Jukebox Saturday Night

I have vivid memories of Richland County jukeboxes from my youth. Friday nights I would go on tour with my parents to a fish fry. There was a beautiful Wurlitzer at my uncle Ed’s in Boaz (Stafford’s Supper Club). It was there that I could get 4 plays for a quarter. It was fun to see reactions from people when a song came on that they liked. On the way home we probably stopped at the Riverside near Sextonville. That establishment was about 2 1/2 miles from home where I would have a nightcap Kiddie Cocktail and steal another quarter from mom’s purse so that I could play disc jockey again. About 25 years ago I purchased my own 1966 Wurlitzer and stocked it with records that I remember from my days of hanging out at the bars. This is a favorite item of mine. No longer do I need to borrow a quarter to play it.

Saturday night during Those Were the Days on WRCO, I will be spinning a few songs that pay tribute to the jukebox. There are obvious choices such as Juke Box Hero by Foreigner and Juke Box Music from the Kinks. Many others mention those mechanical wonders in the lyrics such as I Love Rock n’ Roll-Joan Jett and The Boys Are Back in Town-Thin Lizzy. I hope you will stop by WRCO FM 100.9, WRCO.com or listen through the Civic Media app between six and midnight Saturday night. For your favorite songs you won’t even have to borrow a quarter from your mom’s purse.

Saturday will mark the 62nd anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I have talked to many baby boomers over the years that like me have had a lifetime fascination with that time in our history. Find out what was happening in Top 40 music in November of 1963 during our get together this weekend.

Phil