January 21

Artists & Songs related to the broadcasts of Thessaloniki's radio legend, Yorgos Alexiou (mostly birthdays of musicians but also releases & charts)

1) Richie Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013)

His cover version of the 1977 Lamont Dozier song, was one of biggest dancefloor hits in Thessaloniki during the first half of the 80s (even bigger than Odysseys 1981 version) and even nowadays considered an alll time classsic radio hit in my hometown.

Going Back To My Roots - RICHIE HAVENS (LP Connections, 1980)

2) Billy Ocean, born on January 21, 1950.

Billy recorded some major wordwide hits (his first hit "Love Really Hurts Without You" not included)...

"Caribbean Queen" (1984)

"LoverBoy" (1984)

"Suddenly" (1984)

"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (1985)

"There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (1985)

"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" (1988)

...but he also had a very successful radio hit in Thessaloniki's pirate radio in the first half of the 80s:

Everlasting Love - BILLY OCEAN [LP Nights (Feel Like Getting Down), 1981] 

3) Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002)

Peggy's career includes some very popular tunes in Hellas but also worldwide:

"Why Don't You Do Right?" (1942)

"Fever" (1958, her cover of Little Willie John's song was her biggest hit)

"You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" (1967)

Apart form the above mentioned songs, she scored a major radio hit in Thessaloniki's pirate radio in 1987, with her 1979 rendition of the 1975 Tom Snow song "You" 

You - PEGGY LEE (LP Close Enough For Love, 1979)

The song was also recorded by Marcia Hines (1977), Rita Coolidge (1978) & Andy Williams (1978)

Tom Snow was behind many successful songs (Thunder In My Heart, You Might Need Somebody, He's So Shy, You Should Hear How She Talks About You, If Ever You're In My Arms Again, Let's Hear It For The Boy, Somebody's Eyes, I Will Be There, After All, Don't Know Much)