Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast March 21st Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History March 15th
Daily Rock and Roll History, Birthday and short music clips.
A year long, day by day look back at this date in Rock History in 3-5 minute segments. Now airing WRGG in Greencastle, PA.
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
Craig Maher from Exo-X-Xeno talking about the 2025 album "Luminous Voyage"
- Click picture to listen to the interview with Craig talking about the Exo-X-Xeno project with Yes members Billy Sherwood, Jay Shellen and Patrick Moraz.
Rock and Roll Birthdays
March 15th
- March 15th Birthday, Blues guitarist Lightnin’ Hopkins, born Samuel John Hopkins in Centerville, Texas in 1912. He passed away on January 30th, 1982 at the age of 69.
- March 15th Birthday, Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, born in 1940 in Berkeley, California.
- March 15th Birthday, John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers and McGuiness Flint drummer Hughie Flint, born in 1940 in Manchester, Lancashire, England.
- March 15th Birthday, The Beach Boys vocalist and songwriter Mike Love, born in Los Angeles, California in 1941.
- March 15th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, from Sly & The Family Stone, born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas in 1943. He died June 9th, 2025 at the age of 82.
- March 15th Birthday, War guitarist Howard Scott, born in 1946 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California.
- March 15th Birthday, Guitarist Ry Cooder, born Ryland Peter Cooder in Los Angeles, California in 1947.
- March 15th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, radio personality and actor Dee Snider from Twisted Sister, born Daniel Snider in 1955 in New York City.
- March 15th Birthday, R&B singer Terence Trent D’arby, born Terence Trent Howard in Manhattan, New York City in 1962.
- March 15th Birthday, Poison lead singer and solo artist Bret Michaels born in 1963 in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Nektar Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
Nektar interviewed on the second night of the 2025 "Mission To Mars" Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with Nektar discussiing the current tour, future plans and group history.
Today In Rock and Roll History
March 15th
- March 15th, 1955 Fats Domino records “Ain’t It A Shame” at Master Recorders on North Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood. Co-written by Domino with Dave Bartholomew, the track was released on April 14th on Imperial Records. The song was quickly covered by Pat Boone, who appears to have suggested the title be changed to “Ain’t That A Shame.” As Domino’s original version gained in popularity, the name change took hold although the original recording remained the same as it was first issued. The single went to the top of the US R&B charts and No. 10 on the Pop Singles Charts, becoming the first of thirty-seven Top Forty hits Domino would have over the next eight years.
- March 15th, 1956 Elvis Presley signs a management contract with Colonel Tom Parker.
- March 15th, 1957 Sun Records release “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On” by Jerry Lee Lewis on 45. The song was first recorded by Big Maybelle in 1955, co-written by Dave “Curlee” Williams and uncredited pianist James Faye “Roy” Hall. Lewis had been playing the song in his live set and recorded it during sessions at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee in February. With drummer J.M. Van Eaton and guitarist Roland Janes, the track was recorded in just one take. Jerry Lee changed the song’s arrangement to incorporate the boogie piano part he’d devised and improvised the vocal asides. “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On” peaked at No. 3 on the Pop Singles charts on September 9th and would top the R&B and Country charts.
- March 15th, 1958 Capitol Records release Gene Vincent’s album “Gene Vincent Rocks And The Bluecaps Roll.” By the time of the November 1957 sessions that became the LP, drummer Dickie Harrell was the only original member of The Blue Caps still in the band.
- March 15th, 1963 HMV Records in Britain release “Misery” by British singer Kenny Lynch on 45. One of the first black singers in British pop music, the song was a cover of an early John Lennon and Paul McCartney song, making Lynch one of the first to record a cover version of a Beatles song. The singer opened for the group on their first British tour. In 1974, Lynch appeared in the group photo that graced Paul McCartney’s “Band On The Run” LP.
- March 15th, 1965 Liberty Records release “Count Me In” by Gary Lewis and The Playboys. Written by Glen Hardin, the session for the record was produced by Snuff Garret and arranged by Leon Russell. “Count Me In” entered the charts in April and went to No. 2 on May 8th.
- March 15th, 1967 The orchestral backing track for The Beatles’ George Harrison song “Within You Without You” is recorded at EMI Studios in London in a single take. Harrison and road manager Neil Aspinall each play a tamboura with musicians from the Eastern Music Circle of Finchley, London on tabla, suarmandal and dilruba. On April 3rd, violins and cellos were added with an arrangement by George Martin. Harrison then added his lead vocal, sitar and acoustic guitar. It was the final Beatles’ recording session for tracks included on the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” LP.
- March 15th, 1968 Future Yes singer Jon Anderson releases his first solo single on Parlophone Records in Britain. The A-side was a cover version of the Don and Dick Addrisi brothers song “Never My Love” that was a hit for The Association. The B-side was “All Of The Time,” written by the single’s producer Paul Korda. Cy Payne was the musical director of the session. The record came out on Tower Records in the US in April.
- March 15th, 1968 Life Magazine hails Jimi Hendrix as “The most successful guitarist in the world.” To celebrate, Jimi throws a wild party at New York’s Waldorf Astoria.
- March 15th, 1968 Parlophone Records release The Beatles “Lady Madonna” on 45 in Britain, out March 18th in America.
- March 15th, 1969 “Dizzy” by Tommy Roe is the No. 1 record in the US.
- March 15th, 1969 Atco Records release “First Of May” by The Bee Gees on 45. With lead vocals by Barry Gibb, the song was issued from their 1969 double album “Odessa.” It was the first Bee Gees single to be released after lead guitarist Vince Melouney had left the group. Sessions for the track began in January at Atlantic Studios in New York and continued in IBC Studios, London in March. The record entered the singles charts a week later and peaked at No. 37 on April 19th. By the time the single came out, Robin Gibb had quit the band.
- March 15th, 1969 Roulette Records release “Sweet Cherry Wine” by Tommy James and The Shondells as a stand-alone single. Co-written by Tommy James and Richard Grasso, the track mixes lyrics about friends gone off to war, Biblical imagery, a Gospel-tinged chorus and psychedelic production technique. “Sweet Cherry Wine” was recorded at Broadway Sound Studios in Manhattan, New York City with Tommy James producing. The record entered the charts a week later and went to No. 7 in the US on May 3rd, No. 6 in Canada
- March 15th, 1969 Buddah Records release “Mercy” by Ohio Express” on 45. Co-written by Joey Levine and Steve Feldman, the record entered the charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 30 on May 3rd.
- March 15th, 1969 “Time Is Tight” by Booker T and The MG’s enters the singles charts following a February release on Stax Records. Written by Booker T. Jones, the group recorded two versions of the song. The shorter, slower version became one of the biggest hits of the group’s career. The longer album version was played at a faster tempo than the single version and features an extended introduction and an instrumental ‘breakdown’ section, neither of which were included on the single. The 45 came out in Britain a month later. “Time Is Tight” peaked at No. 6 on May 3rd.
- March 15th, 1970 During sessions for Stephen Stills’ first solo album, Jimi Hendrix records a lead guitar part on the song “Old Times, Good Times” at Island Studios in London.
- March 15th, 1971 Neil Diamond’s “I Am I Said” is released on 45 on UNI Records. Inspired by a failed screen test for a movie about the comedian Lenny Bruce, Diamond worked on the song for months and felt it was one of his greatest songwriting efforts. Produced by Tom Catalano, the song was also included on Neil Diamond’s seventh studio LP, “Stones.” The single entered the record charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 4 on May 8th.
- March 15th, 1973 Atlantic Records release “Give It To Me” by The J. Geils Band on 45. Co-written by front man Peter Wolf and keyboardist Seth Justman, the track was recorded at The Hit Factory in New York City with producer Bill Szymczyk. The record spent sixteen weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 30 on June 23rd.
- March 15th, 1974 Columbia Records release “Get Your Wings,” the second studio album by Aerosmith. The band took a break from touring to record the LP in December 1973 and finished in January 1974 with Jack Douglas producing at The Record Plant in New York City. Session guitarists Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter were brought in to solo on a few of the tracks, including the faux live “Train ‘Kept A Rollin’,” with canned audience sounds from “The Concert For Bangla Desh,” which Douglas had worked on as a studio engineer. “Get Your Wings” reached No. 74 on October 18th but stayed on the charts for over a year and a half.
- March 15th, 1974 Capitol Records release “Shinin’ On” by Grand Funk. The LP was recorded at The Swamp, a studio owned by guitarist Mark Farner on his farm in Parshallville, Michigan. Produced by Todd Rundgren, the album cover was printed in 3-D and came with 3-D glasses to view it. The record peaked at No. 5 on May 4th.
- March 15th, 1974 Emerson Lake and Palmer’s film Pictures At An Exhibition has its US premier in Los Angeles, documenting ELP’s 1970 performance at London’s Lyceum Theatre.
- March 15th, 1974 Tamla Records release Smokey Robinson’s “Just My Soul Responding” backed with “It’s Her Turn To Live” on 45. Both songs were co-written by Robinson with Marv Tarplin. The A-side didn’t chart, but “It’s Her Turn To Live” entered the charts in May and peaked at No. 82 on June 15th.
- March 15th, 1975 Columbia Records release “That’s The Way Of The World,” the seventh studio LP by Earth, Wind and Fire. The record was produced by Maurice White at four different studios in September and October 1974. The album went to No. 1 on May 17th and featured four hit singles, “Africano,” “Happy Feelin’,” “Shining Star” and “That’s the Way of the World.” “Shining Star” won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
- March 15th, 1975 Bearsville Records release “Real Man” by Todd Rundgren on 45. Written by Rundgren from his album “Initiation,” the single reached No. 83 on May 10th.
- March 15th, 1975 “Black Water” by The Doobie Brothers is the No. 1 record in the US.
- March 15th, 1975 Columbia Records release “That’s The Way Of The World,” the sixth studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire. The LP was recorded at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado, Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, Hollywood Sound Recorders in Hollywood, California and The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California with Maurice White and Charles Stepney co-producing. The album’s title track and “Shining Star” were both Top Fifteen hits. The record peaked at No. 1 on May 17th.
- March 15th, 1975 Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn disband T Rex. Bolan begins a short lived solo career before his death in a car wreck two years later.
- March 15th, 1976 Casablanca Records release “Destroyer,” the fourth studio album by Kiss. The band recorded the record from September 1975 through February 1976 at Electric Lady and the Record Plant Studios in New York City. Produced by Bob Ezrin, it was the follow-up to the successful “Kiss Alive!” Session guitarist Dick Wagner, the Brooklyn Boys Chorus and the New York Philharmonic orchestra played on the record. The LP reached No. 11 on May 15th and featured three hit singles “Shout It Out Loud,” “Flaming Youth” and “Beth.”
- March 15th, 1982 Hannibal Records release “Shoot Out the Lights,” the sixth and final studio album by husband and wife duo Richard and Linda Thompson. Originally intended to be produced by Gerry Rafferty, the sessions didn’t work and the Thompson’s brought in producer Joe Boyd to finish the record. In three days recording at Olympic Studios in London, the basic tracks were completed with Richard Thompson’s old band mates in Fairport Convention, drummer Dave Mattacks, bassist Dave Pegg and guitarist Simon Nicol.
- March 15th, 1982 Geffen Records release the self-titled debut album by Asia. The LP was produced and engineered by Mike Stone at Narcus Recording and The Town House Studios in London, England from June through November 1981. The album reached No. 1 on May 15th and featured the hits “Heat of the Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell.”
- March 15th, 1984 Polydor Records release “I’m Steppin’ Out” by John Lennon on 45, out July 15thin Britain. “I’m Stepping Out” was the first song to be recorded when the sessions for “Double Fantasy” / “Milk and Honey” began at The Hit Factory in New York City on August 7th, 1980. Playing on the track were Lennon, Earl Slick, Hugh McCracken on guitars, Tony Levin on bass, George Small on keyboards and Andy Newmark on drums. The single peaked at No. 55 on April 21st.
- March 15th, 1988 Sire Records release “Naked” by the Talking Heads. Produced by the band with Steve Lillywhite, it was their eighth and final studio album. Backing tracks were recorded in Paris, while lyrics were developed and recorded back in New York City after basic tracks were taped. The record peaked at No. 19 on May 7th.
- March 15th, 1988 The Electric Light Orchestra perform live for the first time in four years. George Harrison joins the band onstage in Birmingham, England.
Miscellaneous March
- March 1957 Flip Records release “Louie Louie” backed with “Rock Rock Rock” by Richard Berry and The Pharaohs on 45 and 78 rpm records. Berry and The Pharaohs were from Los Angeles, California. Berry co-wrote both sides of the record and hired The Pharaohs to back him of the recording. Based on the song “EWl Loco Cha Cha,” “Louie Louie” became a rock and roll standard when The Kingsmen rerecorded it two years later.
- March 1958 Big Records release “True Or False” backed with “Teen Age Fool,” the first single by Paul Simon, credited to True Taylor. The A-side was written by Simon’s father Lou Simon, himself a double bass player and bandleader. Paul Simon wrote “Teen Age Fool.”
- March 1964 Jam sessions recorded at Tel Mar Studios in Chicago between Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry form the “Two Great Guitars” LP released by the two on Chess Records in August. Produced by Andy McKaie, the recordings feature Lafayette Leake on piano, Jesse James Hohnson on bass and Billy Downing on drums.
- March 1966 Scorpio Records release “Fight Fire” backed with “Fragile Child,” the fifth single by The Golliwogs. Both sides were co-written by Tom and John Fogerty, using the names Rann Wild and Toby Green. The Golliwogs renamed themselves Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1967.
- March 1969 Buddy Miles records his second album “Electric Church.” Most of the LP was recorded at Mercury Studios with additional sessions at The Record Plant in New York City. Half of the record was produced by Jimi Hendrix, the songs “69 Freedom Special,” “Miss Lady,” “My Chant” and “Destructive Love.”
- March 1970 Atco Records release “Teasin’” by King Curtis With Delaney Bramlett, Eric Clapton and Friends on 45. Co-written by Curtis Owsley and the record’s producer Delaney Bramlett.
- March 1973 Mercury Records release “For Real” by Ruben and The Jets. The LP featured Frank Zappa on vocals and lead guitar on the song “Dedicated To The One I Love” and wrote the song “If I Could Only Be Your Love Again.” Former Mothers Of Invention saxophonist Jim “Motorhead” Sherman was a member of the band.
- March 1973 The release of “Heart Food,” the second album by Judee Sill. Issued on Asylum Records, Sill had been the first act signed to the label. The record was co-produced by Sill and Henry Lewy.
- March 1974 RCA Records release “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed on 45 from the live album “Rock And Roll Animal,” recorded at New York City’s Academy Of Music. Written by Reed, who co-produced the track with Steve Katz, the record features the twin guitars of Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner.
- March 1975 Columbia Records release the “Get Off My Cloud” album by Alexis Korner. The LP features session work with Keith Richard, Steve Marriot, Rick Wills, Barry St. John, Nicky Hopkins, Peter Frampton and others, recorded at CBS Studios in London and overdubs at Ramport Studios.
- March 1977 Private Stock Records release “In The Flesh” backed with “Man Overboard,” the second single by Blondie. “In The Flesh” was co-written by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. “Man Overboard” was written by Harry. Both tracks were produced by Richard Gotthehrer.
- March 1978 Chrysalis Records release “Denis” by Blondie on 45. The song is a cover version of the Randy And The Rainbows song from, written by Neil Levinson. The record was produced by Richard Gottehrer. The Blondie single went to No. 2 in Britain.
- March 1980 Warner Brothers Records release “Planet Claire,” the label’s second single from The B-52’s self-titled first album. The song was co-written by singer Fred Schneider and drummer Keith Strickland.
- March 1981 Warner Brothers Records release “Lava,” by The B-52’s on 45. Unusual in that the track was from the group’s first album, issued six months after “Private Idaho,” the only single from the group’s second LP “Wild Planet.” “Lava” was written collectively by The B-52’s and produced by Chris Blackwell.
- March 1981 Atlantic Records release “Run Through The Light” by Yes on 45. The track is a rewrite of a song called “Dancing Through The Light” that the band recorded during aborted album sessions in Paris in 1978 with original singer Jon Anderson. It is the only song in the Yes catalog before the death of Chris Squire to feature anyone other than Squire on bass. Squire played piano on the song and the bass part was played by singer Trevor Horn. The 45 version is a completely different mix of the version on the album “Drama.”
- March 1987, Columbia Records in Canada release “Moonlight Desire” by Laurence Gowen, professionally known as Gowen. The song was issued as the third single from his LP “Great Dirty World.” Yes singer Jon Anderson, heard the song being played in the studio as he walked by, and walked into the session asking if he could sing a harmony part on it. Thus, Anderson’s appearance on the song.
- March 1997 Eric Clapton posing as X-sample, and Simon Climie produce and release a CD as Totally Dysfunctional Family called “Retail Therapy.”
The Paul Bielatowicz Band Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with The Paul Bielatowicz Band discussiing the current tour and future plans.
Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
- Click image to hear The Wax Museum's Andy Tillison interview
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of March 15th
This Week In Rock and Roll History is a weekly one hour look back at the songs, the artists, and the stories behind the music of the rock and roll era.
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's Wax Museum Interview with Jonas Reingold
Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams Interview
The Buckinghams Radio Show
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's interviews on WRGG with Carl Giammarese from The Buckinghams in 2022 and 2024
The Cool Song Of The Week
Cool Song Of The Week 3/15 Elton John
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
- Click Fripp's image to hear the King Crimson guitarist, record producer, solo artist in this 1985 interview for the WARX Sunday night Radio Oz program. Fripp discusses his then current Guitar Craft courses, King Crimson stories, his start in the music business, and more.
Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
- Click picture to hear Annie Haslam "In Words and Music". The iconic Renaissance singer talks at length about music, her life, and artwork for an exclusive interview in The Wax Museum.
Tommy James Wax Museum Interview January 2019
Tommy James
- Click picture to hear Tommy promoting all his planned 2019 activities; new album, Sirius XM radio show, touring, new movie, etc.
From the Radio Oz interview archives
Firesign Theatre interview 1980
- Click picture to listen to this archival interview with The Firesign Theatre recorded during their 1980 Fighting Clowns tour of the US for Radio Oz now available for purchase in the Firesign Theatre's "Fighting Clowns" of Hollywood" collection! Also check out this Tiny Ossman interview from 1995 -
Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
- Click picture to listen to the Wax Museum interview with Woody Lissauer and his latest album "Trouble The Water" with Barbara Ireland and Steve Caplan.
