Gordo!

Gordon Lightfoot turned 73 on Thursday. One of the greatest singer/songwriter/poets of our time. Here's a favorite Gordo tune I'm sure you've heard.

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TGIF! presents...Dusty Springfield singing "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life"!

Forgot about this song until I heard a story on NPR's Fresh Air. Here's the song. It was written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman with original music by Michel Legrand for the 1969 film The Happy Ending. Fresh Air ran this story on the Bergman's today. The song was nominated for an Academy Award in 1969 but lost to "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head".

It's been recorded as both an instrumental and vocal arrangement by many artists. Dusty's is my favorite.

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TGIF! presents...Jeff Bridges' "What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do"!

FB users can watch here.

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