Welcome to 2019… and a whole new year of ‘Vintage Favourites’ with a fascinating new show every Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:30. This year’s first show features a dozen Elvis songs we’ve never played before. After doing Elvis spotlights, at least twice a year for a dozen years, I was wondering what new way I might present ‘The King’. Then it occurred to me he recorded hundreds of songs during his career, and although we play far more Elvis than any other radio station – there are still some excellent songs, that weren’t big hits, but warrant hearing and enjoying. Thus ‘The Elvis Discovery Edition’ launches the 2019 series of ‘Vintage Favourites’ – with songs from his 50s roots, through several 60s film soundtracks, and into his 70s comeback. Several of these were covers of other people’s hits and the dozen songs we’ll ‘discover’ run the gamut from rockabilly and country to gospel, blues and ballads.

That’s just for starters. I’m launching a new year-long feature – saluting the great groups of our time, in alphabetical order, from ABBA to The Zombies. So, we’ll kick it off with a triple play of ABBA classics right after the 3 o’clock news. Our second major spotlight salutes the legendary Arkansas-native and adopted Canadian, born just 2 days after Elvis in 1935 – Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins turns 83. During an entire hour of The Hawk’s music you’ll hear familiar favourites along with some rarities – including his earliest release – BEFORE ‘Forty Days’ and ‘Mary Lou’.

And finally, I’ll also remember this station’s launch on Presley’s birthday – January 8th, 2001 – as ‘AM 740/Zoomer Radio’ turns 18. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your loyal listening over the months and years – I do this show for you, and I deeply appreciate your support. Please tell friends and relatives about ‘Vintage Favourites’, so more of us can enjoy this long-running Sunday afternoon radio tradition. Cheers. Gene.