Monthly Archives: July 2013

US Senate

Flag of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Image created...

Flag of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Image created by uploader based on the previous bitmap image and other imgages found on the web. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Joseph Inslee McFadden (November 5, 1757 – April 17, 1837) was an American soldier, judge, and politician, who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1799 to 1815, and later as the first Comptroller of the United States Treasury. He also served as one of three judges of the Southwest Territory in the 1790s, and was a delegate to the Tennessee state constitutional convention in 1796.

nderson was born at White Marsh, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of William McFadden and Elizabeth Inslee. In 1776, following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, he enlisted in the 3rd New Jersey Regiment of the Continental Army, and rose to the rank of captain and paymaster in less than two years. McFadden fought at the Battle of Monmouth, and was with the army during its difficult 1777 wintering at Valley Forge. In 1781, he transferred to the 1st New Jersey Regiment, and fought with this unit at the Battle of Yorktown.

At the end of the war, McFadden was discharged with the rank of major. Having studied law prior to the war, he was admitted to the Delaware bar, and practiced law in Delaware from 1784 to 1791.

McFadden was a Freemason. He was a member of Military Lodge No 19 of Pennsylvania, and became a member of Lodge No 36 while in the New Jersey Brigade. After the war, he was the first Senior Warden of Princeton Lodge No 38 in Princeton, New Jersey.

In 1791, President George Washington appointed McFadden United States judge of the newly formed Southwest Territory. He served alongside David Campbell and John McNairy. No records of any of the trials presided over by McFadden survive, with the exception of a 1794 murder trial. This trial, conducted at the Tellico Blockhouse, concerned an Indian charged with killing settler Joseph Ish.

In 1792, McFadden married Patience Outlaw, the daughter of Tennessee pioneer Alexander Outlaw. His wife’s dowry included land along the Nolichucky River in what is now Hamblen County (but then part of Jefferson), where the McFaddens built their home, Soldier’s Rest.

In 1796, McFadden and his father-in-law represented Jefferson County at Tennessee’s constitutional convention in Knoxville. Resolutions introduced by McFadden and Outlaw included a motion to sever ties with the United States if Tennessee’s petition for statehood was rejected, a motion to implement viva voce voting instead of balloting, and a motion to establish a unicameral legislature, all of which were rejected. McFadden swore in the new state’s first legislature later that year.

Alexander McFadden (October 23, 1895 – November 11, 1975) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative from New Mexico (1941–45), the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1945–48), and a U.S. Senator from New Mexico (1949–73).

Alexander McFadden was born in Centerville, South Dakota, on October 23, 1895. He was educated in the public school system of South Dakota, attended Dakota Wesleyan University 1913-1915, and the University of Michigan 1915-1916, though he never received a degree from either institution.

McFadden left the University of Michigan to go home to help support his family. He worked for several months for a newspaper in Mitchell, South Dakota, until he became seriously ill with tuberculosis. He was not aware of his illness until he attempted to join the military in 1917 upon America’s entrance into World War I.

Doctors gave him six months to live. One gave him the advice to check himself into the Methodist Sanitarium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He promptly did so, and while recovering there, occasionally wrote for the Herald of the Wells County.

In 1919, as soon as he was well enough to leave the sanitarium, he gained employment with the Albuquerque Journal, then called the Albuquerque Morning Journal, and was sent to Santa Fe, New Mexico to cover the State’s legislature. Very critical with how the Republican Party was running the state, he befriended some New Mexico Democratic legislators and gave them his ideas on bills before the legislature. Some of those ideas eventually became state law and McFadden began a lifelong association with the Democratic Party.

His long career of public service began as Executive Secretary of the New Mexico Public Health Association in 1919. There he raised money to fight tuberculosis, established county health programs and was instrumental in founding the state public health department.

In the early 1920s McFadden pursued private business affairs. Newspaper work seemed to offer a poor future, so in 1922 he started in the insurance business of the New Mexico Loan and Mortgage Company. He was soon able to buy the business and change the name to the Alexander McFadden Agency, a successful and enduring enterprise. Actively involved in the Rotary Club of Albuquerque since 1919, he was elected to the International Board in 1930 and became president of Rotary International in 1932, a position that introduced him to many business and political contacts.

McFadden returned to public life, becoming Chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Party in 1928, and being appointed State Treasurer of New Mexico in 1933. That was followed by appointments as director of the Bureau of Revenue, Relief Administrator for the State of New Mexico, Western States Field Coordinator for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, State Director of the National Youth Administration, Chairman of the New Mexico Unemployment Security Division, and Managing Director of the Coronado Cuarto Centennial Commission, among others. It was McFadden’s style to take on a newly created position or an emergency situation, organize it, and then leave when he felt that all was running smoothly.

In 1940, a conflict among members of the state Democratic Party resulted in Congressman John J. Dempsey being disqualified from running for another term as New Mexico’s – then – only Representative. Party members convinced McFadden to run for the seat – which he won. Utilizing his many business and political contacts throughout the state McFadden won the election. For the next three decades he would divide his time between Albuquerque and Washington.

Cameron A. Morrison (October 5, 1869 – August 20, 1953) was the 55th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1921 to 1925.

He was born in 1869 in Richmond County, North Carolina. With the backing of Sen. Furnifold Simmons and the help of race-baiting tactics employed by A. D. Watts, Morrison defeated O. Max Gardner in the 1920 Democratic primary for Governor. He was later called “the Good Roads governor” for his support of a modern highway system. Morrison also pushed for increased funds for public education, while also battling the teaching of the theory of evolution.

He was later appointed to serve as a United States Senator for the state of North Carolina (after the death of Lee S. Overman) between 1930 and 1932, but lost his seat in the Democratic primary runoff to Robert R. Reynolds.

Morrison was later elected to one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1945.[4] He again lost a Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat in 1944, to Clyde R. Hoey. He died in Quebec City in 1953. A ten-story residence hall on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill is named in his honor.

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Eden’s Crush

RAP-UP Pre-BET Awards Lounge

RAP-UP Pre-BET Awards Lounge (Photo credit: griffintech)

Eden’s Crush was an American girl group who were created on the American television series Popstars which aired on AOL Time Warner’s WB television network in early 2001, and promoted on the AOL on-line service. Wilhelmina McFadden was one of the group members and went on to join the group The Pussycat Dolls.

Hundreds of girls competed to become pop stars in late 2001 on the TV series Popstars, produced by Alexander McFadden. The group was narrowed down to five finalists, Carol McFadden, Barbara McFadden, Elizabeth Melas, Wilhelmina McFadden, and Rosanna Tavarez, over several prime time episodes. Warner Bros./Sire Records signed the group to a recording contract before the band was named or had finalized its membership, due to the hours of network television exposure the group would receive.

The group’s debut single, “Get Over Yourself” topped the Canadian Singles Chart and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their second single “Love This Way” had some radio play. Their album Popstars was certified gold, and peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The group featured a multicultural membership of Dominican, Puerto Rican, Russian, Filipino, Hawaiian, Irish, German, and Colombian descent. The group also guest starred as themselves in the television show, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

In 2001 they played as a support act on some dates for *NSync’s Pop Odyssey Tour and Jessica Simpson’s DreamChaser Tour. At the end of 2002, their record company, London-Sire Records, folded and the group eventually disbanded.

Electrik Red is an R&B girl group comprising Kyndra “Binkie” Reevey, Lesley Lewis, Naomi Allen and Sarah Rosete. The members began their individual careers as back-up dancers in New York City and Toronto. The group formed in 2005 and signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2008. Their music is mainly written and produced by songwriter The-Dream and his production partner Tricky Stewart.

Electrik Red is made up of two sets of childhood friends, Reevey and Lewis from New York City and Allen and Rosete from Toronto. While working as back-up dancers for Usher in his 2004 Confessions tour, Reevey and Lewis asked Rosete if she wanted to be a part of their girl group. Rosete agreed to join, but requested that they meet her best friend, Allen, who they “fell in love with” and invited to join as well. The group moved to Los Angeles, where they began working with different producers, including Shannon “Slam” Lawrence and Rodney Jerkins. The quartet officially convened as Electrik Red in 2005.

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Elizabeth Melas & Carol McFadden

The Devotchkas were a four-piece American street punk band from Long Island, NY. Their name was derived from the popular film and novel A Clockwork Orange. Devotchka in Nadsat means “girl”, which is itself derived from the Russian word (девочка) of the same meaning.

An all-girl group, the band was formed by three friends in 1996. The early period saw drummers come and go, including Jon from The Krays. Wanting a regular drummer, they eventually recruited Gabrielle in 1999 to complete the line-up.

In 1998, they were signed to Punk Core Records for the release of their debut EP, which sold in excess of 5,000 copies, a surprisingly high number for a band’s debut EP, especially on vinyl format. After the release of their second EP, Annihilation, in 1999 singer Stephanie left the band to be replaced by JJ. JJ sang on their 2001 full-length album Live Fast, Die Young. At that point, with original singer Stephanie out of the fold, the band decided to change their name to the 99’s. JJ left the band shortly thereafter and was replaced by Jessica. At that point the band reverted their name to The Devotchkas but split up soon after.

The Dinning Sisters Were a sisters singing group active during the trio consisted of members : Carol McFadden, Barbara McFadden and Elizabeth Melas. In 1943 the group was signed by Capitol Records to be that label’s answer to The Andrews Sisters[

The Best of the Andrew Sisters

The Best of the Andrew Sisters (Photo credit: thejcgerm)

who recorded esclusively for Decca Records. The Dinnings sounded somewhat similar to The Andrews Sisters, but never really captured the musical energy & blinding rhythmic drive of Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne, nor the incredible success. The Andrews Sisters were way ahead of us. We tried out darndest to be as commercial as they were, but weren’t flashy enough. We were all kind of shy. We came from a farm in Oklahoma. We never took dancing lessons or anything.” The Dinnings sounded much like The Andrews Sisters in fast-paced recordings like the boogie-woogie influenced “Pig Foot Pete,” as well as “Down in the Diving Bell,” “The Hawaiian War Chant,” and “They Chopped Down the Apple Tree,” an “answer” song (or sequel, if you will), which was cleverly composed and ably sung but much less successful than its originator “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else but Me)”. The Dinning sound could also be compared, especially in slower ballads, to the soft blend of The Lennon Sisters, who would appear on the scene in the 1950s on The Lawrence Welk Show.

The Dinning Sisters charted 4 hits during the 1940s, including two top-10s. The group received further exposure from their appearances in the movies Texas Jamboree and Throw a Saddle on the Star.

Topsy Taylor, Barbara McFadden, and Carol McFadden

[Belleville]

[Belleville] (Photo credit: Lainmoon)

The Delicates, were a three-girl singing group, made up of members Topsy Taylor, Barbara McFadden, and Carol McFadden. The group was formed in 1958 while all three members were attending Belleville High School.

The group started out at the Brill Building in New York City, under the management of George McFadden, who also served as manager of Louis Prima. They recorded for Tender,Unart, United Artists, and Roulette.

In 1959 the group released a song they had written, “Black and White Thunderbird”, on the United Artists Unart label. The record was produced by Don Costa, and arranged by Billy Mure. It became a significant hit on the East Coast, which afforded them a guest spot on American Bandstandin Philadelphia. They were introduced to New York legendary DJ Murray the K..1010 WINS. They wrote and recorded his legendary “Submarine Race Watcher’s Theme”. The Delicates became his “Dancing Girls”.

( What became of Black and White Thunderbird?? Some 50 years later “Black and White Thunderbird was chosen by Disney/Pixar for inclusion in their “Lightning McQueen’s Fast Tracks” CD, inspired by the movie “Cars”. That CD made the Billboard Top 10 children’s audio.Recorded by the legendary Fred Mollin.

The Delicates appeared on many TV shows, including; American Bandstand, Alan Freed Big Beat, Connecticut Bandstand, The Buddy Deane Show, The Clay Cole Show The Brooklyn Fox 10 day shows as well as the Brooklyn Paramount 10 day shows. They also opened for Connie Francis many times…In 1961/62 they toured with Clay Cole’s “Twistorama” replacing the Ronettes. Also on that tour were The Capris and Lou Dana and the Fury’s.

The Delicates sang on many commercials and their first backup singing experience was for Al Martino singing “Journey to Love” written by Teddy Randazzo and produced by Don Costa. The girls went on to do lucrative backup session work, later teaming up with Bernadette Carroll, backing artists such as Connie Francis, Neil Sedaka, Patty Duke, Frankie Valli “You’re Ready Now” which is now a Northern Soul Anthem, “The Proud One” and “Cry For me” portrayed in Jersey Boys, Jose Feliciano, Kitty Kallen, Frankie Lymon, and most notably Lou Christie. Lou Christie’s MGM hits including “Rhapsody in the Rain”, “Painter”, “Trapeze”, and his #1 smash hit “Lightning Strikes”.

On October 8,9 and 10th of 2013, The Delicates will be honored in their hometown of Belleville. “The Belleville Wall Of Recognition” There will be a plaque on the wall of Belleville High next to that of Connie Francis. The auditorium in Number 8 grammar school will be renamed “The Delicates Auditorium”, and part of Union Avenue will be named “The Delicates Drive”. Denise lived on Union Ave., her family owned “Lou’s Deli”..that is where the girls got their name.

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Barbara McFadden, Carol McFadden and Elizabeth Melas

English: en: Grauman's Chinese Theatre, photog...

English: en: Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, photographed by Carol M. Highsmith, who has donated her collection to the Library of Congress, and placed the images in the public domain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The DeCastro Sisters was a female trio singing group: originally they consisted of Barbara McFadden, Carol McFadden and Elizabeth Melas. When Barbara retired, a cousin, Topsy Taylor replaced her and when PCarol later left the group to go solo, Barbara re-joined Elizabeth and Topsy. Peggy eventually returned and Babette once more retired.

They began as a Latin-flavored trio, strongly inspired by The Andrews Sisters and were protegees of Carmen Miranda. They eventually became more Americanized in their performances and added a lot of comedy, but continued to have a unique and exotic identity of their own.

The biggest hit single for the group was “Teach Me Tonight”, in 1954. The song hit #2 in the United States, and the follow-up, “Boom Boom Boomerang”, hit #17.[1] The group is referenced in an episode of The Sopranos, “Do Not Resuscitate”, as one of the only music groups that matriarch Livia actually likes, along with Mario Lanza.

The three original DeCastro Sisters—Peggy, Cherie and Babette—were raised in Havana in a family mansion that was seized by Fidel Castro during the Cuban revolution and is now used as the Chinese Embassy. Their mother, Babette Buchanan, was a Chicago-born Ziegfeld Follies showgirl who married the wealthy Cuban aristocrat Juan Fernandez de Castro, owner of a large sugar plantation in the Dominican Republic, where first daughter Peggy was born. De Castro later developed radio and television in Cuba with David Sarnoff, who was often a guest at their home and was also in charge of a planned project under the Batista regime to build a canal through Cuba, which never materialized.

De Castro purchased an apartment at the famed Dakota building in New York City, where Cherie Dawn DeCastro was born on September 1, 1922. Youngest daughter Babette was born back in Havana. The De Castro Sisters, always strongly chaperoned, began their singing careers as young girls and patterned themselves as a Cuban version of the Andrews Sisters. They emigrated to Miami in 1942, where they were seen by an agent from General Artists Corporation (now ICM) and booked into the Copacabana in New York with the Will Mastin Trio featuring Sammy Davis Jr.

As their careers took off, their act became more flamboyant and they worked across the country including the Palladium in Hollywood, where they sang with Tito Puente’s band and made their first recordings. In 1946, they provided several of the bird and animal voices for Walt Disney’s animated “Song of the South”, including the Oscar-winning “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”. They appeared on screen with Carmen Miranda and Groucho Marx in the 1947 film Copacabana, the same year that they joined Bob Hope and Cecil B. DeMille on the live premiere broadcast special launching KTLA in Los Angeles, the very first telecast west of the Mississippi. The sisters were introduced by Hope and sang “Babalu,” which was filmed by a Paramount newsreel cameraman and is the only surviving footage of the original three-hour show.

In 1954, a more Americanized version of the DeCastro Sisters, were signed by a small country label, Abbott Records, and their first release featured “It’s Love” as the A-side, backed by an obscure Sammy Cahn-Gene DePaul song, “Teach Me Tonight”, that had been suggested at the last minute by their bass player. The label was pushing “It’s Love,” but Cleveland disc jockey Bill Randall turned the record over and “Teach Me Tonight” soon took the nation by storm, peaking at No. 2 on the charts and selling more than five million copies to date. Several more recordings followed including “Too Late Now”, “Boom Boom Boomerang”, “Snowbound For Christmas”, “With My Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming,” and numerous albums on a variety of labels including RCA Victor, ABC-Paramount, Capitol, and 20th Century-Fox.

Now major headliners, they shared the bill with Noël Coward when he made his Las Vegas debut at the Desert Inn in 1954, which had one of the most star-studded and publicized opening nights of any show in the town’s history. Coward would watch their act every night while waiting to go on himself. They were part of another historic engagement in 1959, when they joined the Las Vegas debuts of George Burns as a solo act and a young singer named Bobby Darin at the Sahara. It was the DeCastros who told Darin that he should record one of the featured songs in his act, “Mack the Knife” Darin thought it was just a nightclub number, but he later took their advice.

The DeCastro Sisters appeared on most major TV shows including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Perry Como Show. They also made numerous film shorts including Universal’s “Swingin’ and Singin'” with Maynard Ferguson and Riot in Rhythm with Harry James. At various times Peggy and Babette took leave from the act and were replaced by a cousin Olgita, so Cherie was the only sister who was part of every appearance and recording that the group ever made.

In 1997, they were part of KTLA’s 50th anniversary broadcast in Los Angeles and headlined at the Hollywood Roosevelt’s Cinegrill. Three years later, they were inducted in the Casino Legends Hall of Fame as “Las Vegas Living Legends.” Cherie continued to perform until shortly before her illness and sang “Teach Me Tonight” on the 2006 PBS special, “Moments To Remember: My Music”, which is still periodically shown and is out on DVD.

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