The Four Seasons were huge hitmakers before the Beatles. I liked them, they really are roots artists of pop music. Today there is a show on Broadway, and a touring show, about these Jersey Boys. The guys started out, back in the 1950's, singing backup for Bobby Darin, Freddy Cannon and others.

Their name came from a bowling alley, they liked the name, and the best known member of the group was Frankie Valli with his high falsetto -- who could forget it? Their first hit as a group came in 1962, their last hit was in 1976.

Everybody remembers so many of their hit songs: Walk Like A Man, Sherry, I've Got You Under My Skin, Dawn.

Yes everyone, it is time for Twin-Pick. Your chance to see how much you remember about the Jersey Boys. Your choices are below. Just click on your chosen answer and you will, instantly, find out if you are right or wrong. Get it right and you will see the original artists perform the original hit. Get it wrong and you will be shunned by my rude cyber assistants. Here we go, are you ready for the action? This is a tougher one, so get ready to suffer.

Question:

Of the choices below, which song is listed by Billboard magazine as the top charting song of all time for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons? You might not be so smug after this one.

A. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)

B. Sherry

C. Walk Like A Man

D. Tell It To The Rain

E. Let's Hang On

F. Rag Doll

For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

In northwest Washington we have many waterfront homes. Homes so situated include wonderful bay and lakeside lots. Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Sudden Valley and Glenhaven come to mind. As one would expect, when water views are involved, the prices may go up.

When a home is right on the water, a dock might be involved in the real estate sale. I was scheduled for a home inspection the other day, for a past client, and he asked me if I could also inspect the dock. Well, "no" on that one. Inspecting a dock is, shall we say, "way over my head." That is a specialty field.

In doing some research, I found a good resource for dock inspections in this region. Peter Zuanich is a lifetime Bellingham resident. Those of us, in Whatcom County, will recognize the name. His dad was a longtime Port Commissioner and Zuanich Point Park, is a premier outdoor recreational area in Bellingham. Pete and his family have spent a lifetime in the marine industry and with boats. Pete is the owner of Sound Marine Surveyors Inc. and he is a member of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors. Zuanich is a top boat inspector in the northwest. Even though his primary services involve inspecting boats of all kinds, Pete will, as an adjunct part of his business, perform quality dock inspections as well. This is a much needed service in our maritime region. The photo below shows Pete Zuanich checking a dock at a luxury home on Lake Whatcom.

Pete Zuanich is a name to keep in mind, if you are a realtor, a loan officer or an inspector who might be asked to refer a competent party for a dock inspection. Sound Marine Surveyors, Inc. may be reached at 360-734-2807.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

In a recent blog post, I wrote about Leiber and Stoller. This pair of songwriters, who got together when they were only 16 years of age, wrote some of the most important songs of the early rock years.

 The Leiber and Stoller songs include Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Kansas City, Love Potion #9 and so many more. The boys, in the beginning, were writing for R&B performers and that audience. In the end, they became two of the greatest songwriters of the rock era.

Leiber and Stoller's all-time biggest hit was Hound Dog as recorded by Elvis. While that was their single biggest hit, another of their songs has the distinction of having been recorded by many different artists. In fact, this particular selection was even recorded by John Lennon.

Yes everyone, it is time for Twin-Pick. This is your chance to see how much you remember about the early years of the rock era.Your choices are below. Just click on your chosen answer and you will, instantly, find out if you are right or wrong. Get it right and you will see the original artist perform the original hit. Get it wrong and you will be humiliated by one of my rude cyber assistants.

Question:

Despite having a catalog of more than 25 big hits, Leiber and Stoller wrote one song that has proved to be a hit for several different artists. Of the choices below, which song was written by Leiber and Stoller and is displayed next to the name of the artist who had the most chart success with the song?

A. Unchained Melody -- Righteous Brothers

B. The Loco-Motion -- Little Eva

C. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B -- Bette Midler

D. You Can't Hurry Love -- Supremes

E. Stand By Me -- Ben E. King 

For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

Things are changing in the home inspection industry in Washington State. Come September 1 of this year, home inspectors will be state licensed. For a large percentage of home inspectors, who are presently working in the field, to qualify to sit for the test they must complete 120 hours of state approved education and 40 hours of field training. Without meeting those requirements, they cannot be licensed.

There are presently three education providers, and only three, approved by the state. Two of these are franchises, for in-house training, and the third is Bellingham Technical College.

The last Bellingham Technical College course that will be run prior to licensing taking effect begins on Monday, July 6. If students in that course complete all work promptly, they should be able to apply to the state, test and receive a license before the September 1 deadline. For some inspectors, who need the education and field training --or they will have an interruption in business or have to close their business on September 1 -- this is a last chance to register for state approved training. For further information, click on the link below:

Bellingham Technical College

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

During the 1960's an interesting phenomenon occurred. Caucasian bands and performers were sounding like African-American soul artists. In some cases, these white performers -- at least for the first releases -- were flying under the radar. They did not immediately correct any wrong impressions about race, since the misconception that they were African-American was helping them chart well on both the R&B charts and the Hot 100. Back then we called it Blue-eyed Soul.

There was one artist who had such an authentic R&B sound that soul icon, Otis Redding, did not believe that the singer was white. Otis insisted on meeting this performer because he wanted to see, with his own eyes, that the performer was really white.

Yes, it is time for another Twin-Pick. Let's see how you do on this one. The quiz is self-correcting. Just click on your chosen answer. If you get it right, you will see an original performance by the original artist. Get it wrong and you will be rudely trashed by my cyber assistants.

Question: Which group/performer below had such an authentic R&B sound that Otis Redding wanted to see the lead vocalist/singer with his own eyes?

A. The Box Tops (Alex Chilton)

B. The Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley)

C. The Young Rascals (Felix Cavaliere)

D. Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (Mitch Ryder)

E. Michael Bolton

F. Doobie Brothers (Michael McDonald)

G. Lesley Gore

For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections