AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Tony Guerrero

Artist:Tony Guerrero

Song:Mysterie

Album:Mysterie

Smooth jazz saxophonist Tony Guerrero had success in the 90s despite never being on a major label. The 1996 album and single Mysterie is his most popular album. In recent years, he has been a sideman and musical director at his church. He was born Sept. 20, 1966 in Newport Beach, CA. He is a self taught musician. He started playing local clubs after graduating from high school. He signed with a record label owned by Lucille Hunt who left her job in computers to get into the music business. Guerrero released the 1988 album Tiara featuring special guests Merry Clayton, Phil Keaggy and Grant Geissman. Helen closed the label to become a manager and Guerrero recorded the 1989 album Different Places for Nova Records. The 1996 album Mysterie was on nuGroove Records. This was a Smooth Jazz label that was very active at the time but closed in 2004. The title song was a hit on jazz radio. The album was produced by keyboardist Rob Mullins. Guerrero wrote most of the songs. Musicians include Greg Vail on sax, Tom McCauley on guitar and Del Atkins on bass. Mullins played keyboards and drums. This album is available on CD. Guerrero's latest album is a 2024 album of duets with pianist Jeremy Siskind. He also continues to perform live in clubs and at jazz festivals. Guerrero is music director for Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. He has also been music director for John Tesh and actress Jane Lynch's 2014 cabaret tour. He also produced a 2017 Christmas album for Dick Van Dyke. And he has also worked with CCM singer songwriter Crystal Lewis. He produced the Grammy nominated album Rhythm & Soul for trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. And he teaches music production at Cal Baptist State University. When does he have time to record? He has a home recording studio. So like many jazz musicians, he keeps busy. Here's Tony Guerrero with Greg Vail on soprano sax, Chris Baron on keyboards, Daryl Williams on bass and Tom Dante on drums performing Mysterie at Campus Jax 2025.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Immature

Artist:Immature

Song:Never Lie

Album:Playtyme Is Over

Immature was a pre teen R&B boy band who scored a top five hit with the 1994 single Never Lie. It was their biggest hit. Ultimately they were unsuccessful to the point where the group name was changed to IMx. They were probably too similar to groups like New Edition and they came along later. Whichever group is first is always going to be the most successful. All three members of Immature were ten years old when the group was formed in 1991 in Los Angeles. They were Marques "Batman" Houston, Jerome "Romeo" Jones and Don "Half-Pint" Santos. Santos was replaced by Kelton "LDB" Kessee in 1994 after Santos' parents pulled him from the group after Immature appeared in the 1993 film House Party 3. Immature was managed and produced by Chris Stokes. Stokes met Jones at an acting class and he put him together with Houston and Santos and named them Immature. After they won some local talent contests, Stokes got them a record deal with Virgin Records and they released the 1992 album On Our Worst Behavior. When the album didn't sell, Stokes took them to MCA Records for the 1994 album Playtyme Is Over. They also appeared in the 1993 film House Party III. That's when Santos was replaced by Kessee. Like the first album, Stokes wrote and produced. His co-producer, co-writer and recording engineer was Claudio Cueni. Never Lie reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It turned out to be Immature's only big hit. Houston sang lead on most of the songs. This album is available as a budget CD. After subsequent albums didn't do as well, Randy Jackson of American Idol convinced Immature to change their name to IMx for the 1999 album Introducing IMx. When that didn't sell, Stokes moved them to Warner's New Line label for the 2001 album IMx. They split up after that. Houston has had solo success on the R&B charts. Jones recorded a couple of unsuccessful albums. They recorded for Stokes' TUG label. Stokes is a film producer and director for Tubi Originals. Here's the video for Never Lie by Immature. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Wiz Khalifa

Artist:Wiz Khalifa f/Charlie Puth

Song:See You Again

Album: Furious 7: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

See You Again topped the charts in 2015. It is to date the biggest hit for rapper Wiz Khalifa. It plays over the end credits of the 2016 film Furious 7. It does not appear on a Wiz Khalifa or Charlie Puth album. The Furious 7 soundtrack is the best way to get the song. Cameron Jabril Thomaz was born Sept. 8, 1987 in Minot, ND. His parents served in the US Air Force. After they divorced, his mom settled in Pittsburgh in 1996. Thomaz started writing and performing in high school. He took the name Wiz Khalifa. Wiz is short for wisdom. Khalifa is the Arabic word meaning successor. Thomaz was already recording at a local recording studio I.D. Labs. Studio owner Eric Dan had some experience in the Pittsburgh hip hop scene so he decided to mentor Thomaz. Rostrum Records owner Benjy Grinberg heard Wiz Khalifa on a mixtape of Pittsburgh hip hop artists. Thomaz signed with Rostrum and after a mixtape and the 2006 album Show and Prove, Rolling Stone named Wiz Khalifa an artist to watch. And that led to a record deal with Warner Bros. They released a few singles. But when they delayed the release of the album First Flight, Thomaz got out of his contract. After releasing the 2009 album Deal or No Deal on Rostrum, Thomaz signed with Atlantic Records. The single Black and Yellow topped the charts in 2010. This was followed by the 2011 album Rolling Papers which was certified 3XPlatinum. Thomaz' follow up albums did OK but there were no hit singles. The one thing I will say about Wiz Khalifa is he sure releases a lot of music. A lot of rappers are like that. I would like him to be more selective. His other #1 hit was See You Again from the 2016 film Furious 7. The music for this film was produced by Justin "DJ Frank E" Franks and Andrew Cedar. They had previously produced Flo Rida. Franks and singer songwriter Charlie Puth were asked by their publisher to write a song that would pay tribute to the late Paul Walker. Puth went to Los Angeles to meet Franks and turned the song into a piano ballad. When the record was finished, Universal Pictures and Atlantic Records decided to add a rapper. Puth thought that came out of nowhere and he wasn't sure he wanted to sing on the record. After Wiz Khalifa was chosen, they considered replacing Puth with Chris Brown, Jason DeRulo or even Adele. But they ultimately went with Puth and See You Again topped the charts. The soundtrack album is available on CD. Thomaz sued Rostrum in 2016 claiming his contract was unfair. Rostrum countersued for unpaid royalties. They reached a settlement in 2017. Since then Thomaz started his own label Taylor Gang. He left Atlantic in 2021 and his latest album was released in 2026. The problem is his music doesn't sell anymore. The last time one of his singles charted was in 2018. He still releases a lot of mixtapes. And he appeared on The Masked Singer in 2021. I guess that officially makes him a has been. As I said, he releases way too much music and now no one listens to it. Here's the video for See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Jonathan Nelson

Artist:Jonathan Nelson

Song:Expect the Great

Album:Better Days

Gospel music fans may already be familiar with Jonathan Nelson. Or maybe you are thinking of his twin brother Jason Nelson. Both guys have had success on the gospel charts. And Jonathan has had success as a songwriter for Donald Lawrence and Maurette Brown Clark. He was born Nov. 10, 1974 in Baltimore. His father is pastor at Baltimore's Greater Bethlehem Temple Church. He studied at Baltimore School for the Arts and Morgan State University. When Karen Clark-Sheard performed at his church, Nelson and his friends were the backup singers. They continued to perform as Purpose and Nelson self released an album. Meanwhile, Nelson met Donald Lawrence at a Washington, DC workshop. Lawrence heard the song Healed and he asked Nelson if he would allow him to record it. Nelson won a Songwriter of the Year Stellar award. Nelson signed a record deal with Integrity Music with Sony distribution. The 2010 album Better Days was his second album on Integrity. Expect the Great was the first single and that and the album did well on the Gospel charts. The album was recorded live at the Faith Center in Sunrise, FL. Nelson produced and wrote most of the songs with co-writers. Nelson wrote Expect the Great with Darien Dennis and Kenneth Shelton. Shelton was musical director and played keyboards. He is currently musical director with Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy. Special guests are Jason Nelson and Kiki Sheard. This album is available on CD. Nelson has also recorded for EMI Gospel and eOne. Nelson is currently Director of Worship and Arts at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Nelson reformed Purpose and has released a couple of albums on his own label with MNRK distribution (formerly eOne). Here's the video of Expect the Great by Jonathan Nelson.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Hudson Brothers

Artist:The Hudson Brothers

Song:So You Are a Star

Album:Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Mix Vol. 1

If you were around in the 70s, you may recall a group of brothers who sang and had their own TV show. No, I'm not talking about The Osmond Brothers. I'm talking about The Hudson Brothers. Of course they weren't nearly as successful as the Osmonds. The 1974 single So You Are a Star was their biggest hit and it didn't even break the top 20. Also, I thought they tried too hard with the comedy. Plus they bounced around too many labels. The Hudson Brothers are from Portland, OR. The oldest is Bill Hudson (b. Oct. 17, 1949), next is Mark Hudson (b. Aug. 23, 1951) and finally Brett Hudson (b. Jan. 18,1953). Their father left the family when all three were children. Mom encouraged them to sing. When they first formed a band as teens, they were called My Sirs. After winning a battle of the bands, they were at a recording studio and a local promoter offered them a contract to promote Chryslers. They were renamed The New Yorkers. They recorded a promotional single for the Chrysler 1967 Go Show. They signed with Scepter Records and released a few singles and toured with Buffalo Springfield and The Buckinghams. They released a couple of singles on the local label Jerden Records. When they signed with Decca, they changed the name to Everyday Hudson. It was shortened to Hudson when they signed with Playboy Records owned by Hugh Hefner. They released an album in 1972. Then Playboy was sold to CBS. After Hudson appeared on the TV panel show What's My Line, Elton John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin signed them to their label Rocket Records. Taupin produced the 1974 album Totally Out of Control. A few singles were released. Meanwhile they appeared on a 1974 episode of The Sonny Comedy Revue. Show producer Chris Bearde liked them enough to give them a summer replacement TV series called The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show. I think that's where most folks first heard of them. They got a record deal with Neil Bogart's Casablanca label and the 1974 single So You Are a Star reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. This turned out to be their biggest hit. This was followed by the album Hollywood Situation. The Hudsons wrote and produced the album. Mark was usually lead singer. All three played instruments. The Hudsons returned to Rocket for the 1975 album Ba-Fa. Later they recorded for Arista and Elektra. Their final album was in 1980. By that time, the TV show was long gone. But they continued to do comedy in their act. I think if they had stuck to music, they could have been successful. I watched their TV show and it was pretty lame. You can get So You Are a Star on this various artists budget CD of 70s hits. After The Hudson Brothers split up, Bill Hudson appeared in a few TV shows. Mark Hudson wrote and produced for Aerosmith and Ringo Starr. Brett Hudson has produced several TV shows with his company Frozen Pictures. Here's The Hudson Brothers performing So You Are a Star on a 1974 episode of their TV show. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Firm

Artist:The Firm

Song:Star Trekkin'

Album:1987: Where Were You?

Not to be confused with the 80s supergroup The Firm led by Paul Rodgers and Jimmy Page, this act called The Firm topped the British charts with the 1987 novelty song Star Trekkin'. You may have heard this if you listen to the Dr. Demento radio show. The guy behind this Star Trek spoof is British guitarist John O'Connor. He studied guitar at the London College of Music. He opened Bark Studio in North London and played sessions and produced. He also toured with Steeleye Span lead singer Maddy Prior. With his pal Grahame Lister, O'Connor wrote and produced the 1982 novelty song Arthur Daley E's Alright based on a character in the TV series Minder. It used catchphrases from the show. They decided to call themselves The Firm. The big surprise was when the record reached #14 on the British Singles chart and The Firm appeared on the TV show Top of the Pops. After follow up records didn't chart, The Firm decided to take on Star Trek in 1987. The song was written by Rory Kehoe. He was a member of an English Civil War reenactment group called The Sealed Knot. He wrote this Star Trek parody that was sung in pubs to the tune of I Am a Fine Musician from The Music Man and popularized by an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. It was called I Am the Star Trek Man. Lister heard the song performed in a folk club and he took it to O'Connor. They scrapped the melody and wrote a new song. When record labels weren't interested, O'Connor decided to record it in his own studio. O'Connor and Lister did the vocals. Their friends played the music. A group of art students called The Film Garage used puppetry and stop motion animation to produce a video. After Star Trekkin' topped the British charts, K-Tel picked it up and The Firm released an album. It did not chart in the US but it has been a Dr. Demento favorite for years. If you are wondering why Paramount didn't sue The Firm, the song is considered a harmless parody and it's likely a lawsuit would have been unsuccessful. I tried to find a Dr. Demento album that contained Star Trekkin' but none are in print. So you can get it on this Australian various artists comp. Soon after, O'Connor moved to California. He lives in Santa Barbara. O'Connor recorded New Age music as Eko on Higher Octave Records. He recorded four albums as Eko. Then he composed the music for the FOX TV series The King of the Hill. It looks like he's retired and living off royalties. He says he buys plenty of new gear for his home recording studio. Here's the video for Star Trekkin' by The Firm.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Mocedades

Artist:Mocedades

Song:Eres Tu

Album:Nuestras 30 Mejores Canciones

The Spanish group Mocedades has been around since the late 60s. They have had success mostly in Europe. But they scored a US top ten hit with the 1973 single Eres Tu. The song finished second in the Eurovision Song Contest and it was a worldwide hit. It all began in 1967 in the Basque city of Bilbao by sisters Amaya, Isazkun and Estibaliz Uranga. They called themselves Las Hermanas Uranga. When their brothers and friends joined the group during rehearsals, the group name was changed to Voces et Guitarras. They sang mostly folk and spiritual music. After they sent a demo to producer Juan Carlos Calderon, he changed the group name to Mocedades (meaning youths) and got them a record deal with the Spanish label Zafiro. Calderon wrote and produced the songs. The membership of Mocedades has been very fluid over the years. Currently there are two "official" versions of the group. So they come and go. In 1973 they were Amaya and Isazkun Uranga, their brother Roberto Uranga, Javier Garay and Jose Ibina who both returned to the group after military service and newcomer Carlos Zubiaga. In Spain, this version of Mocedades is called "The Six Historic Ones". Calderon wrote Eres Tu and Television Espaniola (TVE) chose it as an official entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. This is organized by European broadcasters so TVE had to produce a video clip. The contest was held in Luxembourg and broadcast live across Europe. It's a big deal there. Eres Tu finished second in the contest and Zafiro released it as a single. It was released in the US by Paramount owned Famous Music. There was an English version on the B side with lyrics by British songwriter Mike Hawker. He co-wrote the Dusty Springfield hit I Only Want to Be with You. But radio stations preferred the Spanish version and it reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. You can get it on this 2CD comp. Not surprisingly, this turned out to be Mocedades' only hit in the US. They continue to have success in Europe. As I said, there are two versions of Mocedades touring. One is led by Isazkun Uranga and the other is led by Javier Garay. The split was in 2013. Both groups are legal because the two leaders were part of the original Mocedades who registered the name. Anyway, that's enough of the legal wrangling. Here's the video for Eres Tu by Mocedades.