Music Deaths: C.W. McCall: 'Convoy'

C.W. McCALL, 93

Died April 1, 2022

Country singer known for his 1976 hit song "Convoy."

Also was an advertising executive.  Real name  was William Dale Fries, Jr.

His song "Convoy" took advantage of the current CB radio craze going on in the United States in 1976 and was a country crossover hit that went to #1 on the Pop Charts.

He also had six Top 20s in Country Music.

His "Roses for Mama" really hithome for me when I heard it on his greatest hits CD as I drove back to North Caroilina for my mom's funeral.

JSS: So Tired of Black Friday-- That 70s Music on the Drive-- First Christmas Radio, Now Christmas TV?-- Christmas Toilet Paper?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  SO TIRED OF BLACK FRIDAY--  I will be so glad when today is over.  For the last that is just about all I've been hearing.  Black Friday, Black Friday, Black Friday.  Give me a break.  And, we didn't even go out of the house so you wasted all that advertising money on us.

2.  THAT 70S MUSIC ON THE DRIVE--  In case you really like the music from the 1970s, Chicago's  WDRV 97.1 FM the Drive, is playing music from 1976 today.  Tomorrow its 1977 and Sunday 1978.  It streams.

3. FIRST CHRISTMAS RADIO, NOW CHRISTMAS TV?--  Of course, some of the Christmas radio stations fired up on Nov. 1 and all are going now.  Now, we have two cable channels showing pretty much nothing but Christmas movies.  Lifetime and Hallmark.  I've heard that most of these movies have pretty much the same plot.  I haven't seen any yet, but might just have to watch some to make up my mind on them.

4.  CHRISTMAS TOILET PAPER?--  And this pushes the boundaries a bit much.  Charmin even has a Christmas toilet paper song.  We've sure come a long way since "Please don't squeeze the Charmin."

Too Much, Man.  --RoadTP

DID YOU KNOW:  Tigers also have striped skin, not just striped fur.

Truth In Advertising

On one site I went to, I saw an ad for Dog Poop Pickup Service.  They say, "We're here to pick up where your dog left off."  And, even better, their prices start from $7.95.  I would guess that applies to small dogs.  I wonder how much they charge for St. Bernards or Great Danes?

Now I Done Seen Everything.  --RoadDog

Deaths: "Underdog" No More

From Yahoo! Obituaries.

WILLIAM WALT BIGGERS, 85

Went by the name "Buck" Biggers, died Feb. 10, 2013.

Co-created the caped superhero who continually rescued his girlfriend, Sweet Polly Purebread, from danger.  Normally a mild-mannered shoeshine canine, when he'd hear her cries, he'd go to a phone booth and then, "Underdog."

The cartoon show premiered in 1964 and I was a big fan.  I loved his speaking in simple rhymes, the best of which was "There's no need to fear, (finish it)."  Underdog was voiced by comic actor Wally Cox.

Mr. Biggers was working for the New York City advertising agency DFS and asked to create a series of cartoons to promote breakfast cereals for client General Mills.  His most famous was "Underdog" but he also helped create "Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales."

Buck Biggers later became vice president of promotion and creative services for NBC.  He also held the "Underdog Franchise."  Macy's had the Underdog Balloon in their parade and there was a 2007 live action film of one of our favorite pooches.

Underdog Is Not Here Anymore.  --RoadDog


"Underdog is here."

JSIS: Dempster's Parting-- Mayhem and Flo

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff


1.  DEMPSTER'S PARTING--  As we know, 2012 is to be yet another rebuilding year for the Cubs and they just traded pitcher Ryan Dempster to Texas (thanks a lot from us Sox fans), but Dempster was class as usual, and ran a full page ad in the August 3rd Chicago Tribune "Thank You Chicagoland."

His foundation will continue its work here in Chicago.  A real class act.


2.  MAYHEM AND FLO--  An article in the July 26th USA Today "The joke's in insurers" by Gary Strauss.  Even though insurance companies are spending more on advertising, it is not necessarily reflecting on profits.  I am a big fan of Flo for Progressive, the Geico gecko (expecially the new Road Runner one) and my favorite of all is Allstate's Mayhem.

I'd sure hate to see these companies take them off as I stop whatever I'm doing during commercials to watch.

Love That Mayhem.  --RoadDog


FUNNY HEADLINE:  Lawmen From Mexico Barbecue Guests.

Done Seen It All: Butt Paste, Labels, Monsters, Butt Paste Part 2

Let's file this under things I never expected to see. Maybe it's a Halloween thing.


1. BUTT PASTE-- Received an offer to save a buck on original formula, all natural or maximum strength Boudreaux's Butt Paste. More on that later.


2. LABELS-- And believe it or not, received another offer for 250 easy peel self stick address labels. And I have my choice of them in white, gold, clear, rainbow, American flag or silver. And, for the amazingly low price of $3.65!! Oh yes, and it comes in an easy to use Label Dispenser.

The only problem is, I'm kinda up to my **** in my address labels with more coming in all the time, especially as Christmas approaches. The organizations looking for donations have made sure of that.

3. MONSTERS-- Cartoon Parade in the Oct. 9th Parade Magazine had two Godzilla-like monsters destroying a city, with one about to do in a neat-looking old building. The other one turns and says to him, "Not that one--we'll have the Historical Society after us."

Good one. I belong to several historical and preservation groups. Now, if we could just get Walgreen's and CVS to leave those historical structures alone.


4. BUTT PASTE, Part 2: Now, that would be a good name for a band. Actually, Boudreaux's Butt Paste is made for babies and is a diaper rash ointment skin protectant invented by Louisiana Pharmacist George Boudreaux in 1978, way too late for my baby days.

Find out more at www.buttpaste.com

Well, I never. --RoadDog

What's Your Favorite Insurance Commercial?

From the March 16th Chicago Tribune "After Aflac, other mascots" by Rob Manker.

It used to be that you had to look forward to beer commercials for humor when it came to boring TV commercials, but the insurance companies have really jumped into the fray.

Of course, there was the Gilbert Gottfried incident for Aflac after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, which was the reason for this article.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE INSURANCE COMMERCIAL?

AFLAC-- the white duck
PROGRESSIVE-- Flo
GEICO-- the Gecko, Cavemen, Kash (the money clip), the Fake Rod Serling Guy
ALLSTATE-- Mayhem and Dennis Haysbert

Runnersup

STATE FARM-- Eddie Matos
NATIONWIDE-- Bob Wiltfong
METLIFE-- Snoopy

The last three aren't in the running at all with me.


MY PICKS

Overall, All State because of Mayhem. That guy is hilarious!!

Three Funniest individual commercials:

1. Geico's Woodchucks chucking wood.
2. Aflac's duck and Yogi Berra
3. AllState's Mayhem tree "Shakey, Shakey, Shakey"

I'll write more about these commercials, along with Facebook fans on my history blog at http://cootershistorything.blogspot.com.

How About Your Favorites? --RoadDog


YOU MIGHT BE FROM CHICAGO IF...Stores don't have sacks. They have bags.

So, You Think You Know Your Commercials?

For those of you who might watch a little too much TV, I have a couple quizzes for you on my history blog. This month marks the 75th anniversary of Chicago's Leo Burnett Advertising Agency.

Over the years they have come up with some of the best campaigns with lots of stuff that really sticks in your mind.

You can find the two quizzes from yesterday and today under Leo Burnett at http://cootershistorything.blogspot.com.

I remembered all of them.

Sorry ______. --RoadDog


DIDJA HEAR? A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired. Boy, are these dumb.

A Big Thanks to "Must Be in the Front Row"

The Cubs are playing an important series against the Brewers this week. The team has been more than a little bit flat for awhile, and Tuesday, they were continuing and down 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

Ever since ol' Harry Carey died, the Cubs have enlisted guest singers for the seventh inning stretch "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Today was Milwaukee Brewer announcer and cut up, Bob Uecker's turn. He sang great until he got to the root part. He sang, "And it's root, root, root for the Brewers, if they don't win it's a shame."

Sacrilege. Pulling for another team at Wrigley. The fans immediately started up the song again, this time with the correct words.

Those flat Cubs came alive and scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh and went on to win the game. Was it possible that they were mad at Uecker's rendition? I like to think so. So, thanks a lot, Bob Uecker.

Unfortunately, he didn't sing yesterday and the Cubs lost.

In case you're wondering about the title, Bob did a famous commercial for Miller Lite. He was in a ball park and sat down about twenty rows back. An usher came up to him and said he was in the wrong seat. Old Bob said to another fan, "I must be in the front row." Next, we see him sitting all the way up in the nosebleed seats.

Proposing to Pay Bob Uecker to Sing at All Cubs Games Now. As Long As He Root, Root, Roots For the Other Team, That Is.  --RoadUke