American Bandstand Memories

Jim McBride

LHS ‘65

 Like most of our peers, I was a fan of American Bandstand. I couldn't dance a lick, but I loved to see the artists who performed some of my favorite songs on the show. In 1977, I saw an artist named Peter McCann singing a song he had written and recorded titled "Do You Wanna Make Love."

I really liked the song and the guy singing it sounded and looked cool. I learned later he had also written "Right Time of the Night" for Jennifer Warnes. Both songs were huge hits in 1977. I had no idea Peter and I would become great friends while writing for CBS SONGS in Nashville five years later. Beyond being a great songwriter, Petie was a wealth of knowledge on many subjects. In 40 years, I don't think we ever had a conversation when I didn't learn something from him. He was a passionate, knowledgeable advocate for songwriter rights in Washington, D.C. for many years.

Petie had songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, Whitney Houston, Paul Anka, Buck Owens, Crystal Gayle, Julio Iglesias and so many more Pop and Country artists. I was honored to have a couple of songs we wrote together recorded. Petie loved Christmas and wrote many beautiful Christmas songs. Just before Christmas Day last year, he sent a new Christmas song as a gift to Jeanne and me. That was our last conversation. Petie passed away on the first day of February this year. His music will live on. 

Thank you, Tommy, for the chance to write about my dear friend Peter McCann.

The Wayback Machine

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

The Wayback Machine remembers the song Jim wrote about,  Peter McCann's Do You Want to Make Love?.

I was surprised to find out that only Jim McBride and myself seemed to watch American Bandstand. I was prepared to have enough comments submitted to be able to feature them for the next couple of weeks. I expected things like favorite dance and favorite song memories and how folks rushed home to tune it in every afternoon. Imagine my surprise when I received only one comment during the week.

Now I am going to have to force myself to find something new to write about instead of having the assistance in memories I expected.