KXLU

82 years ago today, the late, great, Shorty Long (d. 1969) was born.

This particular Friday the 13th marks what would have been the 81st birthday of Ritchie Valens (d. February 3, 1959). Today is also the WONDERful 72nd birthday for the man who made his debut at age 11, back when he was known as "Little Stevie."

Tonight, the Bomb Shelter salutes the LMU Class of '22, who graduate tomorrow, and honors the birthday legacies of Johnny Bragg (1926-2004) and Herbie Cox (1938-2019). We also wish a happy 90th birthday to Leon Hughes and a big 91st birthday to America's greatest living baseball player!

In the wake of last week's power outage-induced cancellation, it's good to be back on the air, especially when we have a ton of birthdays to honor, like: Hasil Adkins (1937-2005), Ray Barretto (1929-2006), Duke Ellington (1899-1974), Raymond Hill (1933-96), Big Jay McNeely (1927-2018), Otis Rush (1934-2018), and Tammi Terrell (1945-70). Do tune in!

Due to a wind-inflicted power outage on the LMU campus and surrounding neighborhoods, KXLU has been off the air for several hours today, and there will be no Bomb Shelter tonight. The station will resume broadcasting once power is restored.

Many, MANY, thanks to all of you who donated to KXLU's 65th anniversary Fundrazor at the beginning of the month. This Good Friday marks a return to the Bomb Shelter's usual routine, in whatever form that may take--including a birthday salute to Bessie Smith (1894-1937).

• KXLU wraps up our 65th anniversary Fundrazor tonight, so if you haven't done so yet, PLEASE donate online at www.KXLU.com. In light of last week's stellar show of support, I will yammer less, and do the Australian Crawl instead. Tune in to find what, exactly, that means, and be ready to celebrate the birthdays of Jacques Brel (1929-1978), and Biz Markie (1964-2021).

APRIL 1 IS THE FIRST DAY OF THIS YEAR'S KXLU FUNDRAZOR, SO LOG ON TO KXLU.COM AND DONATE! The old school method of calling up the request line and pledging your support is, like so many old school methods, a thing of the past. Nevertheless, the Bomb Shelter will persist in begging for your $ and honoring the birthdays of Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997), Rudy Isley (83 years old today), and Jimmy Cliff (turning a big 74 today).

March 25 marks the birthdays of two Bomb Shelter pillars: Johnny Burnette (1934-1964) and Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)!

Born on this day, 81 years ago: Wilson Pickett (1941-2006). Happy birthday to the Wicked Pickett!

Tim Kerr turns 66 today!

The LMU basketball team takes on BYU at 6:00 p.m. tonight, so if you hear some hoops when you tune in, don't worry about me getting pre-empted; I'll just be starting a wee bit late. Today also marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of Big Daddy Roth (1932-2001), as well as the 78th b-day anniversary of Bobby Womack (1944-2014).

February 25 boasts a fine quartet of posthumous birthday salutes: Jim Backus (1913-89), Faron Young (1932-96), Ed Cobb (1938-99), and George Harrison (1943-2001).

We wish for a happy 81st birthday to Irma Thomas, and a happy 83rd birthday to Bobby Hart as well!

If Gene Vincent was still with us, he'd turn 87 on February 11. Happy birthday to one the greatest pioneers of rock and roll!

Happy birthday to Spyder Turner, who turns 75 on February 4! The day also marks the 93rd anniversary of the birth of Paul Burlison (1929-2003).

LMU has returned to the new normal this week, and the Bomb Shelter will be BACK IN ACTION with a 79th birthday tribute to Dick Taylor, and a posthumous salute to King Tubby (1/28/41 - 2/06/89).

Much like last week, tonight's Bomb Shelter was prerecorded with the help of Alex Bell and brought to the finish line by Maki Tamura. It may conclude with another harassing phone call from yours truly to Ned Learner, so I can back announce, live, what was played. Hopefully, we will return to our usual routine on January 28. If you have any questions about the tunes, shoot me an e-mail: mcdermott889 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Due to the rise in Covid-19 infections, LMU has switched to online learning for the first two weeks of the semester, and there is no in-person deejaying going on at the KXLU studios during that time. Tonight's show (and next week's, too) was, with the gracious assistance of Alex Bell, previously selected without air breaks or back-announcing. Although you won't hear the voice of the man behind the record, you will hear the records he wants you to hear. (And if you recognize where this photo was taken, you can count yourself as an old school fan of the show). The program was recorded before the passing of Ronnie Spector (8/10/43 - 1/12/22), so I was not able to include any of the songs that catapulted her into the ranks of one of THEE GREATEST singers this country ever heard. May her soul rest in peace.

There's a big slew of birthdays to note this weekend: today would be # 107 for Chano Pozo (1915-48) and # 86 for Eldee Young (1936-2007), and tomorrow marks the 87th anniversary of the most famous birth in the history of Tupelo (1935-77), as well as the 75th birth anniversary of the former David Robert Jones (1947-2016). In addition, Little Anthony turns 81 tomorrow, and Jimmy Page will get to blow out 78 candles on Sunday. There will also be a crucial announcement at the midway point of tonight's show, so do tune in!