Tonight is week two of the WQMX bowling league at the wonderful Charger Lanes in Norton 7-9PM ! Sign your team up at Charger Lanes today!   It's a GREAT deal and a whole lot of fun!  Good times, really nice prizes including a weekly 50/50 cahs raffle, and last weeks winner got about $200~!   Also we are giving out Neon Nights tix EVERY WEEK. 

Really Fun!~

And TONIGHT it's also a Kenny Chesney T-Shirt and Ticket stop. You can win tix to the show Thursday at Blossom.  Come by and see us and sign up for this really fun bowling league -  I'll be your host and I'll see you there!

  We are now well into June and grilling season is in high gear at our house and hopefully at yours too.  At our house we have a rule that I love.  If the grill is on, so is sausage.  Might as well, the grill is lit, and sausage is perfect on it.  If the beautiful Windy and I are having burgers, chicken, pork, corn, veggies or anything else sausage is on as well.

It's the perfect thing to do.  I goes on the top shelf, cooks evenly, perfectly and is delicious.  It goes well with all of the above and if there are leftovers, OK!  GREAT!

My friend Beef and I came up with this rule a number of years ago.  We call them "testers."  If the sausage is good,then so is everything else.  Plus, you can munch on a few brats, or Hot Italian links before the main meal.

There are also a couple of other rules.  Hot dogs make nice testers too, but you have to be over 12 to have a brat or sausage "tester."  (OK, it's not a REAL rule.)  But it should be, as we are OK with maybe a bite or two only from a hot dog, but sausage has to be valued and appreciated. Nothing grill related is as sad as a half eaten sausage left to wither away...

Click on this link (no pun intended) and up your sausage game.  I love the spicy ones, but there is a sausage for everyone!

Your Guide To Better Sausage!

The past couple of years have been not as good as we would like for many reasons. And I would like to think that things will get better still as time goes on. Global events meant many changes for us and for many businesses.  But one biz that has seen a real resurgence has been the once almost forgotten Drive In Movie Theater.

At one time there were seemingly thousands across the nation, and they were great fun.  I spent a good deal of my high school and shortly there after at the drive ins!  They were the best place to take a date as I remember.  Also we would go in larger numbers at times, and sit outside of the car. Sometimes we would grill out in the back and put the speakers outside an catch the double feature on warm summer nights.  We would park all of our cool cars in the back take lawn chairs and a huge group of us would have great fun!

There are few things more American than a fun summer night at the Drive In!  And today is National Drive In Movie Day. There are still a bunch around this area, and here is a list of them so you can take your bunch to the drive in!!   (Click On The Link Below)  If you never have, do it!   AND you still get a double feature!

This is the car I used to drive to the Drive In!  Loved that car!   -  1974 Chevelle Malibu Classic!

LOCAL DRIVE IN THEATERS TO OUR AREA

Box Office Results - Top Gun (156 Million)

New This Week - The Passenger / Watcher (NO major releases)

Top Gun Maverick - In four days in North American theaters, Top Gun Maverick brought in $156 million. And $248 million worldwide – for Tom Cruise, his biggest opening ever!  (Story)

Live Action - Pinochio Disney movie trailer hit the internet this week, in theaters September 8 (Tom Hanks)  

The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, hits theaters November 17th, 2023.  (Story)

Rita Moreno - She is going to be in Fast X as well – as Vin Diesels (Dom's) Grandmother  (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my - (Phil Vassar)  - Country Music Memory Lane (link)  

One of the best songwriters in Nashville over the past number of years has been the incredible Phil Vassar.  But as much as he's given his deserved due on his writing, he's a pretty darn good recording artist, and certainly a stellar performer. Phil Vassar can do it all.

Carlene  - Started His Run Of Hits

Truth be told, not all country artists are songwriters.  There have always been those who are, that goes back to Hank Williams Sr., who wrote a treasure chest of big songs.  But in fact, not so many years ago, there was a definite divide between those who wrote the songs and who sang them in Nashville. That has changed much over the years, and I would say today more performers are writing their own songs than ever before.  Double edged sword, as there is big money in writing songs if they hit. If they don't, you may have wished you recorded songs from an accomplished writer if possible.

Phil Vassar's songwriting is incredible, as many have been fortunate to record his songs that have become hits.  I am a big believer in the Nashville songwriting community.  Of course there are great writers who are also performers, but the writers have a great track record decades long of incredible written songs.

His First Number One Hit - Solo  - His 

Vassar has done both.  I always loved his solo career and his projects.  He hit at the end of country's biggest decade, the 1990's as a solo artist.  With so many stars and big songs it was tough to get noticed.  But I always thought his voice was different enough to cut through and his showmanship on stage was enviable.  He was a rarity in Nashville, he was a piano playing artist with a flair for the dramatic on stage.  There have not been many of them, Ronnie Milsap  Jerry Lee Lewis from a different era comes to mind in country. The incredible piano players like Floyd Cramer, (ask your Nana) and of course Billy Joel and Elton John from rock. I have worked with Vassar a few times, and each time his live show has been terrific.  He did a charity show at Tangier a number of years ago for us here at WQMX, and listeners still talk about how great that show was.

Great Song

His first solo hit was a great little song called Carlene in 1999 and became a top five hit.  The album was self titled and a few more songs came off that album, including Just Another Day In Paradise, which went number one. Over the next seven years or so, he was a consistent hit maker.  The American Child album and song that followed was a very big success, and the albums that followed also charted well, with songs generally in the top ten.

Solo Signature Song

But where Vassar really lives is in songwriting. He has written big song songs for many front line stars including Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Collin Raye and JoDee Messina.  He is spoken in the same breath as any of the big Nashville songwriters of any era. Every era has those composers in Nashville that have great success for a good while, like Bob McDill, Paul Overstreet and others. For his run, Vassar was the most prolific writer going. His list is impressive.

Big Number One!

Some Of Phil Vassar's written songs and artists - all went number one.

For A Little While - Tim McGraw

My Next Thirty Years  - Tom McGraw

I'm Alright - Jo Dee Messina

Baby Bye, Bye  - Jo Dee Messina

Little Red Rodeo -  Collin Raye

Right On The Money  - Alan Jackson

Postmarked Birmingham  - Blackhawk

Those were in addition to his own hits and releases over the years. Nashville needs guys like Phil Vassar. In fact, I love great songwriters as many times they supply important songs to artists with material that is far better.  Alan Jackson is, and was a prolific songwriter, and even HE recorded some of Vassar's songs. 

Phil Vassar will be at Neon Nights at Clay's Park later this summer and he is not to be missed. He is a great addition to a wonderful ticket that includes headliners Alabama and Hank Jr.

Phil Vassar. One incredibly talented individual, and we were  -  and are  -   lucky to have him.

I get it, sometimes it's not always easy to plan and prepare meals that everyone likes every day. Especially if you have kids as they when very young can be finicky with food.

But most people, now matter who you are like pasta.  So here's a great read mom and dad.

Hey Mom, Here's Some Help!

Box Office Results -  Dr. Strange   (31 Million)   Downton Abbey  (16 Million) 

New This Week - Top Gun Maverick  /  The Bob's Burgers Movie

 The New Thor  -  The trailer is out for you to see

Mission Impossible 7  - Trailer has been leaked to the internet, and you can see it now

Stranger Things - Starting today on Netflix!  (Story)

Season 5 of Yellowstone - Will premiere November 13th!  (Story)

Jonathan Searle - Who appeared in the original  Jaws, as a childhood actor, is now the police chief on the island where the 1975 film was made, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts   (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

  I have been looking forward to writing this for a while.  Memorial Day Weekend is here, and I thought I'd showcase songs right for this occasion. Country music has a long history of Patriotic Songs.  In fact, it's part of our fabric.  It's woven through the DNA of those who love country music, and love their country. 

So I came up with a list of songs right for this weekend.  Also, there is a difference between a song of remembrance and a patriotic song. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who gave all they had. And also to those who still give their all for us every day.  Today, we will feature both. 

These kind of songs are almost uniquely country. NOBODY does it better in song or in video.  There is a strong bond, as many times fans of country are very connected to the military and those in it.  These songs strengthen that bond without question.

I have played all of these songs for many years on great radio stations across the country.  We love these songs, because they make us feel.  They make us feel good, and proud.

Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All  - (1992)  One of the most loved and requested songs in this category. BRC is clearly known for Achy Breaky Heart, but he's loved for this song.  Powerful song.

Aaron Tippin - Where The Stars And Stripes And Eagle Fly  - (2001)  This song is right on the money, and raised a ton of money for the Red Cross as all proceeds were donated there after the 911 attacks.  Filmed in NYC, and recorded two days after that fateful day. 

Tim McGraw  - If You're Reading This  - (2007)  Made its world debut on the ACM Awards - and was a moment no one will forget!

Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA  -  (1984)  For a guy who was originally known for singing powerful and soaring love ballads, this was his most powerful love ballad of all - for the love of his country.

Brooks And Dunn  - Only In America  - (2001)  About a perfect song, sung by the perfect artists.  HUGE in concert! This song makes you happy and proud.

Waylon Jennings  - America - (1984)  Not much is more American than a more than honest song about America from the late Waylon Jennings. Lyrically this is really nice, done simply.

Toby Keith  - American Soldier  - (2003)  This song will be played and loved forever.  Many feel it's the crown jewel of his incredible career. This song speaks directly to millions of soldiers, friends, and famlies.

Trace Adkins  - Arlington  - (2005)  Perfect artist for this song!  Strong performance.

David Ball  - Riding With Private Malone  - (2001)  This song is loved. 

Memorial Day Weekend   -   "Please remember those, who gave theirs, so we could have ours" -  

Bonus - God Bless America - LeAnn Rimes

Faith Hill - Incredible!  - The Anthem!

  This week, the new Top Gun movie comes out and it's bound to be a big hit. After a few delays, Tom Cruise and crew will be flying around again, saving the world.  The original was 1986 and was a huge success. Also some of the music became very popular from that movie. Take My Breath Away, and Danger Zone both charted well.

Danger Zone was from Kenny Loggins, but it wasn't his first hit from a big movie that decade.  In fact, there were a few others as well.  How did this star manage all that?  How did it happen that he wrote themes to a bunch of big movies in the 80's? Read below and find out!  I always wondered.

Kenny Loggins and 80's Movies

    Love me a GREAT sandwich!  Any time, any day, any way.

So, let's get to work on these!

Great Sandwiches!