The Big 8 CKLW

24/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 24
Those born on this date include: Zeke Carey of the Platters and Flamingos in 1933
Jack Scott (“The Way I Walk”) and Doug Kershaw in 1936
Ray Stevens (“Mr. Businessman”) in 1939
Neil Diamond (“Cherry Cherry”) and Aaron Neville (“Tell It Like It Is”) in 1941
Warren Zevon (“Werewolves of London”) in 1947
John Belushi (SNL, Blues Brothers) in 1949
Matthew Wilder (“Break My Stride”) in 1953.
***People we lost on this day were Shep & Limelites lead singer James "Shep" Sheppard (“Daddy's Home”), found murdered in his car in 1970
Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers band in 2017
Vernon Sandusky of the Chartbusters (“She's the One”) in 2020

23/01/2025

We lost Chicago guitarist Terry Kath in Jan 23,1978. Just a few months earlier he visited The Big 8 CKLW with Robert Lamm and Peter Cetera.

23/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 23
Those born on this date include: Joe Dowell (“Wooden Heart”) and country songwriter Johnny Russell (“Act Naturally”) in 1940
Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters (“Yes We Can Can”) in 1945
Box Tops keyboardist Bill Cunningham (“The Letter”), and Danny Federici of the E. Street Band in 1950
Detroiter Darrow Fletcher (“The Way Of A Man”) and Satellites drummer Frank Schiavulli in 1951
Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander (“I You To Want Me”) in 1953
***People we lost on this day were Terry Kath of Chicago (“I’m A Man”) in 1978
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins in 1990
"Louie Louie" songwriter Richard Berry in 1997
Johnny Funches of the Dells (“Stay In My Corner”) in 1998
Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain in 2016
Bobby Freeman (“Do You Want to Dance”) in 2017
Hugh Masekela (“Grazing In the Grass”) in 2018
Original Yardbirds lead guitarist Anthony ‘Top’ Topham in 2023
Melanie [Safka], American singer-songwriter ("Brand New Key"; "What Have They Done to My Song Ma"; "Candles in Rain") in 2024

22/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 22
Those born on this date include: Sam Cooke (“You Send Me”) in 1931
Detroiter Nolan Strong (“Mind Over Matter”) in 1934
Eugene Church (“Pretty Girls Everywhere”) in 1938
Micki Harris of the Shirelles in 1940
Steve Perry of Journey, and Exile lead singer Jim Pennington (“Kiss You All Over”) in 1949
Teddy Gentry of Alabama in 1952
***People we lost on this day were Tommy Tucker (“High Heel Sneakers”) in 1982
Singer/actor Telly Savalas in 1994
Ron Holden (“Love You So”) in 1997
Keyboard player Peter Bardens of Frampton’s Camel 2002
Bassist Pete Overend Watts of Mott The Hoople in 2017
James Purify (“I'm Your Puppet”) in 2021
Ventures guitarist and co-founder Don Wilson (“Walk Don’t Run”) in 2022

21/01/2025

Welcome to 1958! Catch the next chapter of the award winning radio documentary 'The Evolution of Rock' Wednesday at 5pm eastern time - repeated Sunday at 9am eastern time.
Streaming at www.big8radio.com

21/01/2025

Sad to report that the last surviving member of The Band, Garth Hudson, has passed away at the age of 87. Born in Windsor, Ontario the family moved to London, Ontario when Garth was 3. Later when he was in a band called Paul London & The Capers as a sax player they played a number of gigs in the Windsor/Detroit area. He was invited to join The Hawks by Robbie Robertson in 1961.
He spent the last many years of his life in Woodstock, NY.

21/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 21
Those born on this date include: Wolfman Jack [Robert Weston Smith] in 1938
Richie Havens (“Here Comes The Sun”) and Placido Domingo in 1941
Edwin Starr (“War”) and singer/songwriter Mac Davis (“Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me”) in 1942
Chris Britton of the Troggs (“Wild Thing”) in 1947
Billy Ocean (“Caribbean Queen”) in 1950
***People we lost on this day were Allman Brother Band bassist Lamar Williams in 1983
Detroit icon Jackie Wilson (“Lonely Teardrops”) in 1984
Cannibal & Headhunters lead singer Frankie Garcia (“Land of 1000 Dances”) and Wild Ones lead singer, who cut the original version of "Wild Thing", Jordan Christopher in 1996
Charles Brown (“Merry Christmas Baby”) in 1999
Peggy Lee (“Fever”, “Is That All There Is”) in 2002
Junie Morrison of the Ohio Players and Funkadelic in 2017

20/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 20
Those born on this date include: bandleader Ray Anthony in 1923
Songwriter Lee Pockriss (“Johnny Angel”) in 1928
Earl Grant (“At the End of a Rainbow”) in 1931
Rick Evans of Zager & Evans (“In the Year 2525”) in 1943
Excels lead singer Clark Sullivan (“Little Innocent Girl”), and Eric Stewart of the Mindbenders/Hotlegs/10cc in 1945
Londonbeat frontman Jimmy Chambers (“I've Been Thinkin' 'bout You”) in 1946
Poco drummer George Grantham (“Crazy Love”) in 1947
Kiss co-lead singer Paul Stanley in 1952.
***People we lost on this day were the "Father of Rock and Roll", DJ Alan Freed in 1965
Lemon Pipers drummer Bill Albaugh in 1999
Etta James (“At Last”) in 2012
Bob Engemann of the Lettermen in 2013
Joey Powers (“Midnight Mary:) and Bingo Mundy of the Marcels (“Blue Moon”) in 2017
Jim Rodford of Argent, the Kinks and the Zombies in 2018
Joe Jordan of the Jordan Brothers in 2021
Singer Meat Loaf (“Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”) in 2022

20/01/2025

It's a chilly start to the week - as we jump back to 1972 for the hits of the week. We'll use CKLW Big 30 Chart Issue #251 (with the late Hal Martin on the cover.) Catch the Top 10 at 10 Show Tuesday at 10am/10pm streaming at www.big8radio.com

19/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 19
Those born on this date include: Shirley Ellis (“The Name Game”) in 1929
Singer/songwriter/producer Ian Samwell in 1937
Phil Everly (The Everly Brothers) in 1939
Janis Joplin (“Me and Bobby McGee”) in 1943
Laurie London (“He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”) in1944
Country legend Dolly Parton (“9 to 5”) in 1946
Soul/pop singer Robert Palmer (“Addicted To Love”) in 1949
America singer Dewey Bunnell (“Horse With No Name”) in 1952
****Those we lost this date include: Carl Perkins (“Blue Suede Shoes”) in 1998
Soul singer Wilson Pickett (“Mustang Sally”) in 2006
Mamas and Papas singer/voice actor Denny Doherty (“I Saw Her Again”) in 2007
Singer/songwriter John Stewart (“Daydream Believer” / “Gold”) in 2008
Keyboardist Steve Knight (Mountain) in 2013
Saxophonist/singer Robert Parker (“Barefootin’”) in 2020
Mary Weiss, American pop singer (The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack") in 2024

18/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 18
Those born on this date include: Temptations co-lead singer David Ruffin (“My Girl”) and Bobby Goldsboro (“Honey”) in 1941
***People we lost on this day were Dennis Frederiksen of Survivor and Toto in 2014
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young/Manassas/Byrds drummer Dallas Taylor in 2015
Detroiter Glenn Frey of the Eagles in 2016
Detroiter Fred LaVon Bridges of the Brothers of Soul (“With A Smile On My Face”) in 2018
Jimmie Rodgers (“Honeycomb”) and composer Perry Botkin, Jr. (“Nadia's Theme”) in 2021
David Crosby, American rock singer-songwriter (The Byrds, 1964-67 / Crosby, Stills & Nash / CSN&Y) in 2023

17/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 17
Those born on this date include: Eartha Kitt (“Santa Baby”) in 1927
Lo**ta (“Sailor”) 1931
Chris Montez (“Let's Dance”, “Call Me”) in 1943
William Hart of the Delfonics (“La-La Means I Love You”) in 1945
Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor (“Time Waits For No One”) in 1949
Country singer Steve Earle in 1955
Paul Young (“Everytime You Go Away”) in 1956
Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles (“Manic Monday”) in 1959
***People we lost on this day were Billy Stewart (“Summertime”) in 1970
Jazz sax great Charlie Ventura in 1992
Music publisher, producer, songwriter, talent manager Don Kirshner in 2011
Johnny Otis (“Willie & Hand Jive”) and Walter Gaines of the Originals (“Baby I'm for Real”) in 2012
Tower of Power/Sons Of Champlin/Cold Blood trumpet man Mic Gillette and drummer Terence ‘Dale’ Griffin of Mott The Hoople in 2016
Memphis Boys session guitarist Reggie Young in 2017
Composer/arranger Sammy Nestico (Count Basie) in 2021
Toni Stern, American poet (The Wet Clay of My Heart), and lyricist (Carole King - "It's Too Late", "Where You Lead") in 2024

16/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 16
Those born on this date include: Bob Bogle of the Ventures in 1934
Nashville Teens drummer Ray Phillips (“Tobacco Road”) in 1939
Barbara Lynn (“You'll Lose a Good Thing”) and Dr. Hook keyboardist Billy Francis in 1942
Ronnie Milsap in 1943
Jim Stafford (“Spiders & Snakes”) in 1944
Sade (Smooth Operator) in 1959
***People we lost on this day were David Seville (Ross Bagdasarian Sr.) (“Witch Doctor”) in 1972
Will ‘Dub’ Jones of the Coasters in 2000
Pookie Hudson of the Spaniels (“Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight”) in 2003
Drummer John Siomos [aka John Headley-Down] (Mitch Ryder & Wheels, Carly Simon, Frampton’s Camel, Todd Rundgren, Rick Derringer) / songwriter (“Do You Feel Like We Do?”) in 2004
Jimmy Castor (“Troglodyte”) in 2012
American Breed frontman Gary Loizzo (“Bend Me, Shape Me”) in 2016
Drummer Dave Holland of Judas Priest in 2018
Producer Phil Spector (Curtis Lee, Righteous Brothers, The Ronettes Darlene Love, The Crystals, Ike & Tina Turner) in 2021
Rockabilly guitarist Johnny Powers in 2023
Peter Schickele (aka P.D.Q. Bach), American bassoonist, Grammy Award-winning composer, classical music parodist (No-No Nonette; Concerto for Horn & Hardart; Silent Running), and broadcaster in 2024

16/01/2025

Another Big 8 birthday to celebrate this week! Wishing all the best to Joe Evans who came to the Big 8 by way of CFOX Montreal and CFGO Ottawa!

15/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 15
Those born on this date include: legendary drummer Gene Krupa in 1909
Sonny Bivens of the Manhattans (“Kiss & Say Goodbye”) in 1936
Captain Beefheart in 1941
Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant in 1948
***People we lost on this day were jazz trumpet master Jack Teagarden in 1964
Dee Murray of the Elton John Band in 1992
Songwriter Sammy Cahn (“Love & Marriage”) in 1993
Nilsson (“Without You”) in 1994
Bandleader Les Baxter (“Poor People of Paris”) / arranger (“The River Is Wide”) in 1996
Bluesman Junior Wells in 1998
Singer/songwriter Kim Fowley (Hollywood Argyles – “Alley-Oop”) / producer (“Nut Rocker”; “Popsicles and Icicles”; Flash Cadillac; Helen Reddy; The Runaways) and songwriter Irvin Blake (“I Believe”) in 2015
Edwin Hawkins (“Oh Happy Day”) and Delores O’Riordan of The Cranberries in 2018
Singer/actress Carol Channing in 2019
Chris Darrow of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“Mr. Bojangles”) in 2020
Detroit Cobras lead singer Rachel Nagy in 2022
Soul singer Keith Beaton of Blue Magic (“Sideshow”) in 2023

15/01/2025

We've hit a great milestone in the 2025 Fundraiser - $1500 Can. While we evaluate some streaming options to cut some costs we're putting a pause on the fundraiser.
Thanks everyone in the Big 8 Family!

Send a message to learn more

14/01/2025

Today’s Big 8 Radio Music Datebook Jan 14
Those born on this date include: jazz great and big bandleader Billy Butterfield in 1917
Clarence Carter (“Slip Away”, “Patches”) in 1936
Jack Jones (“Wives and Lovers”) and songwriter Allen Toussaint (“Right Place, Wrong Time”) in 1938
Hubert Johnson of the Contours in 1941
Country songwriter T-Bone Burnett in 1948
Bill Risbrook of B.T. Express (“Express”) in 1951
***People we lost on this day were drummer Jerry Nolan of The New York Dolls in 1992
Ruby Starr vocalist with Black Oak Arkansas in 1995
Louisiana singer/songwriter Bobby Charles [Robert Charles Guidry] (“See You Later, Alligator”; “Walking To New Orleans”; “(I Don’t Know Why I Love You) But I Do”) in 2010
Drummer Robbie France of UFO/Wishbone Ash in 2012
Original Left Banke bassist Steve Martin Caro in 2020
Dallas Frazier, American country music songwriter ("Alley Oop"; "Elvira"; "There Goes My Everything") in 2022

14/01/2025

Fundraiser Update.
Thanks for your support in the first couple days. We're looking at ways to streamline the process of streaming and maybe cut some costs. The sound of the station and the look of the website wouldn't change - we'd just use a different service to bring you the audio. Less $$
That would mean our fundraising target would be much lower.
We'll keep the updates coming.

Send a message to learn more