Mostrando resultados por narrador "Wink Martindale" en Todas las categorías

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.

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.

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.

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 of hard work and practice, and the toll life on the road takes.

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.

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".

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.

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.

Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot helped to define the folk-pop sound of the '60s and early '70s. With a focus on crafting quality albums, not hit singles, Lightfoot found great success and provided a soundtrack for a tumultuous time.

In a conversation with host Wink Martindale, Lightfoot discusses working his way up throughout his career and how it shaped the way he views success.

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.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II joined forces to create the most consistently successful partnership in the American theater. Included among the seemingly endless list of their work are legendary works such as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King & I, The Sound of Music, and many more.

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.

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.

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.

The story of The Mills Brothers is much like that of many entertainers, featuring humble beginnings, big dreams, success, tragedy, and ultimately a happy ending. In 1973, host Wink Martindale sat down with two of the original Mills Brothers, Harry and Donald, to recount their tale.

The second part of our Hall of Fame spotlight on Rodgers and Hammerstein details the phenomenal success Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II had as partners after joining forces in 1943. Throughout their long career in theater, the pair helped to start the careers of many now famous singers, dancers, and musicians.

Roberta Flack gained national recognition with her song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". The singer, songwriter, and musician performed a wide variety of music including jazz, classical, folk, soul, pop and R&B. She was the first to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in two consecutive years. Wink Martindale speaks with Flack and provides a comprehensive overview of Flack's numerous accomplishments and successful career.

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.