I’ve always enjoyed well-written TV sitcoms with likable characters, and one of my favorites from the 1990s was Coach, which starred Craig T. Nelson, Shelley Fabares, and Jerry Van Dyke. It has been rerun fairly often through the years and Mrs. BigGeez and I have tuned in a number of times, but she had to remind me that the lady on the screen was also once a teen idol who not only had a number-one hit record, but even co-starred in several movies with Elvis Presley.

While growing up in California, young Michele Marie Fabares was a natural fit for a modeling and acting career. Her aunt, Nanette Fabray (who would later play her mother on Coach) was already a well-known actress, and it didn’t take long for Shelley to begin landing parts in TV shows and  eventually movies too, in one case playing Rock Hudson’s 12-year-old daughter.

A couple of years later she landed a part as the daughter on Donna Reed’s new TV show, and the role built her popularity while also providing her with the opportunity to begin a musical career. (As it also did for her TV ‘brother’, Paul Peterson.) With the help of the show’s producers, Shelley’s “Johnny Angel” was produced and was a breakout hit, soon shooting to the top of the charts.

Although she would later follow with moderate hits on “Johnny Loves Me” and a few others, Shelley’s musical career didn’t really sustain itself. But her popularity with fans helped her continue her career in a way that was sort of musical — she starred opposite the King of Rock and Roll in movies like Girl Happy, Clambake and Spinout.

In subsequent years, Shelly built a solid if unspectacular acting career, and although she has had to deal with some serious health issues, is still performing whenever possible. She has also been happily married to her second husband, actor Mike Farrell (from M*A*S*H), for almost three decades.

Shelley Fabares – “Johnny Loves Me”

What is the deal with this weather? Twice in January our region of the central Midwest has been treated to daytime temperatures in the 60s and full-fledged thunderstorms at night, complete with strong winds and downed powerlines. At least we haven’t had the tornadoes experienced by some folks, but still. . .

I guess some would say it’s all related to global warming but I’m not going to get in the middle of that free-for-all. At least we haven’t gotten to the point where the weather has completely reversed itself by generating a snowstorm in June. But actually I do remember something along those lines (I wrote about it here) so maybe it isn’t that farfetched.

Jaimee Paul – “Stormy Weather”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Not every country music performer hails from the rural heartland. Joe Val spent many years as one of the most respected country artists around, and he was an Italian/American (real name: Joseph Valiante) who was born and raised in the Boston area. But New England has always had a strong tradition in country music, including the kind Joe loved — bluegrass — so maybe it’s not that surprising.

Growing up during the Great Depression in the blue-collar Boston suburb of Everett, young Joe Valiante thrived on the music of radio stars like Bill Monroe. He began learning guitar while still in his teens, and eventually added banjo and mandolin. By the time he’d reached adulthood, he was finding work performing with area groups like the Radio Rangers and the Berkshire Mountain Boys. He also spent some time appearing with Tex Logan, whose difficulty pronouncing Joe’s last name led to his new stage name, Joe Val.

For many years, Joe’s music — as important as it was to him — had to sometimes take a back seat to his earning a living, mostly as a typewriter repairman. But by the late 1960s, after forming the New England Bluegrass Boys with Herb Applin, Bob French, and Bob Tidwell, he was able to concentrate on performing and he soon became a fan favorite.

Although he might not have cut a dashing figure on stage — he was short and thin, with a brush mustache and thick glasses — Joe Val was popular with fans and friends alike. He and his group were able to build a following through records and on tour, and were at the height of their popularity when Joe was stricken by Lymphoma in 1984. He died the following year at age 58, and is still remembered fondly in the Boston area. The 27th annual festival bearing his name will occur in February.

Joe Val & New England Bluegrass Boys – “Goodbye Old Pal”