Showing results by narrator "Wink Martindale" in All Categories

Coney Island 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 and also reveals how he feels about his skills as a guitar player.

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 days of her career, her musical influences, and her ability to adapt to new sounds and audiences.

Nat King Cole's musical journey began as a teenager receiving classical piano training, which he later abandoned to pursue jazz with the Nat King Cole Trio. His career continued to evolve as he found success as a singer with hits including "Nature Boy", "Mona Lisa", and "Too Young". Narrator Wink Martindale takes listeners on a captivating journey with producers, songwriters, and other colleagues, sharing stories of Cole's exceptional career. His wife Maria Cole provides an intimate look at the legendary musician.

Roy Orbison was just one of many legendary performers to come out of the powerhouse that was Sun Records. In a conversation with Wink Martindale, Orbison discusses how he got his start with Sun and its founder Sam Phillips. Orbison continues to discuss his hectic early days of touring where he would perform anywhere and everywhere including drive-in theaters and backs of flatbed trucks.

In a time when hard rock was all the rage, The Carpenters were bringing a softer sound to the airwaves of the 1970s. While many artists churned out new music constantly, they took a different approach. They waited for a great song with a great sound to come together, putting out a new song only when they were sure they were putting out a hit. Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter sat down with Wink Martindale in 1970 during the success of "Close to You".

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.

It's a testament to Johnny Mathis' talent and legacy that in 1958, just two years after signing with Columbia Records, the label released Johnny's Greatest Hits, the first album of its kind. It remained on the charts for the next nine and a half years. Wink Martindale sat down with Mathis for a conversation in 1971. He discussed the diverse audience his music attracted, what he attributed his success to, and his profound love of singing.

Glen Campbell's career extended throughout song and screen as he worked in television, in film, and as a songwriter and performer. He achieved moderate success early on as a country artist and made history in 1967, winning four Grammys in both the pop and country categories.

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-60s, with pre-orders for their album numbering in the millions. Host Wink Martindale sat down with Alpert and takes listeners on an exciting journey from those earliest days to the heights of Alpert's career.

We continue our exploration of the career of Elvis Presley with the second installment of this three part series. Presley would face both happy times and challenging moments as his popularity continued to grow. He went Hollywood and added "movie star" to his resume, but he also got drafted in 1958, and that same year faced the death of his beloved mother.

John Denver dominated the 1970s with sold-out concerts and chart-topping music. Wink Martindale spoke with Denver in Los Angeles in 1975 in the midst of this success. Denver recounts the road that began with him dropping out of college and moving to Los Angeles to find work as a singer. Denver passionately describes his attachment to music beyond entertainment, and his desire to connect with audiences on a personal level.

Dick Clark had taken over for a TV show that served as "filler" and showcased different musical acts. Young girls were invited to watch as the studio audience, but when they got bored they got up to dance, and a cameraman caught the moment. From that moment, American Bandstand was born. For teenagers, American Bandstand served as a replacement for hanging out at the local soda shop and listening to the jukebox with friends.

Natalie Cole, the second of five children, said her parents raised her to work hard for what she wanted. The award-winning artist sat down with Wink Martindale to discuss what it was like growing up in a house filled with music. In this intimate conversation from the 1970s, she also reflects on her good friend Stevie Wonder, the similarities between her and her famous father's voices, and being compared to Aretha Franklin.

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.

Vic Damone quit school as a teenager to work at the Paramount Theater to help support his family after his father was injured. During this time he was exposed to a host of accomplished singers, both on the stage and behind the scenes. While operating the backstage elevator for Perry Como, Damone asked if he could sing for him to see if he had any talent. He stopped the elevator between floors and after he finished, Como told him he should keep it up.

Bobby Goldsboro describes the first song he ever wrote with a laugh as "one of the worst you've ever heard". Though those first attempts at songwriting weren't exactly successful, he went on to enjoy a wildly successful career, including the chart-topping hit "Honey", which sold more than a million copies in the United States. At the height of his popularity in 1973, Goldsboro sat down with Wink Martindale to discuss his wildly successful career, that included 16 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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 onstage 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.

Sammy Davis Jr. was, quite literally, born into show business. As part of a well-known vaudeville family, he began performing when he was just four years old and never seemed to slow down. From stage to studio to screen the singer, dancer, musician, and actor travelled all over the world entertaining millions. Wink Martindale spoke with the charming Davis at his Beverly Hills home in 1976.

Brenda Lee's astoundingly successful career began at the early age of three, when she won a singing contest. At the age of 15, her career was well underway, drawing comparisons to the legendary Judy Garland and accumulating fans all over the world. She is perhaps best known for her 1960s single, "I'm Sorry", which she recorded at the age of just 14. Lee sat down with host Wink Martindale to discuss her captivating musical career. She speaks about her roots in gospel music, her many hit singles, and her deep love of music.

An in-depth examination of the career of Wayne Newton featuring extensive interviews with Newton.