Looking Back at June 1967

On June 3, 1967, the number one hit was Aretha Franklin's Respect written by Otis Redding and first released by Otis Redding in 1965.  It became the signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin.  The day before, the Beatles released their LP Sergeant Peppers' Lonely Hearts Band.  Although at that time I did not quite understand the conflict, the Six Day War between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan began on June 5 and ended on June 10.

I was working at Big Bear Supermarkets in Circleville, Ohio overly concerned about the draft and the growing conflict in Vietnam.  Little did I realized in less than a year I would be there. My boss tried to convince me to get into the Reserve or National Guard so I could remain home and continue to work.  I also was still contemplating on continuing my education but I guess my destiny was to serve my country which I have never had any regrets as I also continued my education while serving in the United States Army.



On June 13, President Johnson nominated Thurgood Marshall to become the first black Supreme Court Justice while the top 5 songs respectively were (1) Respect/Aretha Franklin (2) Groovin'/Young Rascals (3) I Got Rhythm/The Happenings (4) Release Me (and Let Me Love Again)/Engelbert Humperdinck (5) Him or Me - What's It Gonna Be?/Paul Revere & The Raiders.

With the Vietnam War  continuing to escalate I recall the verdict of Muhammad Ali  on June 20 who was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted but The U.S. Supreme Court later overturned the conviction.

June 29, as the month closed out, Jayne Mansfield, one of the most beautiful sex symbols during the 60s, perished with two others as their car they were traveling in slammed into the back of a tractor trailer rig.

The number one hit as the month closed was Groovin' by the Young Rascals.

You can visit me on my website The 60s Official Site, the largest and most visited 60s site on the web.  Also enjoy Neal Stevens exclusively on my site with his monthly show Soundtrack of the 60s as he plays the most popular songs from the current month of a 60s decade year.  This month June 67.

Do You Need A Fix?

If you love the great music from the 50s and 60s decade, then there is nothing like starting your day off with a oldies fix or boost.  On my site The 60s Official Site, I have added a daily 5-song medley of songs from the 50s and 60s decade to start your day off right.  Each day a new 5-song medley is posted for your listening enjoyment.  This great music is posted NLT 7:00 AM Easter Time Zone USA.  Enjoy and get your feet a tappin' and put a smile on your face as we look back at a more simpler time.  Here is the link so you can check it our for yourself :   http://www.the60sofficialsite.com/dailyoldiesfix/Daily-Oldies-Fix.html

Also, be sure to check out Soundtrack of the 60s as DJ Neal Stevens plays the hits you were listening to the current month of a year from the 60s decade.  You can hear this only on The 60s Official Site.

Mystery Solved! (Who Were The Exports?)

by John Timmons

CQHams

Several months ago I wrote an article soliciting help in finding out and learning more about the 1960s instrumental rock group, The Exports. As I noted in the article, their hit record, "Car Hop", was certainly a favorite instrumental of mine and my intention was to write an expose on this band that contributed to 1960s Hot Rod rock music. Despite many hours of research, I found it odd that there was virtually no information on this group, but rather just a few references to "Car Hop" (A side), the B side, "Seat Belts, Please", and one other recording, "Mustang '65". In all my time researching 60s bands, from the super star groups like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, etc., to "one hit wonder" bands like The Rivieras, The Shadows of Knight, The Murmaids, etc., I have never failed to find biographical information. However, when it came to The Exports, thats when I hit the proverbial "brick wall" and could find absolutely nothing. Hence, my plea for help.

One morning recently, help arrived in the form of an e-mail The 60s Official Site Webmaster received from a gentleman by the name of "Bruce". To make a very long story short, the few bits of information Bruce provided were enough for me to do a bit more sleuthing and voila, I hit paydirt! After one enlightening telephone call to a music store in Lansing, Illinois, I found myself talking to Ron Jongsma in northwest Indiana, one of the founding members of The Exports. After two very cordial and helpful telephone conversations, the mystery of the 60s rock group, The Exports had been solved. Here is the very first story ever written post 1960s of The Exports as told by the group's co-founder and guitarist, Ron Jongsma.

The Exports formed in late 1963 or early '64 in Glenwood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The band consisted of four members, Ron Jongsma (guitar), his 2nd cousin, Tom Barnhart (guitar), school classmates George Felaney (guitar), and Howard Friedman (drums). Ron's father had been a musician and the whole family often got together, including cousin Tom, to do some heavy "jammin'". One thing led to another and soon the four musicians formed a band called Bubba and The Crossmen, later to become The Exports. The band would often play at Maduras Dance Land in Whiting, Indiana, a previous 1930s swing dance venue that in the 60s became a dance outlet for rock and roll. A promoter at Maduras had a connection with the Midwest record label King Records, who at the time, was the recording label for the late, great James Brown. Shortly thereafter, The Exports found themselves recording their first and most important hit record, "Car Hop".

The Hot Rod rock instrumental was primarily heard throughout the Midwest with little to no airplay on either coast. This was ultimately the major reason why the band never achieved significant acclaim as other instrumental groups such as The Ventures. The song did well in the region, especially on Chicago's powerful and influential rock station, WLS, where it peaked at #9 on the stations famous Silver Dollar Survey. In Windsor, Ontario, Canada, "Car Hop" topped the charts at #1. The popularity of "Car Hop" made The Exports a favorite of the WLS Hot Bands who frequently were engaged to play rock and roll gigs in the Chicagoland area. The band members often were able to work with such well-known station DJs as Ron Riley, Clark Weber, Dex Card, and others.

By 1966, differing opinions on the type of music the band should play led to the groups disbanding. Ron Jongsma went on to work with Summit Distributors, a branch of Epic Records, where he worked to get major airplay on radio stations for many nationally known 1960s bands. Jongsma would later continue his work in the music industry, working for such noted companies as Peavy Electric, Fender and Ovation Guitar. Currently Ron works in sales for a national company involved in the sales, installation, and service of wine cellars. Tom Barnhart, now deceased, worked for many years at King Records in Cincinnati. George Felaney, also deceased, worked at various entities in the music industry, along with Howard Friedman who was employed for over 30 years at Fender Guitar.

Today "Car Hop" may be heard on five or more Hot Rod rock compilation CDs. In addition, Ron related that in the 1980s the song was actually heard fairly often on several national TV shows that reflected a brief resurgence in Hot Rod and Surf Instrumental rock music.
There are a few interesting factoids about The Exports and their single big hit, "Car Hop" that are noteworthy. These interesting bits of trivia include:

* The Exports initially tried to emulate the already successful rock instrumental band, The Ventures

* The idea for "Car Hop" came from the band members frequently going to Dog 'N Suds hamburger drive-ins and always talking to the car hops. Ron stated he would always go to the burger joints in his '55 cream and red Chevy that was a real "chick magnet"!

* Guitarist George Felaney was the actual writer of "Car Hop"

* At the beginning and end of "Car Hop", a loud and powerful car engine can be heard being revved up and down. The sound was that of a Corvette whose V8 engine was revved and recorded on a very inexpensive portable tape recorder in the alley in back of Ron's home and ultimately integrated into the recording of the record.

* The only lyrics for "Car Hop" are heard in the beginning of the song when you hear the phrases, "Hey car hop. I want a hamburger with mustard and onions, give me two coffees with cream and sugar, how 'bout a milkshake, I want onions, man". These few words are spoken by Ron Jongsma.

* "Car Hop" can be heard on the Antique Automobile Club of America website at: http://local.aaca.org/junior/cartunes/mp3/1960.htm, along with other 60s Hot Rod music selections.

The mystery surrounding one of the 60s Hot Rod rock music bands is now solved. It is my hope, however, that this short expose may serve as the jump-start needed to prompt other enhanced biographies to be written about this hard-working band from Chicago that certainly deserves acknowledgment for their contribution to 1960s Hot Rod music. Thank you Ron Jongsma for your assistance in making The Exports story known to 60s music afficionados around the world.

Revisit the 60s and all of its happenings and music.

Impromptu Responses - No Rehearsal Made this Show a Hit

Hollywood Squares

If you can remember Hollywood Squares especially during the 1960s with regulars: Rose Marie, Wally Cox, Charley Weaver, Paul Lynde, Jan Murray, George Gobel, Morey Amsterdam, Karen Valentine, Nanette Fabray, Vincent Price, and Abby Dalton, then you remember that morning show with 30 minutes of laughs which has not been duplicated since.

The original show aired in 1966 with Peter Marshall as the host. The object of the game was for two contestants to play, and win, a game of celebrity tic-tac-toe. Players called upon a star to answer a question and could either agree or disagree with the star's answer. If they were correct in their judgement, their mark, an "X" or "O," was put on that celebrity's square. The first player to connect three squares in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, won $200 and the game. The player who won two games became the champion and then faced a new opponent. A player retired as an undefeated champion after winning five matches. The second game of the day was the "secret square game" and the contestant who picked the predetermined star had a chance to win a special bonus prize.

Hollywood Squares was one of the most popular and longest running daytime game shows in television history. Much of the success of the show was attributed to the humorous answers given to questions answered by the celebrities who made up the squares on the board. One of the most popular celebrities was Paul Lynde, who occupied the center square for most of the series run.

Who can ever forget these answers from these great celebrities from the "Hollywood Squares" game show which were spontaneous and not scripted as they are today. Continue to read, chuckle and reminisce the days back then. Here are a few of the best.

Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily

Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.

Q: When you pat a dog on its head he will usually wag his tail. What will a goose do?

A: Paul Lynde: Make him bark.

Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.

Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.

Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

Q. What are "Do It," "I Can Help," and "I Can't Get Enough"?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.

Q. According to Cosmopolitain, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No; wait until morning.

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you' ll never forget.

Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.

I received an email a couple of days ago asking me if this person could use a few pages of my 60s website to write a book. He was primarily interested in my 1960s movie page and the information and images I have on drive-in movies.

Bob is writing an book about he and his buddies adventures during the 1960s. I would be very interested in reading his book when he completes it. He is doing exactly what I have wanted to do for some time and that is to write a book on my growing up during the 1960s era which included a tour of duty in Vietnam but more importantly the adventures and innocent mischief my friends and I had during this era.

I know many of you have seen the movies American Grafitti and More American Grafitti which of course was released during the mid 70s but dipicted the 1960s growing up of several characters. I guess after seeing those movies I have always wanted to write my memoirs. I have never gotten around doing it and at this late stage, probably won't so I envy Bob for doing what I have always wanted to do.

My buddies and my exploits could probably fill a book plus a follow-up. Of course all our actions never resulted in violence (maybe a few fights now and then) but always we remained friends.

It seems like the friends we have today are really not as tight as the friends we had when we were kids.

I made a visit to my home town to a funeral last year and ran into some of my childhood friends and all we did was reflect on our youth and the fun we had then. Do you think perhaps most of us our youth? I hadn't seen many of these people in over 25 years. No contact what so ever but they are constantly in my thoughts and as I am sure in theirs. We seem like we never have the time to pick up the phone and make a call to those that meant so much to us when we were young. These friends had a major impact on who we are today.

I guess that is why I built my 60s website. It is just a way to escape the hoopla of the times we live in today. Nothing wrong with that as long as you don't get lost in the 1960s. Getting lost in the 1960s can't be all that bad can it?