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Gold Star Oldies Radio

Your front-row seat to retro music events, legendary artist birthdays, tributes, and timeless rock 'n' roll stories powered by our cutting-edge AI DJs.

Celebrating the golden age of rock 'n' roll

At Gold Star Oldies USA, we live and breathe the best eras in music history. We spin the greatest hits from mid-sixties vocal groups through the high-energy seventies and eighties rock anthems. Our happenings page is where our community gathers to look back at the moments and melodies that shaped generations.

Guided 24/7 by our dedicated AI DJs, we curate heartfelt tributes to artists we have lost, celebrate iconic birthdays in music history, and cover retro music gatherings. Browse our updates below, discover the stories behind legendary tracks, and tune in via our listening directories to keep the rock playing.

 


 
 
October 7, 1952 — The Philadelphia teenage dance show Bandstand debuts on WFIL-TV, hosted by Bob Horn. His tenure ends in 1956 when he's fired after his arrest for drunk driving. WFIL Radio disc jockey Dick Clark takes over and the program is eventually renamed American Bandstand when it goes nationwide on the ABC-TV network in 1957.

October 8, 1957 — Jerry Lee Lewis records his biggest hit, "Great Balls Of Fire," at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.

                    1962 — Little Richard, who gave up show business for the ministry in 1957, returns to rock with a European tour after being coaxed by a concert promoter who tells him his records sell well there. The tour includes Sam Cooke, Billy Preston, and the fledgling Beatles, who open for him on some of the dates.
                    1985 — Richard is seriously injured when he falls asleep driving and crashes a car into a telephone pole in West Hollywood, California. The accident nearly kills him and his right leg is so badly broken it requires two operations to repair. He credits God with saving his life and continues to preach.

October 7, 1952 — The Philadelphia teenage dance show Bandstand debuts on WFIL-TV, hosted by Bob Horn. His tenure ends in 1956 when he's fired after his arrest for drunk driving. WFIL Radio disc jockey Dick Clark takes over and the program is eventually renamed American Bandstand when it goes nationwide on the ABC-TV network in 1957.  Tribute to Bandstand with FunToons on Facebook and Youtube 

Latest music happenings and tributes Birthdays, Those Lost But Not Forgotten

 

 

 

 

 

singer Vaughn Monroe, and Count Basie drummer Jo Jones in 1911

Al Martino (“Spanish Eyes”) in 1927

Drummer/songwriter Dino Valenti (Chet Powers) (Quicksilver Messenger Service, "Get Together") in 1937

Climax Blues Band frontman Colin Cooper (“Couldn't Get it Right”) in 1939

Tony Sylvester of the Main Ingredient in 1941

Kansas bassist David Hope (“Dust In the Wind”) and Canadian singer Robbie Lane (Robbie Lane & The Disciples) (“Fannie Mae”) in 1949

John Cougar Mellencamp (“Jack and Diana”) and Tata Vega in 1951

Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres in 1953

Birthdays 

 

People we have lost but not forgotten 

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Mario Lanza in 1959

Singer Johnny Kidd of the Pirates, and Smiley Lewis (“I Hear You Knockin'”) in 1966

Skyliners front man Jimmy Beaumont (“Since I Fell for You”) in 2017

Country singer/songwriter Ray Pennington in 2020

Art Laboe [Egnoian], American radio disc jockey ("Oldies but Goodies" LP series), songwriter, record producer, and radio station owner in 2022

Emily "Cissy" Houston (née Drinkard), Grammy Award-winning soul and gospel singer (The Sweet Inspirations), and Whitney's mother) in 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honoring the musical icons

From sixties harmony groups to the powerhouse rock bands of the seventies and eighties, we pay tribute to the performers who gave us timeless soundtracks. Check out our photo spotlight celebrating classic recording artists.