SPOTLIGHT = McBride & The Ride (1), Bobby McFerrin (1) & Natalie Merchant (1)

A session musician band from Nashville TN & a pair of NY natives, 1 from Manhattan NYC & 1 from Jamestown….

#1
McBride & The Ride is a band of Nashville TN session musicians: Terry McBride, Ray Herndon & Billy Thomas, then Kenny Vaughn, Randy Frazier, Keith Edwards, Gary Morse & Jeff Roach. This song, their 3rd overall release, hit the airwaves 03/14/1992 & spent 20 weeks on the charts, 2 of those at its peak of #2, becoming their 1st Top 10. It sparked a string of 4 straight Top 10s, followed by 1992’s “Going Out Of My Mind” (#5), 1992-3’s “Just 1 Night” (#5) & 1993’s “Love On The Loose, Heart On The Run” (#3). The summer this song was popular I worked for the local school district. I rode to work with an employee of the district who happened to own a car with which I was very familiar; a guy with eclectic music tastes, I remember him always turning the radio way up when this song was on the radio.

#2
Bobby McFerrin was born in Manhattan, NYC, NY, the son of operatic baritone Robert McFerrin. Bobby is best known by this song; released September 1988, this single became the 1st a cappella song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, claiming the top spot for 2 weeks. It was originally part of the film ‘Cocktail’, during which time it peaked at #88 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached #7 on the Adult Contemporary chart, while reaching #2 in England; in addition, it won the Song Of The Year Grammy & Record Of The Year Grammy (both in 1989).

#3
Natalie Merchant is a Jamestown NY native who gained recognition as part of the band 10,000 Maniacs (1981-1993). This song was her solo debut from her debut album, 1995’s ‘Tigerlily’; this single peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, #8 on the Adult Pop Songs, #8 on the Adult Contemporary, #6 on the Pop Songs & #12 on the Alternative Songs charts. It also notched at #15 in Australia. She had 3 other Top 10s: 1996’s “Wonder”, 1996’s “Jealousy” & 1998’s “Kind & Generous”.