I Get AP To Change An Incorrect National Story

The front page headline on every major news web site last night was "Teena Marie - First White Act Ever On Motown Records Dies At 54."

The problem? That is incorrect and I knew the details.

I immediately called Associated Press and gave them intricate details as to why they were wrong.

You see, 1960's teen idol, Paul Petersen, the young star of "The Donna Reed Show" was the first white act to ever sign with Motown in 1967.

You'll remember that Paul had a number of national hits during the TV show including "My Dad" which charted in the Top Ten but these were on Colpix Records.

When "Donna Reed" was cancelled, Motown realized that this guy could really sing with great soul (he originally was a young singer and not an actor) and signed him as the very first white artist on Motown Records.

Although he did not have the same success at Motown that he had during the Colpix years, he was the first white artist on their label.

AP wrote down all the details I gave them, said that they would immediately send it up the chain of command and the whole story was re-written, excluding the incorrect information and instead focusing on a different angle. It has been corrected at every major news web site.

Folks, how about doing some research before putting out an incorrect major story that appears everywhere?

Christmas 2010

44 years ago, folk-rock sensation Simon & Garfunkel took the religious Christmas song "Silent Night" and sang it mixed in with the current news of the week. Nothing like this had ever been recorded before.

As you listen to the song here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q_zLiwyfXE

read the words of the news broadcast below.
Looks like not a whole lot has changed.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Jubilant Kwanzaa and Wonderful Winter Solstice
to those who strive for peace in the world.

"This is the early evening edition of the news.
The recent fight in the House of Representatives was over the open housing section of the Civil Rights Bill.
Brought traditional enemies together but left the defenders of the measure without the votes of their strongest supporters.
President Johnson originally proposed an outright ban covering discrimination by everyone for every type of housing but it had no chance from the start and everyone in Congress knew it.
A compromise was painfully worked out in the House Judiciary Committee.
In Los Angeles today comedian Lenny Bruce died of what was believed to be an overdose of narcotics.
Bruce was 42 years old.
Dr. Martin Luther King says he does not intend to cancel plans for an open housing march Sunday in the Chicago suburb of Cicero.
Cook County Sheriff Richard Ogleby asked King to call off the march and the police in Cicero said they would ask the National Guard to be called out if it is held.
King, now in Atlanta, Georgia, plans to return to Chicago Tuesday.
In Chicago, Richard Speck, accused murderer of nine student nurses, was brought before a grand jury today for indictment.
The nurses were found stabbed and strangled in their Chicago apartment.
In Washington the atmosphere was tense today as a special subcommittee of the House Committee on Un-American Activities continued its probe into anti-Viet Nam war protests.
Demonstrators were forcibly evicted from the hearings when they began chanting anti-war slogans.
Former Vice-President Richard Nixon says that unless there is a substantial increase in the present war effort in Viet Nam, the U.S. should look forward to five more years of war.
In a speech before the Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New York, Nixon also said opposition to the war in this country is the greatest single weapon working against the U.S.
That's the 7 o'clock edition of the news, good night."

John Lennon Memorial Tonight In Los Angeles

Millions of people around the world paid tribute today on the 30th Anniversary of the death of John Lennon.

In Los Angeles, the memorial service took place tonight in front of the Capitol Records building near Hollywood and Vine.

The small but dedicated crowd of about 100 people gathered to hear speakers, musicians and the music of John Lennon.

The highlight of the event was an artist who painted a mural of Lennon completely from scratch from his imagination while the audience watched. The mural was an incredible likeness of the Beatle from the 1968 era. (top picture of artist and his creation)

The joyful atmosphere of primarily people in their 50's and 60's told stories of where they were 30 years ago tonight when they heard the world shattering news.

Telemundo network was present and focused on the artist creating his mural. In a personal humorous note, when the announcer was done taping his part he came over to me. I figured he just wanted a typical person in the crowd reaction. No--he wanted to film my special Beatles jacket which is filled with legendary Beatles logos, Yellow Submarines and Blue Meanies. You can see some of it in the lower picture. Somebody who speaks Spanish should tell me if my jacket got in the final report.

Paul Gets Another National Award

Paul McCartney received the prestigious Kennedy Center Award tonight for Lifetime achievement in Entertainment in Washington, D.C.

Earlier this year Paul received the Gershwin award from the Library of Congress.

Paul, who is 68, is three years away from 50 years of entertaining Americans.

For those who have followed the group from their early days in Liverpool and Hamburg,
Paul has already been entertaining for 50 years straight.

Quite an achievement. Considering so many musical entertainers have a 1-3 year career span.