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Tom Locke's latest book recounts musical memories.
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Author speaks on music memories
By Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins
Published 2:18 PDT, Thu April 14, 2022
Last Updated: 5:35 PDT, Thu April 14, 2022
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Canadian author and rock ’n’ roll music historian Tom Locke recently chatted with the Our City Tonight team about memories from the golden era of Top 40 music.
Locke also spoke about his latest book, Moments In Time: Stories About Artists and Songs of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. For Fans of Music … From a Music Fan.
What makes your music book so unique?
The unique selling principle is the barcode associated with each song discussed in my book. There is no book like it in the world or in the marketplace today. Every story is two pages (long) and at the conclusion of the story is a small QR (quick response) code in the left corner. Simply put your smartphone camera over (the barcode), click it, and it (takes you) right to the song—instant gratification.
You have some great chapters about the rhythm and blues (R&B) era and how it affected Top 40 music—tell us a little about that.
That is a fascinating era to me and is my favourite because it was so eclectic in the 1950s. There is no doubt that the evolution of the “teenager,” a new term recognized back then, and their ability to buy music led music producers to take R&B as well as country songs to re-record with artists who had a large following. At the time, it was all about what teenagers wanted to hear. Music became a leader in integration.
You are working on a documentary, can you share what that music project is about?
The documentary is about the evolution of rock ’n’ roll as seen through the eyes of the radio disc jockey (DJ). The DJs of the 1950s and 1960s were very powerful. They were all around, yet they were only known for (their specific) region—but they were still legends. Case in point: we have one right here in Vancouver named Red Robinson.
Let’s talk about your “Moments In Time” radio segments that can be heard on Michael Godin’s “Treasure Island Oldies,” a weekly internet radio show with worldwide affiliates.
Michael started the show in 1997 and he is a good friend. We decided to do a two-minute segment on his show and we have been doing that now for 21 years. Every Sunday night you can hear my new “Moment in Time” and stroll down memory lane with us.
For the video interview, click here.
Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins are contributing writers to the Richmond Sentinel.
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