After signing a new recording contract with RCA Victor Arti Shaw chose "Begin
the Beguine" to be the first of six tunes he would record with his new 14 piece
band at this, his first recording session with RCA. The session was held at
RCA’s "Studio 2" on East 24th Street in New York. 

Artie Shaw (Arthur Jacob Arshawsky)
(May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004)

The song “Hanky Panky” was recorded at a local radio station, WNIL
in Niles, Michigan, and released on Snap Records, selling well in the
tri-state area of Michigan,Indiana and Illinois. The master of that 
original recording was later sold to Roulette Records where it then
received national distribution.

Tommy James, now 68, was born Thomas Gregory Jackson in Dayton, Ohio.

The Supremes from left: Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard.

The song "Buttered Popcorn" was written by Motown president Berry Gordy
and songwriter Barney Ales, and produced by Gordy, and released as a
Tamla label single by The Supremes. It was the group’s second single since
signing with Motown Records (and their third overall) as well as their second,
and last, single for the Tamla, before moving to the Motown label. This is not
only one of the rare singles to feature Florence Ballard on lead, but the only 
one with her as the sole lead.

Vikki Carr was born Florencia Bisenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona
in El Paso, Texas.

The three-time Grammy Award-winning pop singer was only offered a record
deal after changing her name; her first hit was "He’s a Rebel" from 1962, which
Phil Spector turned into an even bigger hit with The Crystals.

1966

David Somerville, also called “Diamond” Dave Somerville
(October 2, 1933 – July 14, 2015)

Dave Somerville, founder and lead singer of the popular 1950s rock-n-
roll band The Diamonds, died of cancer last week in Santa Barbara,
California. 

The Diamonds have been honored and inducted into The Vocal Group
Hall of Fame, The Doo Wop Hall of Fame, The Rockabilly Hall of Fame
and are recipients of Canada’s prestigious Juno Award.

From Left: Tedd Kowalski, Dave Somerville, Bill Reed, and Phil Lefitt.