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 20th
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 20th
- March 20th Birthday, Blues singer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, born in 1915 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. She died on October 9th, 1973 at the age of 58.
- March 20th Birthday, Blues drummer and vocalist Sam Lay, born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1935. A Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Lay played with Bob Dylan, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Iggy Pop, Little Walter, James Cotton and others. He died January 29th, 2022, aged 86.
- March 20th Birthday, Reggae artist and record producer Lee “Scratch” Perry, born Rainford Hugh Perry in 1936 in Kendal, Jamaica. He died on August 29th, 2021, aged 85.
- March 20th Birthday, Guitarist, singer and actor Jerry Reed, born Jerry Hubbard in Atlanta, Georgia in 1937. He died on September 1st, 2008, aged 71.
- March 20th Birthday, Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show bassist Jance Garfat, born in California in 1944. He died on November 6th, 2006 at the age of 62.
- March 20th Birthday, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster and Emerson, Lake and Palmer drummer Carl Palmer, born in Handsworth, Birmingham, England in 1950. He died March 5th 1995 at the age of 51.
- March 20th Birthday, Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan from The Fabulous Thunderbirds, born in Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas in 1951.
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 20th
- March 20th, 1961 Epic Records release “Halfway To Paradise”, the debut single by Tony Orlando on 45. The song was co-written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. King arranged the session and Al Nevins, Don Kirshner and Jack Keller produced the recording. The single went to No. 39 on June 10th.
- March 20th, 1963 Jan And Dean record “Surf City” at United Western Recorders in Hollywood, California with The Beach Boys providing background vocals. Hal Blaine played drums on the song, with Glen Campbell on guitar. Produced by Jan Berry and co-written by Berry with Brian Wilson, the song was released on 45 by Liberty Records on May 17th and became the first surf song to reach No. 1 in the US, on July 20th.
- March 20th, 1964 The Yardbirds play The Marquee Club in London. Tthe performance is recorded and highlights were released on December 4th as the first Yardbirds album “Five Live Yardbirds.” Featuring Eric Clapton on guitar, Paul Samwell-Smith on bass, Chris Dreja on rhythm guitar, Jim McCarty on drums and Keith Relf on vocals, all the songs on the record were American Blues and R&B standards. The LP was produced by band manager Giorgio Gomelsky.
- March 20th, 1964 Motown Records release “Meet The Temptations,” the debut album by The Temptations. The LP is made up of previously released singles by the band. Vocals David Ruffin joined three months before the record’s release, replacing original member Elbridge “Al” Bryant, who sings on all the tracks on the LP except for “The Way You Do The Things You Do.” The record peaked at No. 95 at June 13th.
- March 20th, 1965 “The Animals On Tour” LP enters the charts following a February release on MGM Records. Issued as the second US album by the group, the album collected singles and album tracks previously unreleased in America from the British LP’s “The Animals” and “Animal Tracks.” The record peaked at No. 99 on May 8th.
- March 20th, 1965 “Bumble Bee” by The Searchers enters the singles charts. “Bumble Bee” is a song first recorded in 1960 by American R&B singer LaVern Baker, who co-wrote the song with Leroy Fullylove. The record peaked at No. 21 on April 24th.
- March 20th, 1967 Motown Records issue The Supremes’ “The Happening” on 45. The song served as the theme of the 1967 Columbia Pictures film The Happening.” released as a single by Motown to coincide with the film’s release that spring. The track was co-produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier and co-written by the two with Eddie Holland and the film’s musical director, Frank De Voi. While the movie flopped, the record entered the charts in April and peaked at No. 1 in May becoming The Supremes’ tenth chart topping single in the United States on May 13th, No. 6 in Britain.
- March 20th, 1968 Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Richie Furay and Jim Messina are arrested at a private home in Los Angeles and charged with being in a place where it is suspected that marijuana is being used.
- March 20th, 1969 John Lennon marries Yoko Ono at The Rock Of Gibraltar.
- March 20th, 1969 Neil Young records “Cinnamon Girl” with the band Crazy Horse at Wally Heider Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The song was written in double drop D tuning and highlights the prominent role played by Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten in the sound of Young’s early recordings. The vocals are a duet, with Whitten singing the high harmony against Young’s low harmony. The track was included on Young’s “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” LP and released as a single on April 20th, 1970. The 45 reached No. 55 on July 25thand earned a Gold Record.
- March 20th, 1970 Tamla Records release the double A-sided “The Onion Song” backed with “California Soul” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell on 45. Co-written and produced by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, the record peaked at No. 50 on May 23rd. It became the last of Gaye and Terrell’s charting singles.
- March 20th, 1970 David Bowie marries Mary Angela Barnetty, from thereon known as Angie Bowie in a civil ceremony in England.
- March 20th, 1970 Elton John records “Rock and Roll Madonna” at Trident Studios in London. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, the studio session included Caleb Quaye on guitar, Roger Pope on drums and Dave Glover on bass. Audience applause sound effects were added to the original recording, a technique used again on Elton’s 1973 hit “Bennie and The Jets.” Co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, the record was released on 45 on June 19th, but the single never charted.
- March 20th, 1971 Reprise Records release the self-titled first album by Crazy Horse. It was the group’s only album on which original guitarist Danny Whitten appeared. The LP was co-produced by Crazy Horse pianist Jack Nitzsche and Bruce Botnick. Also appearing were guitarist Nils Lofgren, bassist Billy Talbot, Ralph Molina on drums and session guitarist Ry Cooder on three songs. The LP was recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, Sunset Sound in Los Angeles and A&M Studios in Hollywood. The record peaked at No. 84 on March 27th, 1971.
- March 20th, 1971 “Mona Bone Jakon,” the third studio album by Cat Stevens enters the album charts eleven months after it first came out in Britain. Recorded from January through February 1970 with former Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith producing, Stevens put together an album of songs from those he had written while convalescing from a bought with tuberculosis and a collapsed lung. The LP was a first step towards Stevens’ transition from pop singer to a folk-rock approach. Peter Gabriel guests on flute on the song “Katmandu.” The record peaked at No. 164 on May 22nd.
- March 20th, 1972 Apple Records release Ringo Starr’s “Back Off Boogaloo” on 45, out two months later, May 17th in Britain. Recorded in September 1971, “Back Off Boogaloo” was co-written by Starr and George Harrison by adding some chords and finishing the melody, but Ringo Starr was the only name given in the songwriting credits. The record entered the charts in April in America and peaked at No. 9 on May 13th.
- March 20th, 1972 Columbia Records release Paul Simon’s “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” on 45. With Simon on the session for the song were guitarist David Spinozza, Airto Moreira on percussion and Russell George on bass guitar. Written by Paul Simon, the record entered the charts in April and peaked at No. 22 on May 27th.
- March 20th, 1973 ABC Records release “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce on 45. Recorded in 1972 with producers Terry Cashman and Tommy West, Croce was nominated for two 1973 Grammy Awards in the Pop Male Vocalist and Record of the Year categories for “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” Written by Croce, the record entered the charts in April and peaked at No. 1 in America on July 21st.
- March 20th, 1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Double Trouble” enters the singles’ charts. The song was co-written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant and peaked at No. 80 on March 27th.
- March 20th, 1976 “Sally” by Grand Funk enters the singles charts following a February release on Capitol Records. The song was written by Mark Farner and the track produced by Jimmy Ienner. The record peaked at No. 69 on April 3rd.
- March 20th, 1976 “Ophelia” by The Band enters the singles charts following a February release on Capitol Records. Written by Robbie Robertson, the song was produced by The Band for the album “Northern Lights – Southern Cross.” The record peaked at No. 62 on April 3rd.
- March 20th, 1978 Capitol Records release “With A Little Luck” by Paul McCartney and Wings on 45, out four days later in Britain. The track was recorded in May 1977 in the Virgin Islands aboard the boat Fair Carol, which had been fitted with a twenty-four track recording studio for sessions for the album “London Town.” McCartney played electric piano, bass and synthesizer in the song. The record entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 1 on May 20th.
- March 20th, 1991 Eric Clapton’s four-year-old son Connor dies from a fall out of a window in New York City.
- March 20th, 1995 Rocket Records in England release “Made In England” by Elton John. Co-produced by Elton John with Greg Penny at AIR Studios in London. Paul Carrack guests on one track. Ray Cooper, Davey Johnstone, Paul Buckmaster and George Martin contributed as well. “Made In England” peaked at No. 13 on April 8th.
- March 20th, 1995 Apple Records release the “Baby, It’s You” EP. Issued to coincide with the group’s “Live At The BBC” album, “Baby It’s You” reached No 67 in the US on April 22nd, No. 7 in Britain.
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 “Ewi 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.
