January 5 Radio History

➦In 1923...Legendary music producer Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records who discovered Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, was born. He died July 30, 2003 at 80.



➦In 1932...one of radio’s big hit shows “The Shadow” debuted on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). It would be almost 6 years before Orson Welles became the biggest name to play the title role… just for a year. The melodrama mystery was produced for 22 radio seasons .. and remained on the air for many more years in repeats.

➦In 1935...the CBS Radio Network program, "The Hour of Charm", featured Phil Spitalny’s All-Girl Orchestra.




➦In 1940...the FCC, Federal Communications Commission, was given its first demonstration of FM radio.

➦In 1965...53 years ago this week

➦In 1973…Bruce Springsteen released his first studio album "Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ." It was recorded in a single week at lower-priced 914 Sound Studios in Blauvelt, New York to save as much money as possible from the advance given by Columbia Records. It sold about 25,000 copies in the first year of issue. Two tracks from the album, "Blinded By The Light" and "Spirit In The Night," were released as singles but neither made a dent in the charts.

➦In 1979...FCC eliminated Third Class operator requirement for stations

➦In 1980...Donna Summer's compilation On the Radio-Greatest Hits-Volumes I & II moved to #1 on the album chart with the double-album compilation Bee Gees Greatest moving to #2.  Cornerstone by Styx continued to hold down #3 while Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants by Stevie Wonder and the previous #1 The Long Run from the Eagles were close behind.

The rest of an incredible Top 10:  In Through the Out Door by Led Zeppelin, The Wall from Pink Floyd moved from 20-7, Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tusk from Fleetwood Mac and Michael Jackson had his biggest career album to date with Off the Wall.

➦In 1985...Madonna remained at #1 with her first chart-topper "Like a Virgin".  Duran Duran was second with "The Wild Boys" while the Honeydrippers edged up with their remake of "Sea of Love".  The New Edition was right behind with "Cool It Now" and Pat Benatar had another smash with "We Belong".

The rest of the Top 10:  actor Jack Wagner with "All I Need", Hall & Oates were on the way down with "Out of Touch", Bryan Adams moved in with "Run to You", Chicago collected hit #38 with "You're the Inspiration" and John Lennon's son Julian had a Top 10 hit with "Valotte".


➦In 1998...Pop star-turned-Republican politician Rep. Sonny Bono, Cher's ex-husband and former showbiz partner, died in a skiing accident. He was 62.

➦In 2004...the first HD Radio receiver - a Kenwood KTC-HR 100 model - went on sale commercially in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

➦In 2014…Baseball broadcaster (San Diego Padres, California Angels, New York Yankees)/former MLB manager (Padres)/former infielder (Yankees)/Baseball Hall of Famer and WW2 hero Jerry Coleman, who called Padres games for 33 years, died of complications from brain bleeding and surgery at 89.