Deidre Hall

Teri Garr

Kate Jackson

Ed Whalen: Voice of Calgary

Red Rooster

Keith Morrison

Jack Jones and "The Love Boat Theme"

Judith Light

Johnny Carson

Fernando Valenzuela

Dodger-Yankees

John Lithgow

Robert Reed

Amy Linker

Dionne Warwick

Tim Robbins: Breaking out with “Bull Durham”

Tim Robbins, at right, in the 1988 film "Bull Durham", with co-star Kevin Costner.

Source: https://x.com/nytimes/status/1669380264907112452?lang=ar

(May be subject to copyright)

“Nuke” Laloosh had a million-dollar arm and was destined to pitch in the major leagues – he just wasn’t that bright and needed to mature in the minors. Helping him do that was Crash Davis, a catcher and longtime minor leaguer, who showed “Nuke” how to act when he got to “The Show”.

On the bus one day, Crash was trying to teach “Nuke” how to act in the big leagues

Crash told him to be cocky and confident, play the game with fear and arrogance.

“Right, fear and ignorance,” “Nuke” said.

Crash kind of cringed.

“No, you hayseed,” Crash said. “It’s arrogance not ignorance.”

It is hard to believe Tim Robbins, the man who played the dimwitted Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh in “Bull Durham”, also played the thoughtful, intense Andy Dufresne in “The Shawshank Redemption” a few years later.

When I saw it was his birthday today, it reminded me of the movie that really put him in the public eye, and a springboard to an award-winning career that continues to this day.

In the beginning
Tim Robbins’ first role on television was a three-episode stint on “St. Elsewhere” in 1982. He was also in “At Ease” and the TV movie “Quarterback Princess” with Helen Hunt in 1983; “Legmen”; “Hardcastle and McCormick”; “Santa Barbara”; “The Love Boat”; and “Hill Street Blues” in 1984; “Moonlighting” and the TV movie “Malice in Blunderland” in 1985; and “Amazing Stories” in 1986.

His first movie was “Toy Soldiers” in 1984. He was also in “No Small Affair” in 1984; “Fraternity Vacation” and “The Sure Thing” in 1985; “Howard the Duck” and “Top Gun” in 1986; and “Five Corners” and “Tapeheads” in 1988.

Summer of ‘88
I returned to Southern Alberta in the Spring of 1988. A lot had developed in my eight-month absence, including a new theatre complex in Lethbridge as part of the new Park Place Mall.

“Bull Durham” was one of the first movies I saw there. Kevin Costner plays Crash Davis, a career minor league catcher whose job often is to groom pitchers for the major leagues. Tim Robbins plays Ebby Calvin “Nuke” Laloosh, a major league pitching prospect, who Crash is tasked with mentoring.

It was the first time I ever saw Tim Robbins and, for awhile, whenever I saw him in anything else, could not help but associate him with that dim-witted “Nuke” LaLoosh.

That would change though.

Robbins closed out the ‘80s in “Erik the Viking”; “Miss Firecracker”; and “Twister”, all in 1989.

The years after
Tim Robbins’ career would absolutely take off in the ‘90s, as an actor, director, producer and writer. He was in “Jacob’s Ladder”; “Cadillac Man”; “Jungle Fever”; “I.Q.”; “Pret-a-Porter” or “Ready to Wear”; “The Shawshank Redemption”; “The Hudsucker Proxy”; “Nothing to Lose”; “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”; and “Arlington Road”.

He was just brilliant in “The Shawshank Redemption” as Andy Dufresne, a prisoner in a prison where he befriends a fellow convict played by Morgan Freeman to form a lifelong friendship.

Robbins where was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 1993 for “Bob Roberts”; won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 1993 for “The Player”; won a Golden Globe in 1994 for Special Award for Ensemble Cast for “Short Cuts”; and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director in 1996 and nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for ”Dead Man Walking”.

In the 21st Century, he was in “Mission to Mars”; “High Fidelity”; “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”; “War of the Worlds”; “Green Lantern”; and so much more.

He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 and won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture in 2004 for “Mystic River”.

On television he has been in episodes of “Jack and Bobby”; the television film “Cinema Verite”, where he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film; “Portlandia”; the miniseries “The Spoils of Babylon”; 10 episodes of “The Brink”; 10 episodes of “Here and Now”; part of the main cast of “Castle Rock”; 10 episodes of “Silo”, and more.

Parting thoughts
I met Tim Robbins when he played “Nuke” LaLoosh in “Bull Durham. He was dense, thick, and not that smart. Every time after that for a long time, when I saw Tim Robbins, I thought of that dim-witted performance as “Nuke” LaLoosh.

His characters in “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Mystic River” are excellent, both clever and intelligent, but nothing like “Nuke” LaLoosh.

Funny thing about first impressions. They can stay with you.

Here’s to 1,000

When I started this blog, my goal was to share, reflect on, and preserve the memories and experiences I had of growing up in the ‘80s. It was a formative decade. I was in Grade 5 when it began, and part way through my third year of university when the clock struck midnight on December 31, 1989. Starting out as a young boy it concluded as a young man.

Much of my reflection has been on pop culture, whether TV, movies or music; sports; and news. It’s funny how so many memories are attached to songs, shows or events. I knew I had a lot I wanted to write and reflect on, but I never imagined it would eventually add up to 1,000 posts, with really no end in sight.

It has been just over 12 years since this blog launched and, at 1,000 posts, I have observed some interesting things.

Attribution and sources
Being a trained journalist, one of the things I am very cognizant about is attribution and plagiarism. I rely heavily on Wikipedia as my primary source of material. It is a pretty incredible resource.

I try to cite it directly when I find it puts something better than I can, especially when it is background information that I may not have known. Otherwise, I try to share my own recollection.

Something I have discovered, especially after I start a blog post by reading what Wikipedia says, is how often other websites will essentially copy and paste exactly what is on Wikipedia. What makes this extra disappointing is this is not exclusive to blogs or personal websites, but actual mainstream media outlets, and the official websites of professional organizations. I would expect them to do their own research, or at the very least rewrite Wikipedia entries.

What this really does though, is limit the voices out there. If I Google a topic, hundreds of websites come up. However, when I start reading through website after website, the same information appears – often word for word. I get it. If I am looking for a few sentences of background information to go in a story, the easiest way is to get it from Wikipedia. The thing is, with the Internet becoming the source of information, this is limiting.

That is why I try to dig deeper, look at a lot of websites, and look up the reference listed on Wikipedia to get more and different information.

Ideally, what I would like to do, and have done in the past, is actually go to primary sources, particularly past issues of periodicals such as “The Lethbridge Herald”, “Billboard Magazine”, “TV Guide”, and others.

Ideas and inspiration
A couple years ago, I mused about the goal of getting to 1,000 posts then thinking about what is next – keep going or stop? Would I have enough ideas to even get to 1,000, much less keep going.

I knew it meant having to write every day, which I have tried to do.

The challenge is to keep finding ideas every single day.

As it turns out, that really has not been a problem at all, and does not seem to be going forward. One of the sad things is that the people of that era are dying off, so eulogizing them provides a fair bit of material. So does anniversaries. That happens mostly in sports, when an athlete hits a milestone of some kind.

When there are no deaths or anniversaries, my go-to is the celebrity birthdays for that day. Only once or twice have their been no celebrities to blog about. Often, there are more than one. The other cool thing is that checking out celebrity birthdays provides names I would never have thought of but, when I see them, may be flooded by memories.

I guess that’s pretty much the definition of inspiration.

Production and process
After 1,000 posts, I do have to ask myself, am I tired of doing this? Is it becoming a grind or like work? The answer is no.

There are days when I don’t write, and that just causes the work to pile up. However, what I have discovered is that starting is the hardest part. That seems to be the story of all aspects of my life. Once I get started, I get into a flow that really takes on a life of its own, and I just want to keep going and going. Often, when I start late in the evening, I regret not starting earlier, because I get into this flow late in the day, when I really have to go to bed.

Earlier this year I had a streak of more than 40 straight days, and I put up more than 50 total posts in the month of June. The key to that production was starting earlier, before distractions sunk in their teeth, and writing every day.

Something I realized a long time ago. It is satisfying to write, but just as satisfying or moreso to have written. It is exceptionally gratifying for me to look back at a day of writing and see what I accomplished, or read something I wrote and going, “I can’t believe I wrote that.”

Parting thoughts
Having said I what I just did, I can’t believe I have written 1,000 posts. It is gratifying and energizing and motivating.

It is hard to imagine, and testament to achieving a goal by chipping away at it every day. One thousand posts seemed almost insurmountable to me at times, but doing a little bit every day piles up, and soon you’re there.

And I am here, with no end in sight.

So here’s to 1,000.

Emma Samms: Talented and versatile

Emma Samms, at right, as Fallon Carrington Colby,

in "Dynasty" with her co-star John James.

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081856/characters/nm0759924/

(May be subject to copyright)

One thing, among many, fascinates me about soap operas. Someone can play a character for years, then leave. When the character returns, he or she is played by someone completely different, without anyone skipping a beat.

That is prevalent in daytime dramas such as “Day Of Our Lives”, where most long-standing characters have been played by multiple actors. That was rarely the case with night-time dramas such as “Dallas” or “Knot’s Landing”.

However, “Dynasty” had more than one character played by different actors. The first time was when Al Corley, who played Steven Carrington, left the show. He was replaced by Jack Coleman. This change in appearance was explained by the fact Steven survived an oil rig explosion and had to undergo plastic surgery.

The second time around, Fallon Carrington Colby, played by Pamela Sue Martin, disappeared, presumably never to be seen again. However, one day, her husband Jeff Colby, played by John James, saw a face in a picture that looked like Fallon.

He eventually tracked her down – but now she was played by Emma Samms.

Unlike Jack Coleman, who I had never seen before, I had seen Emma Samms before. It was in another soap opera and, although she looked as attractive as ever, she sounded much different.

Emma Samms came across my newsfeed a couple days ago, and it reminded me of that soap opera switcheroo and much more.

Starting out
Emma Samms was born in London, England in 1960. Her first credited role was in the 1979 movie “Arabian Adventure” where she plays a princess.

In 1980, she appeared in the TV movie “More Wild Wild West”, a reunion of the 1960s western spy show with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin reprising their roles. The following year, 1981, she was in the miniseries “Goliath Awaits” where scientists discover an underwater community surviving in the wreck of an ocean liner that sank during the Second World War.

Her world would change completely in 1982, when she landed a role she plays on and off to this day.

Smitten with Scorpio – and Spencer
“General Hospital” was the hottest daytime drama in the first half of the ‘80s. It was fuelled by intriguing story lines that involved more than romance, cheating, and scheming. It delved into espionage, international intrigue and more. At the centre of the action was the power couple of Luke and Laura Spencer, played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis.

Luke became best friends with Robert Scorpio. He was an agent with the World Security Bureau then police commissioner of Port Charles, the community in which “General Hospital” is set. Scorpio, played by Tristan Rogers to this day on and off since 1980, is Australian, and very charismatic on screen.

Samms played Holly Sutton, who originally got involved with Luke Spencer when he and Laura were no longer together. After various twists and turns, she became involved with and married Robert Scorpio. The three became embroiled in a love triangle, but she eventually chose Robert and Luke reunited with Laura.

Eventually, Robert and Holly decide to move to Australia in 1985. Sadly, Holly is in an airplane crash and believed dead.

In reality, Samms was leaving “General Hospital” because she landed another role in a soap opera.

This one took her into primetime and millions of living rooms across the continent.

Two shows for the price of one
Emma Samms was cast to play Fallon Colby, a character returning to “Dynasty”. She appeared in eight episodes of the sixth season of “Dynasty”, then was spun off into her own series “The Colbys”. She continued as a guest star on “Dynasty” appearing in one episode at the end of the sixth season and two episodes of the seventh season.

“The Colbys” lasted two seasons from 1985 to 1987 for a total of 49 episodes, before it was cancelled.

Samms returned to “Dynasty” as Falon Carrington Colby in the eighth season premiere of the show in September of 1987. She stayed on with the show through the eighth and ninth seasons, when it was cancelled.

She also returned in 1991 for the miniseries “Dynasty: The Reunion”.

Staying busy
One of the reasons Emma Samms landed the role of Falon Carrington Colby was by appearing in two episodes of “Hotel” in 1984 and 1985. There she met Aaron Spelling who was not only the creator of “Hotel” but “Dynasty” as well.

Samms also appeared in the miniseries “Ellis Island”; the TV movies ”Murder in Three Acts”, “The Lady and the Highwayman”, and “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”; and episodes of “The New Mike Hammer”; “Throb”; “Newhart”; “Murder, She Wrote”; and “My Two Dads”.

The years after
Emma Samms kept on acting, appearing in several TV movies as well as episodes of “Get a Life”; “Diagnosis Murder”; “Dave’s World”; “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”; 12 episodes of “Models, Inc.”; “Tales from the Crypt”; 40 episodes of “Doctors”; and much more.

She continues to act to this day, including as Holly Scorpio on “General Hospital”.

Parting thoughts
The first time I heard about Emma Samms was in an issue of “TV Guide”, when a story described the love triangle of her character Holly Scorpio with Robert Scorpio and Luke Spencer. Shortly after, I saw her on “General Hospital”, and could see the chemistry she had with both men.

What amazes me about Emma Samms is how differently she was on “General Hospital” and “Dynasty”. She was definitely British married to Robert Scorpio, but once she moved to Denver and became part of the Carrington family, that British accent disappeared. Had I not seen her on “General Hospital”, I would not believe Falon Carrington Colby was played by the same actor who played the very British Holly Scorpio.

It was a more striking transformation than seeing Pamela Sue Martin play Falon one day, then seeing Emma Samms playing the same character the next.

It just speaks to how talented, and versatile, Emma Samms is.

Albert Hague: Mr. Shorofsky on “Fame” leaves a lasting impression

Albert Hague played music teacher Benjamin Shorofsky

in the movie and television series "Fame".

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/635148353688750926/

(May be subject to copyright)

If there was ever a TV character who would rather be respected than liked, it was music teacher Benjamin Shorofsky on “Fame”. He was demanding, hard working, and portrayed a very German composer and educator – because he actually was German and a composer.

It is Albert Hague’s birthday today and, although he died in 2001, when I saw his name today, it conjured up memories of Benjamin Shorofsky and particularly his relationship with his student Bruno Martelli. However, I also discovered he was a composer of some renown, and was surprised at some of the well-known, and cool, music he composed.

Biography
Albert Hague was born to a Jewish family in Germany in 1920, but they raised him a Lutheran fearing his Jewish heritage would be a problem. Wikipedia reveals shortly before he was to be taken into the Hitler Youth, he and his mother fled to Rome. He came to America in 1939, after his sister got him a musical scholarship to the University of Cincinnati. He did not have legal immigration status to be in the United States, so he was adopted by an eye surgeon associated with the university. After graduating in 1942, he served in the United States Army’s special service band during the Second World War.

He would go on to score Broadway musicals, film, television, and do some acting as well.

Brush with “Fame”
“Fame” followed the lives of students and teachers at New York City’s High School of Performing Arts. Albert Hague originated the role of Benjamin Shorofsky when “Fame” came out in theatres in 1980. I watched it a few years ago and, quite frankly, Mr. Shorofsky did not leave an impression at all.

That would change when “Fame” became a television series in 1982. That's when Albert Hague really developed the character of Mr. Shorofsky.

There are two episodes from that first season that really stand out in my mind. I can recall them as if I saw them last week.

“Sh…Sh…Sh…Shorofsky…”
The 13th episode of the season, entitled “A Musical Bridge”, came out on April 1, 1982. Bruno Martelli was a student who was a keyboardist and composer who studied under Mr. Shorofsky. It seemed to me as if Bruno was Shorofsky’s favourite student, because the teacher always pushed and challenged the student.

In this episode, Montgomery, another student, loves this new song on the radio. However, Bruno says it is just noise and anyone could come up with something like that. To prove it, he sets up behind his keyboard and asks Montgomery to give him a topic. Mr. Shorofsky then enters the room, unbeknownst to Bruno.

“Mr. Shorofsky,” Maontgomery says, trying to warn Bruno.

Instead, Bruno takes that as the topic of this song, and starts to compose this song.

“Sh…Sh…Sh…Shorofsky…”

Bruno discovers Mr. Shorofsky there soon enough. However, Montgomery recorded Bruno’s song, submitted it to a local new wave band, and they got interested in Bruno. Montgomery tells Bruno, but the rest of the students don’t like the way Montgomery used Bruno. At the same time Mr. Shorofsky helps Bruno realize he shouldn’t compromise his integrity for money.

I can still hear that line “Sh…Sh…Sh…Shorofsky…” in my head as I type this.

Frieda
Two weeks later, “Reunions”, the 15th episode of the first season, aired on April 19, 1982. Mr. Shorofsky’s old girlfriend, a Holocaust survivor named Frieda Grauer, played by Signe Hasso, pays a visit. I recall at one point Mr. Shorofsky preparing to sing her their favourite German song – “Du, du liegst mir im Herzen”, which my Mom immediately recognized. He eventually did sing it to her, but I don’t recall what happened after that.

Albert Hague stayed with the show for its entire six-season run from 1982 to 1987 for a total of 136 episodes.

Beyond “Fame”
Hague also had guest spots in the ‘80s in the TV shows “Nightmares”; “Mr. Belvedere”; “Amazing Stories”; “Falcon Crest”; “Tales from the Darkside”; “Faerie Tale Theatre”; “Beauty and the Beast”; “ABC Afterschool Specials”; and “Hotel”; the TV movies “Not Just Another Affair”; “Passions”; and “Murder or Memory: A Moment of Truth Movie”. In the ‘90s he was in the movies “Space Jam”; and “Playing Dangerous 2”.

“The Story of Us”, in 1999, was his last role.

“You’re a mean one…”
Something I was unaware of was how great and prolific a composer Albert Hague was. He really was qualified to be a music teacher, much less play one.

He was the composer for the 1966 TV cartoon “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, which I recently learned. I think that is really impressive.

Hague also composed songs such as “Young and Foolish”, which was performed by artists such as Paul Anka; Bing Crosby; Lesley Gore; Dean Martin; Johnny Mathis; Oscar Peterson; and many others.

Albert Hague died in November of 2001 from cancer.

He was 81.

Parting thoughts
Albert Hague brought a German sensibility to the role of Benjamin Shorofsky. He was stern, serious, intense, demanding and dead pan. Yet, he had a sense of humour he revealed with an impish little grin, quick glance or slightly raised eyebrow. He was also fiercely loyal to his students, especially his prize pupil Bruno Martelli.

It is interesting to look back, because I got none of this from the movie “Fame”. It was in the six seasons of the follow-up TV show where he revealed all this character.

He certainly left a lasting impression on me, because I can still picture specific scenes he was in 40 years ago.

Tony Kubek: Educating a generation of Canadian baseball fans

Broadcaster Tony Kubek, at right, with partner Don Chevrier called Toronto Blue Jays games right through the '80s on CTV.

Source: https://markhebscher.substack.com/p/why-isnt-chevy-in-the-canadian-baseball

(May be subject to copyright)

“(Tony Kubek) educated a whole generation of Canadian baseball fans without being condescending or simplistic…” ~ Toronto Star

From the moment the Toronto Blue Jays joined Major League Baseball in 1977 until they won their second American League East Division title in 1989, the action was brought to Canadians live by CTV.

For those first 13 seasons of Toronto’s existence, baseball analyst Tony Kubek provided his thoughts and insights, educating a whole generation of Canadian baseball fans as stated above.

When I read it was Kubek’s birthday today, it reminded me how big an influence he had on what I know about baseball.

Blue Jays Baseball
Although the Toronto Blue Jays began play in 1977, I really did not start watching them, or the Montreal Expos, play until 1981. The Expos were exclusively on the peasant vision dial on CBC Channel 9, with Duke Snider and Dave van Hore calling the games. The Blue Jays, who were owned by Labatts Brewery, were exclusively on CTV Channel 13 on Labatts Blue Jay Baseball, with Don Chevrier and Tony Kubek calling the games.

Chevrier, who I first saw on CBC Curling Classic, was the play-by-play man and Kubek was the colour man, or baseball analyst.

The Jays were most often on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. Since the games were usually broadcast from Toronto or some other city in the Eastern Time Zone, they were usually “Joined in progress” or on tape delay, meaning they were taped earlier and played from the beginning. There was not as much danger of spoilers. There was no Internet, so no way to find out what was happening in real time.

There were also Blue Jay games on Sundays, at 1 p.m., and sometimes on Saturdays. It was not like later on when TSN came along, or now, where virtually every one of the Jays’ 162 games is broadcast live.

So, when I tuned in that first time in 1981, Tony Kubek was there to tell me about what was happening on the field.

The player
Tony Kubek brought a lot of experience as a player to the broadcast booth. He played his entire nine-year Major League career primarily at shortstop with the New York Yankees. He was 21 years old when he made his Major League debut in 1957, and would go on to be the American League Rookie of the Year in 1957.

Kubek was part of New York Yankee pennant-winning teams in 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964. He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1958, 1961, and 1962. He was also an all-star in 1958, 1959, 1961, and 1962.

I recall watching a playoff or World Series game that flashed back to the 1960 World Series. The Yankees were leading in Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when a ground ball to short took a funny hop and hit Kubek in the throat. My first thought, especially when I saw him on the ground clutching his throat was, “Is he okay?” The runner reached base safely, and the Pirates would go on to win the World Series on a walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski. I also remember thinking how young Kubek looked, and he had a crew cut.

A back injury forced him to retire after the 1965 season.

Kubek played a total of 1,092 games, batting .266, with 1,109 hits, 57 home runs, 30 triples, 178 doubles, and he drove in 373 runs.

The broadcaster
Tony Kubek is one of two broadcasters who taught me all about baseball. The other was Joe Morgan. Kubek shared insights, talked about positioning, the history of the game, strategy, and so much more.

He was also humble. Until I saw that clip of the 1960 World Series, I did not know he was a former Major League ball player. He never talked about his playing days and, looking back, I really appreciate that. Talking about the good old days, like some former players do, makes the broadcast more about them than the game on the field.

Kubek never did that. Instead, he focused on the action on the field. He described Dave Stieb’s wicked slider; and why the Blue Jays platooned Garth Iorg and Rance Mulliniks at third, and Ernie Whitt and Buck Martinez behind the plate.

He talked about how Cliff Johnson provided leadership to the young outfielders who looked up to him; and that San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic produced a lot of great Major League shortstops such as Tony Fernandez.

He explained how Fernandez fielded on the run because, growing up in the Dominican Republic and playing on fields full of rocks, he learned early on if he fielded straight on the ball was liable to hit something and break his nose.

There was so much more.

The one thing he predicted, which I hoped was wrong but wasn’t, happened during the 1985 season. The Blue Jays were on their way to the best regular season in their history, when they won 99 games, the most in club history.

They were playing the Kansas City Royals and Kubek told everyone to watch out because the Royals had these young guns pitching for them – Danny Jackson, Mark Gubicza, and Bret Saberhagen. He said their names sounded funny, but they were going to make an impact.

All three of those pitchers would go on to help the Royals upset the Jays in the American League Championship Series then beat St. Louis to win the World Series.

And we all heard it first from Tony Kubek. Damn you Tony Kubek.

He also called Jays games for TSN, and worked 24 years for NBC calling regular season and playoff games. He began in 1966 with Jim Simpson, then later Curt Gowdy, Joe Garagiola, and Bob Costas. He also called 11 World Series, 14 American League Championship Series, and 10 All-Star Games. I recall at Christmas time in 1992, TSN replayed a game from the 1972 World Series between the Oakland A’s and the Cincinnati Reds, and I was surprised to see Kubek calling the game. It was also the first time I ever saw Curt Gowdy.

After the 1989 season, NBC lost the baseball broadcasting rights to CBS and Kubek stopped broadcasting games nationally. He also left TSN and CTV. He broadcast the last edition of NBC’s Game of the Week in 1989, which saw the Jays beat Baltimore at SkyDome to clinch the American League East Division. His last broadcast was also at SkyDome, when Oakland beat Toronto in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series to advance to the World Series.

Kubek moved on to broadcasting Yankee games on the MSG Network from 1990 to 1994, then retired.

He was awarded the Ford C. Frick Award in 2009 by the National Baseball Hall of Fame for a broadcaster making major contributions to baseball. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016, for his work broadcasting the Jays.

Book of Lists
There is one other odd memory I have of Tony Kubek. Every summer I would spend a couple weeks in Brooks with my cousins, and aunt and uncle. One year, my cousin Fred had a really cool book called “The Book of Lists”. It had lists covering a wide range of subjects. One was a page of lists of various baseball teams such as the “All-Puerto Rican Team” and the “All-Jewish Team”.

Kubek was the shortstop for the All-Polish Team. Interestingly, Bill Mazeroski who hit that World Series winning home run against Kubek in 1960, was also on that list.

Parting thoughts
Tony Kubek was a major influence on my baseball life. As I sit and think about all the bits and pieces I picked up from every Blue Jays telecast I watched, they can all be attributed to him.

I recall him talking about how the Jays had this young phenom at shortstop in the minors who was making more and more major league plays every day. His name was Tony Fernandez. Or how in 1984 when the Detroit Tigers started the season 35-5, that might be enough to carry them through the season to win the American League East Division over the Jays. It did.

There is so, so much more.

And it was all brought to me by Tony Kubek.

Steve Young: Football purgatory and the road to redemption in the ‘80s

Quarterback Steve Young with Tampa Bay in the '80s.

Source: Facebook/NFL Retro

(May be subject to copyright)

He was a star in college and would go on to be a hall-of-fame quarterback. However, in the 1980s, Steve Young spent his time doing penance in football purgatory – but some of it was his own doing.

It is Steve Young’s birthday today, and the perfect chance to look at how the ‘80s prepared the star quarterback for the success that came later.

College star
Steve Young played his college football at Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1983, where he was a standout. Initially he backed up Jim McMahon who was also a standout and had a successful professional career. In his final year backing up McMahon in 1981, Young appeared in 12 games completing 56 of 112 passes for 731 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 233 yards on 53 attempts. The Cougars finished with an 11-2 record, winning the Western Athletic Conference for the sixth consecutive time, beat Washington State in the Holiday Bowl by a score of 38-36 and finished the season ranked 13th in the Associated Press poll.

When McMahon turned pro, Young became the Cougars starting quarterback for the 1982 season. He completed 230 of 367 passes for 3,100 yards, 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He also rushed for 407 yards on 114 carries, and 10 touchdowns. The Cougars finished with an 8-4 record, winning their seventh straight Western Athletic Conference title, and lost the Holiday Bowl to Ohio State by a score of 47-17. Young was named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-WAC.

In his senior year, the 1983 season, Young completed 306 of 429 passes for 3,902 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His 71.3 completion percentage was an NCAA single-season record. Young also rushed for 444 yards on 102 carries, and eight touchdowns. Brigham Young set an NCAA record by averaging 584.2 yards of total offence per game. Young averaged 370.5 of those yards through his passing and running.

Young was a unanimous All-American, won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award as the country’s best college quarterback; won the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s top passer; and finished second to Nebraska’s Mike Rozier in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

The Cougars finished with a record of 11-1, winning their eighth consecutive Western Athletic Conference championship, defeated Missouri in the Holiday Bowl by a score of 21-17, and finished the season ranked seventh in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ polls. Young scored the winning touchdown in the Holiday Bowl. He was also named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-WAC.

Young finished his college career with 592 completions on 908 attempts for 7,733 yards, 56 touchdowns and 33 interceptions, as well as 1,084 yards rushing on 269 attempts and 18 touchdowns.

Turning Pro
Steve Young would surely be a top pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. Yet, at the time, the United States Football League was courting college prospects. The Los Angeles Express came calling, drafting Young 11th overall in the USFL draft, and signed Young to a then-record $40 million, 10-year contract.

I remember hearing about that contract and how crazy it sounded back then.

Young missed the first six games of the 1984 season because he was taking classes to finish his degree. He joined the Express for the final 12 games, starting them all. He ended up completing 179 of 310 passes for 2,361 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while rushing 79 times for 515 yards and seven touchdowns. One of the highlights of the year was Young becoming the first pro football player to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in a single game.

The 1985 season was a disaster for the Express. Wikipedia explains the league had to take over the team, then cut the budget to the bare minimum. That meant no money was allocated to replace injured players. This became a problem when the Express had a number of injuries. By then, Young and other young players surmised the USFL would not survive, so they played tentatively. They didn’t want to harm their chances to play in the NFL. Before the Express’ final home game, the bus driver refused to leave until he was paid upfront in cash. Young was one of the people who contributed money so the driver took them to their game. In their final game of the season, the Express had no healthy running backs left so Young had to line up at tailback.

Young ended up starting 10 games, completing 137 of 250 passes for 1,741 yards, six touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while rushing 56 times for 368 yards and two touchdowns.

The Express, who had gone to the Western Conference title game the year before, plummeted to 3-15 in 1985.

Young was in football purgatory.

He did manage to get much of the money he was owed by the Express, on his way out of town and to the NFL.

Do you know the way to Tampa Bay
Young ended up buying out his contract with the Express. He immediately signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who had taken Young first overall in a supplemental draft of USFL players.

Tampa Bay was the NFL, but the Buccaneers were in the middle of what would be 12 straight 10-loss seasons.

Steve Young started five games for Tampa Bay in 1985, winning once and losing four times. He completed 72 of 138 passes for 935 yards, three touchdowns, eight interceptions, and he was sacked 21 times. He also rushed 40 times for 233 yards, one touchdown, fumbled four times and lost three. The Buccaneers finished with a record of 2-14, good enough for fifth and last in the NFC Central Division.

Young started 14 games for Tampa Bay in 1986, winning two and losing 12. He completed 195 of 363 passes for 2,282 yards, eight touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and he was sacked 47 times. He also rushed 74 times for 425 yards, five touchdowns, fumbled 11 times and lost nine of them. The Buccaneers again finished 2-14, fifth and last in the NFC Central Division yet again.

Young was still in football purgatory.

Are you going to San Francisco?
The Buccaneers gave up on Young after the season, drafting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde first overall in the 1987 NFL Draft. They traded Young to San Francisco just before the draft. The 49ers planned to use Young to back up Joe Montana, their star quarterback. San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh saw Young’s potential, and believed his lack of success was due in large part to the team that had surrounded him.

Steve Young would spend the next four seasons, and close out the ‘80s, as Montana’s back up. However, when given the opportunity he performed well in spot duty.

He appeared in eight games for the Niners, starting three in 1987, winning two and losing one. He completed 37 of 69 passes for 570 yards, 10 touchdowns, no interceptions, and he was sacked three times. He also rushed 26 times for 190 yards, one touchdown, and didn’t fumble. San Francisco won their second straight NFC West Division title with a record of 13-2, but were upset in the NFC Divisional Game by Minnesota.

In 1988, Young appeared in 11 games for San Francisco, starting three, winning two and losing one. He completed 54 of 101 passes for 680 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and he was sacked 13 times. He also rushed 27 times for 184 yards, one touchdown, fumbled five times and lost three. San Francisco won their third straight NFC West Division title with a record of 10-6, defeated Minnesota in an NFC Divisional Game re-match, beat Chicago in the NFC Championship Game, and won the Super Bowl by beating Cincinnati.

In 1989, Young appeared in 10 games for the 49ers, starting three, winning them all. He completed 64 of 92 passes for 1,001 yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and he was sacked 12 times. He also rushed 38 times for 126 yards, two touchdowns, fumbled two times and lost one. San Francisco won their fourth consecutive NFC West Division title with a record of 14-2, defeated Minnesota in an NFC Divisional Game for the second straight year, beat the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, and won the Super Bowl by blowing out the Denver Broncos.

As the ‘80s ended, Steve Young was no longer in football purgatory as his team had won the last two Super Bowls. However, he was stuck behind a legend and was still in his own personal purgatory.

That would change in the ‘90s, as he would get his chance and emerge as a legend himself.

The years after
Steve Young would spend one more year backing up Joe Montana. He finally did get his chance when Montana was hurt in the 1990 NFC Championship Game – and Young made the most of it.

He would play nine more years for the 49ers, retiring at the conclusion of the 1999 season, after suffering repeated concussions. He cemented his legacy by leading the 49ers to a championship following the 1994 season, where he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl.

Young was also the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1992 and 1994; NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1992; United Press International NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994; won the Bert Bell Award as the NFL’s Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994; a First Team All-Pro in 1992, 1993, and 1994; a Second Team All-Pro in 1995, 1997, and 1998; named to the 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 Pro Bowl; led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1998; led the NFL in passer rating in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997; and led the NFL in completion percentage in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997.

Young retired completing 2,667 passes on 4,149 attempts for 33,124 yards, 232 touchdowns, and 107 interceptions. He also rushed for 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns on 722 carries.

He was inducted in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Parting thoughts
Steve Young is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is fitting the faith has a concept called “Spirit Prison” which is similar to purgatory. Once he left BYU, Young was in football purgatory for a long time.

It started when he chose to go to the USFL and ended up embroiled in the disaster the Los Angeles Express franchise was. However, had he chosen the NFL instead, he may have been drafted by Tampa Bay anyway.

When he went to the Buccaneers, he was confined to the NFL’s version of purgatory. It seemed as if Steve Young would never catch a break. Pro football in the 1980s was not good to him.

Then the journey on the road to redemption began.

It is remarkable to me that anyone who saw Steve Young play could not see how great he could be. That’s why it confounds me the Tampa Bay Buccaneers considered him a bust and traded him for two draft picks. It’s also why the Buccaneers were mired in such a horrible slump for more than a decade.

Meanwhile, Young showed class and patience, biding his time, and waiting for his opportunity.

When he got it, he made the most of it.

By the end of his career, Steve Young’s road to football redemption was complete.

Dana Elcar: McGyver’s contact and more

Dana Elcar, at left, with Richard Dean Anderson in "MacGyver"

Source: MacGyver

(May be subject to copyright)

He was a unique hero for his time – a man who would take on spies; assassins; criminals and more but never used a gun. In fact, he was opposed to the use of guns. Instead, he made use of the materials and resources around him.

MacGyver got a bad rap over time, accused of implausible science like making a nuclear reactor out of chewing gum and barbed wire. Yet none of that was true. If critics watched the show, they would see the gadgets MacGyver crafted were not only plausible but, in fact, were vetted by actual science consultants.

Besides, he used those gadgets to help those who couldn’t help themselves. That makes him heroic.

Giving him his assignments every week was Peter Thornton, MacGyver’s contact with the Mysterious Phoenix Foundation.

Dana Elcar played Peter Thornton and, although he has been gone since 2005, it is his birthday today and a good chance to look back at an impressive career.

Back story
Dana Elcar’s TV career dates back to 1954 and a role on “A Time to Live”. He would go on to have roles in the soap opera “The Guiding Light”; and primetime series such as “Car 54, Where Are You?”; “Naked City”; “Dark Shadows”; “The Name of the Game”; “Gunsmoke”; “Mannix”; and “Get Smart”.

In the 1970s, he was in episodes of “Room 222”; “Ironside”; The Waltons”; “Kung Fu”; “Mission: Impossible”; “Cannon”; “Hawkins”; “Columbo”; “The Partridge Family”; “The Incredible Hulk”; “B.J. and the Bear”; and the miniseries “Centennial”.

He was also in 36 episodes of “Baa Baa Black Sheep”, a show about Second World War pilots, that ran from 1976 to 1978. Elcar played Colonel Thomas A. Lard, and that was one of the first roles I recall seeing him in. Lard was an authority figure, not much different from Peter Thornton, but more serious – military serious.

Elcar got his start in movies in “Fail Safe” in 1964. He would have parts in movies such as “A Lovely Way to Die”; “The Boston Strangler”; “Dying Room Only”; “W.C. Fields and Me”; “The Champ”; and more.

He was also in “The Sting” in 1973, one of my all-time favourite movies. That may be the very first time I ever saw him, when he played a fed. It was not too much different from his role as Peter Thornton.

As the ‘80s dawned, Dana Elcar had established himself as a solid supporting actor

Dawn of the decade
Elcar’s first movie credit was in “The Nude Bomb” in 1980. Don Adams returns as bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart, which he made famous on television. Edward Platt, who had played Max’s supervisor, The Chief, had died in 1974, so Elcar was cast to play The Chief. Once more, it was a character similar to Peter Thornton.

Elcar would go on to appear in movies such as “The Last Flight of Noah’s Ark” in 1980; “Condorman” in 1981, a movie I saw in the theatre in Grade 7; “All of Me” in 1984; and “2010: The Year We Make Contact” in 1984, where he played a Russian astronomer.

In 1986 he was in “Inside Out”, Elcar’s final movie appearance.

He was much busier on television, starting with “Galactica 1980”, a short-lived spin-off of “Battlestar Galactica”. Elcar was also in “Benson”; “Newhart” “The Fall Guy”; two different episodes of “Trapper John, M.D.”; “Knight Rider”; two different episodes of “The A-Team”; “Scarecrow and Mrs. King”; “Hill Street Blues”; “Riptide”; and some TV movies.

In 1985, he would land a role that would become his most well-known character

McGyver
Dana Elcar appeared in the pilot episode of “MacGyver” as Andy Colson, MacGyver’s contact with the Phoenix Foundation. In subsequent episodes, his name was changed to Peter Thornton. He would be the one giving the inventive operative his assignments. Elcar appeared in more than 125 episodes of the show which ran seven seasons from 1985 to 1992 for a total of 139 episodes and two TV movies.

Interestingly, Elcar began to go blind due to glaucoma during the sixth season of the show. That was written into the show, right through to its conclusion after the seventh season.

Elcar also had a guest role in “Matlock” in 1987.

The years after
Elcar had just a few roles after the conclusion of “MacGyver”. He was in the TV movie “For Their Own Good”; and episodes of “Law and Order”; “The Magic School Bus”; and, in his last TV appearance, an episode of “ER” in 2002. He played blind characters in all these shows.

Dana Elcar died in Ventura, California on June 6, 2005.

He was 77.

Parting thoughts
Dana Elcar always exuded authority. That’s what made him great as a fed in “The Sting”; a colonel in “Baa Baa Black Sheep”; and Peter Thornton in “MacGyver”. He was not obnoxious, guns blazing, or pushy. He was authoritative but not authoritarian.

In “MacGyver” in particular, where he was able to develop a character over seven seasons, he was also a friend, a confidante and someone MacGyver could joke with.

Dana Elcar is one of those actors whose name many may not recognize, but the minute they see his face, they will recognize him instantly.

That is a career well lived.

Remembering Martika’s “Toy Soldiers”” Won’t you come out and play with me

It was the Spring of 1989 and I had decided to go to Spring and Summer session at the University of Alberta. I was going to remain living in the student residence I had been in the preceding school year. I knew virtually no one living on the student floors in res for the Summer, and all my friends had either gone back to their home towns for the next four months, or were working in Edmonton but living off campus.

'The day I moved into res for my second year in late August of 1988, I met Bruce Freadrich. We were both student leaders and he lived the floor below me. He helped me move in, we hit it off and, coincidentally, roomed together for our leadership training.

He did a lot of neat things, and invited me along. He drove a white Toyota Tercel, so that gave us a lot more flexibility and independence.

For the Summer, he moved off campus. His girlfriend of the time had a condominium just a few blocks off campus. She had gone home for the Summer but let Bruce sublet it. He had also garnered a job with Grey Beverages, the local Pepsi distributor.

One day, not too long into the four-month summer break, Bruce came to res. He was not happy at his job, and it was not what he had expected. He wanted to quit, but was assessing his options. I mentioned Spring and Summer session. It was not only a way to make up for classes a student dropped, like myself, but also a chance to lighten the course load during Fall and Winter session.

Bruce, who was an English major and a Classics minor, liked the idea. He checked into classes, and there were several over the four months he could take – so he did.

Now, I had a friend to hang out with.

He always wanted to do something and, we had a lot in common, so whatever he proposed I always wanted to do.

Bruce had introduced me to this restaurant on Calgary Trail South called Fuddruckers. It was a franchise from the States that made these immense burgers that were just incredible. For perspective, Sheldon’s twin sister on “The Big Bang Theory” worked at a Fuddruckers in Texas.

Another of our common interests, besides food, was music. We often traded tapes and talked about songs we heard.

One day, we were cruising down Calgary Trail on our way to Fuddruckers. Bruce popped a cassette in his tape deck.

“You have to listen to this,” he said. “It is incredible.”

It usually was, when he recommended it.

The song that played was “Toy Soldiers” by Martika.

Bruce was right.

The song
Martika released “Toy Soldiers” in late April of 1989, as the second single from her self-titled debut album “Martika”.

It was an incredible song. Bruce just loved Martika’s voice and described it as powerful and haunting. I just loved the lyrics and the message. We both liked the use of a children’s choir, including the line, “Won’t you come out and play with me.”

Wikipedia reveals Martika wrote the song about a friend who was battling a cocaine addiction. She was a little hesitant, because she had only written a couple songs and they were pretty light. She said this was the first time she got the courage to write about something that scared her to talk about, so she did. In a documentary years later, it was noted that friend beat the addiction.

I wasn’t watching “Entertainment Tonight” at the time, or listening to any countdown shows on the radio, so I never discovered how “Toy Soldiers” did.

As it tutned out, it went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and stayed there two weeks. It was Martika’s only number one single in the States.

Parting thoughts
The other day I had on Stingray Remember the ‘80s, a music channel on my cable TV package, and “Toy Soldiers” came on.

It immediately took me back to that Summer of 1989, cruising down Calgary Trail, planning in my mind what I wanted on this massive burger I was about to have at Fuddruckers.

More than that, I remember the company of an old friend, who really played a special place in my life at a formative time.

“Won’t you come out and play with me.”

The line was fitting in the song, but it also described the part Bruce played in my life back then.

Entertainment Tonight: The go-to for entertainment news

From left are Leeza Gibbons; Robb Weller; Mary Hart; and John Tesh, four of the major hosts of "Entertainment Tonight" in the '80s.

Source: Facebook/The 80s Rule

(May be subject to copyright)

It was my go to for any entertainment news I could ask for. Whether it was TV shows, movies or music, every weekday after school at 5 p.m. on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial was “Entertainment Tonight”.

I was just flipping through channels today and I passed by “Entertainment Tonight”, still going strong after more than 40 years.

The show
So much of what I know about movies, TV and music came from what Mary Hart, John Tesh, Robb Weller and the others told me.

The show would preview upcoming movie releases, fall TV shows, miniseries, TV movies and more. They would interview not only the actors, but writers, directors and producers. They would go on set and prided themselves on giving viewers the first look.

“Entertainment Tonight” was also my source for the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and the Top 200 album chart. Often, Hart and Tesh would sign off by introducing the video of the number one song on Billboard that week and letting it play as the show signed off. As an example, I recall the look on Hart’s face when she said “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”. Her eyes got really big.

That is likely why I place so much importance on how songs and albums did on Billboard.

The show also did some interesting features. One I recall distinctly was on classic sitcoms, where they looked back at one a day for a week or more. Not only would they air clips of the show, but interview cast and creators to hear their memories. It included “Hogan’s Heroes”, “The Real McCoys”, “Gilligan’s Island” and others. I recall actually writing them down each day, compiling a list over the span of the series. Maybe that’s why I remember it so clearly.

The hosts
“Entertainment Tonight” started on September 14, 1981 and, according to Wikipedia, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running entertainment news program on television.

That would have been the start of Grade 7 for me, and I am not sure quite when I started tuning in. The first time I ever saw “Entertainment Tonight”, it was not the show that I would see for much of my time in junior high and high school.

At that time, the hosts were Dixie Whatley and Ron Hendren. Soon after, it would begin to resemble the show I watched so often from 1983 to 1988. Mary Hart would take over for Whatley, and a few years after, Robb Weller would take over for Hendren.

Leeza Gibbons also filled in, and John Tesh would take over for Weller.

These were the hosts in the main time I watched the show, which was up until 1988 or so.

By far, my favourite host was Mary Hart. She was attractive, funny, engaging, and did great one-on-one interviews.

Tesh had that deep, silky smooth voice that still echoes on the radio with his show “Intelligence for Your Life”.

The correspondents
“Entertainment Tonight” had some interesting correspondents who I will never forget.

At the top of the list is Leonard Maltin. For those who had access to cable TV, they may remember Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert as premiere movie critics on TV, but for me it was Leonard Maltin. I did not always agree with him, but he had interesting insights. For example, in reviewing “The Karate Kid”, 

Robin Leach did the more high class or cultural reports. I am pretty sure that’s where he coined the expression “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” If not on “Entertainment Tonight”, it was a springboard to his own show “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”.

Jeanne Wolf was more of the news side of entertainment reporting, and was always very serious, if memory serves.

Nina Blackwood, of MTV fame, also did some in-depth reporting on the music industry in “The Rock Report” after she left MTV.

Fading out
Over time, I saw “Entertainment Tonight” less and less.

During teacher convention in Grade 11, so late February of 1986, I got a part-time job after school working at a greenhouse. That meant no more “Entertainment Tonight” after school during the greenhouse season. I picked up again in the Summer and Fall, but in the Spring I went back to the greenhouse and again, less and less “Entertainment Tonight”.

Interestingly, there was a small black and white TV always playing in the greenhouse, so I still got glimpses of the show, or listened when I was working nearby.

I pretty much stopped watching the show when I was busy with work and getting ready to go off to school in the Fall.

However, even when I went to university and I was living in res, I wanted to see “Entertainment Tonight”. By then it was on at midnight and I recall going into the lounge and, if anyone was there, asking them if I could check out “Entertainment Tonight”. When I went home after first year, I got a letter from one of my floormates. He concluded it with a David Letterman-like Top Ten list of sayings. One of the sayings was, “Hey, can we watch ‘Entertainment Tonight’?”

After that, life got busy and the show just stopped being must-see viewing all together.

Parting thoughts
It is hard to focus on specifics, because “Entertainment Tonight” provided so much information. Every day, I learned more about some TV show, movie, recording artists or song. References to “Entertainment Tonight” permeate this entire blog, because the show provided so much.

It really was my go-to for entertainment news.

Show me the way Peter Frampton

The Album cover for Peter Frampton's 1976 album "Frampton Comes Alive".

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frampton_Comes_Alive!

(May be subject to copyright)

“If there was ever a musician who is an honourary member of San Francisco society, Mr. Peter Frampton…“                ~ The introduction to “Frampton Comes Alive!”

When I started really getting into music in the Fall of 1984, my older brother started making mixed tapes and giving them to me at Christmas time. He is 10 years older than me, has been really heavy into music since he was a teenager back to the mid-70s, and has a lot of music.

I knew he tried to provide a selection of songs and, whether consciously or not, exposed me to a lot of different music. Of course it was his taste and type of music, but I have to say it was broad and enriching for me.

Over time, when I went to visit him in Calgary, I would find myself flipping through his records. He always offered to make whatever albums he had into tapes for me. By then, I had heard of a lot of musicians and performers from the radio, reading, and various TV shows such as “Good Rockin’ Tonite”; “Video Hits”; “Solid Gold”; and “Entertainment Tonight”.

Somehow, likely through one of the features on LA-107 FM, I heard about Peter Frampton and his epic album “Frampton Comes Alive!”. It was among a host of other albums from before I started listening to music. By then, I had also heard he was playing guitar for David Bowie on his “Glass Spider Tour”.

So, one day, I came across “Frampton Comes Alive!” at my brother’s and asked him to make a tape of it. I had never heard Peter Frampton perform, not even on the radio. I had just heard of him.

My brother came to visit regularly as well, so the next time he came to the farm, he had “Frampton Comes Alive!” and some other albums recorded. He hated wasting tape, so put an album on each side of one of the blank TDKs he recommended I buy by the box.

That was my introduction to Peter Frampton, something I was reminded of when I heard recently he is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this month.

Live in concert
My knowledge of the musician all begins and ends with “Frampton Comes Alive!”, which actually came out in 1976. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect, when I popped the tape into my ghetto blaster.

It opened with that introduction and went right into the music. Interestingly, as the tape played, I recognized more and more of Frampton’s songs. That actually happened quite a bit. I imagine it was due to the fact when my siblings were still home, my brother listened to his stereo quite a bit, and my sister listened to her clock radio a lot. Plus music was all around too, at school, on TV and elsewhere.

Songs must have seeped into my brain by osmosis.

“Frampton Comes Alive!” has several hits.

“Show Me the Way” started everything off, going all the way to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It was not only Frampton’s first top 10 hit, but his first ever single to hit the chart.

He followed that up with “Baby, I Love Your Way”, which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100; and “Do You Feel Like We Do”, which went all the way to number 10.

“Frampton Comes Alive!” debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart at number 191, and went all the way to number one. It was number one for a total of 10, non-consecutive weeks, and was the top selling album of 1976.

Pre-history
Peter Frampton was born in England in 1950, and attended Bromley Technical School at the same time as David Bowie, who was three years older. Frampton got interested in music when he was seven, and was playing in a band by age 12. He went on to play in the bands the Little Ravens, the Trubeats, and after becoming a successful child singer became a member of the Herd. At the age of 18, in 1969, Frampton helped form Humble Pie.

Frampton went solo in 1971, after four studio albums and one live album. He released “Wind of Change”, his first solo album, in 1972. He released three more solo albums, with little commercial success.

That all changed in 1976 with “Frampton Comes Alive!”

The years after
Frampton followed up “Frampton Comes Alive!” with the album “I’m With You” in 1977. The title track “I’m With You” went all the way to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it was nowhere near as successful as “Frampton Comes Alive!”.

He also appeared in the movie “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band” in 1978, and played guitar on the title song of “Grease” in 1978.

Frampton was involved in a serious car accident in the Bahamas in 1978, and his career went into decline. He continued to record through the rest of the ‘70s and the ‘80s.

He also joined his old friend David Bowie in 1987 on Bowie’s album “Never Let Me Down”, and played on his subsequent “Glass Spider Tour”. Frampton said playing on this tour helped revive his career, as he kept on recording and performing.

In 2007, he earned a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for “Fingerprints”. In 2011, he celebrated the 35th anniversary of “Frampton Comes Alive!” with a tour which followed the original set list exactly, playing the album song-for-song.

Then, in 2019 Frampton announced a farewell tour after which he would be retiring. He had been diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis, a progressive muscle disorder characterized by muscle inflammation, weakness and wasting. A dollar from every ticket sold on the tour went to the myositis research fund Fampton created at Johns Hopkins where he received treatment.

However, he would continue to play past that farewell tour.

Peter Frampton received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979; and is set to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on October 19, 2024 by his friend Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who.

Parting thoughts
When I heard Peter Frampton was going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I was reminded more of my brother than Peter Frampton. I am grateful for all the tapes he made, and the music he made available to me. It helped shape my musical taste, and contributed to the soundtrack of growing up.

Without my brother showing me the way, I would have never discovered the talent of Peter Frampton.

Celebrating, Cherishing and Getting Fresh with Kool and the Gang

The Edmonton Eskimos had just won one of their five straight Grey Cups, and it was playing. It was a catchy tune that really captured the joy and jubilation of winning.

Fittingly, the song was “Celebration” and it became an anthem for, well, celebrating a big win.

That was the first time I ever heard Kool and the Gang, but it would not be the last.

They were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and it brought back a lot of memories of their songs which, often, had one-word titles.

In the beginning
Kool and the Gang has a long history, dating back to their founding in New Jersey in 1964 by brothers Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell and others.

Wikipedia reveals the band has explored many musical styles throughout its 60-year history, such as jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, disco, rock and pop music.

Their first mainstream success came in 1973 with the singles “Jungle Boogie”, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and “Hollywood Swinging”, which peaked at number six. They were both from the record “Wild and Peaceful”, their fourth album.

The band entered a period of decline before finding new success, starting in 1979, with the addition of singer James “J.T.” Taylor. He brought vocals that added more warmth to songs, ballads in particular. Before that, Kool and the Gang did not do ballads because they had no one who could sing them properly. They also entered a four-album partnership with producer Eumir Deodato, a Brazilian musician, songwriter, and arranger who helped move the band towards mainstream pop and dance-oriented music.

Kool and the Gang’s first album with the Brazilian was “Ladies’ Night”, released in 1979. It became their most successful album since their formation, aided by the hit singles “Too Hot”, which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and “Ladies’ Night”, which peaked at number eight.

It was a great end to one decade, and foreshadowed the success that would come in the ‘80s.

Celebrating success
Kool and the Gang released their next album, “Celebrate!”, in 1980. It would go on to peak at number 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and number one on the US Rhythm and Blues album chart.

The album only yielded one hit single, but it was one for the ages. “Celebration” was a monster hit that not only peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but is the band’s most recognizable song.

It still used to celebrate victory.

Wikipedia reveals that started back when “Celebration” came out. It was used in national media coverage for the 1980 World Series, 1981 Super Bowl, 1981 NBA Finals, and the return of hostages from Iran in 1981.

The next ones
It seemed Kool and the Gang was putting out an album virtually every year. In 1981, they released “Something Special”. The singles “Take My Heart (You Can Have it if You Want it)” hit number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100; “Steppin’ Out” hit number 89; “Get Down on it” hit number 10; and “No Show” did not chart.

The album “As One” followed in 1982, with “Big Fun” peaking at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; “Let’s Go Dancin’ (Ooh La, La, La)” peaking at number 30; and “Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho” and “Street Kids” not charting.

Joanna
Pop music is full of songs named after women. One of the first I recall hearing was on Kool the Gang’s next album, “In the Heart”, which they released in 1983.

The first single released, “Straight Ahead”, seemed to continue Kool the Gang’s downward trend. It was the third straight song not to chart and the sixth straight single to miss the top 20.

That all changed with their next song, which was another big hit.

“Joanna” is the first ballad by Kool and the Gang that achieved chart success, going all the way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It also foreshadowed more ballads that would follow.

Two other songs were released from “In the Heart”. “Tonight” peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “(When You Say You Love Somebody) In the Heart” did not chart.

Band Aid
In 1984, British musicians led by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were concerned about the famine gripping Ethiopia. They gathered together a groupof musicians known as the super group Band Aid and recorded the single “Do They Know it’s Christmas?”, with all proceeds going to relief efforts.

If you look at the music video for “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” it is a who’s who of British musicians. However, Kool and the Gang are also there, the only Americans who were part of Band Aid. Wikipedia reveals the band was in London, visiting the offices of record label Phonogram when Geldof showed up to pitch the idea of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”.

So they participated in the project.

They also participated in the concert event Live Aid via studio performance on July 13, 1985 with “Stand Up and Sing” and “Cherish”.

It’s an Emergency
Kool and the Gang released “Emergency”, their 16th studio album, in 1984, and this is where I really got into their music. The songs are all engaging and toe tapping. The mere mention of the following four songs with one-word titles, immediately starts them playing in my mind.

“Fresh” was the first single, going all the way to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by “Misled” which peaked at number 10.

The title track “Emergency” was the final release from the album, hitting number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Cherish
There was one other single from “Emergency”, which is my favourite song by the band, and one of my favourite ballads ever.

“Cherish”, released in May of 1985, went all the way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

It has a special place in my heart, because it came along during the first semester of Grade 11, the Fall of 1985, when I had developed this crush on a girl. At that point in time, ballads really got to me. They made me feel romantic and sentimental – as much as you can I suppose at the age of 15.

Our school bus had a radio, and the driver had it set to 1090 CHEC, a top 40 pop music station broadcasting from Lethbridge. It seemed that every day, riding the bus to school in the mornings, “Cherish” seemed to be playing.

I saw on Wikipedia “Cherish” is a romantic ballad that was extremely popular when released, and has since been a wedding song staple of sorts.

Victory
Kool and the Gang continued their string of upbeat songs with the release of their 17th album “Forever” in November of 1986.

The first single, “Victory”, peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

This is where my journey with Kool and the Gang ends. I did not hear anymore of their new releases.

They would have another hit. Their second release, “Stone Love”, also peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and would prove to be their last top 50 single to date.

The years after
Kool and the Gang keeps on going as they are in their 60th year together.

In 2015, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and were inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. They were selected for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April of 2024, and are set to be inducted on October 19, 2024.

Parting thoughts
I didn’t follow Kool and the Gang in their early years, nor have I pursued trying to listen to their pre-‘80s music. For me, the arrival of J.T. Taylor as lead vocalist coincides with the time I started hearing their music.

That period is filled with upbeat, catchy songs and romantic ballads that make my heart melt. They have provided a couple songs for the soundtrack of my life and, when I hear their name, songs of theirs immediately echo in my mind.

The only question I have is this.

When they found out they were going to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, did they sing “Celebration”?

Now that would be fitting.

Blue Rodeo: Providing the soundtrack of my life

The album cover for Canadian band Blue Rodeo's debut album "Outskirts" in 1987.

Source: https://www.terrybrown.net/albums-2/

(May be subject to copyright)

It was Thanksgiving of 1987, and I had returned home for the first time from university. I had hooked up with some high school friends, and we were cruising down Mayor Magrath Drive in Lethbridge, when it came on the radio. It was a crooning, soulful song that just stuck in my head.

“You’ve got to try…”

I was struck by the fact they were saying “try” and not “cry”.

That was my introduction to Blue Rodeo. Since then, they have become my favourite Canadian band, I have purchased several of their albums, and I have seen them perform live five times.

I was so glad when recently I heard they were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Outskirts
Blue Rodeo played their first show together in 1985 in Toronto; signed with Risque Disque, an independent Canadian label; and entered the studio in 1986.

The result was “Outskirts”, their debut album, released in March of 1987. It wasn’t until October of 1987 that they released “Try”, which changed everything. It went to number one on the Canadian Country Tracks Chart and number six on the Canadian Top Singles chart.

They also released the title track “Outskirts”, which did not chart; “Rose-Coloured Glasses”, which peaked at number 39 in Canada; and “Rebel”, which peaked at number 71 in Canada. The album peaked at number 20 in Canada.

I really did not hear much Blue Rodeo in the last part of 1987, or the first half of 1988, when “Outskirts” was in circulation and its singles were fresh on the radio.

My exposure to Blue Rodeo increased exponentially in the Fall of 1988. It was my second year of university, and a guy named Dave Turnbull moved onto our floor to start the school year. He had a copy of “Outskirts” on tape, and lent it to me. I immediately plugged it into my ghetto blaster and made a copy.

I played that copy over and over, and I still have it in my storage locker in town. I used to play it when I turned in for the night, lying in bed, dozing off to the sounds of “Heart Like Mine”, “Rose-Coloured Glasses”, “Rebel”, “Joker’s Wild”, “Piranha Pool”, “Outskirts”, “Underground”, “5 Will Get You Six”, “Try”, and “Floating”.

Interestingly, the album is longer than one side of a 90-minute blank tape. I discovered this when the tape ended before “Floating” did. I still have not heard the song, in its entirety.

Musical memories
I have a few odd memories of songs from “Outskirts”.

Delivery man
“Try” had been the first single I heard from “Outskirts”. The second single I heard was “Rebel”. I had a job with a greenhouse in the Summer of 1988, and we were delivering bedding-out plants around Southern Alberta. My boss always had the truck’s radio tuned to 1220 CJOC, a country music station. Suddenly, as we were approaching the greenhouse, I heard “Rebel”. I thought at the time that CJOC was playing the song because any band with rodeo in its title must be a country band.

Going to the office
In my second year of university, I was contemplating running for vice-president of the hall I lived in. One of the perks of the job was an office, located right next to the study hall on the main floor of our building. One day, I had to go see the current vice-president. When I walked into her office, “Underground” was playing on her radio. I thought about that a year later. I did run, won the election, and listened to Blue Rodeo in that very office.

Diamond mining
By the Spring of 1989, “Outskirts” had run its course, and fans awaited a follow-up album. Again, it was Dave Turnbull who told me in March of 1989, as the school year was a month from being over, that Blue Rodeo had a new album out – and it was good.

It took another month and a half, but I finally got to the mall and bought that new album on tape.

It was called “Diamond Mine”, and remains one of my favourite albums, by any artist, of all time.

Immediately, I was struck by how good every song was. “God and Country” was the first song on Side 1, followed by “How Long”, and they were both just great, with a bit of a country-pop feel. Then there was “Love and Understanding”, followed by one of my favourite ballads “Girl of Mine”, and the title track “Diamond Mine”.

One of the most obvious things about Blue Rodeo is how different each lead singer is. Jim Cuddy is a crooner, best showcased with ballads such as “Girl of Mine”. Greg Keelor sounds more like Jim Morrison of The Doors, and that is most evident in “Diamond Mine”.

The first side concludes with “Now and Forever”, another favourite of mine, that has the same sound and feel as “God and Country” and “How Long”.

Cuddy is back on display to start Side 2 with the ballad “House of Dreams”. Keelor and that Doors sound follows with “Nice Try”. Next up are “Fall in Line” and “One Day”, which again are vehicles for Cuddy’s voice. The final three songs are all Keeler with “Florida”, “Fuse”, and “The Ballad of the Dime Store Greaser and the Blonde Mona Lisa”.

“Diamond Mine”, was the first single released, peaking at number seven in Canada; “How Long” hit number 25; “House of Dreams” hit number 49; and “Love and Understanding” didn’t chart. The album “Diamond Mine”, peaked at number four in Canada, and number two on the Canadian Country album chart.

Musical memories 2
I listened to “Diamond Mine” all of that Summer of 1989. Hearing its songs bring back memories of that time and the next year and a half.

Sister act
My friend Joselynne, who also happened to be the outgoing vice-president listening to “Underground” that day, and whose office I took over, was also a Big Sister. She was having a birthday party for her little sister Tessa at Hawrelak Park not too far from the university. I was going with my friend Rav. He had the radio on in his car and the station was doing some sort of feature on Blue Rodeo. All of a sudden “Girl of Mine” was playing. It was never released as a single, so that was the only time I ever heard it on the radio.

Road trip
Early in that Summer of 1989, I started hanging out with these two guys I had served on our residence student council with – Bruce and Larry. We hung out virtually every day. One weekend, Bruce was going home to see his folks near the Town of Killam, and invited us along. I recall bringing two things – my geometry assignment for the summer school math class I was talking, and “Diamond Mine”.

We were playing a board game, and I plugged it into Bruce’s tape player. I called particular attention to what, at the time, was my favourite song – “The Ballad of the Dime Store Greaser and the Blonde Mona Lisa”.

They didn’t think it was as cool as I did, but everyone’s tastes are different.

Howling at the moon
That was never more apparent than a few months later when I was living on Main Kelsey and the TV in the lounge was turned to MuchMusic. Some guys had come in to watch something else, but it was still a few minutes away. Then the video for “House of Dreams” started. I had never seen it, and asked if they could leave it on that channel for a couple minutes so I could watch it.

My good friend Apollo was particularly impatient, didn’t really like the song, and started howling like a wolf.

Like I said, everyone’s tastes are different.

Dramatic pause
The first time I saw Blue Rodeo in concert was at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in the Fall of 1990. When they slowed things down and started playing “The Ballad of the Dime Store Greaser and the Blonde Mona Lisa”, there is a natural pause part way through the song. At that moment, some obnoxious listener started yelling about the song.

The very next line Greg Keelor sang was, “Like a jerk that butts into the front of the line…”

It drew a lot of cheers from the crowd, including me.

You can’t make this stuff up.

The Rookies
In the Spring of 1991, I was home from university, my parents had just moved to Lethbridge, and I watched a lot of television.

One of the movies I watched, and would actually see again in the Springs of 1992 and 1993, was on CBC Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial. It was called “The Rookies”, and was about two junior hockey players, played by Yannick Bisson and Ian Tracey, and their experiences with the fictional Oshawa Blades. In remember one particular scene when “Try” was playing.

I like the fact a Canadian production actually used Canadian music.

The years after
As the 1980s ended, Blue Rodeo was just getting going. To date, they have released 16 full-length studio albums and four live albums. I have seen them twice at the Jubilee Auditorium, twice at the Sportsplex in Lethbridge, and once at the Big Four Building in Stampede Park in Calgary. I have concert shirts from all five, and own their first four albums.

They continue to be one of my favourite bands of all time.

Blue Rodeo has won a total of 11 Junos and been nominated 31 times. They have won the Juno for Group of the Year in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, and 2008. They won Single of the Year and Best Video in 1989, both for “Try”; Music DVD of the Year in 2005 for “In Stereovision”; Video of the Year in 2008 for “C’mon”; Adult Alternative Album of the Year in 2008 for “Small Miracles”; and Music DVD of the Year in 2009 for “Blue Road”.

In 2009, they were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame; were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2012; received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement in 2014; and recently Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Parting thoughts
The music of Blue Rodeo has permeated my life since I was 18 years old. There are so many songs I just love, and I keep hearing new ones.

They may be, more than any other single band, the single biggest contributor to the soundtrack of my life – and it all started in the ‘80s.

John Amos: From “Good Times” to “Roots” to “Coming to America” and more

John Amos in "Coming to America" in 1988.

Source: https://screenrant.com/coming-america-2-john-amos-returning-cleo-mcdowell/

(May be subject to copyright)

One minute he was the hard-working father of an African-American family in a groundbreaking sitcom, the next he was an American slave trying to survive, and the minute after that he was the owner of a hamburger restaurant who unknowingly hired a foreign prince in love with his daughter.

I was sad to hear John Amos recently passed away. It brought back memories of “Good Times”, “Roots”, “Coming to America”, and so many other roles.

Back story
John Amos got his start acting in 1971, according to Wikipedia, appearing in a McDonald’s commercial with Anson Williams, of “Happy Days” fame. This would become rather ironic 17 years later.

That same year, he had a small part in the movie “Vanishing Point”. He would also play a coach in the 1973 Disney movie “The World’s Greatest Athlete”, starring a young Jan-Michael Vincent; and “Let’s Do it Again”, a 1975 movie starring Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier.

His first major, recurring role was as Weatherman Gordy Howard on the “Mary Tyler Moore Show”, where he was in 13 episodes from 1970 to 1977. He also appeared in episodes of “The Funny Side”; “Love, American Style”; “The New Dick Van Dyke Show”; and “Sanford and Son”.

In 1973-1974 he guest-starred in three episodes of the Norman Lear sitcom “Maude”, as Henry Evans, a firefighter and husband to Maude’s housekeeper Florida Evans. They would be spun off into their own show in 1974 called “Good Times”. Amos played a man, renamed James Evans, working various jobs to help support his wife, who worked as a housekeeper, and three children living in a housing project in inner-city Chicago.

“Good Times” would break ground as television’s first African-American two-parent family sitcom.

Amos was fired after the third season over disagreements with Norman Lear and the writing staff. Amos appeared in 61 episodes of “Good Times”. I vaguely remember him no longer being on the show, his absence explained away as James dying.

However, John Amos kept on working, appearing in an episode of “Police Story” and seven episodes of “Future Cop”.

In 1977, he participated in another groundbreaking project. The miniseries “Roots” chronicled the life of an American family of slaves over several generations, beginning with Kunta Kinte, an African teenager captured by slave traders and brought to the United States. The young Kunta Kinte was played by a young LeVar Burton.

John Amos played Kunta Kinte as an older man, renamed Toby Reynolds by his owners, although he never accepted the name. Amos garnered an Emmy nomination for the role.

As the 1980s began, John Amos had established himself as an actor, but there would be much more to come.

TV times
John Amos worked quite a bit in television, starting with the miniseries “Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story” in 1980. He then appeared in episodes of “Here’s Boomer”; “The Love Boat”; “The A-Team”; “Trapper John, M.D.”; “Hardcastle and McCormick”; “Murder, She Wrote”; “Stingray”; “Beauty and the Beast”; “The Cosby Show”; “Gideon Oliver’; and the television movie “Bonanza: The Next Generation.”

I remember him on “Hunter”. He played Dolan, the title character’s police captain. This was at a time when there were still not a lot of African-American actors portraying figures in authority.

Movie magic
Amos was also in quite a number of movies in the 1980s including “Touched by Love”in 1980; “The Beastmaster” in 1982; “Dance of the Dwarfs” in 1983; “American Flyers” in 1985; and “Lock Up”, with Sylvester Stallone, in 1989.

By far, the movie I remember John Amos in the best is “Coming to America’ in 1988. Eddie Murphy plays an African prince who comes to America seeking true love, and fleeing an arranged marriage. He gets a job in a hamburger place called “McDowell’s” owned by Cleo McDowell, played by John Amos, and falls in love with the owner’s daughter. When Cleo is training him he says his restaurant is nothing like McDonald’s. For example, they have the Big Mac, while Cleo has the Big Mick.

It was a great movie.

One of the coolest contrasts was when Cleo meets King Joffer, played by James Earl Jones. Sadly, Jones too died a few weeks ago. A picture came across my social media recently of the two of them in “Coming to America”, with the caption, “How things have changed”.

They sure have.

The years after
John Amos kept on appearing in movies, such as “Die Hard 2”; “Ricochet”, with Denzel Washington; “Mac”; “Night Trap”; “For Better or Worse”; “The Players Club”; “Dr. Dolittle 3”; “Coming 2 America 2”; and much more. His final role was in 2023 in “The Last Rifleman”.

He was in a lot of TV too, starting with “704 Hauser” in 1994. It had a really interesting premise. Amos stars as Ernie Cumberbatch, who has purchased the house Archie Bunker lived in. This time, the family is all Black, with the father being a liberal and the son being an arch-conservative. The show was also created by Norman Lear, but lasted just six episodes.

Amos was also in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”; “In the House” for 12 episodes; “Touched by an Angel”; “Martin”; “Walker, Texas Ranger”; “The Outer Limits”; 10 episodes of “The District”; 16 episodes of “All About the Andersons”; “Psych”; “My Name is Earl”; three episodes of “Two and a Half Men”; “Royal Pains”; “30 Rock”; “Lie to Me”; “The Ranch”; “Ballers”; several TV movies; and much more.

There are two roles I recall with fondness. In 22 episodes of “The West Wing” from 1999 to 2004, Amos played the American President’s top military advisor General Percy Fitzwallace. He was a tough, no-nonsense military man who exuded class and respect, and a deadpan sense of humour.

He was also in 27 episodes of “Men in Trees” from 2006 to 2008. He played Buzz Washington, pilot of one of the only planes in and out of the small Alaskan community where the show is set.

Amos’ last role was in 2022 in an episode of “The Righteous Gemstones”.

He died on August 21, 2024 in Inglewood, California of congestive heart failure. However, his death was not announced until October 1.

He was 84.

Parting thoughts
John Amos was an engaging, versatile actor, who I liked very much. He was excellent in comedy, most notably for me in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Coming to America”. He was just as good in drama, especially as General Fitzwallace in “The West Wing”. He was absolutely perfect if he had to be lethal when called upon, but sensitive and pragmatic when the situation called for that.

He also appeared in a lot of productions where he blazed the trail for African-American actors to follow.

He was a talented actor, but also a leader and role model.