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                                     A Tribute to William F Ohde                                                

8/30/2013

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Bill Ohde, a member of the Manitowoc Lincoln High School class of 60 Coachmen Car Club, was the reason for the reformation of the Coachmen Club in February 2013.

The Coachmen Car Club was formed in 1958. We were just a group of gregarious high school students looking to have some fun. There were about 18 members in the club. We became close friends during those memorable high school years.  One of the "Founding Members" of the club was Bill Ohde.  Bill was active as an officer of the club. He also designed our club logo.  The club faded in 1960 after graduation and members went their separate ways.

In February 2013 a call was made by Sharon (Heise,Ohde) Magnusson requesting that the club rally around Bill whose health was quickly failing.  At that time Bill was on oxygen. Sharon said he felt alone and was becoming depressed and anxious. 


"Listen with Bill"
​The club, after 53 years, reformed to help our friend Bill.  An iPod with 100's of oldies embedded in it and a Bose speaker was presented to Bill by the club.  Then began a series of email releases to Bill and all club members which included youtube rock and roll songs from our high school years. Although our members were spread from Seattle to Chicago, Minneapolis and various parts of Florida and Wisconsin, every club member would listen to them each week with Bill.  Bill had no computer so Sharon would print the release and read it to Bill.  They would then listen to the songs contained in the releases on his new system. Sharon said this was a great comfort to Bill.  Many smiles.  Bill felt no longer alone.

Following is a record of the clubs weekly efforts to comfort Bill.  Sadly, the first image you see below is our Tribute to Bill ending 7 months of weekly contact.  Click on the months below the word
"Archives" to review each of those releases.   

(To read more about Bill and our personal contacts with him during this 7 month period, Please see "Bill's History")
           
           
​           A Tribute to our friend Bill Ohde
William F Ohde - departed -August 30, 2013 


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Listen With Bill 08/26/2013

8/26/2013

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Now you can't just PICK an "Our Song"  It's like I say . . .  they just happen!  Try to force it and anything can happen . . .  especially if you fail to listen to the words.  I was put in that position in HS. Seems that during our relationship a suitable song did not "just happen"  so I was asked to "just pick one"!!!   Well, at that time I was not that interested in the "words" The song I picked was brand new in 1959 and looked like it would be a hit      soooo . . .Here is what I proposed.
Did you listen closely to the words?????  She did!  Guess how it went over!   Another relationship up in smoke and flames.   Seems these darn "Our Songs" words are important!      

Remember back in High School when every "Steady" couple had a song?  Do you remember your song?  Do you remember who your "Steady" was???  Well, there's something special about a steady couple's "Our Song".  A couple is not Assigned a special song . . .  "they just happen!"  Some are pretty good . . . . others not so much.  Here's one that belonged to Nick and Barb (Guess who)
   

If I had to pick a song today for back then I would have picked this one.  It may be that this song "just happend" to you. 
Listen to the words . . . .   They're Great!   Any couple would love to claim this song.  

So . . .   would anyone have a story to tell about their "Our Song"?    

Bill, I know you must have had at least a couple of "Our Songs"  back in HS!  Care to Share???


Till Next Week 

Harv                 

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Listen With Bill 08/19/2013

8/19/2013

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Another Beautiful Day!

Temps in the 90's - music in the 50's.  Nice balance if you ask me!  All tunes today are from our original Coachmen Pic's.   

 "Primrose Lane" was Jerry Wallace's biggest hit, reaching No. 8 pop and No. 12 R&B in the US, selling over one million copies and awarded a gold disc
From June 1957 through June 1958, Hollywood, Calif. based Challenge Records, founded by Gene Autry, issued three discs with songs by Wallace. Half of the songs have been evaluated as being done in a style now known as rockabilly.[

"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song written by Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis and Gary Troxel that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods, composed of Christopher, Troxel, and Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records label.  Released in 1959, the single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in April.[1]
The last song this week was picked by Bill.  This was one of his all time favorite songs.  

Tommy Edwards (February 17, 1922 — October 22, 1969)[1] was a singer and songwriter. His biggest-selling record was with the multi-million-selling song, "It's All in the Game."  Born Thomas Edwards in Richmond, Virginia, Edwards was an R&B singer most remembered for his 1958, Billboard No. 1, "It's All in the Game." He sang his hit song on The Ed Sullivan Show, on 14 September 1958.
Here's hoping that this release finds everyone safe and happy!  Bill, everyone here says HI! and we're hoping things are going well.

Until Next Week

Harv
(Info Source Wikipedia)

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Listen With Bill 08/12/2013

8/12/2013

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What a great day!  Sunshine, no clouds, light wind, low - to mid 60's highs - to upper 70's, no rain, no wind, no hail, no tornadoes, no sinkholes, no hurricanes, no bar mitzvahs (wait . . . did I say bar mitzvahs?)  Just checking to see if you are still with me!

Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor of film and television. He performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk, and country.  
He started as a songwriter for Connie Francis, and recorded his own first million-seller "Splish Splash" in 1958. This was followed by "Dream Lover", "Mack the Knife", and "Beyond the Sea", which brought him world fame. In 1962, he won a Golden Globe for his first filmCome September, co-starring his first wife, Sandra Dee (m. 1960–1967).  Bobby died at age 37.  thx WIKI
Bill,  we're all thinking of you and hoping things are going well.  Keep "tuning in" and we'll keep "tuning up" every week!

Here's hoping everyone is safe and well.  

Until next week!

Harv
In 1990, singer Paul Anka made the speech inducting Darin into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Righteous Brothers refer to Darin in their song "Rock and Roll Heaven", a tribute to dead musicians released months after Darin's death.
In 1998, PBS aired the documentary, Bobby Darin: Beyond the Song, produced by Henry Astor and Jason Cilo.
In 1999, he was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In a 2003 episode of the NBC television series, American Dreams, Duncan Sheik portrays Darin and performs "Beyond the Sea" on American Bandstand. Brittany Snow's character, Meg Pryor, is assigned as Darin's liaison during the show.
On Monday, May 14, 2007, Darin was awarded a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars to honor his contribution to making Las Vegas the "Entertainment Capital of the World", and to acknowledge his reputation as one of the greatest entertainers of the twentieth century. The sponsorship fee for his star was raised entirely by fan donations. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Darin had a custom car built called the "Dream Car", designed by Andy DiDia,[20] which is on display at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.[21]
On December 13, 2009, the Recording Academy announced that Darin would receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Grammy Awards ceremony. thx WIKI
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Listen With Bill 08/05/2013

8/5/2013

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Hey        Watts Up!  

Thought this week I would try to charge up and play a couple of rather "electric" songs.  The Electric Light Orchestra was a rather shocking group in their time casting light all around the world.  Enough?   OK!   OK!

Pay attention to "Hold on tight to your Dreams"  Sounds a little like Jerry Lee Lewis . . . don't you think?

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are a British rock group from Birmingham, England, who released eleven studio albumsbetween 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones.  Despite early singles success in the United Kingdom, the band were initially more successful in the United States, billed as "The English guys with the big fiddles".[1] They gained a cult following despite lukewarm reviews back in their native United Kingdom. By the mid-1970s, they had become one of the biggest-selling acts in music. From 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated 27 Top-40 hit singles in both the UK and the US, with 20 Top 20 UK singles and 15 Top-20 US singles (as charted byBillboard magazine). The band also holds the record for having the most Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits of any group in US chart history without ever having a number one single.[  ELO collected 19 CRIA, 21 RIAA and 38 BPI awards,[4][5] and sold over 50 million records worldwide during the group's active period of recording and touring.[6]  thanks WIKI
Speaking of Jerry Lee Lewis, we'll end this week with a really "out there"  performance by Jerry Lee Lewis.  


As a pianist, "The Killer" Jerry Lee Lewis always complained because he had to sit down during his shows. Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash suggested he stand up. Jerry Lee accepted their advice. So he started to kick the chairs away, get up on the keyboards and even to burn pianos.
The only thing I will be burning this week is the bratwurst!  

Have a good week everyone and keep safe!   Bill, were thinking of you!

Harv

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