Music Deaths in 2022: Jim Sohns of The Shadows of Knight 'Gloria'

JIM SOHNS, 75

Died 29 July 2022

Lead vocalist with the Chicagoland band The Shadows of Knight who had a hit song with "Gloria."

The four original members attendd Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, near where I attended  school at Palatine High School.  Became the house band at The Cellar in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Recorded "Gloria" which had originally been done by British band Them which featured Van Morrison.  It received big airplay on Chicago's two main pop stations, WLS and WCFL and went national, climbing to #10  in 1966.  It was followed up with "Oh Yeah"  (#39-1966).

We saw Jim Sohns at the Taste of Antioch back a few years ago which was his first performance after a stroke that he had.

About This Super Bowl

Since neither of our two NFL teams are playing (Bears and Packers, Yep, that's right, Bears and Packers) Liz and I become free agents.  Especially since the hated New England Patriots are not in it.  Whenever that happens, we pull for the other team.  Thanks, Tennessee for knocking them out of the playoffs.

Normally, we pull for the NFC team, but not this time since Kansas City is in it.  They haven't been to the Super Bowl since IV, and it wasn't even called the Super Bowl back then.

However, San Francisco has two players of local interest on their team.  Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is from Arlington Heights, Illinois, played football at Rolling Meadows High School and college ball at Eastern Illinois.  Safety Jimmie Ward played college ball at Northern Illinois University, our alma mater.

Both played for non- Power 5 conferences which makes them playing in the NFL even more difficult.

So, we will be pulling for Kansas City to win, but Garoppolo and Ward to do well.

--RoadDog

TAX FACTS:  Nearly 300,000 trees are cut down yearly to produce the paper for all the IRS forms and instructions.

A Trip Back to the Northwest Suburbs

Monday, August 11th, I braved all the traffic, stoplights and photo-enforced lights and drove US-12 to Memory Gardens in Arlington Heights' Illinois, and cleaned off the grass from the edges of Liz's parents' marker and put up flowers in the vase.

I then went to China Buffet near where Liz's mom Frances lived after moving from her home in Palatine, Illinois.  We used to have a China Buffet in Fox Lake, but it closed and I was wondering if this was the same one.  They had the best walnut shrimp in the world.  It wasn't, but I had a great meal anyway.

Next, I went to my favorite store anywhere around, Half Price Books, which also had records and CDs.  Like the name says, everything is cheap and all the stiff that I like.  Cost me $40 to get out of there, but got some good stuff.

Then, I stopped at White Castle on Dundee Road and bought ten sliders to take home.

It seems that every other stoplight in Lake Zurich on US-12, is waiting to take that $100 out of your pocket.  They should change their welcome sign to "Welcome to Lake Zurich, the Village With a Photo-Enforced Heart!"

Stopped at Thompson's Nursery in Volo and then went out for some boating on Fox Lake.

Not a Bad Monday.  --RoadDog

Just Some Stuff-- More Snow--Day-After Shopping--Randhurst--NTN

Just Some Stuff--JSS:

1. Received about a half-inch of snow last night. That's not much, but after the mess from Dec. 1st, I'm out soon to clear even this little amount off. No more chopping ice for me, I'll leave it to the icebreakers.

Real bad news, Liz just told me, as did that confounded chirping Weather Bug, that we have 5-7 inches of that white stuff scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Dadburn snowmobilers. Hope they're happy. They should have to come over and clear off my driveway and sidewalk before they go out and have their fun.

2. Went out Day-After Christmas Shopping yesterday. I wasn't the only one. Big crowds, especially at Wal-Mart. Then there were the lines waiting to check out. Fortunately I found a check out back by the record/electronic department with no one in line.

Hard to beat those half-prices Christmas items. Bought some red and white rope lights for use on the pillars next year. Also bought some button lights for the Christmas village under the main tree.

Saw some other neat stuff, including those new Christmas trees with the white ball lights that change colors synchronized to music. Those were neat, but I managed to avoid buying them. We have way too much Christmas Stuff already.

3. We're getting ready to make one last visit to Randhurst Mall in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, later this afternoon. This mall was built in 1962, and was a major hang-out for Liz and myself during high school and college. That applied to most high schoolers and young folks in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs. It will be torn down after the start of the new year because of declining business.

4. I'm almost ready to crack the 3 million mark in NTN at Hello Folks with 2,998,500 points. I Play NTN Way Too Much, but enjoy it, so reckon I'll continue. I use the Roadog handle there as you can only get six letters in your handle. Meanwhile, at Donovan's Reef, in Twin Lakes, Wi, Parrot is getting close to ten million points. This was my very first of my many handles.

NTN stands for National Trivia Network. It also goes by the word Buzztime now.

Sure Gonna Miss Randhurst. --RoadDog

These Boys Should Get Coal in Their Stockings

A disturbing story out of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, involving a man, his Christmas decorations, and a group of teenage boys.

Phillip OBrill is recovering from injuries sustained when he tried to stop a group of 7 to 8 teenage boys from destroying his extensive Christmas decorations a week ago.

About 11 PM, Mr. OBrill heard a commotion in his front yard and discovered the group stomping on and smashing his decorations. When he ran out to confront them, they ran to their cars. He stood in front of one, but the driver ran him over, injuring his foot and arm that got caught by the windshield wiper.

The cars then sped off into the night. Unfortunately, OBrill did not get the license numbers of either vehicle.

For the past 17 years, OBrill's yard has been a highlight of the Christmas neighborhood and he has won numerous awards. He vows to put the decorations back up and his neighbors are going to help him.

Hopin' Santa Got the Boys' Names. --RoadDog

Perennials---Lake County Historical Society-- 30th Day Boating

Yesterday, I planted the rest of my perennials thanks to the cool temps and we finally had some wind which grounded most of the skeeters. Without wind, they rise up almost in squadrons reminiscent of WWII movies about bombing raids. I sure hope I don't break down again and buy anymore perennials. I need to STAY out of garden nurseries!!!

Gas is DOWN to $2.99 (that's $2.98.9 to most people). Still WAY TOO expensive, but at least it is going in the right direction.

Drove to Mundelein in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs, and met up with Clancy for some NTN and pizza at Emil's Sports Bar on US-45. They also had a special on something they called white bean chili that looked really good.

We then drove over to the nearby Fremont Library (Fremont Township) where we were going to provide support for our SCV, Sons of Confederate Veterans, commander who was giving the keynote address.

These folks were primarily interested in genealogy. When I introduced myself as a guest, someone asked whose surname did I use to get into the SCV. I replied "Hood." John, our commander, told them where they could look for information on Confederates ancestors and talked about our organization and Camp Douglas where 6000 of 12,000 Confederate prisoners died. That number shocked the crowd. Everyone always hears about the tragedy at Andersonville, but not about how bad the Union prisons were as well. There was also a discussion about slavery and whether it was the real cause of the war. These people really heard "the other side."

Today, I went out in the boat for the 30th time. I put in five more gallons, which brings me to 20 gallons used for the season. I know people who go through up to 50 gallons on one day. And gas on the water is usually about 50 cents to a dollar more than on land. Of course, I usually go for a short cruise and then just float. I really enjoy sitting out there, reading a newspaper or magazine, and listening to tunes from a cassette (yes, I still use cassettes) or the Drive, 97.1 FM.

I'm hoping to get to 40 boating expeditions before we put the boat up in about a month.

Came home, and had to do some yardwork and cut the grass again. All this rain and cooler temps is grass nirvana.

A Bad Day of Boating is Still Better Than a Good Day at Work. But, Being Retired...--RoadDog

Labor Day 1967

Last Monday was Labor Day. I can remember a time when it was very important to me, like all through school and teaching, but now, it is just another day. The only difference is that everyone else is now off as well.

I got to thinking about what I was doing way back then while I was listening to Bob Stroud do his final installment of his Summer of Love Rock and Roll Roots Salute.

I was living with my family at 1048 Anderson Drive in Palatine, Illinois.  Liz was living in Chicago, but coming out to Palatine on the Chicago & Northwestern train to attend Palatine High School.  We didn't meet u til near the end of October.

As near as Liz and I can recall, we hadn't gone back to school yet. School, even college, just didn't begin before Labor Day as it does today. Actually, my sister began school in Georgia around August 5th and teachers in Round Lake went back August 13th this year.

I was getting ready to start my junior year at Palatine High School at Palatine High School. I was working at the Burger King on Northwest Highway earning a whopping $1 an hour (but you could buy 3 gallons of gas for that back then). A Whopper cost 49 cents. You got a Whopper, fries, and small drink for 92 cents.

I still didn't have my drivers license, though. At Palatine High, you took drivers ed junior year.

Later, junior year, I joined the school newspaper, the Cutlass.

Forty Years Ago...Already!!...Ya Gotta Be Kiddin'!! ---RoadDog