Thursday 4pm: Feature Artist – Barry White

Barry White (born Barry Eugene Carter; September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter and composer.

A three-time Grammy Award–winner known for his distinctive bass-baritone voice and romantic image, White’s greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with The Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring soul, funk, and disco songs such as his two biggest hits, “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” and “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”.

During the course of his career in the music business, White achieved 106 gold albums worldwide, 41 of which also attained platinum status. White had 20 gold and 10 platinum singles, with worldwide record sales in excess of 100 million, White is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. His influences included the Rev. James Cleveland, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Elvis Presley plus Motown artists The Supremes, the Four Tops, and Marvin Gaye.

White was overweight for most of his adult life—weighing 375 pounds (170 kg) according to Casey Kasem — and suffered from related health problems. In October 1995, White was admitted to a hospital as a result of high blood pressure. In August 1999, White was forced to cancel a month’s worth of tour dates owing to exhaustion, high blood pressure and a hectic schedule. In September 2002, White was hospitalized with kidney failure attributed to chronic diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.

While undergoing dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant in May 2003, White suffered a severe stroke, which forced him to retire from public life. On July 4, 2003, White died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at the age of 58. His remains were cremated, and the ashes were scattered in the ocean off the California coast. – Wikipedia

Monday 2pm: Feature Artist: Ashford & Simpson

Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946).

Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, and Simpson in the Bronx, New York City. Afterwards, his family relocated to Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he became a member of Christ Temple Baptist Church. While there, he sang with a group called the Hammond Singers (named after the founding minister, James Hammond). Later, Nickolas attended and graduated from Willow Run High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan, before pursuing his professional career, where he would ultimately meet his wife, Valerie. They met at Harlem’s White Rock Baptist Church in 1964. After having recorded unsuccessfully as a duo, they joined an aspiring solo artist and former member of the Ikettes, Joshie Jo Armstead, at the Scepter/Wand label, where their compositions were recorded by Ronnie Milsap (“Never Had It So Good”), Maxine Brown (“One Step at a Time”), as well as the Shirelles and Chuck Jackson. Another of the trio’s songs, “Let’s Go Get Stoned,” gave Ray Charles a number one U.S. R&B hit in 1966. That same year, Ashford & Simpson joined Motown, where their best-known songs included “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You’re All I Need To Get By,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” and “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” Ashford and Simpson wrote many other hit songs, including Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” (1978) and Teddy Pendergrass’s “Is It Still Good to You?”

As performers, Ashford & Simpson’s best-known duets are “Solid” (1984) and “Found a Cure” (1979). The duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. Ashford and Simpson were also recipients of The Rhythm & Blues Foundation’s Pioneer Award in 1999, and ASCAP’s highest honor, the Founder’s Award, which they received on March 18, 1996.

Friday 2pm: Spot Light Artist – Kool and The Gang

Kool & the Gang are an American musical group formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964 by brothers Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. After settling on their name following several changes, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool and the Gang (1970).

The band’s first taste of success came with their fourth album Wild and Peaceful (1973), which contained the US top ten singles “Jungle Boogie”and “Hollywood Swinging”. Kool & the Gang subsequently entered a period of decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 1979 and 1986 following their partnership with Brazilian musician/producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James “J.T.” Taylor to the line-up. Their most successful albums of this period include Ladies’ Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980), and Emergency (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US, and the hit singles “Ladies’ Night”, the US number one “Celebration”, “Get Down on It”, “Joanna”, and “Cherish”. The band continue to perform worldwide, including as support for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth anniversary tour in 2014.

Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman’s Award for artistic achievement. In 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Their discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the US.

Monday 10pm: LP Lounge with Willie B

Minnie Julia Riperton-Rudolph (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979), was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single “Lovin’ You” and her five-octave coloratura soprano range. She is also widely known for her use of the whistle register and has been referred to by the media as the “Queen of the whistle register”. Born in 1947, Riperton grew up in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side. As a child, she studied music, drama and dance at Chicago’s Lincoln Center. In her teen years, she sang lead vocals for the Chicago-based girl group the Gems. Her early affiliation with the legendary Chicago-based Chess Records afforded her the opportunity to sing backup for various established artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. While at Chess, Riperton also sang lead for the experimental rock/soul group Rotary Connection, from 1967 to 1971.

On April 5, 1975, Riperton reached the apex of her career with her No. 1 single “Lovin’ You”. The single was the last release from her 1974 gold album titled Perfect Angel. In January 1976, Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer and, in April, she underwent a radical mastectomy. By the time of diagnosis, the cancer had metastasized and she was given about six months to live. Despite the grim prognosis, she continued recording and touring. She was one of the first celebrities to go public with her breast cancer diagnosis but did not disclose she was terminally ill. In 1977, she became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. In 1978, she received the American Cancer Society’s Courage Award, which was presented to her at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. Riperton died of cancer on July 12, 1979 at age 31.

Riperton was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from August 1970 until her death in July 1979. Together, Riperton and Rudolph had two children; music engineer Marc Rudolph (b. 1968) and actress/comedian Maya Rudolph (b. 1972).

Saturday 7pm: Great Soul Performances with Bobby Jay

I’m gonna have some fantastic music for you when we get together later this evening for “Great Soul Performances.” You’ll hear: Lenny Welch, Peaches & Herb, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Jacksons, Jerry Butler, the South Shore Commission, Timothy Wilson, the O’Jays, the Spaniels, the Dells, the Chantels, B.B. King, Little Richard, Lou Rawls; live in concert, among others. It all begins at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT and 4PM PT.

Then at 9PM ET, 8PM CT, 7PM MT & 6PM PT it’s “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” where I’ve got scheduled: Gladys Knight & the Pips, Barry & Glodean White, the Bar-Kays, Skyy, George Benson, Stacy Lattisaw, Al B. Sure!, Patti LaBelle, the Gap Band, the Beastie Boys, Regina Belle and more. It’s hot today, but stay as cool as you can and dig some cool Soul Music this evening on RadioMaxMusic.Com. Later ‘Gator!

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https://tunein.com/radio/RadioMaxMusic-Greatest-Hits-s286094/

Saturday 7pm: Great Soul Performances with Bobby Jay

This evening on “Great Soul Performances” I’ll be shining the spotlight on and saluting a song writer I had deep affection for, Jerome Felder, known professionally as Doc Pomus, along with his writing partner Mort Shuman.

You’ll hear Doc Pomus in his own words, talk about his illustrious career, as well as insights from Ben E. King, Jerry Lieber, the late Dr. John, Doc’s brother; the renown attorney Raoul Felder and music by: Ben E. King along with Charlie Thomas & the Drifters, Big Joe Turner, birthday boy Dion DiMucci & the Belmonts, the Coasters, Ray Charles, the Mystics, Gary U.S. Bonds, the Del Satins, Elvis Presley, Damita Jo, Cissy Houston, Howard Tate, Jay & the Americans, Gene McDaniels and Doc Pomus himself; when he was carving out a career as a young blues singer and several other performers.

It’ll begin at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT & 4PM PT. On its heels will come “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s,” where on the playlist are: Barry & Glodean White, Cameo, Carl Carlton, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Run D.M.C., Billy Ocean, Barbara Mason, Grandmaster Flash, Gene Chandler, Gladys Knight and more. It happens at 9PM ET, 8PM CT, 7PM MT and 6PM PT.

I think you’ll learn quite a lot about what goes into writing hit songs from the legendary Doc Pomus later this evening on RadioMaxMusic.Com.

Sunday on RadioMaxMusic / Classic Countdown Channel

12:00 AM ET – SATURDAY NIGHT ROCK SHOW
06:00 AM ET – BRIT ROCK WITH DOMINIC FORBES (ENCORE)
09:00 AM ET – VINYL RESTING PLACE WITH WILLIE B
12:00 PM ET – THAT THING WITH RICH APPEL
03:00 PM ET – DAN SWEENEY’S ONE HIT WONDERS
05:00 PM ET – GREAT SOUL PERFORMANCES WITH BOBBY JAY (ENCORE)
07:00 PM ET – GREAT SOUL PERFORMANCES 2: THE 80’S WITH BOBBY JAY (ENCORE)
09:00 PM ET – VINYL RESTING PLACE WITH WILLIE B (ENCORE)

 

02:00 AM ET – CLASSIC COUNTDOWN JUNE 1, 1974 WITH RON KOVACS
06:00 AM ET – CLASSIC COUNTDOWN JUNE 2, 1979 WITH RON KOVACS
10:00 AM ET – CLASSIC COUNTDOWN JUNE 1, 1991 WITH RON KOVACS
02:00 PM ET – TOP 50 COUNTRY HITS OF 1995 WITH RON KOVACS
06:00 PM ET – CLASSIC COUNTDOWN JUNE 2, 1979 WITH RON KOVACS
10:00 PM ET – EURO CHART SHOW JUNE 2, 2012 WITH DAVE GRAHAM
11:00 PM ET – EURO CHART SHOW JUNE 2, 2014 WITH RON KOVACS