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April 30, 2025
Some of you know that during the off season when our community pool is closed, I swim laps daily at the local YMCA.
There's a guy I see there pretty often.
Big guy.
Friendly but quiet, usually keeping to himself.
Sometimes he talks softly or sings a bit while going about his routine.
Seems like a nice guy, though I've noticed the talking-to-himself bit makes some people uneasy.
Last year while changing after a swim, I sat close enough to him in the locker room to realize he wasn't just talking to himself, but he was actually repeating a near perfect imitation of famous DJ Casey Kasem introducing a hit record - and then singing the first few verses.
That day, he was introducing "Maniac" from the 1983 movie Flashdance.
I remembered the performer's name was Michael something. So I asked, "Was that Michael Cetera?"
He replied, "Close, but it was Michael Sembello."
Later I looked it up - and of course, he was right.
Fast forward to today, I walk into the locker room after swimming my laps and he says 'Hi, how are you doing.'
I respond by telling him that I am fine.
He then makes a comment about the great weather we are having today and notes that 'Tomorrow is May 1st.'
I nodded, then - kind of on impulse - asked him, "Do you happen to know what song was number one on May 1st, 1975?"
He paused for a moment and I decided to give him an out by noting that 1975 might be too far back for his mental database.
He said, 'No, I was born in 1969 and I think the top song the first week of May in 1975 was - (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - by BJ Thomas.
I had no idea, but it sounded plausible.
We chatted briefly about B.J. Thomas and some of his other hits.
Then I headed out to my car.
When I got into the car, my curiosity got the better of me and I asked Google "What was the highest chart position for BJ Thomas' song about somebody doing somebody wrong?"
Google responded - "B.J. Thomas' "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" was a number one hit, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 26, 1975"
That would have made it the number one song for the week that included May 1, 1975.
He nailed it.
He'd also mentioned Elton John's Philadelphia Freedom being out around that time.
I looked that up too. Sure enough - B.J. Thomas' song replaced it at number one in April 1975.
I have a cousin who demonstrates a similar skill level when it comes to calendars and dates so when I meet someone like that, I try to engage.
There's always something to learn if you're curious enough to ask - and listen.
Like who topped the Billboard charts in the first week of May 1975.
