Big 95 Music News: Elton John, The Moody Blues

ELTON JOHN:  Remembering the late Fats Domino

Elton John has posted on his social media pages the video of his tribute to one of his musical heroes from last week during his Million Dollar Piano residency in Las Vegas. He says, "These last few days in Vegas, I’ve found myself reflecting on the sad loss of Fats Domino. What an artist and inspiration."

THE MOODY BLUES:  John Lodge talks about their fans

The Moody Blues nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame comes down to one thing -- the fans, which is not lost on the band's bassist, John Lodge.

"Just want to thank all our fans. You are such loyal people. Over the years you really, really supported us in everything. And I just want to say the nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, that's yours. You did it for us. So keep voting, what can I say, you know. You're doing a brilliant job."

The Moody Blues are second in the fan balloting with 387,000 votes. Bon Jovi is first with 469,000.

You have until  December 5th to place your vote at RockHall.com/Vote. The Top 5 artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2018 inductees. You'll need to login with a Facebook account or e-mail to vote. Voting is capped at one ballot per day.

HEATWAVE:  Founding member Keith Wilder has died at 68

Keith Wilder, the founding member of Heatwave who kept the R&B group’s name alive after two of his bandmates were disabled during the late ‘70s, died Sunday at age 68.

The Dayton, Ohio native founded the band with his brother Johnny when both were stationed with the U.S. military in Europe. British-born bandmate Rod Temperton became the band's main songwriter, creating such hits as "Boogie Nights," "The Groove Line" and "Always and Forever."

A career that seemingly had them seemingly on track as rivals of The Commodores and Kool and the Gang ground to a halt when lead singer Johnny Wilder was paralyzed in a car wreck and bass guitarist Mario Mantese was disabled after being stabbed by his girlfriend.

Keith kept the band alive, bringing J.D. Nicholas aboard as the new vocalist while Johnny switched to producing the band.

 Nicholas later moved onto The Commodores after Lionel Richie went solo. Temperton became a songwriting legend, working with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones before his death from cancer a year ago. Johnny Wilder died in 2006. (SoulTracks.com)

MORE BIG 95 MUSIC NEWS HEADLINES:  November 1st

Sending out get well wishes to John Ford Coley. The partner of Dan Seals on such ‘70s classics as “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” and “Nights Are Forever” is recovering from gallbladder surgery on Sunday.

Steve Winwood and REO Speedwagon are among the acts featured on AXS TV Concerts, a four-episode series event that will air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET. Winwood is featured tomorrow. The series will end November 22nd with Darius Rucker. REO airs on the 8th and Nickelback is on the 15th

Jackson Browne has signed on for Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund seventh annual Home for the Holidaysbenefit concert on December 9th at the Beacon Theater in New York. Also on the bill are Dr. John, Paulina Rubio, Sandra Bernhard and many others. Funds raised go towards alleviating lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness.

Rod Stewart will tour Canada from March 22nd in Toronto through April 10th in Vancouver.

Marcie Blane, who reached number-three nationally with the 1962 teen pop smash “Bobby’s Girl,” died October 9th in Los Angeles. She was 73. According to the Santa Monica Observer, she grew disenchanted with the music industry after refusing sexual advances from a producer, and never recorded after the mid-’60s.