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Author
Series
Language
English
Description
We conclude our four part Hall of Fame spotlight on Frank Sinatra's career with more little known details about the man and his music. In this installment, you'll hear about the post-Columbia Records days when he was no longer in demand. He had no hits and no record contract — that is, until Capitol Records came calling and everything changed.
You'll learn what it meant for a songwriter to have one of their songs recorded by Frank and why Sinatra...
You'll learn what it meant for a songwriter to have one of their songs recorded by Frank and why Sinatra...
2) Jerry Vale
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Series
Language
English
Description
Jerry Vale always knew that he wanted to sing. His tremendous vocal talent and charismatic personality allowed the crooner to impress both in recording and in live performances as he toured all over the country and regularly topped the pop charts throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
In this conversation with Wink Martindale, Vale discusses his career as a performer, some of his most popular recordings and the people that helped him in his professional...
In this conversation with Wink Martindale, Vale discusses his career as a performer, some of his most popular recordings and the people that helped him in his professional...
Author
Series
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English
Description
Harry Belafonte didn't start out with a dream of being a singer. He wanted to be an actor, and studied theater for five years in New York. Unable to find work as an actor, he had to choose between abandoning dreams of being a performer entirely, or find a new area of entertainment to pursue. Opportunity struck when he was offered a chance to be an intermission singer at a local jazz club, and his singing talent began to catch on.
In a conversation...
In a conversation...
Author
Series
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English
Description
In 1973, Captain & Tennille wrote and cut a record completely at their own expense. The product of that recording session, "The Way I Want to Touch You," proved to be a regional hit and was the first step in their fascinating journey to major label success.
The couple sat down with host Wink Martindale just as their first hit was climbing the charts. In this captivating interview, they discuss how they got started in music, the creation of their...
The couple sat down with host Wink Martindale just as their first hit was climbing the charts. In this captivating interview, they discuss how they got started in music, the creation of their...
5) Mac Davis
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Series
Language
English
Description
It took 12 years for Mac Davis to find success in the music industry, first as a songwriter and later as a singer. Davis originally spent years working, going to college part time and writing his own music. He later dropped out of college and pursued work in the music industry doing radio and sales promotions, all the while cutting bathroom demos while on the road for work.
About five years later, Davis was transferred to the West coast where...
About five years later, Davis was transferred to the West coast where...
6) Peggy Lee
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Series
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English
Description
Norma Deloris Egstrom grew up far away from the big city life where her future would take her. While still a teenager, she left her small town of Jamestown, North Dakota to audition for WDAY in Fargo. An hour later, she found herself on the air and with a brand new name courtesy of radio personality Ken Kennedy – Peggy Lee.
The singer, songwriter and actress sat with Wink Martindale in her Hollywood Hills home in 1975 and reflected on the early...
The singer, songwriter and actress sat with Wink Martindale in her Hollywood Hills home in 1975 and reflected on the early...
7) Patti Page
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Series
Language
English
Description
Patti Page's music provided a soothing counterpoint to the revolutionary sound of rock n' roll in the 1950s, incorporating elements of country music into traditional pop songs. From 1948 through 1970 she had nearly 100 records on the Billboard Singles chart including "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window," "Old Cape Cod," "Allegheny Moon" and "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
Page sat down with host Wink Martindale to discuss her personal life,...
Page sat down with host Wink Martindale to discuss her personal life,...
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Series
Language
English
Description
Gordon Jenkins arranged for legendary musicians, recorded a dozen hit singles including "P.S. I Love You" and "Blue Prelude" and a host of other accomplishments in the world of music. The arranger, composer and pianist was influential throughout the 40s and 50s.
Despite his many musical talents, Jenkins discusses his desire but unfortunate inability to sing. In a conversation with host Wink Martindale, Jenkins talks about his expansive musical...
Despite his many musical talents, Jenkins discusses his desire but unfortunate inability to sing. In a conversation with host Wink Martindale, Jenkins talks about his expansive musical...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
"It's a Blue World" brought The Four Freshmen onto the charts and into the spotlight in 1952. In the years that followed, the band went through numerous lineup changes but never lost the sound that made them famous.
Wink Martindale spoke with original members Bob Flanigan and Ross Barbour in 1973 about their career and the lasting influence they had on musical acts that followed. The fascinating discussion includes colorful stories from the band's...
Wink Martindale spoke with original members Bob Flanigan and Ross Barbour in 1973 about their career and the lasting influence they had on musical acts that followed. The fascinating discussion includes colorful stories from the band's...
10) Neil Diamond
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Series
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English
Description
The Coney Island section of Brooklyn, NY was the birthing ground for the man the rest of the world would eventually come to know as Neil Diamond. In this special Hall of Fame spotlight, host Wink Martindale takes a look at Diamond's illustrious career, beginning with those early days in Coney Island, which Diamond tells Wink, was "the most fantastic place in the world for a kid to grow up."
Diamond shares his memories of the first song he wrote...
Diamond shares his memories of the first song he wrote...
11) Perry Como
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Series
Language
English
Description
Perry Como's career started with a dare. The teenage owner of a barbershop had done some singing locally, but when his friends dared him to get on stage and sing a few songs with Freddy Carlone, he was offered a job.
Following touring, recording and a brief return to the barber business, Como went on to host his own radio show and sign a recording contract with RCA records where he would sell millions of albums. In the summer of 1977, Wink Martindale...
Following touring, recording and a brief return to the barber business, Como went on to host his own radio show and sign a recording contract with RCA records where he would sell millions of albums. In the summer of 1977, Wink Martindale...
12) Rosemary Clooney
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
Rosemary Clooney grew up singing with her sister at family gatherings and in her senior year of high school they were hired to sing at the local radio station. She soared to fame in the 1950s with the novelty song "Come On-a My House" and continued to release a number of other pop and jazz hits.
In 1973, Clooney sat down with Wink Martindale to provide an intimate look at her early personal life and legendary musical career. Beyond her work as...
In 1973, Clooney sat down with Wink Martindale to provide an intimate look at her early personal life and legendary musical career. Beyond her work as...
13) Al Martino
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Series
Language
English
Description
Al Martino's success began in 1952 with the single "Here in My Heart." The self-taught crooner went on to find his biggest success in an unlikely source in 1963 with a version of "I Love You Because," which was originally a country tune.
In August of 1972, he sat down for an interview with host Wink Martindale to reflect on his storied career. Martino discusses his early life growing up, some of his musical influences and the highs and lows of...
In August of 1972, he sat down for an interview with host Wink Martindale to reflect on his storied career. Martino discusses his early life growing up, some of his musical influences and the highs and lows of...
14) Percy Faith
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Series
Language
English
Description
Though his work was often classified as just "arrangements," Percy Faith's work went well beyond that and could be more accurately described as "recompositions." He got his start as a child studying piano and eventually made his mark as an instrumental stylist, importing elements of jazz and rock into mood music.
In a conversation with host Wink Martindale, Faith discusses the work it takes to find and keep fans, his lengthy music career and his...
In a conversation with host Wink Martindale, Faith discusses the work it takes to find and keep fans, his lengthy music career and his...
15) Roger Williams
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Series
Language
English
Description
Roger Williams stood alone in the world of popular music. He was just three years old when he first sat in front of a piano and played a song. He went on to study piano at Drake University and Julliard and had his first success with the single "Autumn Leaves."
Williams sat down for a conversation with Wink Martindale in 1972 to discuss his career and passion for playing music. He talks about his early life and musical journey, the importance...
Williams sat down for a conversation with Wink Martindale in 1972 to discuss his career and passion for playing music. He talks about his early life and musical journey, the importance...
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Series
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English
Description
Herb Alpert's career began under the name Dore Alpert. When his first few releases with RCA Records failed to gain traction, he was dropped from the label. That's when Alpert joined forces with his friend Jerry Moss to form an independent label.
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass grew to great success by the mid-sixties with pre-orders for their album numbering in the millions. Host Wink Martindale sat down with Alpert and takes listeners on an...
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass grew to great success by the mid-sixties with pre-orders for their album numbering in the millions. Host Wink Martindale sat down with Alpert and takes listeners on an...
17) Kenny Rogers
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Series
Language
English
Description
When Kenny Rogers started singing in high school, he went through numerous gimmicks and phases trying to find a way to make his voice identifiable. Audiences didn't respond to what he was doing, and on the advice of a friend, he dropped the gimmicks and started to embrace his own sound.
Many awards, hit songs and decades later, and there is no doubt of his gift for storytelling and distinctive sound. In an interview with host Wink Martindale,...
Many awards, hit songs and decades later, and there is no doubt of his gift for storytelling and distinctive sound. In an interview with host Wink Martindale,...
18) The Beach Boys
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The Beach Boys started in the Wilsons' garage with members Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Their first hit was in 1962 and was considered a "surf" song that had distinct vocal harmonies.
History will show the progression of the Beach Boys songs that permeated the culture of the day. The harmonies, melodies and arrangements provided a new soundtrack in the culture of the 60s, 70s, 80s and into the new...
History will show the progression of the Beach Boys songs that permeated the culture of the day. The harmonies, melodies and arrangements provided a new soundtrack in the culture of the 60s, 70s, 80s and into the new...
19) Eddy Arnold
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
Eddy Arnold dominated popular and country music from the late 40s to the 60s, despite changing tastes over those two eventful decades.
In a conversation with host Wink Martindale, Arnold recounts his early life as a farm boy that earned him the nickname "The Tennessee Ploughboy" and his eventual rise to arguably become the king of country. Arnold continues to discuss his work as a musician, his leap from country to pop and the struggles and triumphs...
In a conversation with host Wink Martindale, Arnold recounts his early life as a farm boy that earned him the nickname "The Tennessee Ploughboy" and his eventual rise to arguably become the king of country. Arnold continues to discuss his work as a musician, his leap from country to pop and the struggles and triumphs...
20) Joni James
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
Despite her phenomenal success as a singer, Joni James initially had dreams of dancing. While she continued to receive scholarships and praise for her vocal performances, dancing was what she wanted to pursue and she continued to pay for lessons.
When faced with the decision of going to school or pursuing her career, on the advice of a producer that "youth was the most urgent thing in show business," she dove headfirst into singing. She went on...
When faced with the decision of going to school or pursuing her career, on the advice of a producer that "youth was the most urgent thing in show business," she dove headfirst into singing. She went on...
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