QuarterNotes - SUMMER 2025

Plank Road Folk Music Society

Summer - July 2025 www.plankroad.org

In This Issue

Our 40th Anniversary . . . Review of event and LOTS of photos!
Allan Shaw . . . pioneering fan of folk music during the 50s and 60s..
Mississippi Delta . . . great books about American blues.
Jim Gilroy in Ireland . . . enjoying family, friends and music festivals.
Music Trivia . . . Answers to previous quiz and a NEW quiz.
Remembering . . . Brian Wilson, Tracy Schwarz, and Sly Stone.
And much more!

Plank Road Events

Please join us for our in-person get togethers — co-sponsored with Two Way Street Coffee House.

Sing-Around

1st & 3rd Saturday. | 2-4 pm

Vocal instrumental jam and sing-along with songbooks and leader.

Country & Western Sing-Around

4th Saturday. | 2-4 pm

Sing along with your favorite C&W songs. Songbooks provided.

Song Circle -- BYOS!

2nd Tuesday. | 7-9 pm

Bring Your Own Song! A monthly opportunity for folks to perform original or cover songs for each other, within a song circle. NOTE: Song Circle will be on 2nd Thursday during June, July & August.

Plank Road String Band Practice

2nd Sat. | 2:00-4:00 pm

First Church of Lombard

630-620-0688

An old-time string band practice for intermediate/advanced players, from September to April.

Be sure to check the Plank Road and Two Way Street websites and Facebook pages for details about each event.

President's Message

Summer 2025

Plank Road is 40 years old! I know we have blasted out that message for a while now, but in this issue, we will talk about the party we had celebrating this milestone on June 14.

Many of you were there and celebrated with us...we had a nice turnout and great participation at the event. We played music all afternoon, then had a meal and a short speech about the organization. We honored a group of people who have been most critical to our formation and continued success, (and I also received some nice accolades, which I appreciate). The perfect finishing touch on the day was a concert by two of our Plank Road founders, Mark Dvorak and Marianne Mohrhusen.

Going forward, we are beginning our preparation for the great Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival on Labor Day weekend, in Geneva! Plank Road is there all day, both days, with a tent location and we have a stage performance both days. It is a huge event for “folk music” lovers.

And, in addition to our regular monthly sessions, we have a full slate of other “special events.” Our barn dances resume and our “fifth Saturday” workshops, too. The next one is Saturday, August 30. Watch for information on these sessions.

Bob O'Hanlon

President

Welcome New Members!

We're pleased to announce these folks who recently joined Plank Road Folk Music Society . . .

Brett O’Bourke
Pam Rebeck
Mary Kitzberger

Thanks for your support . . . it's all about the music and the camaraderie!

Plank Road’s 40^th Anniversary Party

Music, food, history, tributes . . . and more music!

Saturday, June 14, 2025 . . .

There was a lot going on that day: The weather was beautiful, there were errands to run, lawns to mow, and family events to attend. (Not to mention parades and protests around the country.)

But the big event for friends of Plank Road was our 40th Anniversary party!

After several months of planning and lots of hard work by many dedicated people, it all came together with music, food, happy reunions and memories for an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd.

The afternoon began at 2 PM with folk and country sing-arounds led by George Mattson and Bob O’Hanlon, plus lively old-time music with Betsy Anderson leading the string band. As evening approached, we were treated to snacks, sandwiches, salads and beverages — plus some amazing desserts — and a chance to socialize with old and new friends.

A little history, and some recognitions . . .

After a brief break, Bob O'Hanlon reviewed the history of the Plank Road Folk Music Society, followed by tributes and a presentation of framed Certificates of Appreciation to the original founders, past presidents and key members.

He said “If there was ever a Hall of Fame for the key members of Plank Road, these are the people who would be in it.”

He then presented Certificates of Recognition to two original founders, Dave Reynolds (who traveled all the way from Florida) and Mark Dvorak. Also Marianne Mohrhusen, who served many years as President; Cathy Jones, who also served as President, and has contributed much over the years; Dave Humphreys an early board member from the beginning, who continues to serve on the board today; George Mattson, our fearless sing-around leader for many years; and Jen Shilt, long-time board member who volunteers for everything, including graphic designer for our promotional materials and earlier newsletters.

And there was one more: As Bob O'Hanlon was wrapping up, Bill Lemos presented him with a certificate, recognizing his dedication and service, including being our longest-serving president — 18 years and counting!

And of course, more music . . .

The “warm-up act” featured one song representing each of Plank Road’s most popular activities — our Saturday folk and country/western sing-arounds, monthly BYOS song circles, and string band sessions.

And finally, the long-awaited concert by Mark Dvorak and Marianne Mohrhusen, ending with everyone in the room singing along.

Meal time!

Coordinated by Mimi O'Hanlon and Bethany DeHaan, with help from two volunteers from Music & Potlucks.

Special thanks to . . .

· Bob O’Hanlon for his many hours on the planning committee, keeping the team on track, researching the founding and long history of Plank Road, and his presentation, followed by awarding framed recognition certificates to key members.

· Bethany DeHaan and Mimi O’Hanlon for managing all the food, beverage and snack arrangements. And Bethany for the classy decor, 1985 signs and trivia, and the custom structure to display the colorful quilt, hand-made years ago by Jeanne Halama.

· Kristen Fuller and Jen Shilt for a lot of behind-the-scenes planning and communications with Music & Potlucks. Plus Jen for designing a great 40th logo, printing name tags, signs and more — and Kristen for manning the ticket table all day and night, but still able to play the whistle during the string band segment.

· Bill Lemos for creating an email promotional campaign, coordinating merchandise and “party favors,” and creating the honorary certificates.

· Dottie Lee for her technical expertise (and welcome advice) on our email blitz, and reminders on our website and Facebook page.

· George Mattson, Betsy Anderson, Cathy Jones, Bethany, Bill and Bob for their enthusiasm and rehearsal time for the "warmup" act.

· Dave Humphreys for his generous support and booking the venue with the church.

· Joel Simpson for setting up and manning the sound equipment and slide show, and ongoing support of Plank Road.

Plank Road also thanks Mark Dvorak and Marianne Mohrhusen for a great concert, and Music & Potlucks, the charitable organization which helped with ticket sales, and provided two wonderful volunteers to help with the food setup, distribution, and cleanup. We also appreciate and thank the members (and spouses) who helped with setting up and tearing down the chairs, tables, decorations, signs —and general cleanup.

Thanks also for the many photographs, courtesy of Jen Shilt, Kristen Fuller, Dottie Lee, Bill Lemos and Connie Lemos.

And speaking of photos — here are a bunch more!

Allan Shaw

In 1958, the Kingston Trio’s recording of “Tom Dooley” sailed to the top of the charts. Allan Shaw, then a college freshman, loved the band so much that he taught himself to play guitar and formed a copycat group called the Highlanders. The Kingston Trio went on to earn 13 Gold Records. Shaw went on to become a corporate attorney.

He loved the popular folk music of the late 1950s and early 60s, commonly called “the folk era” — or sometimes, derisively, “the great American folk scare.” In 1976 he met the Kingston Trio, becoming friends with founding member Bob Shane. Soon Shaw began a mail-order business, featuring a small catalog, called Kingston Korner, where album-seeking fans could find special order Kingston Trio albums. Word spread and soon people were demanding other folk artists like the Limeliters, Bob Gibson, the Chad Mitchell Trio and the Brothers Four.

In 1983 he left the corporate world and started a private legal practice in downtown Naperville. But by 1985 his lifelong love of music became his business as he introduced Folk Era Records and the Rediscover Music Catalogue. Shaw sought out wholesalers that would sell to him directly, and the business grew. His first catalog featured only 8 or 10 albums, but eventually expanded to 80 pages.

Through his Folk Era label he began reissuing out-of-print albums by the Kingston Trio and many other artists. In 1986 Folk Era was the first label to issue folk music on CD. Eventually there were more than 70 reissues and previously unreleased albums on his label.

Allan Shaw died January 29 at age 84.

Allan Shaw (center) and Plank Road’s Gregg Morton (right) play their respective parts during a Friday night hootenanny at Folk Era Records in Naperville.

Above photo and portions of article are from a 2006 issue of Naperville Magazine, by Dawn Klingensmith.

Local Venues

Two Way Street Coffee House — Friday Night Concert Series.

Doors open at 7:30pm and concerts start at 8pm. You can also view concerts online — more information on Two Way Street Coffee House or Facebook.

Maple Street Concerts.

Enjoy live concerts at Maple Street Chapel in downtown Lombard. Please check the Maple Street website for concert listings.

Other venues . . .

- Acoustic Renaissance Concerts

- Old Town School Of Folk Music

- Tobias Music Concerts

5th Saturday Workshop features Chris Walz and bluegrass guitar

On May 31 the second 5th Saturday Workshop of the year was held at Two Way Street Coffee House with bluegrass multi-instrumentalist Chris Walz. Widely known for his lightning speed on banjo, guitar and mandolin, the 2-part workshop focused on Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar, followed by Bluegrass Lead Playing.

"It's all about the rhythm and tempo," said Chris, as he covered correct pick grip, runs, rhythm licks and more.

The second workshop focused on lead techniques, building into a solid foundation for single note playing.

More Workshops to come!

The workshops are held at Two Way Street Coffee House, in partnership with Plank Road, under the direction of Joel Simpson and Jennifer Ashley.

Put these future workshops on your calendar! Check Two Way Street and Plank Road websites and Facebook pages for more information.

August 30 - Vocal Workshop with Bobcat Opossum
November 29 - Ukulele Workshop with Lil Rev

SAVE THE DATE!

Fox Valley Folk Festival

Labor Day Weekend

Aug. 31 & Sep. 1

Enjoy the last summer holiday weekend listening to live music and storytelling! Fox Valley Folk Music Festival will again be in beautiful Wheeler Park, Geneva.

Six stages with dozens of featured artists!
Continuous concerts, workshops, arts & crafts — and great music!
Spontaneous jamming — bring your instrument!
Multiple food trucks!

The festival is an all-volunteer run event! Please consider becoming a member of our team.

For information, go to FVFS.org

“Last Thursday” returns to Two Way Street Coffee House

Do you know a high school or college-aged musician who’s looking for an open mic? Two Way Street Coffee House has brought back it’s popular “Last Thursday” open mic night.

As the name implies, it’s held every last Thursday of the month, now through October, from 7-9 PM. It’s a great opportunity for younger folks to “step into the spotlight” on stage, with a live audience — and a livestream too! Perfect for acoustic musicians, poets and performance artists. Full AV setup and helpful volunteers are provided.

For more information, check twowaystreet.org

The Mississippi Delta . . .

. . . a time of struggle, and the development a new original form of American music.

By Wayne Oestreicher

My interest in the development of American Blues led me to these four related books dealing with the history of the Mississippi Delta — each in its own way. Each one has been an eye opener to me. Sometimes, I, like many people, want to forget the past and move on. But James Baldwin said, “The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways and history is literally present in all that we do.”

The Promised Land by Nicholas Lemann. This book recounts the history of the Great Black Migration and how it changed America. It covers the period from 1940 to 1970, especially the migration from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago as well as other northern cities. It deals with the response by northern policy makers to this phenomenon. It discusses the civil rights struggle in the south as well as the civil unrest in the north.

The Land Where the Blues Began by Alan Lomax. While telling of his experiences of

making field recordings of blues, gospel and other forms of music indigenous to the Delta, he tells the stories of the lives of black folks in the Mississippi Delta throughout the 20th century.

The World Don’t Owe Me Nothing - The Life and Times of Delta Bluesman Honeyboy Edwards. Recounts the life story of Honeyboy Edwards growing up in the Delta and living the life of a traveling blues musician during the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. His stories make the reality of the brutally racist Delta society really hit home. He ended up in Chicago and died in 2011 at age 96. He lived in relative obscurity till his career was revived at the end of his life. I have seen Honeyboy perform many times including one special performance on the main stage of the Chicago Blues Fest when his 90th birthday was celebrated.

The Most Southern Place on Earth, The Mississippi Delta and the Roots of Regional Identity by James C. Cobbs. This excellent book covers the history of the Mississippi Delta from pre-Civil War to the 1990s. If you have an interest in the history of the Mississippi Delta and the development of the Blues, this might be one for you. This scholarly dense book thoroughly examines the regional history of the Delta.

Each of these books is about the struggle of African Americans in the Mississippi Delta from the time of slavery through the great migrations in the 20th century up to present times. It is a heartbreaking story and in the middle of this story is the chronicle of the development of a new original form of music. It is the Blues created by these sharecroppers, former slaves and descendants of slaves. A music that has gone on to arguably influence all forms of American music that came after it.

I hope that some of you may find these books as interesting and helpful as I did.

- Wayne Oestreicher

Summer in Ireland with Jim Gilroy and his mandolin.

Jim Gilroy and wife Jenneine are spending the summer in County Clare, Ireland with family and friends — and attending music festivals and informal jams at local pubs. Oh yes, also doing lots of maintenance on the family property.

There’s a well-known annual festival called “Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy,” featuring traditional Irish music, dance, lectures, workshops, recitals and concerts. “It’s the event of the year for the area,” says Jim. “Businesses can make enough money to sustain a whole year. 10 days of crowds from all over the world.”

When asked about playing his mandolin at events, Jim said the mandolin gets drowned out if there are too many fiddles or banjos, and adds “there are too many banjos!”

Jenneine said this photo was taken in front of Friels Pub, where many well-known musicians stop by for a session. “It’s a gem of a pub,” says Jenneine. “It’s sort of our ‘local’ as they say over here.”

Jim explains “Set Dancing” and how it differs from square dancing.

Set Dancing is also a big part of the festival. It’s based on quadrilles, danced to Irish tunes in groups of eight or four dancers. These were transformed by the Irish into a unique folk dance of the Irish rural communities. Many sets are named after specific areas of Ireland.

Sets differ from square dance in that they do not require a caller as the dancers know the set by name. Each dance or ‘set’ consists of three to seven (most often four or five) short ‘figures’ which are danced in sequence, with a pause between each two figures.

The dances are performed to different types of Irish traditional dance tunes, including reels, jigs, hornpipes, slides, and polkas. The typical speed for Irish set dancing music falls within the range of 92 to 132 beats per minute (BPM), with the "sweet spot" generally considered to be between 100 and 116 BPM.

George Mattson Trio and Lonesome Eagle take the stage at Two Way Street.

Plank Road was well-represented at recent Friday night concerts at Two Way Street Coffee House.

On June 6, The Mattson Trio, featuring George Mattson and his backup musicians Tommy Re and Mike Hazdra, entertained an enthusiastic crowd.

Two weeks later another local favorite, Lonesome Eagle, took the stage. The trio includes long-time Plank Road members Ron Leaneagh, Gregg Morton and Cathy Jones.

Remembering . . .

Brian Wilson

Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and co-founder of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, died June 11. He is considered one of the most innovative and significant musical figures of his era. He was 82.

Wilson wrote the majority of their hits and is considered a musical genius for his songwriting and recording techniques. His orchestral production on albums like Pet Sounds expanded rock & roll's sonic palette and utilized the recording studio as an instrument. He became the first pop musician credited for writing, arranging, producing, and performing his own material.

His music was distinguished for its high production values, complex harmonies and orchestrations, vocal layering, and introspective, ingenuous themes — and his versatile vocals and falsetto.

By the mid-1960s he had written or co-written more than two dozen Top 40 hits, including number-one hits like “Surf City,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda,” and “Good Vibrations.”

Like many teenagers, he and his brothers Carl and Dennis saw rock and roll as a means to social success. His father, Murry, a would-be songwriter with a propensity for abuse, saw his sons' talents as a ticket to greater financial success. He managed the homegrown group, christened them The Beach Boys in 1961 — until Brian broke away from him in 1964, after going through his first nervous breakdown.

As one of the first major rock bands of the 1960s, The Beach Boys made hits of subjects like drag racing, high school rivalries and, of course, surfing to express the empowerment, freedom and fun many white middle-class kids felt in the post-war boom.

Southern California became the mythologized center of the new American dream . . . and Brian Wilson’s music was its soundtrack

Beyond the recording studio where his mastery shone, Wilson struggled with lifelong mental illness, leading him into isolation at the height of The Beach Boys' success. After a nervous breakdown in 1964, he withdrew from concert touring to focus on songwriting and production — resulting in works of even greater sophistication. One writer said his greatest musical works “made room for the deep melancholy he experienced, while evoking an almost otherworldly beauty — a soul longing for peace.”

Wilson received numerous industry awards, including two Grammys and Kennedy Center Honors. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.

Neighbors?

Wait, you can’t surf in

St. Charles, Illinois . . .

For several years Brian Wilson was almost a "neighbor,” living just a few miles west of here in St. Charles. In 1997, he and his wife, Melinda, owned a 6,527-square-foot, five-bedroom French Country-style mansion in St. Charles — complete with a recording studio.

Why St. Charles of all places, you ask? It was so they could work with and live near his then-producer, Joe Thomas. Eventually, the Wilsons and Thomas had a falling-out, and the Wilsons returned to California for good.

Sly Stone

Sly Stone, the eccentric frontman, singer, songwriter and producer of his family group, Sly & the Family Stone, died June 9. He was 82.

He was a musical visionary whose charismatic stage presence and distinctive vocals redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music. Their early morning performance at Woodstock in 1969 was widely recognized as a legendary moment.

Born Sylvester Stewart, Stone was recording gospel music with his siblings by age 8. He was still in grade school when a friend misspelled "Sylvester" as "Sly" — and the nickname stuck. By age 11, he was proficient in keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums. In high school, he'd formed a multi-racial doo-wop group, and recorded some singles in Los Angeles.

Stone worked as a DJ and later as a record producer. He and his brother Freddie merged their own bands together in 1966 to form Sly & the Family Stone. In it, women were not just vocalists but also played instruments, a rarity for the era. And it included both black and white musicians.

Within a few years, the group was turning out huge hits such as "Everyday People," "Family Affair" and "Dance to the Music." Although they attracted a large and diverse audience, Stone was pressured by the Black Panthers to fire the white members of the group. "Sly always stood up for me, and in many instances, he saved my butt," recalled saxophone player Jerry Marini.

In the 1970s, Sly Stone's music got gloomier and more cynical, reflecting a world made bleak by elevated racial tensions, the Vietnam War, and the assassination of Martin Luther King.

After playing some of the most euphoric and politically charged music that defined a generation, the band dissolved, in part because of Stone's well-documented drug abuse. He became infamous for missing gigs or showing up late, as he did for a concert in Chicago’s Grant Park in 1970.

By the 1980s, Sly Stone had slipped into seclusion. But in the mid 2000s, he started to make sporadic public appearances, including performing with his daughter's band. In 2017, he received a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys.

Tracy Schwarz

Best known for his work in The New Lost City Ramblers, fiddler/singer Tracy Schwarz passed away on March 29 at age 86.

A multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, guitar, banjo, accordion, and more), he is regarded as one of the great musicians of traditional American roots music. His recorded work includes three Grammy Award nominations.

Schwarz took up the guitar as a pre-teen, mastered the fiddle in the 1950s, and immersed himself in the bluegrass scene in Washington, D.C. while attending college.

After serving in the Army for two years, he joined Mike Seeger and John Cohen in The New Lost City Ramblers in 1962. The group began as old-time music revivalists, but soon absorbed the bluegrass, folk and Cajun influences that Schwarz brought to the band.

The group became one of the mainstays of Folkways Records, recording nine albums between 1964 and 2009.

During his career of over 50 years, Schwarz also recorded four solo albums, and along with Mike Seeger, recorded as members of The Strange Creek Singers in 1972.

He was an enthusiastic educator of traditional music styles and made several fiddle instruction albums. The Folkways website said this: “He fervently believed that anyone who was interested in learning how to play an instrument or sing, could.”

He had a deep love and passion for Appalachian music, and recorded and performed with countless traditional musicians — most recently with his wife and singing partner, Ginny Hawker. His songwriting work includes “The Poor Old Dirt Farmer” which was recorded by Levon Helm and nominated for Song of the Year by the Americana Music Association in 2008.

Throughout his career, he worked tirelessly as a scholar and teacher of traditional music styles, recording several instructional records in the 1970s.

The New Lost City Ramblers originally included Tom Paley, who was replaced by Schwarz in 1962. The other founders were Mike Seeger (Pete’s half-brother), who died in 2009, and John Cohen who died in 2019.

With a little help from our friends . . .

George Mattson Trio

gmtrio.com

Mark Dvorak

markdvorak.com

Cathy Jones

cbjmando@gmail.com

WDCB Folk Festival

Tobias Music

www.tobiasmusic.com

Music Trivia

Andy's Music Trivia Quiz

Well, surprise, surprise, Fred Spanuello missed only 1, but then gets credit for it by correcting a brain fade on my part. I would have put the wrong answer in for Q2. Thanks Fred.

Answers to April Quiz:

Q1. What was on the b-side of Ricky Nelson's "Travelin Man", and who wrote it?

A1. Gene Pitney wrote "Hello Mary Lou" which Ricky Nelson took to #9 in May of 1961 after the A-side ("Travelin Man") went to #1 in Apr of 1961.

Q2. What was the first black girl group to have a #1 BB100 hit? What was the group? What year was it? Who wrote it?

A2. The Shirelles took the Carole King/Gerry Goffin song, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" to #1 in 1960. The song was written targeting Johnny Mathis, but was rejected by Columbia records. The Shirelles disliked the song because it sounded “too white,” but later changed their mind.

Q3. NAME THAT TUNE! - What song begins with the words "Close Your Eyes and I'll"?

A3. "All My Loving" was released Jan. 1964 in the US on the "Meet the Beatles" album.

Q4. NAME THAT TUNE! – What song begins with the words "When I was Young, I Used to Wait"?

A4. "Blue Tail Fly" is a traditional song written by Decatur Dan Emmet in 1848. In the 1940's, and the folk rebirth it remained popular by the various artists' recordings: Andrews Sisters with Burl Ives, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, and others.

Q5. "I've Told Every Little Star was a big 1961 hit. Who sang it? Who wrote it & when? What musical was it from?

A5. Linda Scott sang the Oscar Hammerstein/Jerome Kern song that they wrote for the 1932 play, "Music In the Air".

Q6. What was the inspiration for the Bacharach/David hit, "Don't Make Me Over"?

A6. After years of singing backup, Dionne Warwick fought with Bacharach/David over cutting "Make It Easy On Yourself". When told the song had already been given to Jerry Butler, she stormed out angrily saying to them "Don't Make Me Over". They recognized it as a great phrase, wrote the song, and gave it to her.

Q7. Ann Margaret (Olson) at age 16 appeared on the Amateur Hour on 12/22/1957. What beat her on that show?

A7. A contestant playing “Granada “on tea leaves.

Trivia Snippet: “GONE “ . . . the fiddles, banjos, & steel guitars.

Ferlin Husky's crossover hit "Gone" (1957 #4 BB100 & #1 BBCW) is considered to be the song that inaugurated the era called the Nashville sound. He first recorded the song in 1952 as Terry Preston with steel guitar, fiddles, etc, and was a big flop. In 1957 it was revamped to be a pop bluesy ballad minus the fiddles and steel, and became a crossover smash hit (#1 BBCW & #4 BB100). The CW industry underwent a drastic change in the following years with Nashville producers and session musicians adopting this style of CW music. Ferlin went on to a long career in music, comedy and film. As Simon Crum he performed comedic versions of various hit songs. He continued to perform into the 1990's when health problems ended his performing career. He died on Mar 17, 2011 at age of 85.

NEW Trivia Quiz:

Q1. Who inspired Bobby Darin to write "Splish Splash"?

Q2. NAME THAT TUNE! – What song begins with the words " Deep Down In Louisiana, Down"?

Q3. NAME THAT TUNE! - What song begins with the words "I keep a close watch on"? Who sang the hit?

Q4. What Connie Francis song was written by Neil Sedaka & when?

Q5. Jim Stafford (Spiders & Snakes, My Girl Bill) appeared on the Amateur Hour. When, at what age, and what song did he play?

Trivia Snippet: “The Orange Blossom Special “

The Orange Blossum Special was or became a luxury train, running from NYC to Miami. The song was in all probability written by Ervin Rouse, a member of a small hillbilly band, the Rouse Brothers, before the train line started. Early on Erwin referred to his song (that he was always fooling around with) as his "crazy little fiddle tune" (which got the Cajun audience dancing like crazy).

The group's manager Lloyd Smith convinced the rail line to use it for the line's christening since the music actually sounded like a train rolling past, and named it the Orange Blossom Special. He copyrighted the song, and got the royalties.

Some years later, Erwin won back the copyright and future royalties to his name. Other stories about the origin abound, but this one sounds the most authentic. Johnny Cash did a very popular cover of the song with lyrics. Many bluegrass bands have covered it as a bluegrass instrumental.

Q6. The Colpix label had some top 40 hits with "Hey Girl" (Freddie Scott), "My Dad" (Paul Petersen), "Goodbye Cruel World," Conscience & Her Royal Majesty" (James Darren), and more. They changed the label name and went to several top 10 releases when what group was signed?

Q7. Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich wrote many hits including "DoWah Diddy Diddy", "Hanky Panky", and others. Jeff & Ellie had some success of their own as a group. What was the group name, and name two (or more) of their songs?

Q8. What was the first record to go to #1 on both the American and English charts?

Q9. NAME THAT TUNE! – What song ends with the words "Baby, you're the ginchiest".

If you are enjoying the trivia, please send responses to

AndyM @

pictq@yahoo.com