Author Archives: dcaligari

When the music and dance create with accord…their magic captivates both the heart and the mind. Today is also International Dance Day. The date was chosen in commemoration of the death of the greatly influential dancer, choreographer and innovator Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810). The goals of Dance Day are to increase the awareness of the importanceContinue reading “Dance like no one is watching”

April 29, 1967 –Aretha Franklin’s classic version of Otis Redding’s Respect was released on this date. Franklin’s version is so definitive that most people assume she was the first to record the song. It was Aretha’s idea to cover this song. She came up with the arrangement, added the “sock it to me” lines, andContinue reading “R-E-S-P-E-C-T …”

April 29, 1983 –Martha Coolidge’s Rom-Com about a girl from the valley, Valley Girl, starring Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Michelle Meyrink, Elizabeth Daily, Cameron Dye and Michael Bowen opened in the US on this date. The producers of this film approached Frank Zappa about making a film based on his hit single Valley Girl (releasedContinue reading “Valley Girls premiered”

April 29, 1964 – The Toho Studios released their first cross-over monster movie Mosura tai Gojira (Godzilla vs. the Thing (Mothra)) in Japan on this date. This is the first Godzilla film without newly-shot American footage added for the American release. 1964 was the only year when Toho released two Godzilla movies in the sameContinue reading “All that and two tiny princesses”

April 28, 1975 –Former Beatle Ringo Starr appeared NBC-TV’s The Smothers Brothers Show performing his No No Song with hosts Tom and Dick Smothers, on this date. Later that evening, Tom Snyder interviewed ex-Beatle John Lennon on The Tomorrow Show on April 8, 1975. The show was broadcast on this date At the time, noContinue reading “The Beatles were all over TV today”

April 28, 1985 –The first single from Bryan Ferry’s album Boys and Girls, Slave To Love, was released on this date. The album, Boys and Girls, featured many brilliant guitarists, including Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bryan Adams‘ guitarist Keith Scott.

April 28, 1978 –John A. Alonzo’s film about a radio station with a motley collection of DJs, FM, starring Michael Brandon, Eileen Brennan, Alex Karras, Cleavon Little, Martin Mull and Cassie Yates went into general release in the US on this date. Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett and REO Speedwagon all make cameo appearances in theContinue reading “FM opened”

April 28, 2009 –A TV commercial for the UK car insurance company, Swiftcover featuring Iggy Pop was ruled as misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority. In the ad, Iggy was seen exclaiming that he had an insurance policy with Swiftcover but the company did not cover musicians at the time of the ad being shown.Continue reading “Oops, that naughty Iggy”

April 27, 1971 – CBS executives finally sobered up and the last episode of Green Acres aired on this date. This was to have been the pilot for a proposed spin off featuring Elaine Joyce as Carol. Oliver and Lisa only appear briefly in the beginning as an excuse to introduce Carol and the pilot.Continue reading “We got to be at Green Acres one last time”

April 27, 1990 –The British film based on the lives and crimes of the English gangster twins Ronald and Reginald Kray, The Krays, starring Gary Kemp (of Spandau Ballet) and Martin Kemp, opened in the UK on this date. Roger Daltrey had originally intended to produce a film about the Kray twins life after acquiringContinue reading “The Krays premiered”