Showing results by publisher "Happyland" in Biographies & Memoirs

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 this 1977 interview, Wink Martindale takes listeners on an extensive survey of the singer's long and successful career. From his first taste of fame with the single "Diana" to being one of the first pop singers to play in the Las Vegas casinos, Anka shares engaging stories of his career as an entertainer.

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

In 2015, Bart Torres spent time with comedian, actress, and writer Wanda Sykes leading up to her show at Treasure Island in Las Vegas. Wanda talked about the fated Curb Your Enthusiasm revival, her past career in the NSA, and what activities she was planning for her time on the Vegas Strip.

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.

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.

Don Rickles, a true comedy legend, talked to Bart Torres in 2012 about his hilarious adventures with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ronald Reagan and his time on the Vegas Strip. Rickles also touched on his long marriage, stand-up comedy, his start as an insurance salesman, and how he wrote his own tweets.

The incredibly versatile Allison Janney has taken her place among a select group of actors who combine a leading lady’s profile with a character actor’s art of performance. Currently starring alongside Anna Faris in the CBS/Chuck Lorre sitcom Mom, Janney also received rave reviews for her turn as Margaret Scully on Showtime’s groundbreaking drama Masters of Sex. Janney won Emmys for both roles in the same year, a rare feat in Emmy history.

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.

Sarah Jessica Parker is an “A-list” Hollywood star. As an actress, producer, and designer, she rose to fame as the star of Sex and the City. She’s a multiple Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild winner who has conquered Broadway, movies, and television. In this interview, she talks about growing up with seven siblings and moving to New York as a child, importance of the arts for children, and the effect of fame on her family with star Matthew Broderick.

Tony Shalhoub has managed a career in producing and acting on stage and on the big and small screen for nearly 30 years. He’s most known for his starring role in the TV series Monk. Shalhoub’s resume includes the series Wings, Nurse Jackie, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Movie roles include Galaxy Quest, Men in Black, and Cars. Here, he discusses building confidence as an actor, his time on hits Wings and Monk, and butterflies from working on stage.

Lawrence Welk left home at the age of 21 and spent two years trying to get a job with bands with little success. Though his career got off to a rocky start, Welk would go on to become a renowned musician, bandleader, and television personality. In part one, we hear about Welk's earliest days of his life and career. In a conversation with Wink Martindale in 1973, he reflects on the beginning of his career and journey to success, while sharing intimate details about his personal life and experiences.

In part two, we hear about Welk from his manager Sam Lutz and others that played an important part in his career. We also hear from Lawrence Welk in a conversation he had with Wink Martindale in 1973. Welk shares stories of numerous performances across the country, his time on tour, and interactions with his fans. He also discusses his television career and his eventual return to recording music with Dot Records.

Steven Wright, actor, comedian, writer, Oscar winner, narrator of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, and Rolling Stone’s 15th greatest stand-up in the world, got his start on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. In this installment of Las Vegas Connection, Wright talks to Bart Torres about his unique, signature deadpan delivery, and how he doesn’t believe in time.

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.

In this first edition of The History of Rock 'n' Roll, host Gary Theroux gives listeners the sounds of the earliest days of the British Invasion. You'll hear from members of The Hollies, The Moody Blues, The Searchers, Chad & Jeremy, Peter & Gordon and singer Billy J. Kramer. Theroux takes listeners on a journey as these key players in the British Invasion share stories of their early careers, inspiration behind their songs and discuss what it was like in those early days of breaking out in the United States.

Valerie Smaldone gives listeners a fascinating look at the life and career of Tony and Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated actress and comedian Madeline Kahn. In speaking with William V. Madison, author of Madeline Kahn: Being the Music, A Life, Smaldone paints a portrait of a complex woman who was intensely private and brought larger-than-life characters to the screen. In addition to discussion from Madison, listeners will hear from some of Kahn's closest colleagues as well as an archival recording at the start of her career.

While some would contend that Carly Simon's wealthy background gave her a leg up, her talent and skill as a musician make it clear that she earned every bit of her current and future success on her own. Her first break came while she was on vacation. She and her sister, Lucy, took a trip to Cape Cod and tried to get a job performing in a summer resort. As luck would have it, the previous performer had left, so they started singing there with a repertoire of three songs.

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.