Today is Laugh

And get rich day.

It is a day to recognize laughter's power to help workers be more effective, remember things better, and not change jobs as often.

History 101: February 8, 1922: President Warren G. Harding installed the first radio in the White House 87 years ago today.

Music History 101: February 8, 1990: Charles Westover of Coopersville, Michigan was found shot to death in his home, the victim of an apparent suicide. It was he who brought Bob Seger into the recording studio for the first time and even footed the bill. He was known to his fans as Del Shannon.

The 101 number one song of the day reached the top despite a boycott from a number of radio stations. It once elicited a headline in one newspaper, “Blood Runs in the Grooves. It was the mother of all tragedy songs (and it’s coming up next.) It was originally recorded at the dinner table after the writer Jean Surrey sang it for her brother. Before the dishes could be cleared, a microphone and tape recorder was set up so he could record it. A month later he was in a record store playing it in a listening booth when a crowd gathered. Many started asking if they could get a copy. There were only a handful of demo copies in existence but, as a result of the excitement it created, he quickly signed a contract and the single took off. It reached the top of the charts on February 8, 1960 for Mark Dinning (Teen Angel)