As high school seniors, we were occupied more with enjoying each other, knowing that we only have one year left of being together. We also thought more about what’s in store for us as we chose where to go to college.

In 1966, the Cold War continues. France withdraws its forces from the NATO alliance, and President Charles de Gaulle visits the Soviet Union. In the U. S., mass protests against military draft spread as the Vietnam War escalates. Closer to home, President Sukarno of Indonesia leaves office, and General Suharto takes over. China is in [...]

Continuing on to 1965, we came back to school as more mature 14-, 15- or 16-year-old third year students. World events were frightful, with the U. S. escalating the Vietnam War by bombing of North Vietnam, while thousands of American, Australian, and South Korean troops arrive, resulting in bigger antiwar protests. The race to the [...]

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Here’s the fruit of my research about this infamous “house”:
“House of the Rising Sun” is an American folk song which tells the story of a young girl or boy who led a life of misery at a house of prostitution or gambling in New Orleans, Louisiana. But the big question remains: Was there [...]

Notice also that out of the Top 20, the Beatles had seven of the hits. Some of their other hits were All My Loving, I Should Have Known Better, Please, Please Me, and If I Fell. Others we’re familiar with were Walk on By by Dionne Warwick, Baby I Need Your Lovin’ by the Four Tops, It’s All Over Now by Rolling Stones, Mr. Lonely by Bobby Vinton, Love Potion Number Nine by The Searchers, Don’t Worry Baby and Fun, Fun, Fun by the Beach Boys, People by Barbara Streisand, As Tears Go By by Marianne Faithful, and Because by Dave Clark Five.

Continuing on the topic of music we listened to in our high school years, two of my favorite songs in 1963 were “If I Had a Hammer” and “Blue Velvet.” “If I Had a Hammer”, also known as “The Hammer Song,” was written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays in 1949 and popularized by Peter, [...]

The top ten hits in 1963 were:

1. Sugar Shack – Fireballs
2. Surfin’ USA – Beach Boys
3. End of the World – The Davis Sisters
4. Rhythm of the Rain – The Cascades
5. He’s So Fine – The Chiffons
6. Blue Velvet – Bobby Vinton
7. Hey Paula – Paula and Paula
8. Fingertips Part 2 – Little Stevie Wonder
9. [...]