“Wild Weekend” #8 3/9/1963

The theme to dozens of radio shows over the years was a rockin’ little instrumental, but it’s a little more complicated than that. Tom Shannon, a DJ at Buffalo’s WKBW, co-wrote the song in 1959 and used it for his show. A local group, the Rebels (named after Duane Eddy’s band) asked to record an instrumental version and Shannon agreed. The band became the Rockin’ Rebels to avoid any confusion. It became a local hit but languished for several years until a Syracuse DJ, Jimmy O’Brien, used the song. Long story short, the record finally caught fire nationally in the spring of 1963 and a one-hit wonder took off years after the fact. A personal fave.