I was born and raised in Elizabeth. An only child, the television set and the phonograph became my favorite toys before the age of 2, and my passion for both has never diminished. I am a lifetime vinyl record collector and music historian. I toured as a member of the vocal group the Duprees, most famous for the top-10 hit“You Belong to Me.” He also released recordings with numerous vocal ensembles, such as the Infernos, the Autumns, Retrospect, the Patterns, and the James Myers Quintet. I portray George Flynn in the 2018 film "The Price for Silence," starring Richard Thomas of The Waltons, and I have an extra role on FX’s long-running The Americans (Season 6).
Bob O'Brien
Jive Five Lead Singer EUGENE PITT Dies at 80
Quoting a line from his biggest hit, "We must cry, cry, cry our blues away." Famed lead singer of the JIVE FIVE, EUGENE PITT was died at the age of 80. His biggest hit was "MY TRUE STORY" - a Top Three smash in the early 1960s. Eugene was able to follow that hit up with numerous others including "What Time Is It," "Never Never," "These Golden Rings"
Happy 80th Birthday BILLY DAVIS, JR.
BILLY DAVIS, JR. is 80 today. After many years as a member of the Fifth Dimension, he and his lovely bride Marilyn McCoo went solo and scored a few hits on their own, including the #1 classic "You Don't Have to Be a Star." Their romance is documented in the #1 hit "Wedding Bell Blues (Won't You Marry Me, Bill...
STEVIE WONDER’S First Hit Released this Day 1963
He was LITTLE STEVIE WONDER then, and scored his first of many #1 hits with this song, FINGERTIPS PART 2, released this very day in 1963. For a time, he looked like he might be a "one-hit WONDER," but rebounded in the mid sixties and never let up...
WIPE OUT Released this Day in 1963
It begins with a drum solo that everyone at one time or another has tried to emulate. It's WIPE OUT by the Surfaris. Not to be confused with the SAFARIS who had a Top Ten hit with a song called "Image of a Girl," although both groups only hit the big time once...
CHUCK BERRY Released Original MEMPHIS this Day 1959
It was later a bigger hit as an instrumental by Lonnie Mack, and then as a vocal by Johnny Rivers, but Chuck Berry wrote and recorded the original version of MEMPHIS. Berry's version was released on single this day in 1959 as "Memphis, Tennessee...
SIR PAUL McCARTNEY Is 76 Today, and Sings BIRTHDAY LIVE
Happy 76th birthday to Sir Paul McCartney. What could be better than hearing Paul sing "Birthday" live? Click below to see & hear it.
SHIRLEY ALSTON of Passaic’s SHIRELLES Is 77 Today
They hailed from Passaic, New Jersey - the same city as Joey Dee and the Starlighters of "Peppermint Twist" fame - and became the first girl group of the rock era to reach #1 on the charts. In fact, they did it twice with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Soldier Boy" along with several other Top Ten classics such as "Mama Said," "Baby It's You," &q
Mr. Excitement JACKIE WILSON Born this Day 1934
He began as a member of Billy Ward and the Dominoes, and started his solo career under the name of SONNY Wilson. You know him best as JACKIE Wilson - Mr. Excitement. Jackie was born this day in 1934, and his biggest hits included "Whispers," "Your Love Is Lifting Me Higher and Higher," "Night," "Baby Workout," "That's Why," "Along at Last,&quo
Groundbreaking Comedienne JOAN RIVERS Born this Day 1933
Back in the day when female comedians were few and far between, JOAN RIVERS made us laugh and made a name for herself. Joan was born this day in 1933. Enjoy this early appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show below. Still funny after all these years...
EASIER SAID THAN DONE Released this Day 1963
They were in the military, stationed at Camp Lejeune at the time their catchy song became a national sensation. Unfortunately, when EASIER SAID THAN DONE by Anita Humes and the Essex, released this very day in 1963 reached #1, the group's military commitments greatly hampered their ability to tour...
TV’s Beaver Cleaver, JERRY MATHERS Is 70 Today
Six years of his childhood are indelibly ensconced in our memory (and still rerun today) - LEAVE IT TO BEAVER star JERRY MATHERS turns 70 today. We still picture him as a young man to whom the world was a perplexing place. Our own Bob O'Brien got to meet him a few years back and took full advantage of the photo op...
JOHN FOGERTY Is 73 Today
He was just at PNC Bank Arts Center - JOHN FOGERTY of CCR is 73 today. However, early on he recorded as a member of the Golliwogs. Even before that, he and brother Tom recorded under the alias of James Powell on San Francisco's tiny Christy record label...