October 5th was a monumental day in current culture. On this day in 1921, the World Series (the New York Giants vs. the New York Yankees, with the Giants taking the series five games to three in a nest of nine contest)was broadcast on radio for the first time; in 1947, President Harry Truman made the first televised Oval Office address; in 1962, the first of the James Bond film series, Dr. No, had its premiere; on the same day in 1962, the Beatles released their first single, "Love Me Do"; and in 1982, Tylenol recalled products in Chicago after seven people who shown to have died from bottles tampered with cyanide, leading to stricter nation-wide safety packaging.
October 5 was also the birthday of both Larry Fine of The Three Stooges and Roy Kroc of McDonald's in 1902; Bil Keane of The Family Circus in 1922; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller in 1943; and British authors Peter Ackroyd (1949) and Clive Barker (1952).
But a couple of musical Libras may have flown under your radar. But, fear not, I am here to correct that possible oversight.
I hesitate to call Elva Ruby Miller (1907-1997) musical, but she did have an astonishing career as a novelty singer in the 1960s. She was a poorly trained mezzo-soprano with a torturous vibrato and a willingness to ignore both standard pitch and tempo. Think three stray cats, a lovesick peacock, and a dyspeptic screech owl being forced through a meat grinder at the same time. At age twenty-seven, she began studying music and voice at Pomona College, eventually recording several self-financed projects, while describing singing as a hobby. In 1960, radio disc jockey Gary Owens featured her on his program, which led to music arranger Fred Bock encouraging her to perform contemporary popular songs. She was signed to Capitol Records in 1965, which promoted her amateurish style. During recording sessions, she was often ahead of or behind the beat; she complained that the studio released the worst of her takes. Her first album, Mrs. Miller's Greatest Hits (1966) sold 250,000 copies ion its first three weeks. She was a frequent guest on talk shows, inclulding The Merv Griffith Show, where I would occasionally watch her.
"Downtown"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw07CDid0JM
"Green Tambourine"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBmR1skSQKg
"A Hard Day's Night"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2wheSpxL94
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin' "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgoGq6PTXZ4
"Strangers in the Night"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV0MtVWIN8Y
"A Lover's Concerto"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqlX88H4_Cg
Billy Lee Riley (1933-2009) was signed by Sam Phillips for Sun Records in 1955, but was unhappy when Phillips kept diverting to promote Jerry Lee Lewis's career instead of his. As with many other artists on Sun Records, chart success eluded him. His talent far outshone his recording success, although he was a strong influence on following artists. One of the great rockabilly artists
"Red Hot"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxt_7sD9znM
"Flyin' Saucer rock and Roll"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxt_7sD9znM
"Speed Lovers" the title song from a bottom of the barrel 1966 stock car racing flick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOP2WqNqD8c
"Rock with Me Baby"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhvbHH9ah58
"Baby Please Don't go"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btt6-naL9XU
"Trouble Bound"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv5ZJ8LP5M0
"Open the Door Richard"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-7cmbcRlHk&list=PLAA2DD72376EBE0EC&index=18
"I Hear You Knockin' "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbQYo7QWQN0&list=PLAA2DD72376EBE0EC&index=21
"Mountain of Love" NOT by Billy Lee Riley, but he and Roland James produced this hit on their Rita Records for Harold Dorman; Riley can be heard here on bass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y72SaV8al5k
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