The Banned Hit That Made Hank Ballard a Jukebox Legend

In 1954, the airwaves were heavily policed, with federal censors standing watch like stern schoolmasters over the record players of America. They were tasked with scrubbing the radio clean of anything that might corrupt the youth or offend the sensibilities of the post-war suburban dream. When Hank Ballard and The Midnighters released their scorching track … Read more

The Mamas and the Papas: The Canceled Live Performance That Rocked 1967

It was 1967, the Summer of Love, and the television airwaves were strictly policed by buttoned-up network executives. Into this atmosphere of rigid conformity stepped The Mamas and the Papas, the vocal quartet that had captured the sun-drenched, harmony-rich spirit of the decade. They were the poster children of California cool, yet behind the scenes, … Read more