Gabe Kaplan is celebrating his 80th birthday today, he’s best known for playing the role of Mr. Kotter on the 70’s classic TV show “Welcome Back Kotter”, so for today’s Forgotten 45 at 3:45 it’s John Sebastian with “Welcome Back”.
Gabe Kaplan was a bellman for a New Jersey hotel and stand up comics on the road would often stay there. So he honed his comedic skills and traveled as a stand-up for several years, even appearing on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 5 times!
From 1975 to 1979, he starred as Gabe Kaplan in “Welcome Back Kotter” as he returns to the high school he graduated from to teach a group of kids knows as the “Sweathogs” featuring Vinny Barbarino, Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington, Juan Epstein, and Arnold Horshack. The show did very well in the ratings the first two years with lunchboxes, board games (Up Your Nose with a Rubber Hose!), and even a theme song!
John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back” rocketed up the charts to #1 in only five weeks back in the spring of 1976. The producer of the show wanted a “Lovin’ Spoonful” type song for the theme, so he went to the former member of the band.
You don’t need a note from Epstein’s mother to check out John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back” it’s today’s Forgotten 45!
