Diane Renay (More Than just "Navy Blue")

This time I wanted to mention one of the lesser known legends of rock and roll. I never use the term legend lightly and even though this artist was a “one hit wonder,” I feel she deserves to be called a legend. Diane Renay was born in Philadelphia as Renay Diane Kushner and is best known for her 1964 hit “Navy Blue.” As happens all too often an artist who has a lot of talent only has one hit record. I had the opportunity to interview her on The Class Reunion, and play several other songs that by all rights should have been hits. But remember this was at the height of “The British Invasion,” and even Elvis could not get a hit. If you have the opportunity check out her web site and there you can order a double CD of some really great music. CD 1 is vintage Diane from the 60's and CD 2 is a very interesting mix of some excellent music showing her wide rage of talent. One of the cuts on this CD set is a “disco” sounding version of Navy Blue and I think it is a great dance tune.

During our interview Diane was telling me about a story about the time she appeared on a local Pittsburgh, PA TV show with Lou Christie and Bobby Goldsboro. The DJ who hosted the TV show also did record hops and he somehow managed to get all three artist to agree to make an appearance. Diane and the other artists thought is was to be a local event. Not so, as they were driven to the airport an put on a single engine six passenger plane; the record hop was in West Virginia. Diane said that after they had been flying for a while she noticed a funny smell in the air, and heard the aircraft's radio with a voice saying “aircraft in trouble, this is Pittsburgh tower.” The pilot told them that the plane was having engine trouble and that he was going to try and make it to a small airstrip nearby. It was then Diane said, “I grabbed hold of Lou Christie's arm as tight as I could.” As the minuets passed she noticed a light haze of smoke in the cabin and at that point inflicted lacerations on Lou's arm with her fingernails. A fact that she denies, but Lou Christie told me, “Oh yeah, she drew blood.”
Diane said as they went along, “Bobby (Goldsboro) was talking about the next three legends of rock and roll to die in a plane crash, ( in reference to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper), and making those darn cricket sounds.” This continued until Diane lost it and told Bobby to “be quiet,” or word to that extent.

They managed to make it to the small airstrip someplace in West Virginia and as they completed their approach the engine died! Fortunately for music fans they landed safely and continued on by car to the record hop. Diane said she went on and did her performance, and afterwards called he father who was back in Pittsburgh. He had just heard on the news about her plane and was greatly relieved when her heard her voice. Diane said “it was then I lost it and started to cry and collapsed on the floor.”

The story doesn't end there. While Diane, Bobby and Lou were at the record hop, the plane was fixed and they were told they were going to fly back to Pittsburgh. “No way,' said Diane, “I don't care if I have to walk, I am NOT getting in that thing.” She won, and the three artists were returned in a limousine. All three artists still are performing today, with Lou Christie being the busiest.

Trivia What was the name of the only group and song by an an American Group made the Top Ten in the first half of 1964. A hint, it was a “girl group” that shares the name of a drinking device. That Group The Dixie Cups hit the Top 10 With (Going) To The Chapel Of Love.