As we begin the year 1961, KYA now is becoming a major force in Top 40 music in the Bay Area. Top 40 music refers to stations that were playing the current hit songs- KYA had many different formats over the years (Top 30, Top 40 and Swingin’ 60). I will still use the KEWB Top 40 but I will also mention songs that made the surveys of KYA but not KEWB (these songs will have KYA in parenthesis). KYA had recently brought in disc jockeys from the East Coast. Their linup in January 1961 would consist of Jim Stag, Johnny Raven (better known as Les Crane), Peter Tripp, Bobby Mitchell, Norman Davis, Terry Sullivan, Tony Tremayne and Michael Jackson (no relation to the singer with the sequined glove). One of their bigger stars was yet to come in the latter part of May of this year.
January 1961
Songs that would debut this month were “Yes, I’m Lonesome Tonight” by Dodie Stevens (this was the answer record to “Are You Lonesome Tonight”), “Lost Love” by H.B. Barnum, “Wings Of A Dove” by Ferlin Husky, “All In My Mind” by Maxine Brown, “Pepe” by Duane Eddy, “Don’t Believe Him Donna” by Lenny Miles, “Emotions” by Brenda Lee, “Sound Off” by Titus Turner, “My Empty Arms” by Jackie Wilson, “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas, “Baby Sittin’ Boogie” by Buzz Clifford, “Dance By The Light Of The Moon” by The Olympics, “The Story Of My love” by Paul Anka, “If I Didn’t Care” by The Platters,
“Won’t Be Long” by Aretha Franklin (this is early Aretha while she was recording for Columbia Records), “I Love You So” by The Chantels, “Jimmy’s Girl” by Johnny Tillotson, “Where The Boys Are” by Connie Francis, “Good Time Baby” by Bobby Rydell, “At Last” by Etta James, “Teenage Vows Of Love” by The Dreamers, “Flamingo Express” by The Royaltones, “Don’t Worry” by Marty Robbins, “Wheels” by The String Alongs, “What A Price” by Fats Domino, “The Battle Of Gettysburg” by Fred Darian, “Cherie” by Bobby Rydell (KYA), “Theme From Checkmate” by Johnny Williams (KYA), “Bless You My Darling” by Tarheel Slim & Little Ann (KYA), “A Week From Sunday” by Miss Frankie Nolan (KYA) and “I Don’t Want To Cry” by Chuck Jackson (KYA)
February 1961
Songs that would debut locally this month were “Ebony Eyes” by The Everly Brothers, “I Pity The Fool” by Bobby “Blue” Bland, “Pony Time” by Chubby Checker, “Them That Got” by Ray Charles, “Dream Boy” by Annette, “For My Baby” by Brook Benton, “There’s A Moon Out Tonight” by The Capris, “Little Boy Sad” by Johnny Burnette, “Stayin’ In” by Bobby Vee,”Please Love Me Forever” by Cathy Jean The Roomates, “Happy Birthday Blues” by Kathy Young & The Innocents, “Apache” by Jorgen Ingman, “Utopia” by Frank Gari and “Ram-Bunk-Shush” by The Ventures.
Other songs that would debut locally in February were “Up Lazy River” by Bobby Darin, “Hearts Of Stone” by The Bill Black Combo, “Spanish Harlem” by Ben E. King, “Call Me Anytime” by Frankie Avalon, “Green Stamps” by The T-Birds, “Surrender” by Elvis Presley (this song would debut at #1 on the KEWB Top 40 on February 2, 1961), “Hideaway” by Freddie King, “The Closer You Are” by The Channels, “Be Sure My Love” by The Dubs, “Little Boy, Little Girl” by Al Martino, “Some Of Your Lovin” by Johnny Nash (KYA), “Havin’ Fun” by Dion (KYA), “To Be Loved” by The Pentagons (KYA), “Way Over There” and “You Can Depend On Me” by The Miracles (KYA), “I’m Jealous” by Ike & Tina Turner (KYA), “Once Upon A Time” by Rochell & The Candles (KYA) , “Cherrigale” by Ed Townsend (KYA), “The Age For Love” by Jimmy Charles (KYA), “Jenny” by Udo Jurgens (KYA), “Lost The Right” by Freddie Scott (KYA), “Little Pedro” by The Olympics (KYA), “The Hokey Pokey” by The Champs (KYA), “Deep Blue Sea” by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters and Ginnie Bell” by Paul Dino (KYA).
March 1961
Songs that would debut locally this month were “I Met Him On Sunday” by The Shirelles, “You Can Have Her” by Roy Hamilton, “Bye Bye Baby” by Mary Wells, “Mother In Law” by Ernie K. Doe, “I Don’t Know Why I Love You, But I Do” by Clarence “Frogman” Henry, “Triangle” by Janie Grant, “A Hundred Pounds Of Clay” by Gene McDaniels, “On The Rebound” by Floyd Cramer, “Runaway” by Del Shannon, “The Touchables” by Dickie Goodman, “More Than I Can Say” by Bobby Vee, “Blue Moon” by The Marcels, “Young Boy, Young Girl” by Richie Alhona, “Love Or Money” by The Blackwells, “Little Sad Eyes” by The Castells, “Seems Like Long Long Ago” by Joannie Sommers, “Early Every Morning” by Dinah Washington, “Find Another Girl” by Jerry Butler, “Your One And Only Love” by Jackie Wilson, “Girl Machine” by Johnny Walsh, “Tonight My Love, Tonight” by Paul Anka, “The Great Snow Man” by Bob Luman, “Bumble Boogie” by B. Bumble & The Stingers, “Little Lonely One” by The Jarmels, “I Don’t Want To Love You” by Austin Taylor (KYA), “California Sun” by Joe Jones (KYA), “It’s Unbelievable” by The Larks (KYA), “Please Say You Want Me” by Little Anthony & The Imperials (KYA), “The Blizzard” by Jim Reeves (KYA), “Anything To Say You’re Mine” and “Trust In Me” by Etta James (KYA), “Asia Minor” by Kokomo (KYA), “Come Along” by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs (KYA), “Glory Of Love” by The Roomates (KYA), “Funny” by Maxine Brown (KYA) and “Merry Go Round” by Marv Johnson (KYA).
April 1961
Songs that would debut locally this month were “Shu Rah” by Fats Domino, “Bonanza” by Al Caiola, “I’ve Told Every Little Star” by Linda Scott, “Sleepy Eyed John” by Johnny Horton, “Baby Blue” by The Echoes, “You Can Depend On Me” by Brenda Lee, “One Eyed Jacks” by Ferrante & Teicher, “Double Whammy” by Jerry & Mel, “Portrait Of My love” by Steve Lawrence, “My Three Sons” by Lawrence Welk, “You Set My Heart To Music” by Johnny Mathis, “Flaming Star” by Elvis Presley, “Halfway To Paradise” by Tony Orlando (Tony would be back in 1970 as the leader of a group called Dawn), “Sparkle And Shine” by The Four Coquettes, “Girl Of My Best Friend” by Ral Donner, “Be My Boy” by The Paris Sisters, “Big Mr. C” by The Link Eddy Combo, “I’m In The Mood For Love” by The Chimes, “The Book Of Love” by Bobby Bare, “You’d Better” by Russell Byrd, “Daddy’s Home” by Shep & The Limelites, “Runnin’ Scared” by Roy Orbison, “Some Kind Of Wonderful” by The Drifters, “Mama Said” by The Shirelles, “The Continental Walk” by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, “Ronnie” by Marcy Joe, “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson, “Breakin’ In A Brand New Broken Heart” by Connie Francis, “Maybe I’m A Fool” by Aretha Franklin, “Lonely Sands” by The Dunes, “One Mint Julep” by Ray Charles,”Tonight My Love, Tonight” by Paul Anka, “Royal Whirl” by The Royaltones (KYA), “African Waltz” by Cannonball Adderley (KYA), “The Elopers” by Jessie Lee Turner (KYA), “I Need Help” by Bobby Day (KYA), “Tonight I Fell In Love” by The Tokens (KYA), “Take Good Care Of Her” by Adam Wade (KYA), “The Very Thought Of You” by Little Willie John (KYA), “In Real Life” by Chuck Jackson (KYA), “In Between Tears” by Lenny Miles (KYA), “Like Long Hair” by Paul Revere & The Raiders (KYA), “Tenderly” by Bert Kaempfert (KYA), “Lullabye Of Love” by Frank Gari (KYA) and “Here Comes The Night” by Jimmy Norman (KYA).
May 1961
This was the month that KYA added a new radio personality. His real name was Thomas Coman, but he would be known to us as “Big Daddy” Tom Donahue. Songs that would debut locally this month were “Bumble Boogie” by B Bumble & The Stingers, “Little Devil” by Neil Sedaka, “Tragedy” by The Fleetwoods, “Good Good Lovin” and “Dance The Mess Around” by Chubby Checker, “Old Black Magic” and “Don’t Be Afraid” by Bobby Rydell, “The Rebel, Johnny Yuma” by Johnny Cash, “Big Big World” by Johnny Burnette, “Life’s A Holiday” by Jerry Wallace, “That’s The Way With Love” by Piero Soffici, “Lullabye Of The Leaves” by The Ventures, “Gotta Get A Girl” by Frankie Avalon, “Those Oldies But Goodies” by Little Caesar & The Romans , “The Touchables In Brooklyn” by Dickie Goodman,
“Stand By Me” by Ben E King, “Raindrops” by Dee Clark, “Cha Cha Go Go” by Danny & The Juniors, “Every Beat Of My Heart” by Gladys Knight & The Pips, “Indian Giver” by Annette, “The Bilbao Song” by Andy Williams, “You’re Gonna Need Magic” by Roy Hamilton, “How Many Tears” by Bobby Vee, “Moody River” by Pat Boone, “Exodus (the Jazz version)” by Eddie Harris, “I Feel So Bad” and “Wild In The Country” by Elvis Presley, “I Just Cry” and “It Keeps Rainin’ ” by Fats Domino, “Sacred” by The Castells, “Watch Your Step” by Bobby Parker, “The Boll Weevil Song” by Brook Benton, “You Always Hurt The One You Love” by Clarence “Frogman” Henry, “Dance On Little Girl” by Paul Anka, “Let’s Get Together” by Tommy Sands & Annette, “I Want You” by Bob Conrad, “Our Love Is Here To Stay” by Dinah Washington, “Quarter To Three” by Gary ‘U.S’ Bonds, “Our Parents Talked It Over” by Kathy Young & The Innocents, “I Will Love You” by Shelby Flint, “Jimmy Martinez” by Marty Robbins, “I Want A Guy” by The Supremes (KYA), “Shy Away” by Jerry Fuller (KYA), “Te Ta Te Ta Ta” and “She’s Waiting” by Ernie K Doe (KYA), “I’m A Fool To Care” by Joe Barry (KYA), “His Eyes” by Johnny Dollar (KYA), The Willy Walk” by Johnny Preston (KYA), “Warpaint” by The Brook Brothers (KYA), “Theme From The Last Time I Saw Archie” by Percy Faith (KYA),”And This Is Mine” by Connie Stevens (KYA), “Wishbone” by Donnie Brooks (KYA), “I Don’t Mind” by James Brown (KYA), “Mary And Man-O” by Lloyd Price (KYA), and “Son In Law” by The Blossoms (KYA, this was the answer record to “Mother In Law”).
June 1961
Songs that would debut locally this month were “Temptation” and “Stick With Me Baby” by The Everly Brothers, “Love Me” by The Castle Sisters, “When A Girl Gives Her Heart To A Boy” by Billie Daye, “Candy Apple Red Impala” by Little E & The Mellotone Three, “Jimmy Love” by Cathy Carroll, “Look For My True Love” by Bobby Darin, “Fool That I Am” by Etta James, “My Kind Of Girl” by Matt Monroe, “Good Goodbye” by The Bob Knight Four, “Never On Sunday” by The Chordettes, “Teen Prayer” by The Velveteens, “The Writing On The Wall” by Adam Wade, “Rama Lama Ding Dong” by The Edsels, “The Charleston” by Ernie Fields, “Heart And Soul” by Jan & Dean, “Yellow Bird” by Lawrence Welk, “White Cliffs Of Dover” by The Robbins, “Rainin’ In My Heart” by Slim Harpo, “Pomp And Circumstance” by Adrian Kimberly, “Tossin’ And Turnin’ ” by Bobby Lewis, “Please Stay” by The Drifters, “Charlie Wasn’t There” by Barbara Evans, “Lucy’s Theme From Parrish” by George Greely, “Barbara Ann” by The Regents, “Tell Me Why” by The Belmonts, “One Summer Night” by The Diamonds, “Bobby” by Neil Scott, “Dum Dum” and “Eventually” by Brenda Lee, “I’ll Never Forget” by Buzz Clifford, “Da Doo” by Dante & The Evergreens (KYA), “Sad Eyes” by The Echoes (KYA), “So Far Away” by Rochell & The Candles (KYA), “Ole Buttermilk Sky” by The Bill Black Combo (KYA), “The Naked City Theme” (from the TV show of the same name) by Jack Costanzo (KYA), “Lonely Boy” by Two Brothers (KYA), “Nobody Cares” by Baby Washington (KYA), “The Piano Boy” by Joannie Sommers (KYA), “Mary Ann” by Paul Moer (KYA), “Boogie Woogie” by B. Bumble & The Stingers (KYA), “Somebody Nobody Wants” by Dion (KYA), “There Was A Fungus Among Us” by Hugh Barrett & The Victors (KYA), “Shake Shake Sherry” by The Flairs (KYA), “Day In Court” by The Varnells (KYA), “My Imagination” by The Five Classics and “I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town” by Ray Charles (KYA). 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: The music surveys of KEWB and KYA in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area in California, U.S.A.
