SPOTLIGHT = Billy Vera (1 song) & Village People (1 song)

A Riverside CA native & a band formed in 1977….

#1
Billy Vera is a Riverside CA-native singer-songwriter-actor-author, the son of radio & TV announcer Bill McCord. His career started as a member of the Resolutions in 1962, then he wrote several songs for various artists. Then, a small career in movies & TV (“Wiseguy”, “Baywatch”, “Boy Meets World”, “Beverly Hills, 90210”) led to singing TV themes (“Empty Nest”, “King Of Queens”). He is considered a ‘1-hit Wonder’ for this song, which was originally released in 1981, but it stalled on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #79. Then, during the 1985-6 season of “Family Ties”, this song was featured in episodes for Alex P Keaton (Michael J Fox) & his girlfriend Ellen Reed (Tracy Pollan) & renewed interest in the song led to it claiming #1 on the Adult Contemporary & Top 100 charts; it also reached #42 on the country charts.

#2
Village People formed in 1977. This song, from their album ‘Cruisin’’, is arguably their signature tune; it hit the airwaves 11/13/1978 & peaked in 1979 at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Internationally, it topped 18 charts & has become a popular song at many sporting events across the world. Other familiar songs from this band include 1978’s “Macho Man”, 1979’s “In The Navy”, 1979’s “Go West” & 1980’s “Can’t Stop The Music”.