When I listen to our 50s & 60s Hits program, my thoughts are filled with memories of people I’ve known, places I’ve been and forgotten experiences and feelings that now only exist in the back of my mind.
I’m at the local amusement park where I grew up, walking from ride to ride with my big brother and his girlfriend. The music was magical. They would play fun songs like “The Twist” by Chubby Checker, “Little Latin Lupe Lu” by The Righteous Brothers, and “Chantilly Lace” by The Big Bopper. The time would always pass so quickly and before you knew it “Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight” by The Spaniels would come on. At the time, it was a song that I never wanted to hear, because it always meant closing time at the park. But now when I hear that song, it’s a sweet memory of a night of fun.
After that, we would usually go to a place called Dog & Suds for some of the best root beer I’ve ever tasted to this day. The rock n’ roll continued there through the small speakers hung under the long carport-like roof. I’d be bouncing up and down on the back seat of my brother’s ’58 Chevy convertible to Gary U.S. Bonds and Jerry Lee Lewis while the roller girl brought our root beer on a tray that would hang on the partially rolled-up window.
These are some of the experiences and memories that built our 50s & 60s Hits program. If you were born in the 40s or 50s, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, it’s OK. They’re still timeless tunes, the “roots of rock” from a special place and time that are still enjoyed by all ages.
– Submitted by Bill Spencer, Music Design