Jackie Wilson
Once again, greetings and salutations. With the holidays upon us and Christmas right around the corner, we wish you all good cheer. And for all of the Geator Gold guys and gals who have been asking, we will celebrate by having our annual Christmas party this year at the SugarHouse Casino in Philly on Wednesday, Dec. 21, from 5-7pm, and it will be live on WVLT Cruisin’ 92.1 FM. Hope to see you there.
And a reminder that if you’re going to join us for our gala Fire and Ice New Year’s Eve bash in the Mark Etess Arena at the Taj, I suggest that you get your tickets now, simply because this event will be sold out, as it is every year, well before the New Year approaches. For your tickets, contact the box office at 609-449-1000 or 800-736-1420.
Before we get to your questions, let’s start with some trivia: Who was Silent Sam, the Dancing Midget? Hint: His birthday is today, Dec. 8. Answer at end of column. Now let’s ask the Geator
{On Nov. 8] you mentioned Jackie Wilson’s son Thor. Do you know if he is still alive and does he perform? — Melanie A., Manhattan
To my knowledge Jackie’s son Thor is still alive and lives a private life in Florida. One of Jackie’s other sons, Bobby Brooks, is a performer who does a Jackie Wilson tribute show. In addition to the other tragedies in Jackie’s life, he lost two of his children while he was still alive.
Do you remember a song from the late 1950s or early 1960s by a female vocalist about graduation from high school? I remember hearing the song on American Bandstand, and the only line I remember is “Farewell, high school, farewell.” I know this description is sketchy, but if you recall anything about this, I would appreciate it. — Joe Breitner, Willow Grove, Pa.
Nothing comes to my mind, but if any of our readers recognize the song, e-mail us at askthegeator@acweekly.com and we’ll publish the answer.
Any names yet for the concert on Jan. 28? My husband likes strictly doo-wop. Have been to 90 percent of your shows. — Joann from 19th & Sigel
This next show at the Kimmel Center is a salute to all musical genres and some of our favorite stars, including Chris Montez, Lenny Welch, former lead of the Shirelles Shirley Alston Reeves, Ben E. King, Darlene Love and the Honeycombs (“Want Ads,” “While You’re Out Looking for Sugar”), and the Trammps. And you’ll be glad to know that we’re planning a completely doo-wop lineup for our Easter show on Saturday, April 7. We’ll keep you posted.
Answer to trivia question: To get around child labor laws when he was performing with the Will Mastin Trio, Sammy Davis Jr. was billed as Silent Sam, the Dancing Midget.
Once again, greetings and salutations. What can I say about the old year and how we welcomed in the New Year? It began with 3,500 people at the Trump Taj Mahal. Hopes and expectations were high, and by one minute past 12 it all came true. It was the biggest New Year’s bash in memory, with good fortune for everyone and health and happiness to welcome the New Year. We look forward to it with high hopes, jobs, our troops coming home, the economy recovering — and with that attitude, we will make this one of the best years to remember. A special thank you to management, employees, and everyone at the Taj for making the Fire and Ice New Year’s Eve party absolutely spectacular. And of course, thanks to production, editorial, management, and ownership at the...
Nina Simone had never been in a bar, nor had she ever sang before, but both were required for her summer gig at the Midtown Bar, located at 1719 Pacific Avenue, between Indiana and MLK Blvd., and just “two blocks back from the seafront" Atlantic City Boardwalk.
A banner with the name Slappy White on it hung across Kentucky Avenue all summer. The late comedian and actor (who died in Brigantine in 1995) was booked for the entire season at Atlantic City’s famed Club Harlem. On this particular summer night, however — July 24, 1964, to be precise — hanging above the banner was yet another banner. It read: “Sam Cooke.”
His entrée into radio was the result of a lucky roll of the dice during a street-corner craps game.
It isn’t uncommon to see a line forming well before doors open at Memories in Margate — the Amherst Avenue nightclub Jerry “The Geator with the Heater” Blavat has owned since 1972 — during weekend nights in the summer. This past weekend, though, had special significance, and the early Friday night flock certainly knew it.
The technological gadgets of today simply weren’t around when Vance was a young Jewish kid from Brooklyn, a music lover who would become a founding member of Jay & The Americans in the early 1960s. It was an era in music when things like pop charts, 45s and live radio DJs were still relevant and made a huge impact on mainstream culture.
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1. Anonymous said... on Dec 8, 2011 at 07:24AM
“Bobby Brooks...really!!! who????...wha????t...Son of Jackie Wilson's ...Jackie Wilson fathered 3 or 4.sons ..Sonny who was Jack jr., Anthony "tony" both Wilson's their mother was Freda; John Robert "Pete" Wilson who looks like Ronnie Isley whose mother Harlean dated both men at that time but jackie always accepted Pete as his son and if it was good enough for Jackie I would guess that's that and Thor whose mother was Linnie Belle... who the heck is Bobby Brooks and where's his dna test???
Now as to the two children who died that would have been Sonny and his sister Sandy but Sandy around the time of Jackie's coma in 1975 of respiratory complications and she had glaucoma...she had three children Reggie, Reno and Regina...Jackie's daughter Jacqueline Denise Richards Wilson was murdered in a cross fire incident in Detroit later.
Thor also has a sister Li Nie where is she and what about Thor's son Jackie?
”
2. Richie said... on Feb 1, 2012 at 09:42AM
“Geator (and Joe Breitner) - here's a link to a 1960 page from Billboard showing a Spotlight on "Farewell, High School, Farewell."
http://books.google.com/books?id=sx8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA37&ots=kqRJhM6D4N&dq=Challenge-59079&pg=PA37#v=onepage&q=Challenge-59079&f=false”