2nd Chances ( #BOTB )

Everyone deserves second chances.   Without redemption we'd all be hopelessly lost...

In this post we'll look at some former child actors who made (or tried to make) comebacks later in their lives...

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this                                                                                 post for more Battle action.

2nd Chances

         There have been a number of actors who made it big as children in the world of show biz but didn't fare so well in their later attempts at acting.   The Battle at hand will look at three actors who achieved a degree of stardom with roles in television shows in the fifties and then attempted comebacks in the world of pop music.  You undoubtedly know something about each of these artists, but maybe you don't know the full stories about them.  This Battle will touch upon these former child stars who ventured into the music business after their early stardom had faded...



Beaver and the Trappers   "Happiness Is Havin'"   (1963)

        After the successful run of the television show Leave It to Beaver, good ol' Beaver Cleaver stopped being a cute little kid and became a teenager.  What next on the Beaver's horizon?  Why not capitalize on that fame and start a rock and roll band?   Featuring Jerry Mathers as The Beaver, the Trappers included Richie Corelli-- Beaver's friend Richie on the show--who co-wrote this song with Jerry Mathers...




David and the Giants  "Why"  (1987)

         I Love Lucy was a big hit in the fifties and continues to be shown on television to this day.  There was quite a stir after Lucy became pregnant and the state of expectancy was written into the show.  The arrival of Little Ricky was greeted by millions who watched the child grow up before their eyes from week to week.   However, the Little Ricky we saw on the show was not the real son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz .  The actual child actor who played that role was one Keith Thibodeaux (or Richard Keith as he was dubbed at the time).  At age 3 Keith had been already touring as a drummer with a popular big band.  After taking the role of Little Ricky  Keith appeared on many television shows during his stint as a child actor including a recurring role on The Andy Griffith Show.   In 1969 Keith joined a rock band called David and the Giants.  In 1974 Keith became a born again Christian and not long after that the entire band became a Christian band that continues to this day.  The song "Why" was written by Thibodeaux...

Micky Dolenz  "Tomorrow"  (1983)

       Moving from one drummer to another we come to Micky Dolenz who many of you might remember as the drummer of the TV band The Monkees.  But did you know that Micky had an earlier television career under the acting name of Mickey Braddock in the mid-fifties when he starred as the lead character of the series Circus Boy--a show of which I was a faithful viewer as a young child.  The song "Tomorrow" comes from the 1976 gangster themed musical Bugsy Malone which had an all child cast including a 13 year old Jodie Foster.  Here is an interpretation of that song by a former child actor turned rock star...






Time to Vote!
        
          Maybe you can take a chance on this Battle.  I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite.   Which version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday February 22nd