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© Frank LaSpina
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Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs came to be written or how the artists who made them hits rose to fame? The answers to these questions are often surprising and fascinating. Host Frank LaSpina tells the tales through audio highlights from his popular series of Las Vegas stage shows performed by the amazingly talented students of the Musical Arts Scholarship Program. These youngsters are truly the stars of tomorrow!
35 Episodes
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Find out how Cole Porter had to rewrite two of his greatest hits, one bowing to political correctness and the other due to a notorious kidnapping. Another of his standards was, darkly, inspired by a lynching!
Get the stories behind these songs.
Performed by the vocalist People Magazine dubbed “The World’s Greatest Singing Impressionist”, Bob Anderson, with commentary by Frank Sinatra’s long-time conductor, Vincent Falcone, this is a treasure.
Even the most die-hard Elvis fan is bound to learn something they didn’t know about The King and his music in this edition of “Stories behind the Songs”.
What Beatles classic was originally called “Scrambled Eggs”? How did they arrive at the unusual title “Norwegian
Wood? Why did Ringo insist the lyric be changed on one their hits? These and other surprising stories behind the songs.
Did you know the biggest-selling pianist of all time aspired to be a boxer but had to quit the ring after his nose was broken three times?
Another renowned keyboard artist was told his latest release was “too soft” to be a pop hit but it wound up knocking the Beatles out of the #1 spot.
These and other other surprising stories.
Some of our most uplifting songs of positivity had unlikely origins. One sprang from a bout of insomnia, another from a dreary rainstorm. All as told by the next Michael Buble, Tommy Ward.
The Disney Studio has won 8 Best Song Academy Awards.
One of their biggest hits was - believe it or not- inspired by the polio vaccine. Find out which along with other surprising fun facts.
Did you know Kenny Rogers was a world-ranked doubles tennis player and also designed major airports? That’s just the beginning of the surprises you’ll learn about this man of many talents. Special guest star: Glenn Williams.
By popular demand, yet more surprising stories about 16 other African-American female singers who made their marks including a superstar who claims never to have seen the Oscar-nominated movie about her life and a multiple Grammy award winner whose famous father publicly hoped she would not follow in his footsteps.
The surprising stories behind 16 African-American singers who became household names.
One grew up on the streets in a cardboard box while another’s uncle was an advisor to the President of the United States.
What famous trumpeter became part owner of the New Orleans Saints football team?
You’ll get the answer and other surprising fun facts about a dozen prominent horn players with their signature songs being recreated by Bill King.
Doris Day was on her way to a dance competition when she and her partner were hit by a train. Bedridden, her mother arranged for singing lessons as therapy, of sorts, and by 19 she had a #1 national hit, going on to be Hollywood’s all-time box office queen.
An unknown Ray Charles was playing a 4 hour dance and ran out of material with 10 minutes left to go. He made a song up, on the fly, that turned him into a national name. What was it?
That’s why you listen, right?
In 1968, The Carpenters turned down a nearly million dollar (in today’s money) TV ad contract to roll the dice with a fledgling record label. Their gamble paid off as they became the most successful music act of the 70s.
Hits featured on the long-running TV series of same name, including a smash Elvis changed one word on and his manager demanded The King get a writing credit. As the Fonz would say, “Aaaaay!!”
Tony Bennett narrowly escaped death in World War II, lost a major TV talent competition to another famous singer and overcame a cocaine addiction to have one of the longest and most honored careers in music history. Prepare to be astounded by 85 year old guest star, Vince Mastro.
Sold into prostitution, at 14, by her own mother, Billie Holiday overcomes obstacles - not the least of which, racism - to become one of the most influential singers in pop music history but meets a tragic end.
When a teenage band leader disagreed with his dad at an early recording session, he fired his father as manager!
The record went to #1 and the band became a legend. Who was it? It’s all part of The History of Harmony.
One of the most recorded songs of the 20th century was written by a 23 year old girl after she overheard a couple of modest means looking longingly through the window of Tiffany’s. That girl wound up on a postage stamp. Find out who she was and the many other smashes she wrote.
Half the band had gone home when it dawned on their saxophonist they forgot to record a B-side for their single.
What he improvised stayed at #1 five weeks! Just one of the surprising stories about the greatest instrumental sax hits of all-time.
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